Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Strangest"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.


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