English
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
How often you will meet it
Rank 499 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 40,379 times across 175,139 chapters — 0.019% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries also: English language
- the people of England also: English people
- the discipline that studies the English language and literature
- (sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist also: side
adjective
- of or relating to or characteristic of England or its culture or people English historythe English landed aristocracy
- of or relating to the English language
English in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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That's just what I feel, especially when the crowd doesn't talk a single word of English.
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1
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Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
The Land of the Changing Sun · Will N. (Will Nathaniel) Harben · Chapter 1
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Cold, stiff, aping evidently the English style, he expressed himself in brief sentences, and with a strong foreign accent.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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I quite sympathize with the rage of the English democracy against what they call the vices of the upper orders.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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An English chemist has discovered a process by which wood of any kind can be dyed a beautiful and permanent violet hue.
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 08, May 21, 1870 · Various · Chapter 1