estranger

Estranger is a noun in English with two principal senses. In one sense, it denotes a person or thing that estranges others; that is, an agent of estrangement in a relationship or social group. In a historical or literary sense, it can also refer to a foreigner or unfamiliar person. The term is now largely archaic in everyday use and is not common in contemporary prose, where “stranger” or “agent of estrangement” would be preferred.

Etymology: The word derives from Old French estranger and Latin extraneus, meaning foreign or unfamiliar. In English, estranger forms from the verb estrange by adding the agent-noun suffix -er.

Usage: Because it is rare in modern English, estranger appears mainly in historical texts, literary criticism, or discussions of social theory about estrangement. It should not be confused with “stranger,” which simply means a person who is not known or is new to a context. The estranger as a concept might be used to describe a person whose presence disrupts social bonds, or to designate a foreigner in older writings. For example, an outsider who unsettles a close circle could be described as an estranger.

See also: Estrangement, alienation, estrange, stranger.