ale
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a type of beer that is brewed quickly at warm temperatures, often tasting fruity or bitter.
a fermented malt beverage produced through warm fermentation with top-fermenting yeast.
Simple“The pub serves several local ales that are very popular with the villagers.”
In context“While lagers dominate the global market, traditional ales remain a staple of British pub culture due to their diverse range of flavours and textures.”
UsageOften used as a countable noun when referring to a specific variety or glass of the drink.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a country festival or party in old England where people drank a lot of beer.
a rural festival or merrymaking event in historical England, named after the primary beverage consumed there.
Simple“The village held a church ale every spring to raise money for repairs.”
In context“Historical records suggest that the 'Whitsun ale' was a vital social event for the medieval peasantry, combining religious observance with communal celebration.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is archaic; modern learners will almost exclusively encounter 'ale' as a type of beverage.
From Middle English ale, from Old English ealu, ealo, from Proto-West Germanic alu, from Proto-Germanic alu (compare Dutch aal, Swedish öl), from Proto-Indo-European h₂elut- (“beer”), or h₂elu- (“bitter”). Compare Russian ол (ol), Lithuanian alùs, Armenian օղի (ōġi); compare also Latin alum (“comfrey”), alūta (“tawed leather”), Ancient Greek ἀλύδοιμος (alúdoimos, “bitter”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.