WANDER AWAY

Definition of WANDER AWAY

WANDER AWAY Verb

Wander away is a phrasal verb that means to leave or move away from a place or position in a careless or aimless manner. It can refer to both physical movement and metaphorical deviations from a plan or focus.

Physical Movement: Wander away can describe the act of moving away from a specific location without a clear direction or purpose. For example, “The child wandered away from the playground and got lost,” indicates that the child left the designated area without a specific aim.

Metaphorical Deviation: In a metaphorical sense, wander away can refer to deviating from a plan, topic, or line of thought. For instance, “During the meeting, he tended to wander away from the main topic,” means he strayed from the main discussion or objective.

In Everyday Situations: Wander away often describes unintentional or casual movement away from a specific location. For example, “She wandered away from the group while exploring the park,” suggests a leisurely or aimless departure from the group.

In Emotional or Psychological Contexts: Wander away can be used metaphorically to describe losing focus or drifting from a particular goal or intention. For instance, “He felt his thoughts wander away during the stressful situation,” indicates a loss of concentration or focus.

In Safety and Security Contexts: Wander away can raise concerns in contexts involving safety, such as when individuals, particularly children or vulnerable adults, move away from secure or supervised environments. For example, “The elderly patient wandered away from the care facility, prompting a search,” highlights potential risks associated with wandering.

In Planning and Organization: Wander away can describe deviations from planned procedures or objectives. For example, “The project manager noticed that the team had wandered away from the original plan,” reflects a drift from the established course of action.

In summary, wander away is a phrasal verb that describes moving away from a location or focus, either physically or metaphorically. It can indicate aimless or unintended movement, deviations from plans, or loss of concentration. Understanding this term helps in recognizing both literal and figurative uses in various contexts.

Examples of WANDER AWAY in a sentence

  • The child began to wander away from the group during the field trip.
  • It’s easy to wander away from the main topic during a long conversation.
  • They warned him not to wander away from the marked trail in the forest.
  • She felt her mind wander away during the monotonous lecture.
  • The dog managed to wander away from its owner’s yard despite the fence.
  • He often lets his thoughts wander away when he’s working on complex problems.
  • The tourists accidentally wandered away from the guided tour and got lost.
  • It’s important to stay focused and not wander away from your goals.

Origin of WANDER AWAY

The phrase wander away has its origins in Old English and Proto-Germanic, evolving through various stages to describe the act of straying from a path or destination.

  • Old English:
    • Wandrian (to wander)
    • In Old English, wandrian referred to the act of wandering or moving about without a fixed course. This term was used to describe aimless or erratic movement.
  • Proto-Germanic:
    • *wandran (to wander)
    • The Proto-Germanic root *wandran is the origin of the term for wandering in various Germanic languages. It reflects the concept of moving or straying without a specific destination.
  • Latin Influence:
    • Although wander does not have a direct Latin origin, the concept of wandering aligns with Latin terms such as vagari (to wander), which influenced the broader understanding of aimless movement.
  • Middle English:
    • Wanderen (to wander)
    • By Middle English, wanderen was used to describe aimless or erratic movement, similar to its Old English predecessor. It continued to reflect the idea of straying from a fixed path or destination.
  • Modern English:
    • Wander away (to stray or deviate from a path or destination)
    • In Modern English, wander away refers to the act of straying or deviating from a designated path, course, or location. It describes both literal physical movement and metaphorical deviation from a planned course.

The phrase wander away has evolved from its Proto-Germanic and Old English roots, maintaining its core meaning of straying or deviating from a path or destination into Modern English.

Synonyms

  • Stray
  • Roam
  • Drift
  • Meander
  • Deviate
  • Drift off
  • Get lost
  • Veer off

Antonyms

  • Stay
  • Remain
  • Stick
  • Follow
  • Adhere
  • Converge
  • Keep
  • Stay on course

Related

  • Wandering
  • Exploration
  • Disorientation
  • Diversion
  • Aimlessness
  • Roaming
  • Detour
  • Off-course

🌐 🇬🇧 WANDER AWAY in other languages

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