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). strayer n.
[ ME f. AF & OF estrayer (v.), AF strey (n. & adj.) f. OF estraié (as ASTRAY) ]