stray

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French estraié, past participle of estraier Date: 13th century 1. a. a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost b. a person or thing that strays 2. [Middle English, from straien to stray] archaic the act of going astray II. intransitive verb Etymology: Middle English straien, from Anglo-French estraier, from Vulgar Latin *extravagare, from Latin extra- outside + vagari to wander — more at extra- Date: 14th century wander: as a. to wander from company, restraint, or proper limits b. to roam about without fixed direction or purpose c. to move in a winding course ; meander d. to move without conscious or intentional effort <

eyes straying absently around the room

> e. to become distracted from an argument or chain of thought <

strayed from the point

> f. to wander accidentally from a fixed or chosen route g. err, sin • strayer noun III. adjective Date: 1589 1. having strayed or escaped from a proper or intended place <

a stray dog

> <

hit by a stray bullet

> <

fixed a few stray hairs

> 2. occurring at random or sporadically <

a few stray thoughts

> 3. not serving any useful purpose ; unwanted <

stray light

>