Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave — Page 5

Vocabulary

pudiera

Past subjunctive of poder; expressing possibility or doubt

ser

To be; fundamental Spanish linking verb

persuadido

Persuaded; convinced to adopt a belief or action

de

Of, from; common preposition indicating origin or belonging

consagrar

To dedicate or devote oneself fully to something

su

His, her, its, your; third-person possessive adjective

tiempo

Time; the ongoing progression of events or moments

y

And; basic coordinating conjunction linking elements

sus

His, her, their; plural possessive adjective

talentos

Talents; natural abilities or skills a person possesses

a

To, at; versatile preposition indicating direction or recipient

la

The; feminine singular definite article

promoción

Promotion; active support or advancement of a cause

causa

Cause; a principle or movement one supports or fights for

antiesclavista

Abolitionist; opposing the institution of slavery

se

Reflexive pronoun; used with reflexive or passive constructions

le

Indirect object pronoun; to him, to her, to it

daría

Would give; conditional tense of dar

un

A, an; masculine singular indefinite article

poderoso

Powerful; having great strength or influence

impulso

Impulse, boost; a driving force propelling something forward

al

To the; contraction of preposition a and article el

mismo

Same, itself; used for emphasis or identity

asestaría

Would deal or strike; delivering a blow to something

golpe

Blow, strike; a forceful hit or impact

contundente

Forceful, decisive; convincing and overwhelming in impact

prejuicio

Prejudice; unfair bias or preconceived negative opinion

norteño

Northern; relating to or characteristic of the north

contra

Against; preposition indicating opposition or conflict

tez

Complexion, skin tone; the color and texture of skin

color

Color; hue or shade, often referring to skin color

Por

For, by, because of; versatile Spanish preposition

lo

It, the; neuter article or object pronoun

tanto

So much, therefore; indicating quantity or consequence

me

Me; first-person singular reflexive or object pronoun

esforcé

I strove, made an effort; past tense of esforzarse

en

In, on; common preposition of location or manner

infundirle

To instill in him; to inspire someone with a feeling

esperanza

Hope; feeling that desired events will occur

valor

Courage, valor; bravery in facing danger or difficulty

para

For, in order to; preposition indicating purpose or goal

que

That, which; conjunction or relative pronoun

atreviera

Past subjunctive of atreverse; to dare to do something

dedicarse

To dedicate oneself; to commit to a profession or cause

una

A, an; feminine singular indefinite article

vocación

Vocation, calling; strong inclination toward a particular career

tan

So, such; adverb intensifying an adjective or adverb

anómala

Anomalous, unusual; deviating from what is normal or expected

tanta

So much; feminine singular intensifying adjective

responsabilidad

Responsibility; obligation or duty one is accountable for

persona

Person; an individual human being

situación

Situation; set of circumstances surrounding someone or something

este

This; masculine singular demonstrative adjective or pronoun

esfuerzo

Effort; exertion of energy toward achieving a goal

fui

I was, I went; preterite of ser or ir

secundado

Seconded, supported; backed up or assisted by others

por

By, for; preposition indicating agent or reason

amigos

Friends; people with whom one shares affection and trust

buen

Good; shortened form of bueno before masculine nouns

corazón

Heart; organ symbolizing emotion, kindness, and courage

especialmente

Especially; to a greater degree than usual or others

el

The; masculine singular definite article

difunto

Deceased, late; referring to someone who has died

Agente

Agent; a person acting on behalf of an organization

General

General; overall or referring to a high-ranking title

Sociedad

Society; an organized group sharing common goals or interests

Antiesclavista

Anti-slavery; opposing or working to end slavery

Sr.

Mr.; abbreviated honorific title for adult males

cuyo

Whose; relative possessive pronoun linking clauses

juicio

Judgment; the ability to make considered decisions or opinions

caso

Case; a particular instance or situation under consideration

coincidió

Coincided, agreed; matched or corresponded with something else

plenamente

Fully, completely; in an entire or total manner

con

With; preposition expressing accompaniment or means

mío

Mine; first-person singular possessive pronoun

Al

At the, upon the; contraction of a and el

principio

Beginning, principle; start of something or fundamental belief

no

No, not; basic negation word in Spanish

pudo

Could, was able to; preterite third-person singular of poder

dar

To give; basic verb of transferring something to someone

ningún

No, none; masculine adjective meaning not any

aliento

Encouragement, breath; support given to motivate someone

genuina

Genuine; truly authentic, sincere, not fake or forced

timidez

Shyness, timidity; tendency to be hesitant or reserved

expresó

Expressed; communicated feelings or thoughts clearly to others

convicción

Conviction; a firmly held belief or opinion

era

Was; imperfect tense of ser indicating past state

capaz

Capable, able; having the ability to do something

llevar

To carry, to take; to bring or undertake something

cabo

End, cape; llevar a cabo means to carry out a task

tarea

Task, assignment; work to be done or accomplished

grande

Great, large; of considerable size, importance, or scope

camino

Road, path, way; a route or course of action

trazado

Traced, mapped out; a planned or outlined course or path

completamente

Completely, totally; in a full or thorough manner

inexplorado

Unexplored; not yet examined or ventured into

temía

Feared; imperfect tense expressing ongoing past fear

sinceramente

Sincerely; in a genuine, honest, and heartfelt way

causaría

Would cause; conditional of causar indicating potential effect

más

More; comparative adverb indicating greater quantity or degree

daño

Harm, damage; injury or negative effect on someone

bien

Good, well; indicating benefit or positive outcome

Sin

Without; preposition indicating absence or lack of something

embargo

However; sin embargo means nevertheless or nonetheless

tras

After, behind; preposition indicating sequence or position

mucha

Much, a lot of; feminine singular quantifying adjective

deliberación

Deliberation; careful consideration before making a decision

consintió

Consented, agreed; gave permission or accepted something

hacer

To do, to make; fundamental verb of action or creation

prueba

Test, trial, proof; an attempt to demonstrate something

desde

Since, from; preposition marking a starting point in time

ese

That; masculine singular demonstrative adjective or pronoun

momento

Moment; a brief point or period of time

ha

Has; third-person singular present of haber used in perfect tense

actuado

Acted; past participle of actuar, meaning to perform or behave

como

As, like; used for comparison or to indicate role

agente

Agent; representative acting on behalf of an organization

conferenciante

Speaker, lecturer; person who delivers public lectures or talks

bajo

Under, low; preposition indicating subordination or position below

los

The; masculine plural definite article

auspicios

Auspices; support or patronage provided by an organization

Americana

American; relating to America or its people and culture

o

Or; coordinating conjunction offering an alternative

En

In, on; preposition indicating location or context

labores

Labors, tasks; work or efforts performed over time

sido

Been; past participle of ser used in perfect tenses

sumamente

Extremely, highly; to the utmost or greatest degree

prolífico

Prolific; producing abundant results, work, or output

éxito

Success; favorable outcome or achievement of a goal

combatir

To combat, fight against; to oppose or struggle actively

ganar

To win, earn; to achieve victory or obtain something

prosélitos

Proselytes, converts; people newly persuaded to support a cause

agitar

To stir up, agitate; to disturb or excite public feeling

mente

Mind; the faculty of thinking, reasoning, and feeling

pública

Public; relating to the community or the people generally

superado

Surpassed, overcome; exceeded expectations or difficulties

creces

Excess; con creces means by far or with room to spare

las

The; feminine plural definite article

expectativas

Expectations; beliefs about what will or should happen

optimistas

Optimistic; having hopeful and positive expectations

plantearon

Raised, posed; presented or put forward at a given time

comienzo

Beginning, start; the initial point of something

brillante

Brilliant, bright; exceptionally impressive or intelligent

carrera

Career, race; professional path or competitive running event

Se

Reflexive pronoun; indicates reflexive or passive action

conducido

Conducted, behaved; past participle of conducir or conducirse

gentileza

Kindness, gentleness; courteous and considerate behavior

mansedumbre

Meekness, gentleness; calm and humble manner of behaving

pero

But; coordinating conjunction expressing contrast or exception

verdadera

True, genuine; authentic and not false or pretended

hombría

Manliness, manhood; qualities considered characteristic of a man

carácter

Character; the moral and mental qualities of an individual