In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
EXTRANEOUS
external, extraneous, outside
(adjective) coming from the outside; “extraneous light in the camera spoiled the photograph”; “relying upon an extraneous income”; “disdaining outside pressure groups”
extraneous
(adjective) not essential; “the ballet struck me as extraneous and somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the play”
extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, orthogonal
(adjective) not pertinent to the matter under consideration; “an issue extraneous to the debate”; “the price was immaterial”; “mentioned several impertinent facts before finally coming to the point”
extraneous, foreign
(adjective) not belonging to that in which it is contained; introduced from an outside source; “water free of extraneous matter”; “foreign particles in milk”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
extraneous (not comparable)
Not belonging to, or dependent upon, a thing; without or beyond a thing; foreign
Not essential or intrinsic
Synonyms
• (not belonging to): additional, alien, foreign, intrusive; See also foreign
• (not essential): superfluous, extra; See also extrinsic
Source: Wiktionary
Ex*tra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. extraneus, from extra. See Extra, Strange.]
Definition: Not belonging to, or dependent upon, a thing; without or beyond a thing; not essential or intrinsic; foreign; as, to separate gold from extraneous matter. Nothing is admitted extraneous from the indictment. Landor.
– Ex*tra"ne*ous*ly, adv.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
8 June 2025
EXECUTION
(noun) (law) the completion of a legal instrument (such as a contract or deed) by signing it (and perhaps sealing and delivering it) so that it becomes legally binding and enforceable
Coffee Trivia
