Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The historical stage of the English language: "Middle English" refers to the form of the English language that was spoken and written in England approximately from the late 11th century to the late 15th century. It developed from Old English (Anglo-Saxon) after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and evolved into Early Modern English.

Usage

• "Middle English" is used as a historical and linguistic term to classify texts, literature, and the state of the language during this specific period.
• It is always capitalized as it is a proper noun referring to a specific historical era of the language.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" is the most famous work written in Middle English.
  • The transition from Old English to Middle English involved significant changes in grammar and vocabulary.
  • Scholars study Middle English to understand the evolution of the modern language.

Advanced Usage

• "in Middle English": used to describe the language of a specific text or utterance.
  • The poem was composed in Middle English.
• "Middle English period": refers to the timeframe itself.
  • The Middle English period saw the influence of French on the English lexicon.

Variants and Related Words

• Middle English (adj): Pertaining to this language stage.
  • A Middle English manuscript.
• Old English (n): The historical stage of English preceding Middle English (c. 450-1100).
• Early Modern English (n): The historical stage of English following Middle English (c. 1450-1700).

Synonyms

• Medieval English: A less common synonym emphasizing the medieval time period.

Notes

• "Middle English" is a fixed compound noun. It is not typically used with phrasal verbs or idioms. Its usage is primarily academic and historical.

Noun

1. English from about 1100 to 1450