Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Anglo-Saxon language

Anglo-Saxon language

9.9
A form of English people spoke and wrote in England before about 1100
  • noun
translation icon : lengua anglosajona
  • Many early English texts, such as Beowulf, were written in Anglo-Saxon language.

Examples

  • The Anglo-Saxon language has a grammar and vocabulary quite different from modern English.

  • Scholars study the Anglo-Saxon language to better understand England’s medieval past.

  • The Anglo-Saxon language was rich in inflection.

  • The Anglo-Saxon language influenced modern English significantly.

  • The Anglo-Saxon language has a rich history that influences modern English vocabulary.

  • Many words in English today are derived from the Anglo-Saxon language, highlighting its importance.

  • Scholars study the Anglo-Saxon language to understand the cultural and linguistic shifts in England.

Synonyms

Old English
vsAnglo-Saxon language
  • Literature
4 9.9

An early form of the language spoken and written in England and southern Scotland before about AD 1100

is limited to England rather than including southern Scotland
Anglo-Saxon
vsAnglo-Saxon language
  • Specialized
1 9.9

The old form of English spoken in England before about 1100

is an alternate name for that same language and period

Surface Forms

Anglo-Saxon language singular
Anglo-Saxon languages plural

Morphology

Anglo-Saxon + language

The phrase is a straightforward compositional label: given knowledge of 'Anglo-Saxon' (the historical people/language) and 'language', a B1 learner can infer it denotes the language of the Anglo-Saxons (Old English). It is referential and non-idiomatic, following normal noun + noun naming patterns, so the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Anglo-Saxon language is named after two groups who came to England long ago: the Angles and the Saxons. Their everyday speech became the language of England before 1100, so the name refers to what we call 'Old English'.