sterling

CEFRB2

/ˈstɜːlɪŋ/

adjective · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Excellent or of very high quality.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    A penny issued in other countries, such as Scotland.

Examples

  • His supervisor gave him a sterling recommendation.

  • Is this sterling silver?

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meaning

  1. The currency of the United Kingdom, based on the pound sterling; hence, genuine English or British currency, as contrasted with foreign currency.

noun

Extra meanings

  1. An English silver penny first introduced by the Normans.

  2. Former British gold or silver coinage of a standard fineness (0.91666 for gold and 0.925 for silver).

More examples

In context

  • "I do not fear your curses," said Philippe [Philip II of France]. "You have no right to pronounce them on the realm of France. Your words smell of English sterlings."

  • Nummus […] is taken for braſſe pens, or els pieces of ſiluer of the valu of a dandiprat or i. d. ob. a pece or there about, ſo that yͤ thouſand peces wer moche about the ſomme of twentie nobles sterlynges [i.e., nobles of sterlings].

  • In England sterlings and nobles were struck, both of them often counterfeited.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The chef is known for her blank reputation, meaning she has an excellent record.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English sterling, possibly from Old English *steorling, from steorra (“star”) and -ling, in reference to the stars that appeared on certain English pennies. Alternatively, the first element may be *stēre, meaning “strong” or “stout” (compare the etymology of solidus).