Take the tour ×  I was reading this article from the New York
Times and I came across the word surrealistically. I know
surreal means something resembling a dream. But I am not sure
what is it that the author wants to express.  Here is the
context:  In any breakup, there is this moment when a person who
was a part of you just an instant ago becomes a surrealistically
familiar stranger.  Can someone please enlighten me?
share|improve this question add comment  2 Answers  up vote 5
down vote accepted  Surrealistically is an adverb of surreal
which can mean unreal or fantastic. Thus this person seems both
like a stranger and someone familiar, something pretty surreal.
In the example, surrealistically modifies the word familiar.
share|improve this answer hmm, I am sorry, but I am not able to
understand how can something be 'strange' yet 'familiar' at the
same time. Even if it/the person seems 'surreal' i.e.
'resembling a dream' –  Sudhi Oct 23 '11 at 9:16 That's the
whole point: it's surreal or strange or bizar