astray

[ uh-strey ]

/ əˈstreɪ /

out of the right way; off the correct or known road, path, or route: Despite specific instructions, they went astray and got lost.

away from that which is right; into error, confusion, or undesirable action or thought: They were led astray by their lust for money.

Origin of astray

1250–1300; Middle English astraye < Anglo-French *astraié, Old French estraié, past participle of estraier; see stray

But sometimes, the quest for facts lets us down, or leads us astray, and leaves us worse off than before, not better.

On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim |James Poulos |December 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The author of Room, Slammerkin, and Astray picks five of the best historical fictions about the oldest profession.

Emma Donoghue’s Book Bag: Five Whorestoricals |Emma Donoghue |October 29, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Then you read the short stories in Astray, and you realize this is how she writes!

This Week’s Hot Reads: Oct. 22, 2012 |Jimmy So |October 22, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Your most recent book, The Golden Cage, is about three brothers whose rigid ideologies lead them astray.

Shirin Ebadi Interview: Iran’s Voice of Reason on Nuke Talks |R.M. Schneiderman |April 15, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

Why Honor Killings Happen |Asra Q. Nomani |October 15, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
He took it for granted that Tom would be paying her his usual afternoon visit, and he was not astray.

A Nest of Linnets |Frank Frankfort Moore
Our mind is all astray—existence goes on outside of real life.'

The Roman Poets of the Republic |William Young Sellar
Nor even does that, luxuriant though it be, lead him astray.

The London Pulpit |J. Ewing Ritchie
He never thought she had led him astray, and had no blame for her.

A Little Girl in Old Salem |Amanda Minnie Douglas
For there is a serious difficulty in which the very employment of the word "immediate" might lead us astray.

A New Philosophy: Henri Bergson |Edouard le Roy

astray

/ (əˈstreɪ) /

out of the correct path or direction

out of the right, good, or expected way; into error

C13: from Old French estraie roaming, from estraier to stray

astray

see best-laid plans go astray; go astray.