a. [ Compar. Stranger superl. Strangest ] [ OE. estrange, F. étrange, 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 ]

☞ 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 ]

adv. Strangely. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Most strange, but yet most truly, will I speak. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To alienate; to estrange. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be estranged or alienated. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To wonder; to be astonished. [ Obs. ] Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. As something foreign, or not one's own; in a manner adapted to something foreign and strange. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In the manner of one who does not know another; distantly; reservedly; coldly. [ 1913 Webster ]

You all look strangely on me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I do in justice charge thee . . .
That thou commend it strangely to some place
Where chance may nurse or end it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In a strange manner; in a manner or degree to excite surprise or wonder; wonderfully. [ 1913 Webster ]

How strangely active are the arts of peace! Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

It would strangely delight you to see with what spirit he converses. Law. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being strange (in any sense of the adjective). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. estrangier, F. étranger. See Strange. ] 1. One who is strange, foreign, or unknown. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) One who comes from a foreign land; a foreigner. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am a most poor woman and a stranger,
Born out of your dominions. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) One whose home is at a distance from the place where he is, but in the same country. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) One who is unknown or unacquainted; as, the gentleman is a stranger to me; hence, one not admitted to communication, fellowship, or acquaintance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Melons on beds of ice are taught to bear,
And strangers to the sun yet ripen here. Granville. [ 1913 Webster ]

My child is yet a stranger in the world. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I was no stranger to the original. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One not belonging to the family or household; a guest; a visitor. [ 1913 Webster ]

To honor and receive
Our heavenly stranger. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To estrange; to alienate. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]