adrift

& adv. [From a = on, and drift (q.v.).] [DRIFT.] 1. Lit .: Driven, impelled floating about hither and thither on the sea, a lake, or other sheet of water, as the winds may impel it. then shall this mount Of Paradise by might of waves be moved Out of his place, push'd by the horned flood, With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift ." Milton: P. L. , bk. xi. 2. Fig.: Detached from a fixed position and cast loose upon the world. (Used of persons or things.) "As I have said, it was A time of trouble: shoals of artisans Were from their daily labour turn'd adrift To seek their bread from public charity." Words worth: Excursion, bk. i *a-drihe, a-dryghe, a-dreich, a dri'gh ( ch and gh guttural), adv. [A DREICH.] Aside, behind. "The kyngis donghter which this syghe For pure abas chem ent drow hyre adrike ." Gower MS. (Hall i well.) ask, taken from the questions put in adrogation.] Old Rom. Law : A kind of adoption in which the person selected was old enough to have an opinion with regard to the advantage or otherwise of the step contemplated. His or her consent had, therefore, to be obtained to render the proceedings valid. Adrogation was the form of adoption had reccurse to in the case of boys above fourteen and girls above twelve years of age.