List of English words with dual French and Anglo-Saxon variations

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This list of English words with dual French and Old English variations lists various English words with redundant loanwords. After the Norman invasion of England in 1066 many of the more refined English (Old English) words describing finished products were replaced with words, borrowed from Anglo-Norman (such as "beef," a prepared food). In contrast, common unfinished equivalents continued to use the native English term (such as "cow," a living animal). This replacement can be explained by the fact that meat was an expensive product at the time and that the lord and nobleman of Norman origin were eating it more often than the commoners, who were raising the livestock. This duality is also mirrored in French, where "beef" is bœuf, but "cow" is vache. These dual words later formed the basis of the Middle English wordstock, and were eventually passed into the modern language. [1]

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In some cases, these dual variations are distant etymological twins, as in cow/beef, both from Proto-Indo-European *gʷōus, but in other cases, such as calf/veal, they come from distinct PIE roots.

Generally, words coming from French often retain a higher register than words of Old English origin, and they are considered by some to be more posh, elaborate, sophisticated, or pretentious. However, there are exceptions: weep, groom and stone (from Old English) occupy a slightly higher register than cry, brush and rock (from French). Words taken directly from Latin and Ancient Greek are generally perceived as colder, more technical, and more medical or scientific – compare life (Old English) with biology (classical compound – a modern coinage from Greek roots).

List of English words with dual Old English/Old French variations

Foods:

Old English origin wordsOld French origin wordsNotes
cow (OE )
ox (OE oxa)
beef (AN beof; OF boef) [2]
calf (OE cealf)veal (AN vel; OF veel, veal) [2]
swine (OE swīn)
pig (OE picga)
pork (OF porc) [2]
sheep (OE scēap)mutton (OF moton) [2]
hen (OE hen, henn)
chicken (OE cicen)
poultry (OF pouletrie)
pullet (OF poulet)
[2]
deer (OE dēor)
hart (OE heorot)
venison (AN venesoun) [2]
dove (OE dūfe)pigeon (OF pijən)

Other words:

Old English origin wordsOld French origin wordsnotes
thinking, mindfulpensive [3]
kinglyroyal [3]
almightyomnipotent
brotherlyfraternal [3]
motherlymaternal
fatherlypaternal
sisterlysororal
ask, beseechenquire [3]
lordliege
lovesome amorous
bring, bearcarry
amaze, stunastonish
wordbookdictionary
fair, fair-hairedblond(e)
ghostphantom, spirit
uphold, undergird, upstay support
smell, stenchodour
hue, bleecolour
blossomflower
help, bestand, besteadaid, abet, assist
buypurchase
belieffaith
begetengender
wonderponder
selfhoodidentity
sake, groundreason, cause
weep, sobcry
knowledgescience
lawyerattorney
to fleeto escape
thrallserf, captive
heartycordial
deemconsider, judge
harbour, havenport
sunder sever
sunstead solstice
answerreply, response
followensue
fall, harvestautumn
leavepermission
seethe, plaw boil
huntchase
wisdomprudence, sagacity
weird, fremdstrange
behaviourmanner
uncouthrude
owndom, belongingsproperty
folk, lede (leod)people
forgivepardon
darlingfavourite
worthyvaluable
to forsaketo abandon
drought, dearthfamine
wish, will, yearning, longing, want (verb)desire (verb and noun)
spandistance
tumblesomersault
drink (noun + verb)beverage, imbibe
dealamount
everlastingeternal
freedomliberty
brittlefrail, fragile
weakfeeble, faint
wildsavage
betrothalproposal
kingshipmonarchy
forebear, forefatherancestor
recklessintrepid
awesome, unbelievableincredible
erstwhileprevious
toughdifficult
homesicknessnostalgia
hopelessnessdespair
wholesome, healthy, healthfulsalutary, salubrious
achingpainful
daring, boldnessaudacity
middaynoon
to withstandto resist
overlive survive
hearsayrumour
unwilling, loathreluctant
wilfuldeliberate
wontaccustomed
lovely, fairbeautiful
anger, wrathire, rage
angry, wrathfulirate
bloodthirstysanguinary
windpipetrachea
woodworkcarpentry
besetsurround
warmongeringbelligerent
deathlylethal, mortal
forgivingindulgent
forespeech preface
abide, acknowledgecomply, obey, observe
sternsevere
foeenemy
friendlyamicable
downtroddenoppressed
inntavern
woodland, woodsforest
to rueto lament, to regret
ruefulregretful
ruthlessremorseless
weaponarm
lithegentle
gravetomb
graveyardcemetery
outspoken, straightforwardhonest, frank
greenverdant
snakeserpent
fireflame
clatteringnoise
cook (noun)chef
housemansion
noughtzero
offspringprogeny
live, abide, dwellreside
thinkconceive
bookcraftliterature
twindouble
foretellpredict
foreshadowpresage
forechoice preference
leaveegress, exit, depart
bellystomach
upbringingnurture
understandcomprehend
laughableridiculous
foreguessassume
needsrequirements
adderviper
beheaddecapitate
forbid, banprohibit
forelook preview
forbearancepatience
giftpresent
thoughtsideas
wedmarry
wedlockmarriage
withtakereceive
flawlessperfect
maim mutilate
endfinish
roomchamber
stonerock
smothersuffocate
marspoil
beamray
miltspleen
heed attention
groombrush
hangingpendant
bodilycorporal
handbookmanual
comearrive
wombuterus
dogcanine
maidenhoodvirginity
win (noun)victory
strongholdfort, fortress
earlcount

Words now obsolete, archaic or dialectal:

Old English origin wordsOld French origin wordsnotes
eldage
hosen, britchespants
addervenom, poison
athel noble
atheling, drighten prince
asetappoint
bilewit innocent
chevese concubine
edder vein,artery
stound hour
wanderstarplanet
wortplant
burnbroil
note use, utility
bookstaff, bookstave letter
steven, reardvoice
barrowmountain
dwimmermagic
thorp village
ettin giant
forholddetain
forthgangprogress
forthfaredeparture
frithpeace
gavelrent
grithasylum, sanctuary
glim candle
handfast contract, pledge
leechphysician
lichcorpse
lissrelief
reave rob
rime number
ruthpity
arm, wantsomepoor
armth poverty
ord point
overgive surrender
sooth reality
norn complain
firencrime
mensk honour
wield control
eamuncle
evennight equinox
quethedeclare
roo calmness, tranquility
sheen beautiful
shild fault
weasand oesophagus
woning residence
wight creature
wayfarejourney
waterstuff hydrogen
sourstuff oxygen
umbe around
yeartide season

See also

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References

  1. Stephan Gramley, Kurt-Michael Pätzold, A survey of modern English (Routledge, 2003)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Transactions and proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, Volume 34 , (New Zealand Institute., 1902) pp. 135–145
  3. 1 2 3 4 Anglo-Saxon and Latinate Words by M. Birch http://www.translationdirectory.com/article991.htm