Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. English prior to about 1100
2. 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
3. a native or inhabitant of England prior to the Norman Conquest

Adjective

1. of or relating to the Anglo-Saxons or their language
   • Anglo-Saxon poetry
   • The Anglo-Saxon population of Scotland