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stranger

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Stranger \Stran"ger\, n. [OF. estrangier, F. ['e]tranger. See
   {Strange}.]
   1. One who is strange, foreign, or unknown. Specifically:
      (a) One who comes from a foreign land; a foreigner.

                I am a most poor woman and a stranger, Born out
                of your dominions.                --Shak.
      (b) One whose home is at a distance from the place where
          he is, but in the same country.
      (c) One who is unknown or unacquainted; as, the gentleman
          is a stranger to me; hence, one not admitted to
          communication, fellowship, or acquaintance.

                Melons on beds of ice are taught to bear, And
                strangers to the sun yet ripen here.
                                                  --Granville.

                My child is yet a stranger in the world. --Shak.

                I was no stranger to the original. --Dryden.

   2. One not belonging to the family or household; a guest; a
      visitor.

            To honor and receive Our heavenly stranger.
                                                  --Milton.

   3. (Law) One not privy or party an act, contract, or title; a
      mere intruder or intermeddler; one who interferes without
      right; as, actual possession of land gives a good title
      against a stranger having no title; as to strangers, a
      mortgage is considered merely as a pledge; a mere stranger
      to the levy.

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.

Stranger \Stran"ger\, v. t.
   To estrange; to alienate. [Obs.] --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

stranger
     n : anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they
         are found [syn: {alien}, {unknown}]
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