1
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
borrowedverbUS /ˈbɑːroʊd/
past form of “borrow” — get temporarily
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
BuddhanounUS /ˈbuːdə/
founder of Buddhism (c 563-483 BC)
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
BuddhistnounUS /ˈbuːdəst/
one who follows the teachings of Buddha
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
CambridgenounUS /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/
a university in England
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
CRABnounUS /kræb/
decapod having eyes on short stalks and a broad flattened carapace with a small abdomen folded under the thorax and pincers
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
folk-lorists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
usually; as a rule
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
groundedverbUS /ˈɡraʊndɪd/
past form of “ground” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
groundworknounUS /ˈɡraʊndwɜːrk/
the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
cause to move by striking
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
horriblyadverbUS /ˈhɔːrəbli/
of a dreadful kind
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
Jataka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
not any; not one
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
permittingverbUS /pərˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
phrasenounUS /freɪz/
an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
recogniseverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/
show approval or appreciation of
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
referverbUS /rəˈfɜːr/
make reference to
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
ruthlesslyadverbUS /ˈruːθləsli/
in a ruthless manner
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
scholarsnounUS /ˈskɑːlərz/
plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
ScientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
shockedadjectiveUS /ʃɑːkt/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
StudiousadjectiveUS /ˈstuːdiəs/
marked by care and effort
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
succeedsverbUS /səkˈsiːdz/
third-person singular of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading It is meant to amuse children; and if it succeeds in this, its aim will be hit.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
Syndics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
translationnounUS /trænzˈleɪʃən/
a written communication in a second language having the same meaning as the written communication in a first language
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
UniversitynounUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti/
the body of faculty and students at a university
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
the act of using
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
versiclenoun
a short verse said or sung by a priest or minister in public worship and followed by a response from the congregation
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
a message informing of danger
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
in or to any place at all
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading My thanks are due to the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press for permitting the use of their translation of the Jataka Book; [1] from which comes the groundwork of the stories, and occasionally a phrase or a versicle is borrowed.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading THE GIANT CRAB And Other Tales from Old India To the Studious or Scientific Reader I hope no one will imagine this to be a scientific book.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading To this work I refer all scholars, folk-lorists and scientific persons generally: warning them that if they plunge deeper into these pages, they will be horribly shocked.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Thus the stories here given, although grounded upon the great Buddhist collection named below, have been ruthlessly altered wherever this would better suit them for the purpose in view; and probably some of them Buddha himself would fail to recognise.
