from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Strange \Strange\, a. [Compar. {Stranger}; superl. {Strangest}.]
[OE. estrange, F. ['e]trange, fr. L. extraneus that is
without, external, foreign, fr. extra on the outside. See
{Extra}, and cf. {Estrange}, {Extraneous}.]
1. Belonging to another country; foreign. "To seek strange
strands." --Chaucer.
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One of the strange queen's lords. --Shak.
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I do not contemn the knowledge of strange and divers
tongues. --Ascham.
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2. Of or pertaining to others; not one's own; not pertaining
to one's self; not domestic.
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So she, impatient her own faults to see,
Turns from herself, and in strange things delights.
--Sir J.
Davies.
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3. Not before known, heard, or seen; new.
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Here is the hand and seal of the duke; you know the
character, I doubt not; and the signet is not
strange to you. --Shak.
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4. Not according to the common way; novel; odd; unusual;
irregular; extraordinary; unnatural; queer. "He is sick of
a strange fever." --Shak.
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Sated at length, erelong I might perceive
Strange alteration in me. --Milton.
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5. Reserved; distant in deportment. --Shak.
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She may be strange and shy at first, but will soon
learn to love thee. --Hawthorne.
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6. Backward; slow. [Obs.]
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Who, loving the effect, would not be strange
In favoring the cause. --Beau. & Fl.
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7. Not familiar; unaccustomed; inexperienced.
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In thy fortunes am unlearned and strange. --Shak.
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Note: Strange is often used as an exclamation.
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Strange! what extremes should thus preserve the
snow
High on the Alps, or in deep caves below.
--Waller.
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{Strange sail} (Naut.), an unknown vessel.
{Strange woman} (Script.), a harlot. --Prov. v. 3.
{To make it strange}.
(a) To assume ignorance, suspicion, or alarm, concerning
it. --Shak.
(b) To make it a matter of difficulty. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
{To make strange}, {To make one's self strange}.
(a) To profess ignorance or astonishment.
(b) To assume the character of a stranger. --Gen. xlii. 7.
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Syn: Foreign; new; outlandish; wonderful; astonishing;
marvelous; unusual; odd; uncommon; irregular; queer;
eccentric.
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