used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
ASIAnounUS /ˈeɪʒə/
the largest continent with 60% of the earth's population; it is joined to Europe on the west to form Eurasia; it is the site of some of the world's earliest civilizations
From this reading AUTHOR OF ‘THE GARDEN OF ASIA,’ ‘THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS,’ ETC.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading AUTHOR OF ‘THE GARDEN OF ASIA,’ ‘THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS,’ ETC.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
Birth-and-Death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
fearless and daring
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
conveyverbUS /kənˈveɪ/
(of information) make known; pass on
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
distinctionsnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃənz/
plural of “distinction” — a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
half the width of an em
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
ETC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF ‘THE GARDEN OF ASIA,’ ‘THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS,’ ETC.
divisible by two
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
flexibleadjectiveUS /ˈfleksəbəl/
capable of being changed
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
furi-awasé
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading AUTHOR OF ‘THE GARDEN OF ASIA,’ ‘THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS,’ ETC.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading AUTHOR OF ‘THE GARDEN OF ASIA,’ ‘THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS,’ ETC.
hétori
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
italicsnounUS /aɪˈtælɪks/
plural of “italic” — a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
kukai
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
lacksnounUS /læks/
plural of “lack” — the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
monounUS /moʊ/
an indefinitely short time
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
nashi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
not any; not one
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AUTHOR OF ‘THE GARDEN OF ASIA,’ ‘THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS,’ ETC.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
possessing material wealth
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading AUTHOR OF ‘THE GARDEN OF ASIA,’ ‘THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS,’ ETC.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
Shōshi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
sleevesnounUS /sliːvz/
plural of “sleeve” — the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
relating to human society and its members
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
Sodé
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
subtleradjectiveUS /ˈsʌtələr/
comparative of “subtle” — difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
tashō
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Shōshi no kukai hétori nashi: Sodé no furi-awasé mo tashō no en.’
TextnounUS /tekst/
the words of something written
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AUTHOR OF ‘THE GARDEN OF ASIA,’ ‘THE HOUSE OF SHADOWS,’ ETC.
in or at that place or location
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
arousing affect
From this reading [There is no shore to the bitter Sea of Birth-and-Death: even the touching of sleeves in passing is the result of some connection in a former life.]
underscoresnounUS /ˌʌndərˈskɔːrz/
plural of “underscore” — a line drawn underneath (especially under written matter)
From this reading Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_), and text enclosed by equal signs is in bold (=bold=).
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The English language, flexible and rich though it be, lacks words in which to convey the subtler social distinctions.
