ENGLISH


Meaning of ENGLISH in English

/ ˈɪŋglɪʃ; NAmE / noun , adjective

■ noun

1.

[ U , C ] the language, originally of England, now spoken in many other countries and used as a language of international communication throughout the world :

She speaks good English.

I need to improve my English.

world Englishes

2.

[ U ] English language or literature as a subject of study :

a degree in English

English is my best subject.

3.

the English [ pl. ] the people of England (sometimes wrongly used to mean the British, including the Scots, the Welsh and the Northern Irish)

IDIOMS

see plain adjective

■ adjective

connected with England, its people or its language :

the English countryside

an English man / woman

typically English attitudes

an English dictionary

➡ note at British

••

WORD ORIGIN

Old English Englisc (from Angle , a Germanic people who came to England in 5th century AD + -ish ). The word originally denoted the early Germanic settlers of Britain (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes), or their language (now called Old English ).

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.