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foreign definition

for·eign (fôrin, fär-)

adjective

  1. situated outside one's own country, province, locality, etc. foreign lands
  2. of, from, or characteristic of another country or countries foreign languages
  3. having to do with the relations of one country to another country or countries foreign affairs, foreign trade
  4. not subject to the laws or jurisdiction of the specified country
    1. not natural to the person or thing specified; not belonging; not characteristic a trait foreign to one's nature
    2. not pertinent; irrelevant
  5. not organically belonging; introduced from outside: said of substances found in parts of the body or in organisms where they do not naturally occur

Etymology: ME forein < OFr forein, forain < LL foranus, foreign, orig., external < L foras, out-of-doors, orig. acc. pl. of OL fora, door

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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