Word of the Day

: November 5, 2008

foray

noun FOR-ay

What It Means

1 : a sudden or irregular invasion or attack for war or spoils : raid

2 : a brief excursion or attempt especially outside one's accustomed sphere

foray in Context

The book marks the novelist’s first foray into nonfiction.

Did You Know?

"Foray" comes from Middle English “forrayen” and probably traces back to an Anglo-French word that meant “raider” or "forager." It's related to the word "forage," which usually means "to wander in search of food or forage." A "foray," in its earliest sense, was a raid for plunder. Relatively recently, "foray" began to take on a broader meaning. In a sense, a "foray" is still a trip into a foreign territory. These days, though, looting and plundering needn't be involved in a "foray." When you take a "foray," you dabble in an area, occupation, or pastime that's new to you.