Definition

1. Noun:
   • The variety of the French language used in medieval England: "Anglo-French" refers specifically to the form of Old Northern French (primarily the Norman dialect) that was brought to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and used there for several centuries in law, administration, literature, and by the ruling class.

Usage

• "Anglo-French" is a historical and linguistic term. It is used to describe the language itself, as well as texts, documents, or literature written in that language during the medieval period in England. It is often capitalized.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Many legal terms in modern English, such as 'jury' and 'evidence', have their origins in Anglo-French.
  • Scholars study Anglo-French to understand the administrative records of medieval England.
  • The poem was written in Anglo-French, reflecting the bilingual nature of the English court.

Advanced Usage

• "Anglo-French literature": refers to the body of literary works composed in the Anglo-French language in medieval England.
  • Anglo-French literature includes romances, chronicles, and religious texts.

Variants and Related Words

• Anglo-Norman: This term is often used interchangeably with "Anglo-French" to refer to the same language variety, though it can also refer more specifically to the Norman settlers in England and their culture.
  • The Anglo-Norman dialect evolved differently from the French spoken on the continent.

Synonyms

• Law French: A later, technical form of Anglo-French that persisted in English courts until the 17th century.
• Anglo-Norman French: A synonymous term emphasizing the Norman origins of the language.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term "Anglo-French" is almost exclusively a historical linguistic term. It should not be confused with modern relations or mixtures between English and French cultures or languages (e.g., "Anglo-French relations" refers to diplomacy between Britain and France, not the medieval language).

Noun

1. the French (Norman) language used in medieval England