260. Since prepositional uses are not exactly alike in any two
languages, it is not always possible to translate a preposition of
one language by what is its equivalent in some senses in another. In
order to insure some means of translating correctly into Esperanto any
prepositional phrase of the national languages, the preposition "je"
is regarded as of rather indefinite meaning. In addition to its use in
dates and allusions to time (89, 185), it may be employed when no other
preposition gives the exact sense required, especially in protestations
and exclamations, expressions of measure (see also 139), and of
indefinite connection:
Je la nomo de cxielo! In the name of Heaven!
Je mia honoro mi ja elfaros tion!
On my honor I will accomplish that!
Gxi estas longa je du mejloj,
it is two miles long (long by two miles).
Ili venis je grandaj nombroj, they came in great numbers.
Li estas tenata de la policano, je la brako, per forta sxnurego,
he is held by the policemen, by the arm, with (by) a strong rope.
The preposition "je" is used to express indefinite connection after
the following words (other prepositions sometimes used are given in
parentheses):
ekkrii je (pro), to cry out at. (sin) okupi je, busy (oneself) at.
enui je, to be bored with. plena je (de), full of.
fiera je (pri), proud of. preni je, to take by.
fidi je (al), to rely upon. provizi je (per), to provide with.
gxoji je (pri), to rejoice at. ricxigi je (per), to enrich with.
gratuli je (pri), congratulate on. ridi je, to laugh at.
honti je (pri), to be ashamed of. satigxi je, to be sated with.
inda je, worthy of. senigi je, to deprive of.
interesigxi je, take interest in. simila je (al), similar to.
kapti je, to seize by. sopiri je (al), to yearn for.
kontenta je (kun), content with. sxargxi je, to load with.
kredi je, to believe in. teni je, to hold by.
[Footnote: The translation given for a preposition in any dictionary is
the general one which serves in the majority of cases. The finer shades
of meaning and real or apparent exceptions can merely be touched upon if
mentioned at all.]