Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 21

Vocabulary

Insistieron

They insisted, pressed strongly for something

por

Preposition meaning 'by', 'for', or 'through'

lo

Neuter article or pronoun meaning 'it' or 'the'

tanto

So much, to such a degree or extent

en

Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'at'

que

Conjunction meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'

yo

First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'

debía

I/he/she had to, was obligated to do something

comprometerme

To commit or pledge myself to something

con

Preposition meaning 'with' indicating accompaniment

una

Indefinite feminine article meaning 'a' or 'an'

solemne

Solemn, serious, formal in a ceremonial way

promesa

A promise or pledge made to someone

de

Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'

si

Conjunction meaning 'if', introducing a condition

el

Definite masculine singular article meaning 'the'

barco

A boat or ship used for water travel

quedaba

Remained, stayed, or was left in a state

libre

Free, unrestrained, unobstructed from something

dirigiría

I/he/she would direct or steer toward something

mi

Possessive adjective meaning 'my' in Spanish

rumbo

Course or heading, direction of travel or journey

instantáneamente

Instantly, immediately, without any delay whatsoever

hacia

Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of'

sur

The cardinal direction south on a compass

Este

Demonstrative adjective/pronoun meaning 'this' masculine

discurso

Speech, discourse, or formal verbal communication

me

First person singular reflexive/object pronoun 'me'

perturbó

It disturbed, troubled, or upset someone deeply

No

Negation word meaning 'no' or 'not' in Spanish

había

Auxiliary verb 'had' used in past perfect tense

desesperado

Despaired, lost hope entirely, given up completely

ni

Conjunction meaning 'nor' or 'not even' in Spanish

concebido

Conceived, imagined, or formed an idea mentally

aún

Still or yet, referring to something not happened

la

Definite feminine singular article meaning 'the'

idea

An idea, thought, or concept formed in mind

regresar

To return, go back to a previous place

Sin

Preposition meaning 'without', lacking something entirely

embargo

Used in 'sin embargo', meaning 'however' or 'nevertheless'

podía

Could, was able to do something in past

justicia

Justice, fairness, the principle of moral rightness

o

Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative choice

incluso

Even, including, going further than expected

términos

Terms, conditions, or words used in an agreement

posibilidad

Possibility, the chance that something might happen

rechazar

To reject, refuse, or turn down something offered

esta

Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' feminine form

exigencia

A demand or requirement expected to be fulfilled

Vacilé

I hesitated, wavered, or paused before deciding

antes

Before, previously, earlier in time or order

responder

To respond, answer, or reply to someone

cuando

When, at the time that something happened

al

Contraction of 'a' and 'el', meaning 'to the'

principio

Beginning, start, or fundamental principle or belief

permanecido

Remained, stayed, or continued in a particular state

silencio

Silence, the absence of sound or speech

y

Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses

verdad

Truth, the reality or fact of something

parecía

Seemed, appeared to be a certain way

apenas

Barely, scarcely, hardly enough of something

tener

To have, to possess or hold something

fuerzas

Strength, forces, or physical and mental energy

suficientes

Sufficient, enough to meet a need or requirement

para

Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', 'to'

prestar

To lend or pay, as in paying attention

atención

Attention, the act of focusing one's awareness

se

Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive or passive verbs

animó

He/she became animated, encouraged, or enlivened suddenly

repente

Used in 'de repente', meaning 'suddenly' or 'all at once'

sus

Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'their'

ojos

Eyes, the organs used for seeing and vision

brillaron

They shone, sparkled, or gleamed with light

mejillas

Cheeks, the fleshy sides of the human face

encendieron

They lit up, flushed, or became inflamed with color

un

Indefinite masculine singular article meaning 'a' or 'an'

vigor

Vigor, energy, strength, and active physical force

momentáneo

Momentary, lasting only a very brief period of time

Volviéndose

Turning toward, facing, or directing oneself to someone

los

Definite plural masculine article meaning 'the'

hombres

Men, adult male human beings in a group

dijo

He/she said, spoke, or uttered words to someone

Qué

Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what' in a question

queréis

You (plural) want or wish to do something

decir

To say, tell, or mean something in speech

exigís

You (plural) demand or require something from someone

a

Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or personal marker

vuestro

Your (plural possessive), belonging to you all

capitán

Captain, the leader or commander of a ship

Acaso

Perhaps, maybe, or is it possible that something

os

Second person plural object pronoun meaning 'you' (Spain)

dejáis

You (plural) allow, let, or permit something to happen

apartar

To turn away, separate, or divert from a course

tan

So, as, such, used before adjectives or adverbs

fácilmente

Easily, without difficulty or effort in doing something

propósito

Purpose, goal, or intention behind an action

llamasteis

You (plural) called or named something in the past

esto

Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' referring to something nearby

expedición

Expedition, a journey or voyage with a specific purpose

gloriosa

Glorious, magnificent, worthy of great honor and praise

Y

Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting clauses or ideas

qué

What, interrogative or exclamatory pronoun in Spanish

era

Was, third person singular imperfect of 'ser'

porque

Because, giving a reason or cause for something

camino

Road, path, or way leading to a destination

fuera

Were, subjunctive form expressing a hypothetical condition

suave

Smooth, soft, gentle, pleasant to the touch or experience

apacible

Calm, peaceful, gentle, free from agitation or disturbance

como

Like, as, in the same way or manner as

mar

The sea or ocean, a large body of saltwater

del

Contraction of 'de' and 'el', meaning 'of the'

sino

But rather, but instead, contrasting a previous negative

estaba

Was, imperfect tense of 'estar', a temporary state

lleno

Full, filled with something to capacity or abundance

peligros

Dangers, perils, or threatening risks to safety

terror

Terror, extreme fear or dread of something threatening

ante

Before, in the face of, confronting something directly

cada

Each, every, referring to individual items in a group

nuevo

New, fresh, not previously known or encountered before

incidente

Incident, an event or occurrence, often unexpected or difficult

vuestra

Your (plural feminine possessive) belonging to all of you

fortaleza

Fortitude, strength of character, or a physical fortress

ponerse

To put oneself, to become, or to be tested

prueba

Test, proof, trial, or an examination of ability

valor

Courage, bravery, or the value or worth of something

exhibirse

To show oneself, display, or demonstrate one's qualities

peligro

Danger, risk, or a threatening situation requiring caution

muerte

Death, the end of life, mortality

rodeaban

They surrounded, encircled, or were all around something

estos

These, masculine plural demonstrative pronoun or adjective

debíais

You (plural) should have, were obligated to do something

desafiar

To challenge, defy, or confront danger or opposition

vencer

To overcome, conquer, or defeat an obstacle or enemy

Por

Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', 'through', or 'because of'

empresa

Enterprise, company, or an undertaking requiring effort

honorable

Honorable, worthy of respect and moral esteem

En

Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'at' a place

futuro

The future, the time that has not yet come

ibais

You (plural) were going to do something in future

ser

To be, the infinitive expressing permanent or inherent qualities

aclamados

Acclaimed, celebrated, loudly praised by many people

benefactores

Benefactors, people who provide help or benefits to others

especie

Species or kind, a category of beings or things

vuestros

Your (plural masculine possessive) belonging to all of you

nombres

Names, the words used to identify people or things

adorados

Adored, beloved, worshipped or greatly admired by others

valientes

Brave ones, courageous people who face danger boldly

enfrentaron

They faced, confronted, or stood up against something challenging

honor

Honor, the quality of being morally upright and respected

beneficio

Benefit, advantage, or gain resulting from an action

humanidad

Humanity, all human beings collectively, or human kindness