e of birth, _alien_ to difference of
allegiance. In their figurative use, that is _foreign_ which is
_remote_, _unlike_, or _unconnected_; that is _alien_ which is
_conflicting_, _hostile_, or _opposed_. _Impertinent_ and _irrelevant_
matters can not claim consideration in a certain connection;
_inappropriate_ matters could not properly be considered. Compare ALIEN,
_n._; CONTRAST, _v._

Antonyms:

akin, apropos, germane, proper,
appropriate, essential, pertinent, relevant.

Prepositions:

Such a purpose was alien _to_ (or _from_) my thought: _to_ preferable.

* * * * *

ALIEN, _n._

Synonyms:

foreigner, stranger.

A naturalized citizen is not an _alien_, though a _foreigner_ by birth,
and perhaps a _stranger_ in the place where he resides. A person of
foreign birth not naturalized is an _alien_, though he may have been
resident in the country a large part of a lifetime, and ceased to be a
_stranger_ to its people or institutions. He is an _alien_ in one
country if his allegiance is to another. The people of any country still
residing in their own land are, strictly speaking, _foreigners_ to the
people of all other countries, rather than _aliens_; but _alien_ and
_foreigner_ are often used synonymously.

Antonyms:

citizen, fellow-countryman, native-born inhabitant,
countryman, native, naturalized person.

Prepositions:

Aliens _to_ (more rarely _from_) our nation and laws; aliens _in_ our
land, _among_ our people.

* * * * *

ALIKE.

Synonyms:

akin, equivalent, kindred, same,
analogous, homogeneous, like, similar,
equal, identical, resembling, uniform.

_Alike_ is a comprehensive word, signifying as applied to two or more
objects that some or all qualities of one are the same as those of the
other or others; by modifiers _alike_ may be made to express more or
less resemblance; as, these houses are somewhat (_i. e._, partially)
_alike_; or, these houses are exactly (_i. e._, in all respects)
_alike_. Cotton and wool are _alike_ in this, that they can both be
woven into cloth. Substances are _homogeneous_ which are made up of
elements of the _same_ kind, or which are the _same_ in structure. Two
pieces of iron may be _homogeneous_ in material, while not _alike_ in
size or shape. In geometry, two triangles are _equal_ when they can be
laid over on