estranged

Everyday

1. Estranged means no longer close to someone, usually a family member or husband or wife, because you have stopped speaking or living together. tree →
2. (formal) Cut off or feeling apart from something you once belonged to. tree →

In the lessons

Used in stories and news about families: «his estranged father», «an estranged wife». It tells the reader there was a break in the relationship, often after a quarrel.

Examples

• She had not spoken to her estranged sister for a long time. tree →
• The estranged brothers met again at the funeral. tree →
• His estranged wife lives in another city. tree →
• The story is about an estranged father and son who make peace. tree →
• After the argument, they became estranged. tree →
• The old man wrote to his estranged daughter. tree →

Note

Usually used before a family word (estranged husband, estranged mother). Verb «estrange» is rare. Not the same as «strange» (odd), although they share a root.

In Jewish tradition

It means turned away from or made a stranger. It can be a person cut off from friends, or wicked people who go wrong from birth.

Interpretation. Job feels that all his friends and family have abandoned him. The psalm is read as a strong picture of how deeply wrongdoing can take hold.

Examples

• They were not estranged from their craving, their food was yet in their mouths, (Writings PSA.78.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me. (Writings JOB.19.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• The wicked are estranged from the womb; the speakers of lies go astray as soon as they are born. (Writings PSA.58.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Usually used before a family word (estranged husband, estranged mother). Verb «estrange» is rare. Not the same as «strange» (odd), although they share a root.