5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stray  \Stray\,  v.  t. 
  To  cause  to  stray.  [Obs.]  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stray  \Stray\,  a.  [Cf.  OF  estrai['e],  p.  p.  of  estraier  See 
  {Stray},  v.  i.,  and  cf  {Astray},  {Estray}.] 
  Having  gone  astray;  strayed;  wandering;  as  a  strayhorse  or 
  sheep. 
 
  {Stray  line}  (Naut.),  that  portion  of  the  log  line  which  is 
  veered  from  the  reel  to  allow  the  chip  to  get  clear  of  the 
  stern  eddies  before  the  glass  is  turned. 
 
  {Stray  mark}  (Naut.),  the  mark  indicating  the  end  of  the 
  stray  line 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stray  \Stray\,  n. 
  1.  Any  domestic  animal  that  has  an  inclosure,  or  its  proper 
  place  and  company,  and  wanders  at  large  or  is  lost;  an 
  estray.  Used  also  figuratively. 
 
  Seeing  him  wander  about  I  took  him  up  for  a  stray. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  The  act  of  wandering  or  going  astray.  [R.]  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Stray  \Stray\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Strayed};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Straying}.]  [OF.  estraier  estraer  to  stray,  or  as  adj., 
  stray,  fr  (assumed)  L.  stratarius  roving  the  streets,  fr  L. 
  strata  (sc.  via)  a  paved  road.  See  {Street},  and  {Stray},  a.] 
  1.  To  wander,  as  from  a  direct  course;  to  deviate,  or  go  out 
  of  the  way 
 
  Thames  among  the  wanton  valleys  strays.  --Denham. 
 
  2.  To  wander  from  company,  or  from  the  proper  limits;  to  rove 
  at  large  to  roam;  to  go  astray. 
 
  Now  until  the  break  of  day  Through  this  house  each 
  fairy  stray.  --Shak. 
 
  A  sheep  doth  very  often  stray.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  Figuratively,  to  wander  from  the  path  of  duty  or 
  rectitude;  to  err. 
 
  We  have  erred  and  strayed  from  thy  ways.  --???  of 
  Com.  Prayer. 
 
  While  meaner  things  whom  instinct  leads,  Are  rarely 
  known  to  stray.  --Cowper. 
 
  Syn:  To  deviate;  err;  swerve;  rove;  roam;  wander. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  stray 
  adj  :  not  close  together  in  time;  "isolated  instances  of 
  rebellion";  "scattered  fire";  "a  stray  bullet  grazed 
  his  thigh"  [syn:  {isolated},  {scattered}] 
  n  :  homeless  cat  [syn:  {alley  cat}] 
  v  1:  wander  about  aimlessly;  "The  gypsies  roamed  the  woods"  [syn: 
  {wander},  {swan},  {roam},  {cast},  {ramble},  {rove},  {range}, 
  {drift},  {vagabond}] 
  2:  wander  from  a  direct  or  straight  course  [syn:  {sidetrack},  {depart}, 
  {digress},  {straggle}] 
  3:  wander  from  a  direct  course  or  at  random  [syn:  {err},  {drift}] 
  4:  turn  aside  esp.  from  the  main  subject  of  attention  or 
  course  of  argument  in  writing  or  speaking;  "She  always 
  digresses  when  telling  a  story"  [syn:  {digress},  {divagate}, 
  {wander}] 

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