estrange

[ih-streynj]

verb (used with object)

estranged, estranging 

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.

3. to divert from the original use or possessor.

estrange

/ ɪˈstreɪndʒ /

verb

1. to separate and live apart from (one's spouse)

   he is estranged from his wife

2. to antagonize or lose the affection of (someone previously friendly); alienate

Other Word Forms

• estrangement noun
• estranger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of estrange¹

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”; extraneous

Word History and Origins

Origin of estrange¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Kidman’s divorce filing, reviewed by The Times, shows different mailing addresses for the estranged spouses.

From Los Angeles Times

The estranged spouses also signed a “Marital Dissolution Agreement” that includes a parenting plan, child support worksheet and a “Parenting Seminar Order,” according to TMZ, which broke the divorce news.

From Los Angeles Times

She married five times, was estranged from her family, and abandoned three of her children.

From Los Angeles Times

The film focuses on two estranged sisters who reconnect with their distant father after the death of their mother.

From BBC

Simon Patterson – the killer's estranged husband – wrote of his inability to articulate how much he missed his mum and dad.

From BBC

Related Words

• alienate 
• divorce