Interloper
Noun
Definition: A person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.
Synonyms: Intruder, Trespasser, Outsider
Antonyms: Resident, Member, Insider
- The villagers regarded the outsider as an interloper disrupting their peaceful community.
- He felt like an interloper at the exclusive social gathering, not knowing anyone there.
- Think of an interloper as someone who "in"ter-"lopes" into a place they don't belong.
Etymology:
The word "interloper" originated in the mid-17th century from the Dutch word "onderlooper," which meant someone who worked without a license in the East Indies trading system.
Historical Usage:Initially used to describe unauthorized traders, the term evolved to encompass those who intrude or meddle in any situation without proper authorization.
Related Idioms:
"The balance of power shifted when the interloper entered the scene."
Explanation:Describing a disruptive or unexpected presence that alters the dynamic of a situation or group.
Misconceptions:
Considering an interloper as someone who merely enters a place without permission, rather than someone who involves themselves where they are not wanted.
Explanation:The key aspect of an interloper is that they interfere or intrude in a situation where they are unwelcome or don't belong, rather than just entering a place unauthorized.