Anglo-Saxon
/'æɳglou'sæksən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A member of the Germanic peoples (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) who settled in England from the 5th century AD: The term refers to the people whose culture and language formed the basis of early English society.
- The Old English language: The language spoken by the Anglo-Saxons in England from roughly the mid-5th century until after the Norman Conquest (c. 1100).
- A person of English descent, especially one whose cultural background is considered traditionally English: This modern usage often carries connotations of heritage and cultural identity.
Adjective:
- Relating to the Anglo-Saxon peoples, their language (Old English), or their culture: Describing anything connected to the historical period, language, or society of the Anglo-Saxons.
- Of English or Germanic origin or character: Sometimes used to describe things perceived as having fundamental English qualities.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Historical People):
- The Anglo-Saxons established several kingdoms in Britain.
- Archaeologists study Anglo-Saxon burial sites.
- Noun (Language):
- Beowulf is the most famous poem written in Anglo-Saxon.
- Scholars learn Anglo-Saxon to read ancient manuscripts.
- Noun (Modern Descent):
- He proudly identified as an Anglo-Saxon.
- Adjective:
- Anglo-Saxon art features intricate metalwork and jewelry.
- The Anglo-Saxon chronicle is a key historical record.
Advanced Usage
- In historical linguistics: "Anglo-Saxon" is synonymous with "Old English," the earliest recorded stage of the English language.
- The Anglo-Saxon word for 'king' is 'cyning'.
- In cultural or political discourse: The term can be used, sometimes controversially, to denote a perceived ethnic or cultural core.
- The concept of an Anglo-Saxon legal tradition is often debated by historians.
Variants and Related Words
- Old English (n): The preferred modern scholarly term for the Anglo-Saxon language.
- Anglian (adj/n): Pertaining to or a member of the Angles, one of the main Anglo-Saxon tribes.
- Saxon (adj/n): Pertaining to or a member of the Saxons, another main tribe; also used more broadly for early Germanic peoples.
Synonyms
- Old English (for the language).
- Early English (for the people or period, though less precise).
Related Phrases and Compounds
- Anglo-Saxon England: The historical period in England from the 5th to 11th centuries.
- Anglo-Saxonism: An emphasis on Anglo-Saxon culture, heritage, or influence.
- White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP): A sociological term for a privileged demographic group in the United States.
Noun
- English prior to about 1100
- a person of Anglo-Saxon (especially British) descent whose native tongue is English and whose culture is strongly influenced by English culture as in WASP for `White Anglo-Saxon Protestant'
- in the ninth century the Vikings began raiding the Anglo-Saxons in Britain
- his ancestors were not just British, they were Anglo-Saxons
- a native or inhabitant of England prior to the Norman Conquest
Adjective
- of or relating to the Anglo-Saxons or their language
- Anglo-Saxon poetry
- The Anglo-Saxon population of Scotland