Early Modern English is the stage of the English language from the late 15th century to the early 18th century. This period includes the language of Shakespeare, the King James Bible, and the rise of printing. English vocabulary expanded rapidly due to cultural, scientific, and political changes. Major sources of new words included Latin, Greek, French, and other European languages.

Latin supplied many words in law, religion, science, medicine, and education. Borrowings were often learned terms introduced through scholarship, printing, and translation. Some Latin words entered with little change, while others were adapted to English spelling and morphology. Many Latin roots also formed new English words by combining with English prefixes or suffixes.

Word/Phrase	Definition
agenda	A list of things to be done or considered.
radius	A straight line from the center to the edge of a circle.
educate	To give knowledge or skill through teaching.
transmit	To send or pass something from one place to another.

Greek provided vocabulary for philosophy, science, mathematics, and the arts. Many Greek words entered through Latin or were coined in English using Greek roots. The use of Greek often signaled technical or scholarly language. Greek elements like "geo," "tele," and "philo" became building blocks for new terms.

Word/Phrase	Definition
theatre	A place where plays or performances are presented.
logic	The study of reasoning and argument.
physics	The science of matter, energy, and motion.
democracy	A system of government by the people.

French continued to influence English, especially in government, law, fashion, and cuisine. Many French words entered through contact with France and through English court culture. Some borrowings kept French spelling or pronunciation features, while others became more anglicized. French influence often marked words as formal or prestigious.

Word/Phrase	Definition
court	The residence or assembly of a ruler or the people around a monarch.
ballet	A style of dance with formal steps and movements.
police	An organized force for maintaining order and enforcing laws.
menu	A list of dishes available at a meal or restaurant.

English created new words by compounding, derivation, and functional shift. Compounding joined two English words to make a new term. Derivation added prefixes or suffixes to form nouns, verbs, or adjectives. Functional shift used an existing word in a new grammatical role without changing its form. These processes made English flexible and productive.

Word/Phrase	Definition
bedroom	A room used for sleeping.
careless	Not giving enough attention or concern.
survey	To examine or look at something broadly.
answer	A response to a question or problem.

The period saw significant pronunciation changes, especially the Great Vowel Shift. Long vowels changed quality, moving closer to their modern English values. Spelling often remained conservative even as pronunciation shifted. This created many of the irregularities seen in modern English spelling and sound correspondences.

Word	Notation	Description
time	/tiːmə/ → /taɪm/	The vowel changed from a long ee-like sound toward the modern diphthong.
name	/naːmə/ → /neɪm/	The vowel changed from a long aa-like sound toward the modern ay sound.
house	/huːs/ → /haʊs/	The vowel changed from a long oo-like sound toward the modern ow sound.

The spread of printing promoted more consistent spelling and grammar. Dictionaries, grammars, and style guides began to shape written English norms. Standardization favored certain forms, often those used in London and by educated writers. Variation persisted, but written records became more stable over time.

Rule
Printed books encouraged writers to use more regular spelling.
Dictionaries and grammars started to prescribe preferred forms.
The London dialect gained prestige as a written standard.