strange etymology

Etymology:

  • Strange:
    • Middle English strange, from Old French estrange, from Latin extraneus, meaning "outward," "foreign"
    • Ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ster-, meaning "to spread"

Meaning:

  • Strange:
    • Unfamiliar, unusual, or peculiar
    • Archaic: foreign or remote

Origin:

Word Formation:

  • The word "strange" was originally used in the late 12th century to describe something that was unfamiliar or foreign.
  • Over time, it came to be applied more broadly to anything that was unusual or peculiar.

Historical Usage:

  • c. 1200: "The lond was strange and vnknowen" (Layamon's Brut)
  • c. 1350: "Sometime the kinge made strange countenaunce" (The Canterbury Tales)
  • c. 1590: "He'll be strange and fearfull to converse with me" (Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus)

Cultural Connotations:

  • The concept of "strange" has been explored in literature, art, and philosophy throughout history.
  • In literature, strange characters or events often represent the unknown or the supernatural.
  • In art, surrealism embraced the strange and the unexpected, challenging conventional notions of reality.
  • In philosophy, the concept of the "uncanny" (das Unheimliche in German) has been theorized as a particular kind of strangeness that evokes both familiarity and dread.

Examples of Usage:

  • "The child was lost and strange in the unfamiliar city."
  • "The noise was strange and unnerving."
  • "The artist's paintings were full of strange and surreal imagery."

strange relate terms

  • estrange

    Etymology From Middle English estraunge derived from Old French estrange meaning

  • strange

    Etymology Strange Middle English strange from Old French estrange from Latin extra

  • extraneous

    Etymology Extraneous From Middle English extraneus from Latin extrāneus external f

  • strange

    Etymology Strange Middle English strange from Old French estrange from Latin extra

  • stranger

    Etymology The word stranger comes from the Old French word estranger which in turn

  • familiar

    Etymology Latin familiaris from familia meaning household Proto Indo European dʰh

  • foreign

    Etymology The word foreign derives from the Old French forain meaning from outside

  • alien

    Etymology The word alien derives from the Latin word aliēnus meaning of or belongi

  • uncouth

    Etymology The word uncouth comes from Middle English uncouthe which in turn origina

  • curiosity

    Etymology The word curiosity comes from the Latin word curiosus which means careful

  • native

    Etymology Native derives from the Old and Middle English word natif which in turn c

  • haunt

    Etymology The word haunt comes from the Old French word hanter meaning to frequent

  • cultivate

    Etymology Latin colere to tend cultivate Old French cultiver Middle English cul