Etymology From Middle English alien, a borrowing from Old French alien, aliene, from Latin aliēnus (“belonging to someone else”, later “exotic, foreign”), from Latin alius (“other”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos. Related to English else.
1
A person, animal, plant, or other thing which is from outside the family, group, organization, or territory under consideration.
An animated film intended to inform travellers about the dangers that alien species present to Arctic ecosystems is being released today. The message is that it is important to ensure that nobody accidentally brings alien species with them as stowaways in their clothing, baggage or equipment.2023 March 21 (last accessed), NOBANIS: European Network on Invasive Species:
2
A citizen or national of another sovereign state.
An alien born may purchase lands, or other estates: but not for his own use; for the king is thereupon entitled to them.1773, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the laws of England: in four books, 5th edition, volume 1, page 372:
The counsel have shown conclusively that they are not a state of the union, and have insisted that individually they are aliens, not owing allegiance to the United States.1831, John Marshall, Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, U.S. Government:
2 more examples
I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien I'm an Englishman in New York1987, “Englishman in New York”, in …Nothing Like the Sun, performed by Sting:
Aliens are aliens because of persecution or war or hardship or famine.2004, Wesley Campbell, Stephen Court, Be a hero: the battle for mercy and social justice, Destiny Image Publishers, page 74:
3
Derogatory, Sometimes A mischievous or suspicious foreigner.
4
Any life form of extraterrestrial or extradimensional origin.
You might not have much use for me. You spend too much time with the damn aliens, pretending your time in the gangs back on Earth never happened. I know you weren't happy when I found you at the Citadel a couple years back. But I'm glad you're on this. I hope you find whoever took my people on Freedom's Progress and kick their scaly asses. I'm glad it's a human finding these bastards.2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Hello from the Reds:
5
One excluded from certain privileges; one alienated or estranged.
[…]aliens from the common wealth of Iſrael[…]1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ephesians 2:12, column 2:
The One Who, in this marvellous utterance, brings those who were by nature aliens and enemies of God into intimate and holy relations with God the Father, is the very One Who had to come to offer that Sacrifice without which such relationship would have been forever an impossibility; without which there would have been nothing for the best of men but death and judgment and the lake of fire.1928, Philip Mauro, “The Character of the Sermon on the Mount”, in The Gospel of the Kingdom, with an Examination of Modern Dispensationalism (Religion), Boston: Hamilton Brothers, →OCLC, page 182:
Etymology From Middle English alien, a borrowing from Old French alien, aliene, from Latin aliēnus (“belonging to someone else”, later “exotic, foreign”), from Latin alius (“other”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos. Related to English else.
1
Not belonging to the same country, land, or government, or to the citizens or subjects thereof; foreign.
alien subjects, enemies, property, or shores
2
Very unfamiliar, strange, or removed.
principles alien to our religion
An alien sound of melancholy.1850, William Wordsworth, The Prelude:
3
Pertaining to extraterrestrial life; typical of an extraterrestrial creature.
It had a peculiar alien tallness, a peculiar alien flattened head, peculiar slitty little alien eyes[.]1982, Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe and Everything, page 8:
alien
verb
Etymology From Middle English alien, a borrowing from Old French alien, aliene, from Latin aliēnus (“belonging to someone else”, later “exotic, foreign”), from Latin alius (“other”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos. Related to English else.