a. [f. L. extrāneus external (f. extrā outside) + -OUS. (Cf. strange, ad. OF. estrange:—L. extrāneus.)]
1. Of external origin; introduced or added from without; foreign to the object in which it is contained, or to which it is attached.
1638. A. Read, Chirurg., ix. 67. Such medicaments ought not onely to consume the extraneous humidity, but the naturall also.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxv. § 8. 152. Relation … though it be not contained in the real existence of Things, but something extraneous, and superinduced.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), II. IV. iv. 358. Fossil, or, as they are called, extraneous shells.
1797. M. Baillie, Morb. Anat. (1807), 306. An extraneous body can be … easily introduced into their bladder.
1827. Hare, Guesses, Ser. I. (1873), 183. Many objects are made venerable by extraneous circumstances.
1833. Lyell, Princ. Geol., III. 187. I sought in vain … for a single fragment of any extraneous rock.
1879. Stainer, Music of Bible, 159. A slight melodic framework, almost hidden beneath a load of extraneous graces.
b. Of an action, etc.: Proceeding from without.
1786. Burke, W. Hastings, Wks. 1842, II. 184. Hastings did for a long time … attribute the weakness of his government to an extraneous interference.
1834. J. Forbes, Laennec’s Dis. Chest (ed. 4), 26. The … application of the naked ear … gives rise to extraneous sounds.
1862. Marsh, Eng. Lang., ii. 40. The Low-German dialects were … exposed to extraneous disturbing forces.
1867. J. Hogg, Microsc., I. ii. 119–20. Excluding extraneous light.
c. nonce-use. Brought from abroad, ‘exotic.’
c. 1750. Shenstone, Elegies, xviii. 58. Rob’d in the Gallic loom’s extraneous twine.
2. External to, not comprised in or forming part of, the object under consideration.
1662. Bates, in Pepys, Diary, 17 Aug. It is not my manner to speak anything in the pulpit that is extraneous to my text and business.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxxi. § 4. 177. When ever the Mind refers any of its Ideas to any thing extraneous to them, they are then capable to be called true or false.
1794. Paley, Evid., Wks. 1825, II. 377. Of points clearly extraneous to the religion, nothing need be said.
1865. Maffei, Brigand Life, II. 121. The question of brigandage being extraneous to all political controversies.
b. Of a person: Not belonging to a specified community, country or family.
a. 1656. Vines, Lord’s Supp. (1677), 212. Heathens and Infidels are excluded from this Table, because they are extraneous and without.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 376/1. If at any time there were any extraneous … persons amongst them, the Men … signify’d their meaning to one another by Symbols.
1842. Arnold, Lect. Mod. Hist., iii. 187. It has … to feed one or more extraneous persons besides.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. ii. (1872), 20. Nearly all who are of the world are extraneous to it [the church].
† c. Foreign in nature, having nothing in common. Obs. rare.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., iv. 74. Mercury one thing, and Sulpher another, as extraneous bodies one to another.
Hence Extraneously adv.; Extraneousness, the quality or state of being extraneous.
1755. E. Law, Th. Relig., III. 237, note. By their being extraneously overruled.
1881. Westcott & Hort, Grk. N. T., II. Notes 44. Without giving any sign of extraneousness.
