stranger

Where does the word "stranger" come from? It comes from Latin extraneus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Stranger’s story begins in Latin: extraneus meant “external, foreign.” From 'extra', outside, the root of 'extraneous'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as estrangier. Modern French 'étranger' still means foreigner. It reached English by 1300s as stranger. 'strange' comes from the same root. Today, stranger means a person one does not know.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient extraneus "external, foreign", from 'extra', outside, the root of 'extraneous'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval estrangier "foreigner", modern French 'étranger' still means foreigner.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s stranger "foreigner", 'strange' comes from the same root.