Alienation, n.
Etymology: [F. aliénation, L. alienatio, fr. alienare, fr. alienare. See Alienate.]
1. The act of alienating, or the state of being alienated.
2. (Law)
A transfer of title, or a legal conveyance of property to another.
3. A withdrawing or estrangement, as of the affections. The alienation of his heart from the king. Bacon.
2 more senses
4. Mental alienation; derangement of the mental faculties; insanity; as, alienation of mind.
Syn. -- Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; aberration; mania; delirium; frenzy; dementia; monomania. See Insanity.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for alienation; he lists it under insanity.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.