How Do You Spell ASTRAY?

Pronunciation: [ɐstɹˈe͡ɪ] (IPA)

The word "astray" is spelled with five letters, with the stress on the first syllable: /əˈstreɪ/. The first sound, /ə/, is a schwa sound, which is the most common vowel sound in English. The "a" sound is pronounced as a short "a" sound, /æ/. The "s" is pronounced as an unvoiced "s" sound, /s/. The "t" is pronounced as a soft "t" sound, /t̬/. The "r" sound is a retroflex approximant, pronounced by curling the tip of the tongue back towards the hard palate. Finally, the "ay" diphthong is pronounced /eɪ/, as in "way" or "day".

Meaning and Definition
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Etymology
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ASTRAY Meaning and Definition

  1. Astray, as an adverb, describes a deviation or wandering from the correct or intended path, direction, or course of action. It implies being lost, misguided, or straying away from what is considered right, proper, or acceptable. Consequently, "astray" is often associated with being led or misled into error, confusion, or folly.

    In a literal sense, "astray" refers to physical displacement or wandering away from the desired or intended route, place, or location. It signifies being off course or losing one's way, whether in the wilderness, on a journey, or even within a city or building. It typically implies a state of being lost, disoriented, or unsure of one's whereabouts.

    In a figurative sense, "astray" denotes being led astray in one's thoughts, beliefs, or behavior. It connotes being misguided or seduced into erroneous or faulty ideas, opinions, or actions. It suggests being diverted from the proper or expected path, leading to confusion, misconception, or harm. This can occur through influences such as false information, deceptive individuals, or personal biases that steer someone away from rationality or commonly accepted principles.

    Overall, "astray" refers to a state of being off course, both physically and metaphorically, and implies a deviation from what is considered correct, appropriate, or expected. It encompasses the notions of being lost, misguided, or misled in various aspects of life, whether in terms of physical navigation, intellectual pursuits, or moral conduct.

  2. Out of the right way or proper place.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for ASTRAY *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for ASTRAY

Etymology of ASTRAY

The word "astray" originates from Old English "on strēon" or "of strēon", which means "in error" or "off the track". Over time, these phrases evolved into a single word, "astray", around the 14th century. The "a-" prefix in "astray" denotes a directional movement away from a specific point or path, similar to how it is used in words like "ashore" or "away". The term "strēon" itself can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root "*stra-" which means "to stretch out" or "to wander".

Idioms with the word ASTRAY

  • lead sb astray The idiom "lead someone astray" refers to causing someone to make bad decisions, take the wrong path, or engage in immoral or misguided actions. It implies influencing or misleading someone in a way that takes them off course or leads to negative consequences.
  • go astray The idiom "go astray" means to become lost, deviate from the correct path or course, or to be misdirected or make a mistake.
  • lead sm astray "Lead someone astray" is an idiom used to describe the act of influencing or misleading someone in a negative or misguided way. It means to divert someone from the right path or to cause them to make poor decisions or choices.
  • bestlaid plans of mice and men oft go astray The idiom "best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray" refers to the idea that even the most carefully thought-out and organized plans can still fail or go wrong. It implies that despite our efforts to make things work as intended, unforeseen circumstances or unpredictable events can intervene and disrupt our intended course of action. This phrase, often used to express the idea of facing unexpected obstacles or setbacks, was popularized by Scottish poet Robert Burns in his poem "To a Mouse."
  • lead astray The idiom "lead astray" means to cause someone to believe or follow something that is false, misleading, or morally wrong. It refers to the act of misleading or deceiving someone from a proper or intended course of action.
  • best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray The idiom "best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray" refers to the unpredictability of life, where even well-thought-out intentions can be disrupted or fail. It suggests that despite careful planning and preparation, circumstances beyond one's control can cause plans to go off course or not yield the desired outcomes.
  • the best-laid plans go astray The idiom "the best-laid plans go astray" means that even the most carefully made plans can unexpectedly fail or not work out as intended. It suggests that despite meticulous preparation and organization, unforeseen circumstances or unpredictable events can hinder or disrupt one's plans.
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray The idiom "the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray" means that even the most carefully made plans can go wrong or not work out as intended. It implies that despite our efforts to plan and control events, unexpected circumstances or problems can still derail our intentions or goals. The phrase comes from the poem "To a Mouse" by Robert Burns and suggests that life is unpredictable and not always subject to our control.
  • lead (one) astray The idiom "lead (one) astray" means to misguide, deceive, or tempt someone into making wrong decisions or engaging in immoral or misguided actions. It suggests causing someone to deviate from the right path or divert them from their true course or values.
  • lead someone astray The idiom "lead someone astray" refers to the act of causing someone to go in the wrong direction or make poor decisions, usually by providing them with false or misleading information or guidance. It implies leading someone into error or confusion, diverting them from the right path or making them lose their way, either literally or metaphorically.
  • best-laid plans go astray, the The definition of the idiom "best-laid plans go astray" is that even carefully thought-out and well-prepared plans can fail or be disrupted unexpectedly. It emphasizes that despite definitive intentions and efforts, unforeseen circumstances can arise that hinder or derail the desired outcome.
  • lead somebody astray The idiom "lead somebody astray" means to guide or persuade someone to make a wrong or misguided decision, or to mislead someone into believing something that is incorrect or misleading.
  • the best-laid schemes go astray The idiom "the best-laid schemes go astray" means that even the most carefully planned or thought-out plans can still fail or not work out as intended. It implies that despite one's meticulous preparation, unforeseen circumstances or factors can disrupt or derail the intended outcome.
  • bestlaid plans of mice and men oft(en) go astray,
  • best-laid plans of mice and men oft(en) go astray, This idiom means that well-thought-out intentions or carefully made plans can often fail or go wrong. It acknowledges that despite our best efforts to plan for the future, unforeseen circumstances or events can disrupt our plans and cause them to not unfold as expected.

Similar spelling words for ASTRAY

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