(a) A language, tongue; the system of oral communication shared by a nation or linguistic community, or the written equivalent of this; (one's) native language; coll. languages; al ~, all the languages of men; ~ and tonge, language; English ~, English; ~ of rome, latin ~, Latin; ~ of jeues, Hebrew, etc.; ~ of the lond, national language; commune peples ~, vernacular; modres ~, native ~, native language; tornen ~, to change (one's) language; speak in another language; (b) the power or faculty of speech; (c) a regional dialect, regional variety of the national language; (d) the language of birds and animals.

(a) Words; what is said; statement, saying; conversation, discussion, talk; report, rumor; tresoun of ~, treasonable words; fair langage(s, specious words, blandishments; large ~, garrulousness, careless talk; unthrifti ~, immoderate language; reckless talk; bi ~, truly, in a word; bi commune ~, in common talk; bi report of ~, by word of mouth; in ~, by name; ?in Latin; in (bi) old ~, in words of long ago, in an old saying; with o ~, with one voice; withouten ~, to speak briefly; (b) in verb phrases: ben commune ~, to be commonly said, be common knowledge; ben large of (in) ~, talk too much, be hasty with (one's) words; beren langages on, make remarks or allegations about (sb.); entren ~, taken the ~, begin to talk; haven (maken, outren) ~, speak, talk, express one's views; haven godli ~, talk or converse pleasantly; haven large ~, express oneself at length; holden ~, hold (one's) words, be silent; maken gret ~, assert loudly or vehemently; setten in ~ with, get (sb.) talking to (sb.); introduce (sb.) to (sb.); yeven godli ~, address (sb.) courteously; talk pleasantly to (sb.); (c) mode of expression or speech; habitual manner of expressing oneself; command of language; literary style, eloquence, language as a medium for literary expression; fair ~, language of courtship; agreeable small talk; ?clear enunciation or diction [quot.: From þe tyme]; gai ~, ~ laureat, ornate language; literary style marked by verbal conceits; neue ~ forging, coining of new terms; hard ~, abstruse language; of god ~, well-spoken, fluent or persuasive in speech; short ~, ?rapid or clipped speech; ?habits of speech encouraging contraction or assimilation; speche and ~, manner of expressing oneself.

In Biblical transl.: (a) a nation, a community of people sharing a common language; (b) a Pentecostal tongue of fire.