Eng"lish (?), a. [AS. Englisc, fr. Engle, Angle, Engles, Angles, a tribe of Germans from the southeast of Sleswick, in Denmark, who settled in Britain and gave it the name of England. Cf. Anglican.] Of or pertaining to England, or to its inhabitants, or to the present so-called Anglo-Saxon race.

Eng"lish, n. 1. Collectively, the people of England; English people or persons.

2. The language of England or of the English nation, and of their descendants in America, India, and other countries.

&fist; The English language has been variously divided into periods by different writers. In the division most commonly recognized, the first period dates from about 450 to 1150. This is the period of full inflection, and is called Anglo-Saxon, or, by many recent writers, Old English. The second period dates from about 1150 to 1550 (or, if four periods be recognized, from about 1150 to 1350), and is called Early English, Middle English, or more commonly (as in the usage of this book), Old English. During this period most of the inflections were dropped, and there was a great addition of French words to the language. The third period extends from about 1350 to 1550, and is Middle English. During this period orthography became comparatively fixed. The last period, from about 1550, is called Modern English.

3. A kind of printing type, in size between Pica and Great Primer. See Type.

The type called English.

4. (Billiards) A twist or spinning motion given to a ball in striking it that influences the direction it will take after touching a cushion or another ball.

Eng"lish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Englished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Englishing.] 1. To translate into the English language; to Anglicize; hence, to interpret; to explain.

Those gracious acts . . . may be Englished more properly, acts of fear and dissimulation.

Caxton does not care to alter the French forms and words in the book which he was Englishing.

2. (Billiards) To strike (the cue ball) in such a manner as to give it in addition to its forward motion a spinning motion, that influences its direction after impact on another ball or the cushion. [U.S.]

• A language originating in England but now spoken in all parts of the British Isles, the Commonwealth of Nations, the United States of America, and other parts of the world.
       English is spoken here as an unofficial language and lingua franca.
  
• One's ability to employ the English language.
       My coworker has pretty good English for a non-native speaker.
  
• Specific language or wording; a text or statements in speech, particularly a translation.
       The technical details are correct, but the English isn't very clear.
       I've found the original Greek, finally, but now I've lost the English.
  
• A spinning or rotary motion given to a ball around the vertical axis, as in billiards or bowling.
       You can't hit it directly, but maybe if you give it some english.
  
• (collective plural) The people of England; all Englishmen and Englishwomen.
  
• Of or pertaining to the English language.
  
• Of or pertaining to England or its people.
  
• Of or pertaining to the Avoirdupois system of measure, as in an "English ton".