On the Method of Zadig: Essay #1 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition" — Page 1

Vocabulary

Producido

Produced or created by someone or something

por

By or for; common preposition with many uses

SOBRE

About, on, or concerning a topic

EL

The; masculine singular definite article

MÉTODO

Method; a systematic way of doing something

DE

Of or from; very common Spanish preposition

ENSAYO

Essay; a written piece exploring a topic

CIENCIA

Science; systematic study of the natural world

Y

And; basic coordinating conjunction in Spanish

TRADICIÓN

Tradition; customs or beliefs passed down generations

HEBREA

Hebrew; relating to the Hebrew people or culture

Por

By or through; preposition indicating authorship or means

LA

The; feminine singular definite article in Spanish

PROFECÍA

Prophecy; a prediction of future events

RETROSPECTIVA

Retrospective; looking back at past events analytically

COMO

As or like; used for comparisons or explanations

FUNCIÓN

Function; the role or purpose something serves

que

That or than; very common Spanish conjunction

de

Of or from; extremely common Spanish preposition

Es

Is; third person singular of verb 'ser'

una

A or an; feminine singular indefinite article

práctica

Practice; a habit or customary action

habitual

Habitual; something done regularly or customarily

y

And; basic coordinating conjunction in Spanish

loable

Praiseworthy; deserving of commendation or approval

introducir

To introduce; to bring something in or present it

el

The; masculine singular definite article

debate

Debate; a formal discussion of opposing viewpoints

sobre

About or on; preposition indicating topic or surface

las

The; feminine plural definite article in Spanish

ideas

Ideas; thoughts or concepts formed in the mind

un

A or an; masculine singular indefinite article

pensador

Thinker; a person who thinks deeply about things

filosófico

Philosophical; relating to philosophy or deep thinking

con

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means

reseña

Review or account; a summary of someone or something

del

Of the; contraction of 'de' and 'el'

hombre

Man; an adult male human being

circunstancias

Circumstances; conditions surrounding an event or person

moldearon

Molded or shaped; past tense of moldear

su

His, her, its, or their; possessive adjective

vida

Life; the existence of a living being

colorearon

Colored or influenced; past tense of colorear

manera

Manner or way; how something is done

ver

To see; to perceive visually or understand

cosas

Things; objects or matters in general

pero

But; conjunction indicating contrast or exception

aunque

Although or even though; concessive conjunction

es

Is; third person singular form of ser

citado

Cited or quoted; mentioned as a reference

en

In or on; preposition of location or time

uno

One; the number one or an indefinite reference

los

The; masculine plural definite article

capítulos

Chapters; major divisions of a book or text

más

More or most; comparative adverb in Spanish

importantes

Important; of great significance or consequence

la

The; feminine singular definite article

obra

Work; a literary, artistic, or musical creation

magna

Great or major; used in 'obra magna' meaning masterwork

poco

Little or few; a small amount of something

se

Reflexive pronoun; himself, herself, itself, themselves

sabe

Knows; third person singular of saber

él

He or him; third person masculine singular pronoun

ese

That; demonstrative adjective for nearby objects

quizás

Perhaps or maybe; expresses possibility or uncertainty

podría

Could; conditional form of poder meaning to be able

estar

To be; indicates state, condition, or location

mejor

Better or best; comparative of bueno

documentado

Documented; supported by or recorded in documents

lo

It or him; neuter or masculine direct object pronoun

está

Is; third person singular of estar

Se

Reflexive or impersonal pronoun; one, himself, themselves

dice

Says or it is said; third person singular of decir

vivió

Lived; past tense of vivir, to live

tiempos

Times; periods or eras in history

rey

King; a male monarch ruling a kingdom

nombre

Name; a word used to identify a person

no

No or not; negation in Spanish

aparece

Appears; third person singular of aparecer

lista

List; a series of names or items

soberanos

Sovereigns or rulers; those holding supreme authority

babilónicos

Babylonian; relating to ancient Babylon or its culture

sacada

Taken out or extracted; feminine past participle of sacar

a

To or at; very common Spanish preposition

luz

Light; also used in 'sacar a luz' meaning to bring to light

gracias

Thanks to; expressing gratitude or attribution

paciencia

Patience; ability to wait calmly without frustration

laboriosidad

Industriousness; quality of being diligent and hardworking

descifradores

Decipherers; people who decode or interpret inscriptions

inscripciones

Inscriptions; texts carved or written on surfaces

cuneiformes

Cuneiform; ancient wedge-shaped writing system

estos

These; masculine plural demonstrative adjective

últimos

Last or latest; most recent in a series

años

Years; periods of twelve months each

ni

Nor or neither; negative conjunction in Spanish

tampoco

Neither or not either; negative adverb

tengo

I have; first person singular of tener

conocimiento

Knowledge; understanding or awareness of something

exista

Exists; subjunctive form of existir

ninguna

No or none; feminine negative adjective

otra

Other or another; refers to a different option

autoridad

Authority; a source of power or credible information

avale

Vouches for or backs up; subjunctive of avalar

existencia

Existence; the fact of being real or alive

biógrafo

Biographer; a person who writes someone's life story

cierto

Certain or a certain; used before nouns vaguely

entre

Among or between; preposition indicating position

cuyos

Whose; masculine plural relative possessive pronoun

méritos

Merits; qualities deserving praise or recognition

destacados

Outstanding; notable or distinguished above others

difícilmente

Hardly or with difficulty; adverb from difícil

puede

Can or is able to; third person singular of poder

contarse

To be counted; reflexive infinitive of contar

estricta

Strict or exact; demanding precise adherence

precisión

Precision; accuracy and exactness in detail

histórica

Historical; relating to history or past events

Afortunadamente

Fortunately; luckily, in a favorable manner

encuentra

Finds or is found; third person singular of encontrar

misma

Same; feminine adjective indicating identity or sameness

situación

Situation; a set of circumstances at a given time

muchos

Many; a large number of people or things

otros

Others; different or additional people or things

filósofos

Philosophers; thinkers who study fundamental questions

Cómo

How; interrogative adverb asking about manner

era

Was; imperfect past tense of ser

e

And; variant of 'y' used before 'i' sound

incluso

Even or including; used to add emphasis

si

If; conditional conjunction in Spanish

llegó

Arrived or managed to; past tense of llegar

existir

To exist; to be real or have actual being

absoluto

Absolute; complete or total, used in 'en absoluto'

son

Are; third person plural of ser

cuestiones

Questions or matters; issues requiring consideration

poca

Little; a small amount, feminine form of poco

importancia

Importance; the quality of being significant or valuable