Old English
noun
1
a
: the language of the English people from the time of the earliest documents in the seventh century to about 1100 see Indo-European Languages Table
b
: English of any period before Modern English
2
Examples of Old English in a Sentence
Old English is very different from modern English.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hair-raising accounts of a similar sea monster were recorded by Alexandrian scribes as early as the second century A.D.; these accounts spread through Europe and Asia in Arabic, Coptic, Latin and Old English translations.
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Nina Goldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2023
Nina Goldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Old English.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near Old English
Cite this Entry
“Old English.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Old%20English. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
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