langue d'oïl

[lahng daw-eel, daw-ee, doil]

noun

1. the Romance language of medieval northern France: developed into modern French.

langue d'oïl

/ lɑ̃ɡ dɔj /

noun

1. the group of medieval French dialects spoken in France north of the Loire; the medieval basis of modern French

Word History and Origins

Origin of langue d'oïl¹

1695–1705; < French: language of oïl ( Old French; compare French oui ), yes < Latin hōc ille ( fēcit ) this he (did)

Word History and Origins

Origin of langue d'oïl¹

literally: language of oïl (the northern form for yes ), ultimately from Latin hoc ille ( fecit ) this he (did)

Example Sentences

At the era alluded to, Northern France, the country of the langue d’oïl, although in a measure disturbed by unrest, was yet in a much better case to produce great literature than Castile, whose constant vendetta with the Moslem left her best minds only a margin of leisure for the production of pure literature—a margin, however, of which the fullest advantage was taken.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Moreover, the states were never really general; those of the Langue d’oc and the Langue d’oil sometimes acted together; but there was never a common understanding between them and always two Frances within the kingdom.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

With the langue d'oïl came the Chansons de Geste of the Carolingian Cycle and the romances of the Arthurian legend.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Two languages, the langue d'oc and the langue d'oïl, gave birth to two separate species of poetry.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

The first essays in Italian composition for a lettered public were translations from works already written by Italians in langue d'oïl.

Read more on Project Gutenberg