What does Shakespeare mean by the word stranger?

In Shakespeare's time, the word "stranger" had a broader meaning than it does today. It could refer to someone who was simply unfamiliar or unknown, but it could also refer to someone who was foreign or from a different country. Additionally, the word "stranger" could be used to describe someone who was unusual or eccentric.

Here are some examples of how Shakespeare used the word "stranger" in his plays:

* In _Romeo and Juliet_, Juliet refers to Romeo as a "stranger in this city," because he is from Verona, while she is from Mantua.

* In _The Merchant of Venice_, Shylock refers to Antonio as a "stranger," because he is a Christian, while Shylock is a Jew.

* In _Twelfth Night_, Viola refers to herself as a "stranger," because she is disguised as a man and is therefore unrecognizable to everyone.

In each of these cases, the word "stranger" is used to describe someone who is different or unfamiliar in some way. This meaning of the word is still used today, although it is less common than the more narrow sense of "someone who is not from this town or country."