adrift

English

Etymology

Prefix a- (for on) + drift.

Pronunciation

• enPR: ə-drĭft', IPA: /əˈdrɪft/, SAMPA: /@"drIft/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

  Rhymes: -ɪft

Adjective

adrift (comparative more adrift, superlative most adrift)

1. Floating at random.

   So on the sea shall be set adrift. --Dryden.

2. (of a seaman) Absent from his watch

Translations

floating at random

French: à la dérive (fr) f. Portuguese: à deriva (pt) m. and f.

Romanian: în derivă (ro) m., f., and n. pl. Spanish: a la deriva (es)

Adverb

adrift (comparative more adrift, superlative most adrift)

1. In a drifting condition; at the mercy of wind and waves.

Translations

in a drifting condition

Portuguese: à deriva (pt) Romanian: în derivă (ro)

Spanish: a la deriva (es)

Related terms

• cast adrift