Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave — Page 4

Vocabulary

Tan

So, as; used for comparisons of degree

pronto

Soon, quickly; happening in a short time

como

As, like, how; used for comparisons or manner

él

He; third-person singular masculine subject pronoun

hubo

There was/were; preterite form of haber

tomado

Taken; past participle of tomar

asiento

Seat, chair; a place where one sits

lleno

Full, filled; completely occupied or satisfied

de

Of, from; common preposition indicating origin or belonging

esperanza

Hope; feeling of expectation for something desired

y

And; coordinating conjunction joining words or phrases

admiración

Admiration; feeling of wonder and respectful approval

me

Me, myself; first-person singular object pronoun

levanté

I stood up; preterite of levantarse, to rise

declaré

I declared; preterite of declarar, to state formally

que

That, which; conjunction or relative pronoun

fama

Fame, reputation; widespread recognition or renown

revolucionaria

Revolutionary; relating to or causing a major change

jamás

Never, ever; emphatic negation of time

pronunció

He pronounced/delivered; preterite of pronunciar

un

A, an; indefinite article masculine singular

discurso

Speech, discourse; formal address delivered to audience

más

More, most; comparative adverb of quantity or degree

elocuente

Eloquent; expressing ideas fluently and persuasively

en

In, on, at; preposition of location or time

defensa

Defense; act of protecting or supporting something

la

The; definite article feminine singular

libertad

Freedom, liberty; state of being free from constraint

el

The; definite article masculine singular

acabábamos

We had just; imperfect of acabar, expressing recent action

escuchar

To listen, to hear; paying attention to sounds

los

The; definite article masculine plural

labios

Lips; the two fleshy parts surrounding the mouth

aquel

That; demonstrative adjective indicating distant reference

fugitivo

Fugitive; person fleeing from pursuit or authority

perseguido

Pursued, hunted; one who is being chased by others

Así

Thus, so, like this; in this manner or way

lo

It, him; third-person masculine singular object pronoun

creía

I believed; imperfect of creer, ongoing past belief

entonces

Then, at that time; referring to a past moment

así

So, thus; in that way or manner

creo

I believe; present tense of creer

ahora

Now; at the present moment in time

Recordé

I reminded; preterite of recordar, to recall or remind

al

To the; contraction of a and el

público

Audience, public; group of people gathered together

peligro

Danger; situation involving risk or potential harm

rodeaba

Surrounded; imperfect of rodear, to encircle something

a

To, at; preposition indicating direction or recipient

este

This; demonstrative adjective for nearby masculine noun

joven

Young person, youth; someone of a young age

autoemancipado

Self-emancipated; one who freed themselves from slavery

Norte

North; cardinal direction or northern region

incluso

Even, including; used to emphasize an added element

suelo

Soil, ground, floor; the surface beneath one's feet

Padres

Fathers, parents; ancestors or founding figures

Peregrinos

Pilgrims; early settlers who traveled for religious freedom

entre

Among, between; in the middle of two or more things

descendientes

Descendants; people who come from a particular ancestor

padres

Fathers, parents; male parents or founding ancestors

revolucionarios

Revolutionaries; people engaged in political revolution

les

To them, for them; indirect object pronoun plural

pregunté

I asked; preterite of preguntar, to pose a question

si

If, whether; conjunction introducing conditional clause

alguna

Any, some; indefinite adjective feminine singular

vez

Time, occasion; instance of something happening

permitirían

They would allow; conditional of permitir, to permit

devolvieran

They would return him; imperfect subjunctive of devolver

esclavitud

Slavery; condition of being owned and forced to work

hubiera

There were; imperfect subjunctive of haber

ley

Law; rule established by authority and enforced officially

o

Or; disjunctive conjunction presenting an alternative

no

No, not; negation word rejecting or denying something

constitución

Constitution; fundamental law governing a country

La

The; definite article feminine singular

respuesta

Answer, response; reply given to a question

fue

Was, went; preterite of ser or ir

unánime

Unanimous; agreed upon by everyone without exception

con

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means

voz

Voice; sound produced by a person when speaking

trueno

Thunder; loud rumbling sound accompanying lightning

NO

No; emphatic negation, refusal or denial

Lo

Him, it; third-person masculine singular object pronoun

socorreréis

You will aid; future of socorrer, to help someone

protegeréis

You will protect; future of proteger, to keep safe

hermano

Brother; male sibling or fellow human being

residente

Resident; person living in a particular place

del

Of the; contraction of de and el

viejo

Old; having existed or lived for a long time

Estado

State; political unit or organized community territory

Bahía

Bay; curved inlet of the sea or a large body of water

SÍ

Yes; emphatic affirmative response or agreement

gritó

Shouted; preterite of gritar, to yell loudly

toda

All, entire; feminine form of todo, whole group

masa

Mass, crowd; large group of people gathered together

una

A, an; indefinite article feminine singular

energía

Energy; force or vigor with which something is done

tan

So, such; indicates a high degree of a quality

estremecedora

Shaking, startling; causing trembling or deep emotion

despiadados

Merciless, ruthless; showing no pity or compassion

tiranos

Tyrants; cruel rulers who oppress people unjustly

sur

South; cardinal direction or southern region

línea

Line; boundary or mark separating two regions

casi

Almost, nearly; very close to but not quite

habrían

They would have; conditional perfect auxiliary of haber

podido

Been able; past participle of poder, to be able

aquella

That; feminine demonstrative adjective for distant reference

poderosa

Powerful; having great strength or influence

explosión

Explosion, outburst; sudden powerful release of energy

sentimiento

Feeling, sentiment; emotional response to a situation

reconocerla

To recognize it; infinitive of reconocer with pronoun

promesa

Promise; commitment to do or not do something

determinación

Determination; firm resolve to achieve a goal

invencible

Invincible; impossible to defeat or overcome

por

By, for, through; preposition of cause or agent

parte

Part, side; a portion or role in something

quienes

Who, those who; relative pronoun for people

hicieron

They made, did; preterite of hacer

traicionar

To betray; act against someone's trust or loyalty

anda

He walks, roams; third-person present of andar

errante

Wandering, roaming; moving without fixed destination

sino

But rather, but instead; introduces a contrasting alternative

esconder

To hide; conceal oneself or something from others

desterrado

Exiled, banished; forced to leave one's home country

afrontar

To face, confront; deal bravely with a difficult situation

firmeza

Firmness, resolve; steadfast determination in one's actions

las

The; definite article feminine plural

consecuencias

Consequences; results or effects of an action

De

Of, from; preposition indicating origin or belonging

inmediato

Immediate; happening at once without delay

quedó

Remained, became; preterite of quedar

grabado

Engraved, imprinted; recorded deeply in memory

profundamente

Deeply, profoundly; to a great or intense degree

mi

My; first-person singular possessive adjective

mente

Mind; the cognitive faculty of thought and memory

Sr

Mr.; abbreviation of señor, title for a man