 |
| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | estraié 'wandering', from estraier; STRAY1 |
| |||||||||
a‧stray
1
go astray
a) to be lost or stolen : 
The letter had gone astray in the post.
The letter had gone astray in the post.b) if a plan or action goes astray, it goes wrong : The best-laid plans can go astray.
The best-laid plans can go astray.2
lead somebody astray
a) to encourage someone to do bad or illegal things that they would not normally do : The older boys led him astray.
The older boys led him astray.b) to make someone believe something that is not true : It's easy to be led astray by the reports in the papers.
It's easy to be led astray by the reports in the papers.