afield

English

Etymology

From Middle English afeld, a-felde, o felde, on felde, from Old English on felde (“afield”, literally “in (the) field”), equivalent to a- (“on”) +‎ field.

Adverb

afield (comparative more afield, superlative most afield)

1. Away (from the home or starting point, physical or conceptual); usually preceded by far (or farther, further).
   • 1999 Jacob S. Hacker, The Road to Nowhere: The Genesis of President Clinton's Plan for Healthy Security →ISBN, p.118:

     Whether things could have been different is an open question, and one that would take us far afield from the focus of this book.

   • 2002 Philip F. Esler, The Early Christian World →ISBN, p.3:

     There were Christians developing notable traditions somewhat away from the Mediterranean and outside the Roman empire, in places like Armenia, or even further afield, in India

2. On the field.

   We now have both teams afield and can begin the match.

3. Out in the open.
   • 1879, Robert Louis Stevenson, Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes, page 116:

     The merchant was much interested in my journey, and thought it dangerous to sleep afield.

   • 2000, Robert Manns, Night of the Frogs & Sautee and Nacoochee, →ISBN, page 27:

     Meanwhile, witch Tituba, Tonight you sleep afield, molest not this house. Return here early for your judgement.

Translations

digressing from the topic

• Russian: за́ ра́мками n (zá rámkami), не́ по́ существу́ n (né pó suščestvú)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

on the field

• Russian: на́ по́ле n (ná póle), в по́ле n (v póle)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Anagrams

• defail, failed