v., n., & adj.
--v.intr.
1. wander from the right place; become separated from one's companions etc.; go astray.
2 deviate morally.
3 (as strayed adj.) that has gone astray.
--n.
1. a person or thing that has strayed, esp. a domestic animal.
2 (esp. in pl.) electrical phenomena interfering with radio reception.
--adj.
1. strayed or lost.
2 isolated; found or occurring occasionally (a stray customer or two; hit by a stray bullet).
3 Physics wasted or unwanted (eliminate stray magnetic fields).
Derivatives:
strayer n.
Etymology: ME f. AF & OF estrayer (v.), AF strey (n. & adj.) f. OF estrai{eacute} (as ASTRAY)