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.
—
Nina Goldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2024
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Nina Goldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2024
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 11 Jan. 2025.
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