> We are Strange Fish.
The word **"strange"** in English ultimately derives from the Latin word ***extrāneus***, which means “external,” “foreign,” or “from outside.”
The shift from **“foreign”** to **“unusual”** happened naturally: things that come from outside your world often *seem* strange—different customs, foods, clothes, ideas. The word **strange** still carries a ghost of its original meaning: unfamiliar, not from around here. Just like a hitchhiker from Betelgeuse.
> Strangeness is a concept that I am working with in Creative Space.
> It captures a feel which is both exciting and uncomfortable. It is not as far, or as clear as controversial - but rather it is hints at being such. It is the love-child of magic, and controversial with an element of humour. Yet it could be dangerous. Most of all it is alive.
# Latin Roots * The Latin word ***extrāneus*** comes from ***extra***, meaning *outside*. * So *extrāneus* meant someone or something that is *from outside*—in other words, **foreign** or **not belonging**.
# Old French Evolution * From Latin, it passed into **Old French** as ***estrange*** or ***estrangier*** (meaning “foreign” or “stranger”). * These words didn’t just describe foreigners—they also came to describe anything unusual or unfamiliar, since foreign things were often seen as *odd* or *different*.
# Middle English to Modern English * English borrowed the word in the Middle Ages as **"strange"**, keeping both senses: * “From another place” (foreign) * “Unfamiliar or odd” (unusual) * Over time, the “unusual” meaning grew stronger, and that’s mostly how we use **strange** today.