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English
Most common English words: states « wished « school « #750: language » court » British » meantEtymology
Middle English language from Old French language from Vulgar Latin *linguaticum from Latin lingua (“tongue, speech, language”) from Old Latin dingua "tongue" from Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (“tongue, speech, language”). Displaced native Middle English rearde, ȝerearde "language" (from Old English reord "language, speech"), Middle English londspreche, londspeche "language" (from Old English *landspræc "language, national tongue"), Old English þēod and þēodisc, "language".
Pronunciation
Noun
language (countable and uncountable; plural languages)
- (countable) A form of communication using words either spoken or gestured with the hands and structured with grammar, often with a writing system.
- the English language
- sign language
- 1900 William Beckford, The History of the Caliph Vathek[1], page 50:
- "No language could express his rage and despair."
- (uncountable) The ability to communicate using words.
- the gift of language
- (countable or uncountable) Nonverbal communication.
- body language
- (computing, countable) A computer language.
- (uncountable) The vocabulary and usage used in a particular specialist field.
- legal language
- (uncountable) The particular words used in speech or a passage of text.
- The language he used to talk to me was obscene.
- The language used in the law does not permit any other interpretation.
- (uncountable) Profanity.
- 1978 James Carroll, Mortal Friends[2], ISBN 0440157897, page 500:
- "Where the hell is Horace?" ¶"There he is. He's coming. You shouldn't use language."
- 1978 James Carroll, Mortal Friends[2], ISBN 0440157897, page 500:
Synonyms
- (system of communication): lingo (colloquial), tongue, speech, parlance
- (computer language): computer language, programming language
- (vocabulary of a particular field): jargon, phraseology, terminology
- (particular words used): lexis, phraseology, phrasing, terms, wording, words
Derived terms
Terms derived from language
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Related terms
See also
French
Noun
language m. (plural languages)
- Archaic spelling of langage.
Middle French
Noun
language m. (plural languages)
- language (style of communicating)
See also
Old French
Alternative forms
Etymology
Late Latin *linguaticum, from Classical Latin lingua (“tongue, language”).
Noun
language f. (oblique plural languages, nominative singular language, nominative plural languages)
- language (style of communicating)
Descendants
See also
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Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:04:41 GMT+00:00
Walton Sun panama city bay District School Board members approved public notice advertising for its budget, which includes decreased millage rates. ...
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Kent Scheidegger
Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:46:17 GM
One more item from today's WSJ is this article by Lera Boroditsky on how . language. can shape thought. The . language. a person speaks can shape his view of the world. Implications for witnesses and jurors are discussed about halfway down. ...
