Changes in English over time
The following are links to the English language evolving over time from 900AD to 1900AD.
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900AD
An excerpt from Beowolf Hwæt wē Gār-Dena in geār-dagum þēod-cyninga þrym gefrūnon hū ðā æþelingas ellen fremedon Oft Scyld Scēfing sceaþena þrēatum monegum mægþum meodo-setla oftēah egsian eorl syððan ǣrest weorþan |
1400AD
An excerpt from Canterbury tales His Almageste, and bookes grete and smale, His astrelabie, longynge for his art, His augrym stones layen faire apart, On shelves couched at his beddes heed; His presse ycovered with a faldyng reed And al above ther lay a gay sautrie, On which he made a-nyghtes melodie So swetely that all the chambre rong; And Angelus ad virginem he song; |
1900AD
An excerpt from The Hound of the Baskervilles Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table. I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the night before. It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous-headed, of the sort which is known as a "Penang lawyer." |
The history of English in 10 minutes
Origins of Old English
Historical influences on English
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Word
English Speak(er) Fit Nice Three Circle Globe (Globalisation) Migration Prevalence |
Etymology
Old English Englisc Old Saxon sprecan Old English fitt Old French nice Proto-Germanic thrijiz Old French cercle Middle French globe Latin migrationem French prévalence |
Time of introduction
1200s (as adjective) Pre-1000s 1400 1200s Pre-1000s 1200s 1400s 1600s 1500s |
Links to some online etymology dictionaries, for people to use to explore the origins of words in English...