stranded
UK: ˈstrændɪd | US: ˈstrændɪd
adj. left helpless or unable to move (e.g., stranded passengers)
adj. (of a ship or marine life) stuck or run aground
adj. (figurative) isolated or abandoned
stranded = strand<shore or thread> + ed<past participle suffix>
- strand (from Old English strand "shore" or Old Norse strǫnd "edge") originally referred to land bordering water. Later, it metaphorically extended to "a single thread" (as in a rope), evoking the idea of something stretched or left loose.
- -ed marks the past participle, here implying a state of being left or stuck.
Etymology Origin:
The word evolved from Old English strand (shore), reflecting its literal use for ships "run aground." By the 17th century, it metaphorically described people or things "left without resources," akin to threads separated from a rope. The dual imagery—geographical and textile—highlights abandonment or helplessness.
The storm stranded dozens of boats on the beach.
Tourists were stranded at the airport due to canceled flights.
A whale became stranded on the coast, requiring rescue efforts.
She felt stranded in a foreign city without her passport.
The detective found a stranded clue in the old documents.