Crossword Genius

Wanders away from the street lights (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

strays

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'wanders away' is the definition.
'strays' can be an answer for 'wanders' (I've seen this in another clue). I am not certain of the 'away' bit.

'street lights' is the wordplay.
'street' becomes 'st' (abbreviation).
'lights' becomes 'rays' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'st'+'rays'='STRAYS'

'from the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for strays that I've seen before include "Wanders off with satyrs" , "Goes off course" , "Gets lost, wanders away from the track" , "Wanders off course" , "Wanders off the path, gets lost" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Irish News.
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