an artificial language invented in 1887 by L. L. Zamenhof (1859–1917), a Polish physician and philologist, and intended for international use. It is based on word roots common to the major European languages.
Es·pe·ran·to (ěs'pə-rān'tō, -rän'-) n. An artificial international language with a vocabulary based on word roots common to many European languages and a regularized system of inflection.
[After Dr. Esperanto, "one who hopes," pseudonym of Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof (1859-1917), Polish philologist.] Es'pe·ran'tist adj. & n.
1892, from Dr. Esperanto, whose name means in Esperanto, "one who hopes," pen name used on the title page of "Langue internationale," a book about the artificial would-be universal language published 1887 by its inventor, Lazarus Ludwig Zamenhof (1859-1917).