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.
One of the strange queen's lords. --Shak.
I do not contemn the knowledge of strange and divers
tongues. --Ascham.
2. Of or pertaining to others; not one's own; not pertaining
to one's self; not domestic.
So she, impatient her own faults to see, Turns from
herself, and in strange things delights. --Sir J.
Davies.
3. Not before known, heard, or seen; new.
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.
4. Not according to the common way; novel; odd; unusual;
irregular; extraordinary; unnatural; queer. ``He is sick
of a strange fever.'' --Shak.
Sated at length, erelong I might perceive Strange
alteration in me. --Milton.
5. Reserved; distant in deportment. --Shak.
She may be strange and shy at first, but will soon
learn to love thee. --Hawthorne.
6. Backward; slow. [Obs.]
Who, loving the effect, would not be strange In
favoring the cause. --Beau. & Fl.
7. Not familiar; unaccustomed; inexperienced.
In thy fortunes am unlearned and strange. --Shak.
Note: Strange is often used as an exclamation.
Strange! what extremes should thus preserve the
snow High on the Alps, or in deep caves below.
--Waller.
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.
Syn: Foreign; new; outlandish; wonderful; astonishing;
marvelous; unusual; odd; uncommon; irregular; queer;
eccentric.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|