Meaning and Origin
What does the name English mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
User Submitted Origins
User Submitted Meanings
- A submission from Virginia, U.S. says the name English means "A garden. An English cottage garden".
- According to a user from South Africa, the name English is of African origin and means "Caring".
- A submission from California, U.S. says the name English means "Gift of god".
Etymology: 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
- Collectively, the people of England; English people or persons.
- The language of England or of the English nation, and of their descendants in America, India, and other countries.
- A kind of printing type, in size between Pica and Great Primer. See Type.
- [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.
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.
Note: The type called English.
- 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.]
- [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)
- The discipline that studies the English language and literature
- An Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
- (sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist
- The people of England
- Of or relating to or characteristic of England or its culture or people ("English history", "the English landed aristocracy", and "English literature")
- Of or relating to the English language
From Middle English Englisch, English, Inglis, from Old English Englisċ (“of the Angles; English”), from Engle (“the Angles”), a Germanic tribe + -isċ; equal to Angle + -ish. Compare Dutch Engels, Danish engelsk, Old French Englesche (whence French anglais), German englisch, Spanish inglés, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enǵʰ- (“narrow”) (compare Sanskrit अंहु (áṃhu, “narrow”), अंहस् (áṃhas, “anxiety, sin”), Latin angustus (“narrow”), Old Church Slavonic ѫзъкъ (ǫzŭkŭ, “narrow”)).
- The language originating in England but now spoken in all parts of the British Isles, the Commonwealth of Nations, North America, and other parts of the world.
- is spoken here as an unofficial language and lingua franca.
- How do you say ‘à peu près’ in ?
- A variety, dialect, or idiolect of spoken and or written English.
- English language, literature, composition as a subject of study
- An English surname originally denoting a non-Celtic or non-Danish person in Britain.
- A male or female given name
- A town, the county seat of Crawford County, Indiana; named for Indiana statesman William Hayden English.
- (plural) The people of England; Englishmen and Englishwomen.
- The Scottish and the have a history of conflict.
- (Amish, plural) The non-Amish; non-Amish people.
- (uncountable) Ability to employ the English language correctly or idiomatically.
- My coworkers have pretty good for non-native speakers.
- The English-language term or expression for something.
- What's the for ‘à peu près’?
- (uncountable) Specific language or wording in English; English text or statements in speech, whether in translation or otherwise.
- The technical details are correct, but much of the is not very clear.
- (printing, dated) A size of type between pica (12 point) and great primer (18 point), standardized as 14-point.
- (uncountable) Plain or readily understandable language.
- (uncountable, Canada, US) Spin or sidespin given to a ball, especially in pool or billiards.
- You are trying to put too much on the ball.