Old English

noun

: 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

: English of any period before Modern English

: black letter

Old English is very different from modern English.

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler

The first known use of Old English was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Style

“Old English.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Old%20English. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Copy Citation

Old English

noun

: the language of the English people before about 1100

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