English

[ ing-glishor, often, -lish ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of England or its inhabitants, institutions, etc.
2. belonging or relating to, or spoken or written in, the English language:

   a high school English class;

   an English translation of a Spanish novel.

3. of or relating to a person or thing that is not Amish, generally used by Amish people in Anglophone North America:

   The Amish rarely celebrate English holidays like Labor Day.

   He fixed a rabbit hutch for his English neighbor.

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) the people of England collectively, especially as distinguished from the Scots, Welsh, and Irish.
2. the Germanic language of England, widespread and standard also in the United States, Canada, and other countries colonized or settled by England, historically termed Old English (c450–c1150), Middle English (c1150–c1475), and Modern English (after c1475). : E
3. English language, composition, and literature as offered as a course of study in school.
4. a specific variety of the English language, as that of a particular time, place, or person:

   Shakespearean English;

   American English.

5. simple, straightforward language:

   What does all that jargon mean in English?

6. Sports. (sometimes lowercase)
   1. a spinning motion imparted to a ball, especially in billiards.
   2. body English.
7. Printing. a 14-point type of a size between pica and Columbian.
8. a grade of calendered paper having a smooth matte finish.
9. (used with a plural verb) people who are not Amish, generally used by Amish people in Anglophone North America:

   More Amish than English live in this county.

verb (used with object)

1. to translate into English:

   to English Euripides.

2. to adopt (a foreign word) into English; Anglicize.
3. (sometimes lowercase) Sports. to impart spin to (a ball).

English

/ ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /

noun

1. the official language of Britain, the US, most parts of the Commonwealth, and certain other countries. It is the native language of over 280 million people and is acquired as a second language by many more. It is an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch See also Middle English Old English Modern English
2. the English
   functioning as plural the natives or inhabitants of England collectively
3. (formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 14 point
4. an old style of black-letter typeface
5. often not capital the usual US and Canadian term for side

adjective

1. denoting, using, or relating to the English language
2. relating to or characteristic of England or the English

verb

1. archaic.
   to translate or adapt into English Anglo-

Derived Forms

• ˈEnglishness, noun

Other Words From

• Eng·lish·ness noun
• an·ti-Eng·lish adjective
• half-Eng·lish adjective
• non-Eng·lish adjective noun
• pre-Eng·lish adjective
• pro-Eng·lish adjective
• pseu·do-Eng·lish adjective
• qua·si-Eng·lish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of English¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English Englisc, equivalent to Engle (plural) “the English” (compare Latin Anglī “the Angles,” a branch of the Suevians + -isc; Angle, Anglic, -ish ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see body English ; in plain English .

Example Sentences

"His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club, and the English game at large."

From BBC

The English National Opera has announced its first productions and plans for Manchester after being forced to relocate out of London.

From BBC

Often ridiculed by parliamentary sketch writers for mangling the English language, to supporters he appeared an ordinary man facing the intellectual bullying by people with a better education.

From BBC

At one end of the Haslegrave Ground on the university campus, in the shadow of English cricket's National Performance Centre, is a marquee, big enough to hold the swankiest wedding.

From BBC

She has no background in instruction, and the only language that she and her pupils share is English, which is not a native tongue for any of them.

From New York Times