Middle English Dictionary Entry
English adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | English adj. Also ænglish, Inglish, Inglis, Engleis (AF). |
| Etymology | OE Englisc, ænglisc, & AF Engleis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. Engle.
1.
Pertaining or belonging to England or the English people; originating in England; ?also, of Anglo-Saxon stock (as distinct from Norman French) [quot.: (1155)].
Associated quotations
- ?a1150 Chron.Tbr.B.1 (Tbr B.1)an.1066 : Ða wes þer an of Norwegan þe wiðstod þet Englisce folc.
- (1155) Chart.Hen.II in Hall EME (Hrl Charter 3.B.49)11 : H[enry] þurh godes ȝefu ænglelandes king gret..ealle mine þeinas, frencisce & englisce.
- c1225 Sanctus beda (Wor F.174)3 : [S]anctus beda was iboren her on breotene mid us & he wisliche [writen] awende þat þeo englisc leoden þurh weren ilerde.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.19 : Ȝiff Ennglissh follc, forr lufe off Crist, Itt wollde ȝerne lernenn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)32232 : Ænglisce kinges walden þas londes.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)73/79 : Þe englische barones bicomen some on-treowe and false.
- c1390(1377) Death Edw.III (Vrn)17 : Sum tyme an Englisch Schip we had.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)173b/a : Seint Gregory seith ynglysshe children to sellyng at Rome..and herde þat þey were Inglysshe.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)84/33 : Þe Englysch preste whech was hir enmye.
- (1443) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2237 : The admirall of Englis shipps..in the forecastell of the ship of the seid admiral of Englisse nave.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1470 : And Englyssh Gaufride eke.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)23/18 : Both the Frensh knyght and the Englysh knyght.
- (1474) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3281 : Iff Normandie and Gascoigne were Englissh, the Frenssh partie had not where to kepe any navie.
2.
(a) Of books, songs, etc.: written or composed in the English language; (b) English leden, ~speche, ~tale, ~tunge, the English language; (c) English laten, English speech filled with expressions newly borrowed from Latin, Latinate English.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)31 : He nom þa Englisca boc þa makede seint Beda.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)167 : Ich habbe i-sungen þe ðesne englissce lai.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24 : Sanges sere of selcuth rime, Inglis [Göt: Engliss; Trin-C: englisshe; Frf: Ingeles], frankys, and latine.
- (a1451) Will York in Sur.Soc.4598 : Vj Englisch bokys.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)32/16 : We al swa hit sæcgæð on Engliscere sprece eow.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3055 : Onn Enngliss spæche.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)3/7 : Þe liflade of a meiden þet is of latin iturnd to englische leode.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)4/27 : 'Syon', ase muchel on englische ledene ase 'heh sihðe'.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)14 : Ut of latin ðis song is dragen on engleis speche.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)450 : Bigamie is unkinde ðing, On engleis tale 'twie-wifing'.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)168 : In ese of englysch men, in englysch speche.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)44 : Y vndyr-toke On englyssh tunge to make þys boke.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)234 : For the loue of Inglis [Göt: englijs; Trin-C: englisshe; Frf: englis] lede.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4246 : So þat þe laurer of oure englische tonge Be to hym [Chaucer] ȝoue for his excellence.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)140 : Englysshe speche: Anglicum.
- a1450(?a1390) Mirk Fest.Suppl.(Cld A.2)299/17 : Teche hem to sayne þus in Ynglis tonge, þat þei mown vndurstande what þei sayne.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)222 : This ȝere [1362] was ordeyned that alle plees at the barre schuld be in Englisch tunge, and in no othir tunge.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)429 : Þe paternoster in engliȝsch tunge.
c
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)124 : Englysch Laten.
3.
Phrases. (a) English bord, ~iren, ~mile, ~oke, ~penni, ~pound, ~werk; (b) with French word order: leges English, English leagues, merchaunt English, etc.; (c) English born, born in England.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1162 : Þo wende forth a man..and huyrde him a mere For an Englichs peni.
- (1413) Doc.in HMC Rep.9 App.132 : Made with Englysshbordes like the part of the roof of the church of Romford over the high altar.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.851 : He cutted aboute xxvj peces of fals Inglysh iryn of John Lyllyng of York mercer..and made yam in shappe of osmundes.
- (1432) Rec.Norwich 2390 : Plank it with englissh oke of hert.
- (1447) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 11117 : Itm. ij Bordeclothes of Ynglysh Werk.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)421 : Than moste hym nedes assente To viij penyes losse, that is shellynges tweyne In the Englysshe pounde.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)123 : Fovre englisch myle from Rowane.
- c1530 Weights(2) in Rel.Ant.1 (Lnsd 762)232 : An Englisse penny, which is called a rounde sterlyng, and without clyppyng, shall weye xvj cornys of whete taken owte of the middyll of the ere.
b
- (1423) RParl.4.249a : Thes Merchantz Engleys.
- (1427) RParl.4.318a : Yat no Marchant Englissh..pay any subsidie of poundage for Wolle.
- (1444) RParl.5.113b : They myght not selle theire Wyne atte Burdeux..to Merchauntz Englysshe.
- (1450) RParl.in OHS 5837 : Unto any persone or persones englissh of religion, Colleges, [etc.].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)584/2 : Sir Dynadan rode forth a four leagis Englyshe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)586/2 : They..ran aftir these six knyghtes well-nye a three myle Englyshe.
c
- (1439) RParl.5.6b : Every persone housholder not Englissh borne.
- (1450) RParl.5.185b : Londes and Tenementes that were here Fadres and Auncetours, whos heires thei been Inglissh born.