Definition

Proper noun 1. Old English: The historical form of the English language spoken and written in parts of what are now England and southern Scotland between approximately the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century. It is the earliest recorded stage of the English language, derived from the Germanic dialects of the Anglo-Saxon settlers.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Beowulf is the most famous epic poem written in Old English.
  • Scholars study Old English to understand the linguistic roots of modern English.
  • The Lord's Prayer sounds very different in Old English.

Advanced Usage

• As a linguistic period: The term is used to denote both the language itself and the historical period of its use.
  • The transition from Old English to Middle English was influenced by the Norman Conquest.
• In academic contexts: Often abbreviated as OE in scholarly works.
  • The OE verb system had a complex structure of strong and weak verbs.

Variants and Related Words

• Anglo-Saxon: Often used synonymously with Old English, particularly when referring to the people, culture, or the language before the Norman Conquest.
  • Anglo-Saxon literature includes both poetry and prose.
• West Saxon: The dominant dialect of Old English in which most surviving literature is written.
• Old English alphabet: Refers to the runic and Latin-derived characters used, including the letters thorn (þ) and eth (ð).

Synonyms

• Anglo-Saxon (when referring specifically to the language of the Anglo-Saxons up to about 1100)

Related Phrases

• Old English grammar: The inflectional system of nouns, adjectives, and verbs, which is significantly more complex than in Modern English.
• Old English poetry: Characterized by alliterative verse and heroic themes, as seen in works like and .

Noun

1. English prior to about 1100