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

: black letter

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 2023

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

Old English

noun

: the language of the English people before about 1100