Eng|lish|ness

Eng|lish «IHNG glihsh», adjective, noun, verb.

–adj.

1. of or having to do with England, its people, or their language.

2. belonging to the English language; written or spoken in the English language.

–n.

1. pl. in use. the people of England.

2. the language of England, including Old English or Anglo-Saxon (befor100), Middle English (about 1100-1500), and Modern English (from about 1500). English is also spoken in the United States, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and many other places. Abbr: Eng.

3. the English spoken in a certain place or by a certain group: »

pidgin English.

4. an English translation or equivalent.

5. Sometimes, english. a spinning motion given to a ball by hitting, throwing, or kicking on one side of its center: »

... twisting it to give the ball the desired “english” or spin (Harper's).

6. a large size of type; 14 point.

–v.t.

1. to translate into English; express in plain English.

2. to adopt (a foreign word) into English: »

“Liqueur” is not yet Englished (Walter S. Landor).

3. Sometimes, english. to give a spinning motion to (a ball).

╂[Old English Englisc < Engle, plural, the English people]

–Eng|lish|ness, noun.