Alienness: meaning, definitions and examples

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alienness

 

[ ˈeɪ.li.ən.nəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

state of being

Alienness refers to the quality or state of being alien, unfamiliar, or foreign. It often conveys a sense of otherness, indicating that something or someone is different from what is familiar or typically encountered. This term can be used in various contexts, including cultural, social, and psychological discussions.

Synonyms

foreignness, otherness, strangeness, unfamiliarity

Examples of usage

  • The alienness of the landscape was striking to the travelers.
  • Her alienness in the group made her feel isolated.
  • The film explored the alienness of life forms on other planets.

Translations

Translations of the word "alienness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 alienigena

🇮🇳 परायापन

🇩🇪 Fremdheit

🇮🇩 kealienan

🇺🇦 чужинність

🇵🇱 cudzoziemskość

🇯🇵 異質性

🇫🇷 aliénité

🇪🇸 extrañeza

🇹🇷 yabancılık

🇰🇷 외계성

🇸🇦 الغرابة

🇨🇿 cizost

🇸🇰 cudzinstvo

🇨🇳 外星性

🇸🇮 tuje

🇮🇸 útlendingur

🇰🇿 шетелдік

🇬🇪 უცხოობა

🇦🇿 xaricilik

🇲🇽 extranjería

Etymology

The word 'alienness' derives from the root word 'alien', which comes from the Latin term 'alienus', meaning 'belonging to another'. The concept of alienness has evolved through time, often reflecting societal views on foreignness and cultural differences. 'Alien' first appeared in English in the early 14th century, denoting something or someone that does not belong to one's own country or culture. The suffix '-ness' is used to form nouns indicating a state or condition, thereby transforming 'alien' into 'alienness' to express the state of being alien. Over the centuries, the term has found relevance in various disciplines, including literature, sociology, and psychology, emphasizing not just the physical or evident differences, but also the emotional and perceptual distances created by alienness.