Strangest

1 definition found

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

  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.


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              One of the strange queen's lords.     --Shak.
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              I do not contemn the knowledge of strange and divers
              tongues.                              --Ascham.
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     2. Of or pertaining to others; not one's own; not pertaining
        to one's self; not domestic.
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              So she, impatient her own faults to see,
              Turns from herself, and in strange things delights.
                                                    --Sir J.
                                                    Davies.
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     3. Not before known, heard, or seen; new.
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              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.
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     4. Not according to the common way; novel; odd; unusual;
        irregular; extraordinary; unnatural; queer. "He is sick of
        a strange fever." --Shak.
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              Sated at length, erelong I might perceive
              Strange alteration in me.             --Milton.
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     5. Reserved; distant in deportment. --Shak.
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              She may be strange and shy at first, but will soon
              learn to love thee.                   --Hawthorne.
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     6. Backward; slow. [Obs.]
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              Who, loving the effect, would not be strange
              In favoring the cause.                --Beau. & Fl.
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     7. Not familiar; unaccustomed; inexperienced.
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              In thy fortunes am unlearned and strange. --Shak.
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     Note: Strange is often used as an exclamation.
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                 Strange! what extremes should thus preserve the
                 snow
                 High on the Alps, or in deep caves below.
                                                    --Waller.
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     {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.
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     Syn: Foreign; new; outlandish; wonderful; astonishing;
          marvelous; unusual; odd; uncommon; irregular; queer;
          eccentric.
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