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400
Old English Phrases
Gōdne ǣfen: Good evening
Gōde nihte: Good night
Far gesund (sg) Faraþ gesunde (pl) Faraþ gesunda (pl/f) Wes Hāl (sg) Wesaþ hāle (pl) Wesaþ hāla (pl/f) Wes þū hāl God þē mid sīe ("God be with you"): goodbye (parting phrases)
Gōd wyrd Gōde wyrde: Good luck! -
Period: 400 to
Old, Middle, and Modern Language
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673
Birth of Venerable Bede
"Birth of the Venerable Bede, the monk who composed The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, a key source of information about Anglo Saxon settlement." -
700
Rise of the Saxon kingdom of Wessex
"the Saxon kingdoms of Essex and Middlesex; the Angle kingdoms of Mercia, East Anglia, and Northumbria. St. Augustine and Irish missionaries convert Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, introducing new religious words borrowed from Latin and Greek. Latin speakers begin referring to the country as Anglia and later as Englaland." -
1000
Old English epic poem Beowulf
"Approximate date of the only surviving manuscript of the Old English epic poem Beowulf, composed by an anonymous poet between the 8th century and the early 11th century." -
1100
Middle English Words
al, al be that: although
als, also: as, also
anon: at once
artow: art thou, thou art
as: as, as if, like
atte: at, at the
aventure: chance
axe: ask
ay: always
been: are
bet: better
beth: are; (imperative) be
brenne: burn
but, but if: unless
can, kan: know, be able
canstow: can you, you can
cas: happening, chance
certes: surely, certainly -
1215
The Magna Carta singing
"King John signs the Magna Carta, a critical document in the long historical process leading to the rule of constitutional law in the English-speaking world." -
1300
English becomes the dominant language of all classes.
Under Edward I, royal authority is consolidated in England and Wales. -
1362
Official language in England
"The Statute of Pleading makes English the official language in England. Parliament is opened with its first speech delivered in English." -
1553
Thomas Wilson publishes The Art of Rhetorique
This was one of the first works on logic and rhetoric in English. -
English translation of the Bible published
"The first English settlements are made in North America. William Tyndale's English translation of the Bible is published. Many Greek and Latin borrowings enter English." -
Weekly News, the first English newspaper, is published in London.
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Modern English phrases
Certainly!
Good afternoon.
Good evening sir.
Good Luck.
Good morning.
Great.
Happy Birthday.
Have a good trip.
