Stray, v.i., n.: from ASTRAY, ME, from Old French, estrayer, from Late Roman estravagare, extra (out of bounds)+vagare (to wander) 1. Wander, go aimlessly, deviate from the right way or from virtue, get separated from flock or companions or proper place. 2. Strayted domestic animals; strayed thing or person (waifs and strays); electrical interference. 3. Scattered; sporadic, occurring or met with now and then or casually or unexpectedly (e.g., a few stray instances, lucky enough to find a stray taxi) hit by a stray bullet); Phys. wasted or unwanted (e.g. eliminate stray magnetic fields).


"He comes in and sits down and looks at me and I almost pity him. It is the same old thing. He still carries around with him the piercing grief of his long lost love, but in such an obviously theatrical fashion that he always reminds me of a sword swallower who gave up halfway through the act."

- from an unfinished novel.