To move away from the correct path or wander from where one should be. As a noun, refers to a lost or abandoned animal.
From Old French 'estraier' meaning 'to wander', related to Latin 'via strata' meaning 'paved road'. The idea evolved from leaving the paved road to wandering aimlessly, then extended metaphorically to any kind of deviation.
The word perfectly captures how getting lost begins with a single step off the right path - whether it's a cat wandering from home or thoughts drifting during conversation. Every 'stray' was once on the correct route, making the word both literal and deeply metaphorical for life's deviations.
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