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Thursday, December 7, 2017

Prabhupada dictionary

Srila Prabhupada used some English words which have unfortunately fallen out of fashion these days. In order to understand his books better, I collected a list of words I was unsure about, and looked up definitions on merriam-webster.com and dictionary.com, choosing the ones which best fit the context in which Prabhupada used the words.

abide
to bear patiently; to endure without yielding; to wait for; to accept without objection

abode
a place in which a person resides; residence; dwelling; habitation; home; an extended stay in a place; sojourn

advent
a coming into place, view, or being; arrival

apprehensive
uneasy or fearful about something that might happen; quick to learn or understand; perceptive; discerning

auspicious
promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable; favored by fortune; prosperous

beget
to procreate as the father

benediction
an utterance of good wishes; the advantage conferred by blessing; a mercy or benefit

bestow
to present as a gift; give; confer (usually followed by on or upon)

bona fide
made, done, presented, etc., in good faith; without deception or fraud; authentic; true

boon
benefit, favor; especially one that is given in answer to a request

by dint of
by force of; because of; "succeeded by dint of hard work"

celestial
of, relating to, or suggesting heaven or divinity (celestial beings); of or relating to the sky or visible heavens (the sun, moon, and stars are celestial bodies)

chastise
to discipline, especially by corporal punishment; to criticize severely

complexion
the hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face

consort
a husband or wife; spouse, especially of a reigning monarch

conjugal
of or relating to the married state or to married persons and their relations

dazzling
brilliantly or showily bright, colorful, or impressive

denizen
an inhabitant; resident; a person who regularly frequents a place

devout
committed or devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises; expressing piety or religious fervor; expressing devotion; devoted to a pursuit, belief, or mode of behavior

dissipate
to break up and drive off; to cause to spread thin or scatter and gradually vanish

effulgent
shining forth brilliantly; radiant

emanate
to flow out, issue, or proceed, as from a source or origin; come forth; originate

entourage
a group of attendants or associates, as of a person of rank or importance

enunciate
to utter or pronounce (words, sentences, etc.), especially in an articulate or a particular manner; to announce or proclaim;

exalted
raised or elevated, as in rank or character; of high station

feeble
physically weak, as from age or sickness; frail; weak intellectually or morally

godhead
the essential being of God; the Supreme Being

gracious
pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous; merciful or compassionate

impetus
a driving force; stimulation or encouragement resulting in increased activity

impious
not pious; lacking in reverence or proper respect (as for God or one's parents)

impudent
marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others

inundate
to flood; cover or overspread with water; to overwhelm

lament
to mourn aloud; to express sorrow, mourning, or regret for; to regret strongly

magnanimous
generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness; proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind, character, etc.

mellow
a state, atmosphere, or mood of ease and gentle relaxation

menial
lowly and sometimes degrading (menial work); servile; submissive; pertaining to or suitable for domestic servants; humble

moiety
one of two equal parts; half; one of the portions into which something is divided

morose
marked by or expressive of gloom; sullenly ill-humored

multifarious
numerous and varied; greatly diverse or manifold

munificent
very liberal in giving or bestowing; characterized by great generosity

obeisance
a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission; acknowledgment of another's superiority or importance

opulent
wealthy, rich, or affluent; richly supplied; abundant or plentiful

palatable
agreeable to the palate or taste; agreeable or acceptable to the mind

paraphernalia
equipment, apparatus, or furnishing used in or necessary for a particular activity; personal belongings

pastime
something that amuses and serves to make time pass agreeably; recreation or sport

penance
an act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin

pervade
to become diffused throughout every part of

pious
marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship; sacred or devotional as distinct from the profane or secular (a pious opinion); showing loyal reverence for a person or thing; deserving commendation (a pious effort); having or showing appropriate respect or regard for parents or others

plenary
complete in every respect; fully attended or constituted by all entitled to be present

predominate
to be the stronger or leading element or force; to surpass others in authority or influence; to have or exert controlling power; to appear more noticeable or imposing than something else

primeval
of or relating to the first age or ages, especially of the world

profuse
pouring forth liberally; abundant; in great amount

propensity
a natural inclination or tendency

propound
to put forward or offer for consideration, acceptance, or adoption; set forth; propose

prostration
the act of assuming a prostrate position; abasement; complete physical or mental exhaustion

prowess
distinguished bravery; especially military valor and skill; extraordinary ability; a valiant or daring deed

rascal
a mean, unprincipled, or dishonest person; a mischievous person or animal

rebuke
to criticize sharply; to express sharp, stern disapproval of

replete
abundantly supplied or provided; filled (a speech replete with sentimentality); complete (a scholarly survey, replete in its notes and citations)

resplendent
shining brilliantly; gleaming

splendor
brilliant or gorgeous appearance, coloring, etc.; magnificence (the splendor of the palace); an instance or display of imposing pomp or grandeur (the splendor of the coronation); grandeur; glory; brilliant distinction (the splendor of ancient Greek architecture); great brightness; brilliant light or luster

stalwart
marked by outstanding strength and vigor of body, mind, or spirit; firm, steadfast, or uncompromising

sublime
elevated or lofty in thought, language, etc.; impressing the mind with a sense of grandeur or power; inspiring awe, veneration, etc.; supreme or outstanding

summum bonum
the supreme good from which all others are derived

sumptuous
extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent

surcharge
to fill or load to excess (the atmosphere was surcharged with war hysteria); to put an additional or excessive burden upon

transcendental
transcendent, surpassing, or superior; being beyond ordinary or common experience, thought, or belief; supernatural; abstract or metaphysical; idealistic, lofty, or extravagant

tumultuous
full of tumult or riotousness; marked by disturbance and uproar (a tumultuous celebration); raising a great clatter and commotion; disorderly or noisy (a tumultuous crowd of students)

unalloyed
not alloyed with other metals; pure (unalloyed zinc); unmixed; total; utter (unalloyed bliss)

upstart
a person who has risen suddenly from a humble position to wealth, power, or a position of consequence; a presumptuous and objectionable person who has so risen; parvenu

variegated
varied in appearance or color; marked with patches or spots of different colors; diversified; diverse

wretched
deeply afflicted, dejected, or distressed in body or mind; being or appearing mean, miserable, or contemptible

2 comments:

  1. It was a revelation to me to learn that "plenary" means "complete in every respect"; it shows how "plenary expansion" relates to the "om purnam" mantra - that out of the complete comes a new complete, without any of them becoming incomplete. I had assumed that "plenary" means partial, incomplete.

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  2. This is very nice! Thanks Satyavrataji.
    The word "impossible" shines with its absence!

    ReplyDelete