alien — a creature from another planet; a foreigner
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a creature from another planet; a foreigner
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈeɪliən/
Example Sentences
- My cat acts like an alien when it stares at the wall for no reason.
- Working from home was totally alien to my grandfather's generation.
- The new student felt like an alien in a school where everyone spoke a different language.
alien
NOUN[/ˈeɪliən/]
a creature from another planet; a foreigner
A glowing alien steps out of a saucer and waves at stunned campers.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Latin alienus, meaning 'belonging to another person' or 'foreign'. It evolved from the Latin root alius (other, different) with the suffix -enus, extending the meaning to describe anything that is fundamentally different from or foreign to oneself.
Breakdown
alius (other, different) + -enus (adjective suffix) = alienus (belonging to another, foreign). The English form alien drops the Latin case ending while retaining the core sense of 'other' or 'foreign'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat acts like an alien when it stares at the wall for no reason.”
“Working from home was totally alien to my grandfather's generation.”
“The new student felt like an alien in a school where everyone spoke a different language.”
“My mom's cooking skills are so alien to me that I can't even boil water properly.”
📚Related Words
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