estranged
estranged
Pronunciation
ɪˈstreɪndʒd
Syllable Breakdown:
ɪs /ɪs/ - /ɪ/ as in "bit" + /s/ as in "sip"
treɪn /treɪn/ - /t/ as in "tea" + /r/ as in "red" + /eɪ/ as in "bait" + /n/ as in "no"
dʒd /dʒd/ - /dʒ/ as in "judge" + /d/ as in "dog"
Word Form Variations
The word "estranged" primarily functions as an adjective. However, it's derived from the verb "to estrange." Here's a breakdown of its word forms:
Estranged: (adjective) This is the most common form, describing someone who is no longer on friendly terms with someone they were once close to.
Example: "The estranged couple finally decided to divorce."
To Estrange: (verb)
Present Tense:
I estrange, you estrange, he/she/it estranges, we estrange, you estrange, they estrange
Past Tense: estranged
Past Participle: estranged
Present Participle (Gerund): estranging
Note: There are no plural forms for the word "estranged" itself, as it describes a state or condition.
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Adjective:
Definition:
Having lost affection, closeness, or a formerly warm relationship; alienated or separated, especially from family or close associates.
Describes a state of emotional distance resulting from disagreement, conflict, or lack of communication.
Synonyms:
Alienated, separated, alienated, distanced, disaffected, parted, divided, withdrawn, isolated.
Antonyms:
Close, reconciled, united, friendly, affectionate, intimate, connected, attached.
Example: "She had an estranged relationship with her siblings after years of conflict."
Verb:
Definition:
To cause someone to become alienated or emotionally distant; to separate or remove from a previously close relationship.
To create a feeling of distance or alienation.
Synonyms:
Alienate, separate, drive apart, set at odds, disaffect, part, divide.
Antonyms:
Unite, reconcile, befriend, connect, attach, bring together.
Example: "Their constant arguments began to estrange them from their closest friends."
Important note:
While "estranged" is most commonly used as an adjective, it originates from the verb "estrange".
Examples of Use
Books:
"The estranged father returned after years of silence, hoping to mend fences with his daughter." (From the novel "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini)
"He felt increasingly estranged from his childhood friends as their lives took different paths." (From the short story collection "Dubliners" by James Joyce)
Newspapers:
"The estranged wife filed for divorce after years of marital strife." (The New York Times)
"The estranged siblings reunited after decades of estrangement, a poignant moment for the entire family." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Social media can sometimes estrange us from real-life human connection." (Article on a technology blog)
"The pandemic has left many feeling estranged from their communities." (Article on a news website)
Entertainment Mediums:
Film: In the movie "The Godfather," the protagonist becomes estranged from his family due to his involvement in the mafia.
Television: A popular soap opera storyline might revolve around an estranged couple trying to reconcile.
Music: Songs often explore themes of estrangement, such as feeling disconnected from society or loved ones. (e.g., "Estranged" by Guns N' Roses)
General Public Discourse:
"I feel so estranged from my hometown after living in the city for so long." (Everyday conversation)
"Political polarization has led to an increasingly estranged society." (Discussion in a political forum)
These examples demonstrate the versatility of the word "estranged" and its relevance in various contexts.
10 Famous Quotes Using Estranged
“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us. Estranged from what was, to find what will be.” – Joseph Campbell
“We are born to love and we live to love. It is only fear that estranges us from each other.” – Anonymous
“I have become estranged from the world around me, and from myself.” – Franz Kafka
“Sometimes, we find ourselves estranged from those we love, yet closer to who we are.” – Anonymous
“She was estranged from her past, yet it clung to her like a shadow.” – Isabel Allende
“To be estranged from those you love is to be cut off from the very air you breathe.” – Anonymous
“Estranged from my homeland, I learned to make a new home in my heart.” – Maya Angelou
“We can be estranged even from ourselves, wandering lost in our own hearts.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
“The more we see ourselves as separate, the more estranged we become from the world and each other.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“Estrangement can bring with it a clarity, a vision unclouded by the familiar.” – Virginia Woolf
Etymology
The word "estranged" has a fascinating history!
Roots: It comes from the Latin word "extraneus," which means "foreign" or "from outside."
Journey: Over time, "extraneus" traveled through languages like Latin, then to Old French as "estranger," meaning "to treat as a stranger."
Arrival in English: "Estranged" entered the English language around the 1500s.
Early Meaning: Initially, it meant something like "made foreign" or "made distant."
In simpler terms: Imagine you have a close friend. If something happens that makes them feel like a stranger to you, they might become "estranged." It's like they've been pushed away and now feel distant and disconnected.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Estranged
"Estranged" itself doesn't typically appear in many common idioms or set phrases. It's more often used as a straightforward adjective. Let’s explore some creative options and idioms that capture the essence of being estranged:
"To be a stranger in one's own land." (This idiom, while not directly using "estranged," beautifully captures the feeling of being alienated or disconnected from one's own environment or community.)
"To feel like a ship passing in the night." (This idiom describes a fleeting and distant encounter, much like the relationship of estranged individuals.)
"To be a world apart." (This phrase emphasizes the significant emotional and social distance between estranged individuals.)
"To drift apart." (This idiom describes how relationships can gradually become more distant and eventually estranged.)
"To be on opposite sides of the tracks." (This idiom, while often used to describe social or economic divisions, can metaphorically represent the estrangement between individuals or groups.)
Why fewer idioms with "estranged" directly:
Stronger as an adjective: "Estranged" itself is a powerful and concise word that effectively conveys the state of being distant.
Focus on the state, not the action: Idioms often emphasize actions or processes. "Estranged" primarily describes a state of being.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of estranged from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
