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stray |
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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