The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
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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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
Reserved; distant in deportment.
--Shak.She may be strange and shy at first, but will soon learn to love thee.
--Hawthorne. -
Backward; slow. [Obs.]
Who, loving the effect, would not be strange In favoring the cause.
--Beau. & Fl. -
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.
To assume ignorance, suspicion, or alarm, concerning it.
--Shak.-
To make it a matter of difficulty. [Obs.] --Chaucer. To make strange, To make one's self strange.
To profess ignorance or astonishment.
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To assume the character of a stranger.
--Gen. xlii. 7.Syn: Foreign; new; outlandish; wonderful; astonishing; marvelous; unusual; odd; uncommon; irregular; queer; eccentric.