Forms: 3–6 langage, (3 langag, 4 longage, langwag, 5 langwache, langegage), 3, 5– language. [a. F. langage (recorded from 12th c.) = Pr. leng(u)atge, lengage, Sp. lenguaje, Pg. linguage(m, It. linguaggio:—pop.L. type *linguāticum, f. lingua tongue, language (F. langue: see LANGUE).
The form with u, due to assimilation with the F. langue, occurs in AF. writings of the 12th c., and in Eng. from about 1300.]
1. The whole body of words and of methods of combination of words used by a nation, people or race; a ‘tongue.’ Dead language: a language no longer in vernacular use.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 108/55. With men þat onder-stoden hire langage.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1569. Vor in þe langage of rome rane a frogge is.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 247 (Gött.). Seldom was for ani chance Englis tong preched in france, Gif we þaim ilkan þair language [MS. Cott. langage], And þan do we na vtetrage. Ibid., 6384 (Gött.). Þis mete … Þai called it in þair langag man.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 157. Walsche men and Scottes, þat beeþ nouȝt i-medled wiþ oþer nacions, holdeþ wel nyh hir firste longage and speche.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 32. In a langwag vnknowun ilk man and womman mai rede.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xii. 65. Thei … han vsid the hool Bible … in her modris langage.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 3650. Wymmen spak these diuerse langegages.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 40. They haue beene at a great feast of Languages, and stolne the scraps.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. iv. (Arb.), 156. After a speach is fully fashioned to the common vnderstanding, and accepted by consent of a whole countrey and nation, it is called a language.
1699. Bentley, Phal., xiii. 392. Every living Language … is in perpetual motion and alteration.
1769. De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit. (ed. 7), IV. 303. It is called in the Irish Language, I-colm-kill; some call it Iona.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Addison, Wks. III. 44. A dead language, in which nothing is mean because nothing is familiar.
1823. De Quincey, Lett. Yng. Man, Wks. 1860, XIV. 37. On this Babel of an earth … there are said to be about three thousand languages and jargons.
1845. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 13. In fact, Bede is writing in a dead language, Gregory in a living.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. 414. The use of the English language in the Courts of law was ordered in 1362.
fig. 1720. Gay, Prol. Dione, 4. Love, devoid of art, Spoke the consenting language of the heart.
1812. W. C. Bryant, Thanatopsis, 3. To him who in the love of Nature holds Communion with her visible forms, she speaks A various language.
b. transf. Applied to methods of expressing the thoughts, feelings, wants, etc., otherwise than by words. Finger language = DACTYLOLOGY. Language of flowers: a method of expressing sentiments by means of flowers.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., IV. v. 55. Ther’s a language in her eye, her cheeke, her lip.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. 120. As the language of the Face is universal so ’tis very comprehensive.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 66, ¶ 2. She is utterly a Foreigner to the Language of Looks and Glances.
1827. Whately, Logic (1850), Introd. § 6. A Deaf-mute, before he has been taught a Language, either the Finger-language, or Reading, cannot carry on a train of Reasoning.
1837. Penny Cycl., VIII. 282/2. Dactylology must not be confounded with the natural language of the deaf and dumb, which is purely a language of mimic signs.
1876. Mozley, Univ. Serm., vi. 134. All action is … besides being action, language.
1880. Times, 23 June, 9/5. The Abbé de l’Epée, in France, devoted much energy to the advocacy of teaching the deaf by signs and by finger language. Ibid., 9/6. They [the deaf] have for the last century been gathered together into institutions, and have suffered to grow up dumb, deprived, except through the imperfect medium of finger language, of any means of readily exchanging thoughts with those around them.
1894. H. Drummond, Ascent Man, 212. A sign Language is of no use when one savage is at one end of a wood and his wife at the other.
c. transf. Applied to the inarticulate sounds used by the lower animals, birds, etc.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, IV. i. 22. Choughs language, gabble enough, and good enough.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 373. Is not the Earth With various living creatures, and the Aire Replenisht,… know’st thou not Thir language and thir wayes?
1797. Bewick, Brit. Birds (1847), I. p. xxvii. The notes, or as it may with more propriety be called, the language of birds.
2. In generalized sense: Words and the methods of combining them for the expression of thought.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 98. There is not chastitie enough in language, Without offence to vtter them.
1644. Milton, Educ., Wks. (1847), 98/2. Language is but the instrument conveying to us things useful to be known.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 15. So language in the mouths of the adult,… Too often proves an implement of play.
1841. Trench, Parables, ii. (1877), 25. Language is ever needing to be recalled, minted and issued anew.
1862. J. Martineau, Ess. (1891), IV. 104. Language, that wonderful crystallization of the very flow and spray of thought.
1892. Westcott, Gospel of Life, 186. Language must be to the last inadequate to express the results of perfect observation.
b. Power or faculty of speech; ability to speak a foreign tongue. Now rare.
1526. Wolsey, Lett. to Tayler, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. v. 66. A gentleman … who had knowledge of the country and good language to pass.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, IV. i. 77. I shall loose my life for want of language. If there be heere German or Dane, Low Dutch, Italian, or French, let him speake to me. Ibid. (1610), Temp., II. ii. 86. Here is that which will giue language to you Cat; open your mouth.
1790. Cowper, Receipt Mother’s Pict., 1. Oh that those lips had language!
3. The form of words in which a person expresses himself; manner or style of expression. Bad language: coarse or vulgar expressions. Strong language: expressions indicative of violent or excited feeling.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3743. Iacob … Þat es to sai wit right langage, Supplanter als of heritage.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 353. With-outen any subtilite Of speche … For harde langage and hard matere Is encombrouse for to here Attones.
c. 1425. Lydg., Assembly Gods, 368. In eloquence of langage he passyd all the pak. Ibid. (1430–40), Bochas, II. xiii. (1554), 53 a. Though some folke wer large of their langage Amisse to expoune by report.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, i. 14. For it is sayde in comyn langage, that the goode byrde affeyteth hirself.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxix. 236. Come to ye poynt, and vse no more such langage nor suche serymonyes.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. ix. 45. Be not to rough in termes, For he is fierce, and cannot brooke hard Language.
1611. Bible, Ecclus. vi. 5. Sweet language will multiply friends.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 5. By his sentence I stand excommunicated: Heretick is the best language he affords me.
1694. Penn, Pref. to G. Fox’s Jrnl. (1827), I. 15. They also used the plain language of Thou and Thee.
1770. Junius Lett., 187. They suggest to him a language full of severity and reproach.
1809–10. Coleridge, Friend (1865), 135. These pretended constitutionalists recurred to the language of insult.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 118. He lived and died, in the significant language of one of his countrymen, a bad Christian, but a good Protestant.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep., II. ii. (1856), 155. In all these interviews he had uniformly used one language: his future wife was to ‘live as a Catholic.’
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 348. The language used to a servant ought always to be that of a command.
b. The phraseology or terms of a science, art, profession, etc., or of a class of persons.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), Prol. 4. The swete and fayre langage of theyr phylosophy.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 21. I can drinke with any Tinker in his owne Language. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., III. iii. 74. This is not Hunters Language.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxiv. 207. The words Body, and Spirit, which in the language of the Schools are termed Substances, Corporeall and Incorporeall.
1747. Spence, Polymetis, VIII. xv. 243. Those attributes of the Sword, Victory, and Globe, say very plainly (in the language of the statuaries) that [etc.].
1841. J. K. Young, Math. Dissert., i. 10. Thus can be expressed in the language of algebra, not only distance but position.
1891. Speaker, 2 May, 532/1. In it metaphysics have again condescended to speak the language of polite letters.
c. The style (of a literary composition); also, the wording (of a document, statute, etc.).
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 285, ¶ 6. It is not therefore sufficient that the Language of an Epic Poem be Perspicuous, unless it be also Sublime.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 236. A tale should be judicious, clear, succinct, The language plain.
1886. Sir J. Stirling, in Law Times Rep., LV. 283/2. There are two remarks which I desire to make on the language of the Act.
d. Long language: † (a) verbosity (trans. Gr. μακρολογία; (b) language composed of words written in full, as opposed to cipher.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xxii. (Arb.), 264. Macrologia, or long language, when we vse large clauses or sentences more than is requisite to the matter.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 34. Those Greeks did not use cypher, but the long language of the country.
e. vulgar. Short for bad language (see above).
1886. Besant, Childr. Gibeon, II. xxv. That rude eloquence which is known in Ivy Lane as ‘language.’
1893. Selous, Trav. S. E. Africa, 3. The sailor … had never ceased to pour out a continuous flood of ‘language’ all the time.
† 4. The act of speaking or talking; the use of speech. By language: so to speak. In language with: in conversation with. Without language: not to make many words. Obs.
a. 1400. Cov. Myst., iv. Noah’s Flood, ii. Afftyr Adam withoutyn langage, The secunde fadyr am I [Noe] in fay.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 18. My fader sette me in langage with her.
1461. Paston Lett., No. 393, II. 17. I said I dwelled uppon the cost of the see here, and be langage hit were more necessare to with hold men here than take from hit.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 57. One was surer in keping his tunge, than in moche speking, for in moche langage one may lightly erre.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxviii. 107. Wythout eny more langage dydo … seased thenne the swerde.
1514. Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.), p. xviii. To morowe of court we may have more language.
† b. That which is said, words, talk, report; esp. words expressive of censure or opprobrium. Also pl. reports, sayings. To say language against: to talk against, speak opprobriously of. Obs.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 2. And so thei dede bothe deseiue ladies and gentilwomen, and bere forthe diuerse langages on hem.
1465. Marg. Paston, in P. Lett., No. 502, II. 188. I hyre moch langage of the demenyng betwene you and herre.
1467. Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.), 172. Ȝe haue mekel on setenge langwache aȝenste me, were of I mervel gretely for I have ȝeffen ȝowe no schwsche kawse.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. xl. Euery daye syre Palomydes brauled and sayd langage ageynst syr Tristram.
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 225. Feragus said in this manere…. The valyaunt Rolland was contente ryght wel, & accepted hys langage.
1636. Sir H. Blunt, Voy. Levant, 33. A Turke … gave such a Language of our Nation, and threatning to all whom they should light upon, as made me upon all demands professe my selfe a Scotchman.
5. A community of people having the same form of speech, a nation. arch. [A literalism of translation.]
1388. Wyclif, Dan. v. 19. Alle puplis, lynagis, and langagis [1382 tungis].
1611. Bible, Ibid. All people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. x. All people, and all languages and nations.
b. A national division or branch of a religious and military Order, e.g., of the Hospitallers.
1727–52. Chambers, Cycl., Language is also used, in the order of Malta, for nation.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. v. 314. Don Raimond Perellos de Roccapoul, of the Language of Aragon,… was elected Grand Master.
1885. Catholic Dict. (ed. 3). 413/2. The order [of Hospitallers] … was divided into eight ‘languages,’ Provence, Auvergne, France, Aragon, Castile, England, Germany, and Italy.
6. attrib. and Comb. a. simple attributive, as language-capacity, -family, -history, -turn; b. objective, as language-maker, -teacher; language-master, a teacher of language or languages.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., xiv. 281. Every division of the human race has been long enough in existence for its *language-capacities to work themselves out.
1891. Tablet, 29 Aug., 331. The rank it holds among the *language-families of the world.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., Pref. 5. Scholars … versed in the facts of *language-history.
1607. Brewer, Lingua, III. v. F 2. These same *language makers haue the very quality of colde in their wit, that freezeth all Heterogeneall languages together.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 305, ¶ 11. The Third is a sort of *Language-Master, who is to instruct them in the Style proper for a Foreign Minister in his ordinary Discourse.
1831. T. Moore, Mem. (1854), VI. 190. It turned out that what his friend, the language-master, had … been teaching him was Bas-Breton!
1826. Pusey, Lett. to Lloyd, in Life (1893), I. v. 97. A *language-teacher gives me lectures … five times a week.
1803. Southey, Lett. to C. W. W. Wynn, 9 June. In all these modern ballads there is a modernism of thought and *language-turns to me very perceptible.
