- Strangest
- 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.
[1913 Webster]
One of the strange queen's lords. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
I do not contemn the knowledge of strange and divers tongues. --Ascham. [1913 Webster]
2. Of or pertaining to others; not one's own; not pertaining to one's self; not domestic. [1913 Webster]
So she, impatient her own faults to see, Turns from herself, and in strange things delights. --Sir J. Davies. [1913 Webster]
3. Not before known, heard, or seen; new. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
4. Not according to the common way; novel; odd; unusual; irregular; extraordinary; unnatural; queer. ``He is sick of a strange fever.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Sated at length, erelong I might perceive Strange alteration in me. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
5. Reserved; distant in deportment. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
She may be strange and shy at first, but will soon learn to love thee. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]
6. Backward; slow. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Who, loving the effect, would not be strange In favoring the cause. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]
7. Not familiar; unaccustomed; inexperienced. [1913 Webster]
In thy fortunes am unlearned and strange. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Note: Strange is often used as an exclamation. [1913 Webster]
Strange! what extremes should thus preserve the snow High on the Alps, or in deep caves below. --Waller. [1913 Webster]
{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. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Foreign; new; outlandish; wonderful; astonishing; marvelous; unusual; odd; uncommon; irregular; queer; eccentric. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.