Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\Strange\, adv. Strangely. [Obs.] Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak. --Shak.
\Strange\, v. t. To alienate; to estrange. [Obs.]
\Strange\, v. i. 1. To be estranged or alienated. [Obs.] 2. To wonder; to be astonished. [Obs.] --Glanvill.