Sekirov Dictionary

stray

/stɹeɪ/

noun 9
verb 4
adjective 2
forms 9
phrases 1

noun9

Any domestic animal that lacks an enclosure, proper place, or company, but that instead wanders at large or is lost; an estray.
•
(figurative) A person who is lost.
- But vvhat a vvretched, and disconsolate Hermitage is that House, vvhich is not visited by thee [God], and vvhat a VVayue, and Stray is that Man, that hath not thy Markes vpon him? — 1624
•
Ellipsis of stray bullet.
- Hit by a stray, but I pray that there's a hood in heaven — 1993
An act of wandering off or going astray.
(slang) A casual or offhand insult.
•
An instance of atmospheric interference.
- Because of their shortness, such signals are usually easy to distinguish from the bomb returns but, when such a stray is recorded just before the bomb return, too close to be distinguished by ear […] — 1942
(historical) An area of common land for use by domestic animals.
(slang) A submissive that has not committed to submit to any particular dominant, particulary in petplay.
•
(UK, no longer used) An article of movable property, of which the owner is not known (see waif).
- waifs and strays

verb4

•
To wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way.
- Thames among the wanton valleys strays. — 1642
To wander from company or outside proper limits; to rove or roam at large; to go astray.
•
To wander from the path of duty or rectitude; to err.
- November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, "Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk It was a derby that left Manchester United a long way back in Manchester City’s wing-mirrors and, in the worst moments, straying dangerously close to being their own worst enemy.
•
To cause to stray; lead astray.
- Hath not else his eye / Strayed his affection in unlawful love, — 1594

adjective2

•
Having gone astray; strayed; wandering.
- The alley is full of stray cats rummaging through the garbage.
In the wrong place; misplaced.

forms

strayed · straying · strayeth · strays · strayest · more stray · strayer · most stray · strayest

Phrases with stray

catch a stray
To be unexpectedly and casually insulted in a seemingly unrelated discussion or argument.

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