castaway etymology

Etymology:

  • Cast: "to throw or drop" (Old English "castan")
  • Away: "to a distance" (Old English "aweg")

Meaning:

A castaway is a person who has been abandoned, exiled, or stranded in an isolated place, usually against their will.

Origin:

The term "castaway" originated in the late 14th century, derived from the combination of "cast" and "away" in the following contexts:

  • Outcast: One who has been expelled or rejected from society.
  • Shipwreck: A person who has been thrown overboard or stranded on a remote island after a shipwreck.
  • Prisoner: A person who has been imprisoned or held captive in a distant or inhospitable place.

Over time, "castaway" evolved into a general term for anyone who is abandoned or left to fend for themselves in a desolate or unfamiliar environment. It often carries connotations of loneliness, isolation, and vulnerability.

Examples:

  • The novel "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe tells the story of a castaway who is stranded on a desert island.
  • Castaways from a crashed airplane may find themselves in a remote jungle, struggling to survive.
  • People who have lost their homes in a natural disaster or conflict may become castaways in tent cities or refugee camps.

castaway relate terms

  • away

    Etymology The word away is derived from the Old English word awæg which is a compo

  • cast

    Etymology The word cast has several distinct etymologies As a verb From Middle En

  • warp

    Etymology Warp comes from the Old English word weorpan meaning to throw or to cast

  • throw

    Etymology Old English thragan Proto Germanic þragjaną Proto Indo European d

  • outcast

    Etymology From Middle English utcaste from Old English ūt out cast to throw

  • pariah

    Etymology Latin paria equal match Old French parage lineage rank Middle Engl

  • involve

    Etymology The study of the origin and history of words Meaning The intended or implied

  • Ishmael

    Meaning God hears Origin Hebrew Etymology Derived from the Hebrew name יִשְׁמ

  • leper

    Etymology The word leper comes from the Greek word λεπρός lepros which orig

  • repel

    Etymology Latin repellere from re back pellere to drive Meaning To drive

  • shipwreck

    Etymology The word shipwreck comes from the Old English words scip meaning ship

  • survivor

    Etymology Survive verb Old French survir to live on outlast from Latin supervi