language

== English == === Pronunciation === (without æ-raising) IPA(key): /ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪd͡ʒ/ (æ-raising) IPA(key): /ˈleɪ̯ŋ.ɡwɪd͡ʒ/, /ˈlɛ̃ŋ.ɡwɪd͡ʒ/ (New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈlɛŋ.ɡwɘd͡ʒ/ (India) IPA(key): /ˈlæŋɡ.weːd͡ʒ/ Rhymes: -æŋɡwɪdʒ Hyphenation: lan‧guage === Etymology 1 === From Middle English langage, language, from Old French language, from Vulgar Latin *linguāticum, from Latin lingua (“tongue, speech, language”), from Old Latin dingua (“tongue”), from Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (“tongue, speech, language”). Doublet of langaj. Displaced native Old English ġeþēode. ==== Noun ==== language (countable and uncountable, plural languages) (countable) A body of words, and set of methods of combining them (called a grammar), understood by a community and used as a form of communication. (uncountable) The ability to communicate using words. (uncountable) A sublanguage: the slang of a particular community or jargon of a particular specialist field. (uncountable) The specific wording or style of a text, such as a law or a contract. (countable, uncountable, figurative) The expression of thought (the communication of meaning) in a specified way; that which communicates something, as language does. (countable, uncountable) A body of sounds, signs or signals by which animals communicate, and by which plants are sometimes also thought to communicate. (computing, countable) A computer language; a machine language. (uncountable) A manner of expression. (uncountable) The particular words used in a speech or a passage of text. (euphemistic, uncountable) Profanity. ===== Synonyms ===== (form of communication): see Thesaurus:language (vocabulary of a particular field): see Thesaurus:jargon (computer language): computer language, programming language, machine language (particular words used): see Thesaurus:wording ===== Hypernyms ===== medium ===== Hyponyms ===== See Category:en:Languages ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== language (third-person singular simple present languages, present participle languaging, simple past and past participle languaged) (rare, now nonstandard or technical) To communicate by language; to express in language. ==== Interjection ==== language An admonishment said in response to someone using vulgar language during a conversation. ==== See also ==== === Etymology 2 === Alteration of languet. ==== Noun ==== language (plural languages) A languet, a flat plate in or below the flue pipe of an organ. === References === “language”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. language in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “language”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. == French == === Noun === language m (plural languages) archaic spelling of langage == Middle English == === Noun === language alternative form of langage == Middle French == === Alternative forms === langage, langaige, languaige === Etymology === From Old French language. === Noun === language m (plural languages) language (style of communicating) ==== Related terms ==== langue ==== Descendants ==== French: langage, language (archaic or misspelling)Haitian Creole: langaj→ English: langajMauritian Creole: langazLouisiana Creole: langaj→ Romanian: limbaj (partial calque) == Old French == === Alternative forms === === Etymology === Inherited from Vulgar Latin *linguāticum. Attested in the Passion. Derivable from langue +‎ -age. === Pronunciation === (archaic) IPA(key): /lenˈɡwad͡ʒə/ (classical) IPA(key): /lanˈɡad͡ʒə/ (late) IPA(key): /lanˈɡaʒə/ === Noun === language oblique singular, f (oblique plural languages, nominative singular language, nominative plural languages) language (style of communicating) ==== Descendants ==== Bourguignon: langaige Middle French: language, langage, langaige, languaigeFrench: langage, language (archaic or misspelling)Haitian Creole: langaj→ English: langajMauritian Creole: langazLouisiana Creole: langaj→ Romanian: limbaj (partial calque) Borrowings: (some possibly from O.Occitan lenguatge instead) → Middle English: langage, language, langag, langwacheEnglish: language → Friulian: lengaç → Ladin: lingaz → Medieval Latin: linguāgium → Romansh: linguatg, lungatg (Sursilvan, Surmiran), lungaitg (Sutsilvan), linguach (Puter, Vallader) === References ===