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Webster 1913 Edition


Estrange

Es-trange′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Estranged
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Estranging
.]
[OF.
estrangier
to remove, F.
étranger
, L.
extraneare
to treat as a stranger, from
extraneus
strange. See
Strange
.]
1.
To withdraw; to withhold; hence, reflexively, to keep at a distance; to cease to be familiar and friendly with.
We must
estrange
our belief from everything which is not clearly and distinctly evidenced.
Glanvill.
Had we . . .
estranged
ourselves from them in things indifferent.
Hooker.
2.
To divert from its original use or purpose, or from its former possessor; to alienate.
They . . . have
estranged
this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods.
Jer. xix. 4.
3.
To alienate the affections or confidence of; to turn from attachment to enmity or indifference.
I do not know, to this hour, what it is that has
estranged
him from me.
Pope.
He . . . had pretended to be
estranged
from the Whigs, and had promised to act as a spy upon them.
Macaulay.

Webster 1828 Edition


Estrange

ESTRANGE

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To keep at a distance; to withdraw; to cease to frequent and be familiar with.
Had we estranged ourselves form them in things indifferent.
I thus estrange my person from her bed.
2.
To alienate; to divert from its original use or possessor; to apply to a purpose foreign from its original or customary one.
They have estranged this place, and burnt incense in it to other gods. Jer.19.
3.
To alienate, as the affections; to turn from kindness to indifference or malevolence.
I do not know, to this hour, what it is that has estranged him from me.
4.
To withdraw; to withhold.
We must estrange our belief from what is not clearly evidenced.

Definition 2024


estrange

estrange

English

Verb

estrange (third-person singular simple present estranges, present participle estranging, simple past and past participle estranged)

  1. (transitive) To cause to feel less close or friendly; alienate. To cease contact with (particularly of a family member or spouse, especially in form estranged).
  2. (transitive) To remove from an accustomed place or set of associations.

Usage notes

Largely synonymous with alienate, estrange is primarily used to mean “cut off relations”, particularly in a family setting, while alienate is rather used to refer to driving off (“he alienated her with his atrocious behavior”) or to offend a group (“the imprudent remarks alienated the urban demographic”).

When speaking of parents being estranged from a child of theirs, disown is frequently used instead, and has a stronger connotation.

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Middle French

Etymology

From Old French estrange.

Adjective

estrange m, f (plural estranges)

  1. strange; odd; bizarre
  2. foreign
    • circa 1369, Jean Froissart, Chroniques:
      Si vous alez guerroier en contree estrange
      If you're going to engage in warfare in a foreign country

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Descendants


Old French

Etymology

From Latin extrāneus.

Adjective

estrange m (oblique and nominative feminine singular estrange)

  1. foreign; overseas

Noun

estrange m (oblique plural estranges, nominative singular estranges, nominative plural estrange)

  1. foreigner; non-native

Related terms

Descendants