[afloat] adj or adv [ME aflot, fr. OE on flot, fr. on + flot, fr. flot deep water, sea; akin to OE fleotan to float--more at fleet] (bef. 12c) 1 a: borne on or as if on the water b: being at sea
2: free of difficulties: self-sufficient "the inheritance kept them ~ for years" 3 a: circulating about "nasty stories were ~" b: adrift