Strange (?), 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.
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.
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.
☞ 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. 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.