Words On Words

English has the largest vocabulary and most synonyms of any language in the world. The richness of English is due to the fact that English has borrowed more words from other languages than most.

The Norman conquest of England brought many new French words into English. The English vocabulary--after the conquest--virtually doubled by the addition of French words.

Many of the new French words were incorporated to reflect the higher standard of living and more complex social life: for example, words connected with food(sugar, vinegar, boil, fry, roast), clothing (garment, robe, mantle, gown), law (plaintiff, perjury, legacy), religion (convent, hermitage, chaplain, cardinal), and social rank (prince, duke, count, vassal, mayor and constable)