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Lingua franca

//ˈlɪŋ.ɡwə ˈfɹæŋ.kə// name, noun

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Sabir, the Italian-based pidgin that served as a common language of Mediterranean trade around the 11th-19th centuries. archaic, historical

    "There were ſeveral of his Prieſts and Lawyers preſent, (as I conjectured by their habits) who were commanded to addreſs themſelves to me, and I ſpoke to them in as many Languages as I had the leaſt ſmattering of, which were High and Low Dutch, Latin, French, Spaniſh, Italian, and Lingua Franca; but all to no purpoſe."

Noun
  1. 1
    A common language used by people of diverse backgrounds to communicate with one another, often a basic form of speech with simplified grammar, particularly, one that is not the first language of any of its speakers.

    "Taking these cues, I rewrote and rewrote the proposal couching my problem in the bland, euphemistic language that I was rapidly learning is the lingua franca of the corporate world."

  2. 2
    a common language used by speakers of different languages wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Italian lingua franca (literally “Frankish language”).

Etymology 2

See lingua franca.

See also for "lingua franca"

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