Page:Esperanto (The Universal Language).djvu/118

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PART V. VOCABULARIES.

I. ENGLISH-ESPERANTO.

The words contained in this vocabulary are quite sufficient for all ordinary purposes. I wish, however, to give the reader a few hints regarding the manner of using, in the event of his requiring any word not found in it.

1 st. The word you look for may be perhaps a word common to most countries. For instance, you will not find such universal words as microphone, tele- phone, etc. In this case refer to the section on " Foreign words," and you will have no difficulty in forming such words for yourself.

2nd. The word you may want is perhaps a synonym, and this synonymous word you will, in all likelihood, find in the vocabulary. For instance, you may be looking for the verb " to seize " ; if you cannot find it, look for the verb " to catch," etc.

3rd. Also if you want to find the word " short," look for its opposite " long " and prefix " Mai," and then you have it. The same way with scores, nay hundreds of other words. Hence it is well to have a good working knowledge of the prefixes and affixes. A thorough acquaintance with these will place almost every possible word within your reach. With a much briefer vocabulary than the one before you, I, by adopting these few rules, read everything I came across in Esperanto, and wrote all my correspondence with a large number of Esperantists.

4th: The words marked with an asterisk are invariable ; the other words form different parts of speech by changing final letter, as Ami, to love (verb) ; Amo, love (noun) ; Ame, lovingly (adverb) ; Ama, loving (adjective).