An Outline of Middle English Grammar (Repost)

'Middle English' is the name given to the type of English used from about 1100 to about 1500.

It is distinguished from the preceding type, 'Old English' (also called 'Anglo-Saxon'), by the gradual cessation from written use of the Late Old English (i.e. West Saxon) standard language. This fell into abeyance after the Norman Conquest, when French (i.e. Anglo-Norman) became the language of the court, the royal offices, the law courts, the schools, and indeed of educated people generally, while English was employed only in documents of a more practical sort, especially works of religious instruction. English did not re-establish itself as the language of the educated until the 13th and 14th centuries.

Middle English is distinguished from the succeeding type, 'Modern English', by the spread throughout England—but not Scotland—of the London dialect as a standard language.