estrange

[ ih-streynj ]
See synonyms for: estrangeestrangedestrangement on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),es·tranged, es·trang·ing.
  1. to turn away in feeling or affection; make unfriendly or hostile; alienate the affections of: Their quarrel estranged the two friends.

  2. to remove to or keep at a distance: The necessity for traveling on business has estranged him from his family.

  1. to divert from the original use or possessor.

Origin of estrange

1
First recorded in 1475–85; from Middle French, Old French estranger; cognate with Portuguese estranhar, Spanish estrañar, Italian straniare, from Medieval Latin extrāneāre “to treat as a stranger,” derivative of Latin extrāneus “external, foreign, strange”; see extraneous

synonym study For estrange

Estrange, alienate, disaffect share the sense of causing (someone) to turn away from a previously held state of affection, comradeship, or allegiance. Estrange often implies replacement of love or belonging by apathy or hostility: erstwhile lovers estranged by a misunderstanding. Alienate often calls attention to the cause of antagonism or separation: His inconsiderate behavior alienated both friends and family. Disaffect usually refers to relationships involving allegiance or loyalty rather than love or affection: disaffected workers, demoralized by ill-considered management policies.

Other words from estrange

  • es·trange·ment, noun
  • es·trang·er, noun

Words Nearby estrange

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use estrange in a sentence

  • Numerous reasons, of which I guess part, perhaps estrange you from it, and perhaps also the book does not please you.

    Charles Baudelaire, His Life | Thophile Gautier
  • Men knew not even whether it were round or flat; and the unplumbed sea could still estrange.

    The Age of Erasmus | P. S. Allen
  • All that Murray's policy seemed to have really done was to estrange from her the English Catholics.

    History of the English People | John Richard Green
  • She flashed at him indignantly, "You wish to estrange me from my family, from my sister Caroline."

    Romance of Roman Villas | Elizabeth W. (Elizbeth Williams) Champney
  • Because, miserable slave, you cherish the mad hope of beguiling me yourself, you do your utmost to estrange me from your master.

    Arachne, Complete | Georg Ebers

British Dictionary definitions for estrange

estrange

/ (ɪˈstreɪndʒ) /


verb(tr)
  1. (usually passive often foll by from) to separate and live apart from (one's spouse): he is estranged from his wife

  2. (usually passive often foll by from) to antagonize or lose the affection of (someone previously friendly); alienate

Origin of estrange

1
C15: from Old French estranger, from Late Latin extrāneāre to treat as a stranger, from Latin extrāneus foreign; see strange

Derived forms of estrange

  • estrangement, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012