stranger
UK: ˈstreɪn.dʒər | US: ˈstreɪn.dʒɚ
n. a person whom one does not know or with whom one is not familiar
n. a newcomer or outsider to a particular place or group
n. (archaic) a foreigner or alien
The word "stranger" originates from the Old French "estrangier," derived from Latin "extraneus" (meaning "external" or "foreign"). The root "strange" evolved to mean "unfamiliar" or "unusual" in Middle English, while the suffix "-er" denotes a person associated with the root. Thus, a "stranger" literally means "a person who is unfamiliar or foreign." Over time, the term shifted from emphasizing foreignness to emphasizing lack of familiarity in a social context.
She felt uneasy when a stranger approached her in the park.
As a stranger in the city, he relied on maps to navigate.
The villagers were wary of the stranger who arrived at dusk.
In some cultures, offering food to a stranger is a sign of hospitality.
He was no longer a stranger after living in the town for a year.