English-Esperanto Dictionary

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

16967

Title

English-Esperanto Dictionary

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This 1906 English-Esperanto dictionary, compiled by J. C. O'Connor and C. F. Hayes with Dr. Zamenhof's approval, serves as a vital tool for early Esperanto learners. It prioritizes common vocabulary and explains the language's logical word-building system through detailed sections on prefixes and suffixes, offering a practical foundation for conversation and reading.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1906 by the Review of Reviews Office, the English-Esperanto Dictionary by J. C. O'Connor and C. F. Hayes addresses a critical need for English speakers to acquire the language rapidly. Explicitly dedicated to Dr. L. L. Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto, the work bears his prominent approval on the title page. The authors explain that while a larger, more comprehensive dictionary was in preparation, this smaller volume was issued immediately to prevent any retardation of the language's progress. The text emphasizes that mastery of one or two thousand words is sufficient for adequate everyday conversation; consequently, the authors selected the most frequently used terms to ensure immediate utility. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to elucidating the logical structure of Esperanto. The authors detail how roots combine with prefixes, such as 'mal-' for opposites or 're-' for repetition, and suffixes like '-o' for nouns, '-a' for adjectives, and '-i' for verbs. The dictionary includes a comprehensive list of abbreviations for fields like medicine, law, and science, alongside examples demonstrating how to derive new words from roots. The preface acknowledges assistance from M. A. Motteau and solicits suggestions for future editions. The dictionary aims to empower the 'busy Briton' who lacks time for word-building by providing direct equivalents for ordinary English words. However, it also notes that students possessing knowledge of word-building processes can extend their vocabulary indefinitely using the provided material. The authors express sincere gratitude to Dr. Zamenhof for his invaluable assistance and approval during the preparation of this work. They also thank M. A. Motteau for his careful revision of the proof sheets. The book serves as a practical tool for the international community, fostering the spread of this 'marvellous language' through precise, accessible, and logically structured content.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Dictionaries
• Language Reference