Definition of the word cast aside

The phrase "cast aside" is a figurative expression that literally means to physically throw or discard something. However, in its figurative sense, it refers to abandoning or discarding something that previously held importance or value. The origin of the phrase "cast aside" can be traced back to Middle English, which used the expression "casten ut" to describe the act of throwing something out or away. The Middle English word "caste" meant "thrown" or "cast," while the preposition "ut" meant "out." Over time, the expression evolved to "cast out" or "cast off," before finally becoming "cast aside." In the 1500s, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) recorded the use of the phrase "cast aside" in its current figurative sense. Here's an example from the OED: "1595 Drayton Eng. Poet. Sat. III. 98 Whenas I had these thoughts cast aside." Interestingly, the OED also notes that the phrase "cast aside" was used as an alternative to "cast off" in certain contexts, particularly when referring to discarding religious beliefs or repenting from sins. In this usage, the phrase conveyed a sense of actively rejecting or turning away from something, as opposed to simply discarding it. Overall, the phrase "cast aside" is a vivid and evocative expression that conveys the idea of abruptly and decisively abandoning something. Whether referring to discarding a physical object or abandoning a belief, principle, or commitment, the use of this phrase draws attention to the decisiveness and finality of the action involved.