Estrange

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪˈstreɪndÊ’/, /əˈstreɪndÊ’/

Origin

From Old French estranger ("to treat as a stranger"), from Latin extraneus ("foreigner, stranger") (from which also English strange, stranger). Also see Spanish: extraño.

Full definition of estrange

Verb

1. (transitive) To cause to feel less close or friendly; alienate. To cease contact with (particularly of a family member or spouse, especially in form estranged).
2. (transitive) To remove from an accustomed place or set of associations.

Usage notes

Largely synonymous with alienate, estrange is primarily used to mean “cut off relations”, particularly in a family setting, while alienate is rather used to refer to driving off (“he alienated her with his atrocious behavior”) or to offend a group (“the imprudent remarks alienated the urban demographic”).

When speaking of parents being estranged from a child of theirs, disown is frequently used instead, and has a stronger connotation.

Synonyms

• (cause to feel less close) alienate, antagonize, disaffect, isolate
• (remove from an accustomed context) wean

Derived terms

• estrangement
• estranger

Related terms

• strange
• stranger

Coordinate terms

• disown

Anagrams

• grantees, greatens, reagents, rentages, segreant, sergeant, sternage