1340, "strange, foreign," from O.Fr. alien, from L. alienus "of or belonging to another," adj. form of alius "(an)other" (see alias). Meaning "of another planet" first recorded 1944 in science fiction writing; the noun in this sense is from 1953. The noun sense of "foreigner" is first attested 1330. An alien priory (1502) is one owing obedience to a mother abbey in a foreign country.
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something; "an economic theory alien to the spirit of capitalism"; "the mysticism so foreign to the French mind and temper"; "jealousy is foreign to her nature"
2.
being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world; "alien customs"; "exotic plants in a greenhouse"; "exotic cuisine"
noun
1.
a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country [syn: foreigner] [ant: citizen]
2.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found [syn: stranger] [ant: acquaintance]
3.
a form of life assumed to exist outside the Earth or its atmosphere [syn: extraterrestrial being]
verb
1.
transfer property or ownership; "The will aliened the property to the heirs"
2.
arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness; "She alienated her friends when she became fanatically religious" [syn: estrange]
alienAudio Help (ā'lē-ən) Pronunciation Key
Introduced to a region deliberately or accidentally by humans. Starlings, German cockroaches, and dandelions are species that are alien to North America but have become widely naturalized in the continent. Compare endemic, indigenous.
Ab*al"ien*ate\ ([a^]b*[=a]l"yen*[=a]t; 94, 106), v. t. [L. abalienatus, p. p. of abalienare; ab + alienus foreign, alien. See Alien.]1. (Civil Law) To transfer the title of from one to another; to alienate. 2. To estrange; to withdraw. [Obs.] 3. To cause alienation of (mind). --Sandys.
Al"ien\, a. [OF. alien, L. alienus, fr. alius another; properly, therefore, belonging to another. See Else.]1. Not belonging to the same country, land, or government, or to the citizens or subjects thereof; foreign; as, alien subjects, enemies, property, shores. 2. Wholly different in nature; foreign; adverse; inconsistent (with); incongruous; -- followed by from or sometimes by to; as, principles alien from our religion. An alien sound of melancholy. --Wordsworth. Alien enemy (Law), one who owes allegiance to a government at war with ours. --Abbott.
Al"ien\, n. 1. A foreigner; one owing allegiance, or belonging, to another country; a foreign-born resident of a country in which he does not possess the privileges of a citizen. Hence, a stranger. See Alienage. 2. One excluded from certain privileges; one alienated or estranged; as, aliens from God's mercies. Aliens from the common wealth of Israel. --Ephes. ii. 12.
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Audio Help [eyl-yuh
