an artificial language invented in 1887 as a means of international communication, based on the main European languages but with easy grammar and pronunciation 世界语(1887 年创制的一种人造国际语言,以欧洲主要语言为基础) Word Originfrom the name Dr Esperanto, used as a pen-name by the inventor of the language, Ludwik L. Zamenhof (1858–1917), Polish physician; the literal sense is ‘one who hopes’ (based on Latin sperare ‘to hope’).