strange
UK: streɪndʒ | US: streɪndʒ
adj. unusual or surprising in a way that is difficult to understand
adj. not previously visited, seen, or encountered; unfamiliar
adj. (archaic) foreign or from another place
The word "strange" entered English via Old French estrange, reflecting its Latin root extraneus (literally "from the outside"). Originally, it emphasized physical foreignness ("not from here") before evolving to describe the unfamiliar or puzzling. The shift from "foreign" to "odd" mirrors how unfamiliarity often breeds perceptions of peculiarity.
The strange noise kept us awake all night.
She felt strange in the new city, surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
His behavior seemed strange after the accident.
The artifact was of strange origin, unlike anything local.
(Archaic) "He spoke of strange lands beyond the sea."