Wayward

Wayward Wayward Wayward By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, What is the meaning of wayward? When would it be used in a positive context? When would it be used in a negative context? Because wayward is a negative sort of word, I can’t think of a context in which it would be used positively. Modern speakers use wayward as an adjective, but it began as a directional adverb. To go â€Å"(a)wayward† was to go in a direction away from something. One modern meaning of the adjective is â€Å"disposed to go counter to the wishes or advice of others.† In a religious context, â€Å"wayward children† are those who have departed from childhood teachings. â€Å"A wayward animal† is one that has strayed from its owner. â€Å"A wayward bullet† is one that has gone astray from the intended direction. â€Å"A wayward government† is one that is not following the rules. â€Å"A wayward boy† may mean simply that the boy has emotional problems, whereas the description â€Å"a wayward girl† often has sexual connotations. Here are some examples of usage seen in headlines and articles on the Web: Wayward Tortoise Detained by Los Angeles Police, Eventually Claimed by Owner Sam rolled  over  in the bed and  encountered a wayward  pillow instead of his wife.   Blueprint for reforming a wayward press council Faithful Parents and Wayward Children: Sustaining Hope While Overcoming Misunderstanding [Father Flanagan] founded Boys Town as a humble home for wayward youngsters nearly a century ago. By the turn of the centuryreformers had come to view sexually active women not as victims but as delinquents, and they called for special police, juvenile courts, and reformatories to control wayward girls.   Wayward Capitalists: Targets of the Securities and Exchange Commission (book title) Here are some synonyms for the different connotations of wayward: willful headstrong stubborn obstinate obdurate perverse contrary insubordinate disobedient undisciplined rebellious defiant uncooperative recalcitrant unruly wild unmanageable erratic refractory Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"50 Idioms About Meat and Dairy ProductsFew vs. Several