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langue d'oïl

American  
[lahng daw-eel, daw-ee, doil] / lɑ̃g dɔˈil, ˈdɔ i, ˈdɔɪl /

noun

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


langue d'oïl British  
/ lɑ̃ɡ dɔj /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of langue d'oïl

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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.

From 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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg