kentish
/'kentiʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Proper noun 1. A historical dialect of English: Refers specifically to one of the major dialects of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and also to a dialect of Middle English, spoken in the region of Kent in southeastern England.
Usage
- Proper noun: The term is used primarily in historical and linguistic contexts to classify and discuss the specific linguistic features of English as it was spoken in Kent.
- Scholars study Kentish to understand the regional variations in Old English.
- The Kentish dialect had distinct phonological characteristics.
Advanced Usage
- Kentish fire: An idiom referring to prolonged, rhythmic applause or, conversely, to a sustained chorus of jeering or protest.
- The speaker was greeted with Kentish fire from his supporters.
- The unpopular policy was met with Kentish fire from the crowd.
Variants and Related Words
- Kent: The modern county in England from which the dialect takes its name.
- Old English Kentish: The specific form of the dialect from the Anglo-Saxon period.
- Middle English Kentish: The evolved form of the dialect from the medieval period.
Synonyms
- Dialect of Kent: A more descriptive synonym.
- Anglian (in specific contexts): Kentish is sometimes grouped under the broader Anglian branch of Old English dialects, alongside Mercian and Northumbrian.
Related Idioms
- Kentish fire: As defined in 'Advanced Usage'.
Noun
- a dialect of Middle English
- one of the major dialects of Old English