人ひとたる道みちに背そむく

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ku)

stray from the path of righteousness

rare term

Rare, formal expression used in moral or literary contexts to describe acting against what is right or humane.

彼かれは人ひとたる道みちに背そむく行おこないをしたと非ひ難なんされた。
He was criticized for acting against the path of righteousness.

人person

道road-way, street, district

背stature, height, back

Similar words

道みちに外はずれる
More common expression for straying from the right path, but less formal and without the explicit 'human' moral weight.
人じん道どうに反はんする
Means 'against humanity' or 'inhumane'; focuses on violation of human ethics rather than personal righteousness.

Etymology

A set phrase combining 人たる (being human) + 道 (path) + に背く (to go against). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it reflects classical moral vocabulary.