Estranging

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Estrange \Es*trange"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Estranged}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Estranging}.] [OF. estrangier to remove, F.
     ['e]tranger, 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.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              We must estrange our belief from everything which is
              not clearly and distinctly evidenced. --Glanvill.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Had we . . . estranged ourselves from them in things
              indifferent.                          --Hooker.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To divert from its original use or purpose, or from its
        former possessor; to alienate.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              They . . . have estranged this place, and have
              burned incense in it unto other gods. --Jer. xix. 4.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. To alienate the affections or confidence of; to turn from
        attachment to enmity or indifference.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I do not know, to this hour, what it is that has
              estranged him from me.                --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He . . . had pretended to be estranged from the
              Whigs, and had promised to act as a spy upon them.
                                                    --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  estranging
       adj : making one feel out of place or alienated; "the landscape
             was estranging"