one of the literary languages currently in use in Europe, as French, Spanish, or German, treated as a departmental course of study in a school, college, or university.
[1830-40]
* * *
a language that is spoken or written now, especially a European language, such as French or Spanish, that you study at school, university or college
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the department of modern languages
•
a degree in modern languages
Useful english dictionary. 2012.