Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

in addition

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

supplementary material that is collected and appended at the back of a book

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

completely unclothed

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I have been blamed for using Catholic terms to describe heathen rituals.

expletives used informally as intensifiers

From this reading I have been blamed for using Catholic terms to describe heathen rituals.

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

a university in England

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

of or relating to or supporting Catholicism

From this reading I have been blamed for using Catholic terms to describe heathen rituals.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

formed or developed from something else; not original

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

give a description of

From this reading I have been blamed for using Catholic terms to describe heathen rituals.

a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

a person who does not acknowledge your god

From this reading I have been blamed for using Catholic terms to describe heathen rituals.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

a message received and understood

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

a string of more than 3,000 islands to the east of Asia extending 1,300 miles between the Sea of Japan and the western Pacific Ocean

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

a native or inhabitant of Japan

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

at the same time but in another place

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

set down or registered in a permanent form especially on film or tape for reproduction

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

plural of “reviewer” — someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

plural of “ritual” — any customary observance or practice

From this reading I have been blamed for using Catholic terms to describe heathen rituals.

the bank of a river

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

except for; apart from

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

inflected form of “supply” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

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 Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

From this reading I have been blamed for using Catholic terms to describe heathen rituals.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

past form of “translate” — restate (words) from one language into another language

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

a written communication in a second language having the same meaning as the written communication in a first language

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

by bad luck

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)

From this reading I have been blamed for using Catholic terms to describe heathen rituals.

past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading This I have supplied; and I have further ventured upon a short discussion of Murasaki’s art and its relation to the fiction of the West.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

at the time that

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Unfortunately little is known of Murasaki’s life save the bare facts recorded in the first appendix of Volume I. What other knowledge we possess is derived from her _Diary_, which will be discussed in a later volume and is meanwhile available in Mr. Doi’s translation.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading Reviewers have also asked for information concerning the state of literature in Japan at the time when the _Tale_ was written.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading Translated from the Japanese by Arthur Waley Boston and New York HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge Several critics have asked to be told more about the writer of the Tale of Genji.