Words In Swedenborg

The Writings of Swedenborg are full of truth and beauty. even though he wrote so many years ago the teachings have not in the least faded. He wrote in simple and direct Latin. Within a short time after his death all of the theological works he had published were available in English and they have all remained in print to this day. But the English poses many challenges to a modern reader. Some of this is due to the fact that Latin is a very different language. For one thing it is possible to write long sentences in Latin and have them still be understandable, whereas English works better with short sentences. Vocabulary is another problem. Many of the words and phrases found in translations of Swedenborg are puzzling. The words may seem strange, or used in unusual ways. For one thing, Latin does not use the words "a", "an" or "the". It might make more sense in some cases to leave them out, or to interchange them. For another thing, adjectives are often used in Latin as nouns; this is why we find such words as "truths" and "internals." Some words have a meaning that is commonly known, but are also used at times to mean something else. For example "read" can either have its usual meaning, or mean "recite". In the dictionary we give more than one definition for such words. If the original word is repeated in the definitions, it is simply saying that it is used in the way the reader expects, plus the other uses listed. This little dictionary has been compiled to help readers get closer to the intended meaning.

Not included: place names, anatomical words, diseases, people's names and some unusual words from the Bible....

There are many words that have a different meaning than the average reader would expect. Here are some of them:

ACCIDENTAL	ADMIT	AFFECT	AFFECTION
APPREHEND	ASSUMPTION	BRIDE	BRIDEGROOM
BULL	CHARITY	CHASTE	CIRCUS
COLDS	CONTINENT	CONTINUOUS	CONVENIENCE
DEPRECATE	DETERMINE	EARTH	EFFICIENT
ELATION	ENORMOUS	ENTHUSIASTIC	EXASPERATION
EXCITE	EXPIRATION	EXPRESS	FAITH
FANTASTIC	FORENSIC	GENII	GENIUS
GENEROUS	GOODS	GYMNASIUM	HONESTY
HUMOUR	IDEAL	ILLUSTRATION	IMMEDIATE
INFERIOR	INFIDELITY	INNOCENCE	INOCULATE
INSINUATE	INTUITION	INTERCOURSE	JEALOUSY
JUSTIFICATION	LASTS	LUXURY	MAN
MATRIX	MEAN	MEAT OFFERING	MEDIUM
MELANCHOLY	MEMORABILIA	MERE	MERITORIOUS
MIND	NATIONS	NATURAL	NATURALIST
NECTAR	NOBLE	OCCASION	OMEN
ORCHESTRA	ORDER	ORDINATION	ORGAN
OWN	PARADISE	PARCHMENT	PASSION
PECULIAR	PLASTIC	POSTERIOR	PREDICATION
PRESENTLY	PRIMATE	PRIMEVAL	PRIMITIVES
PROPER TO	PROVE	PULSE	RATIONAL
READ	REAL THINGS	REMAINS	RESUSCITATE
SALUTE	SAVE	SCANDAL	SCIENCE
SENSIBLE	SENSUOUS	SIMPLE	SIREN
SKIRT	SOLEMN	SPONTANEOUS	STOCK
STUPOR	SUCCEED	SUFFER HIMSELF	SWEETMEAT
TABERNACLE	TEMPT	TEMPTATION	TENOR
TIARA	TRANSCRIBE	TRANSLATE	TYPICAL
ULTIMATE	VICAR	VIRTUE	VOLUPTUOUS
VULGAR	WANT

(Abbreviations used in this work: adj. = adjective, L. = Latin, n. = noun, opp. = opposite, pl. = plural, prep. = preposition, transl. = translated)

Words in Swedenborg and Their Meanings in Modern English

Words in Swedenborg
and Their Meanings in Modern English