Definitions for: English


[n] the discipline that studies the English language and literature
[n] an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the US and most of the Commonwealth countries
[n] (sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist
[n] the people of England
[adj] of or relating to or characteristic of England or its culture; "English histry"; "the English landed aristocracy"; "English literature"



Webster (1913) Definition: Eng"lish, a. [AS. Englisc, fr. Engle, Angle, Engles,
Angles, a tribe of Germans from the southeast of Sleswick, in
Denmark, who settled in Britain and gave it the name of
England. Cf. Anglican.]
Of or pertaining to England, or to its inhabitants, or to the
present so-called Anglo-Saxon race.

English bond (Arch.) See 1st Bond, n., 8.

English breakfast tea. See Congou.

English horn. (Mus.) See Corno Inglese.

English walnut. (Bot.) See under Walnut.


Eng"lish, n.
1. Collectively, the people of England; English people or
persons.

2. The language of England or of the English nation, and of
their descendants in America, India, and other countries.

Note: The English language has been variously divided into
periods by different writers. In the division most
commonly recognized, the first period dates from about
450 to 1150. This is the period of full inflection, and
is called Anglo-Saxon, or, by many recent writers, Old
English. The second period dates from about 1150 to
1550 (or, if four periods be recognized, from about
1150 to 1350), and is called Early English, Middle
English, or more commonly (as in the usage of this
book), Old English. During this period most of the
inflections were dropped, and there was a great
addition of French words to the language. The third
period extends from about 1350 to 1550, and is Middle
English. During this period orthography became
comparatively fixed. The last period, from about 1550,
is called Modern English.

3. A kind of printing type, in size between Pica and Great
Primer. See Type.

Note: The type called English.

4. (Billiards) A twist or spinning motion given to a ball in
striking it that influences the direction it will take
after touching a cushion or another ball.

The King's, or Queen's, English. See under King.


Eng"lish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Englished; p. pr. &
vb. n. Englishing.]
1. To translate into the English language; to Anglicize;
hence, to interpret; to explain.

Those gracious acts . . . may be Englished more
properly, acts of fear and dissimulation. --Milton.

Caxton does not care to alter the French forms and
words in the book which he was Englishing. --T. L.
K. Oliphant.

2. (Billiards) To strike (the cue ball) in such a manner as
to give it in addition to its forward motion a spinning
motion, that influences its direction after impact on
another ball or the cushion. [U.S.]

Synonyms: English language, English people, side, the English

See Also: a people, American, American English, American language, Anglo-Saxon, arts, cockney, country, humanistic discipline, humanities, King's English, land, liberal arts, Middle English, Modern English, nation, Old English, Oxford English, Scots, Scots English, Scottish, spin, West Germanic, West Germanic language

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