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

Vocabulary

pouvait

Third person singular imperfect of 'pouvoir' (could, was able to)

être

To be; fundamental linking or auxiliary verb

persuadé

Convinced, persuaded, certain of something

de

Of, from, by; extremely common preposition

consacrer

To devote, dedicate time or effort to something

son

His, her, its; possessive adjective (masculine singular)

temps

Time; also weather depending on context

et

And; basic coordinating conjunction

ses

His, her, its; possessive adjective (plural)

talents

Talents, natural abilities or skills

à

To, at, in; very common preposition

la

The; feminine singular definite article

promotion

Promotion, advancement of a cause or position

cause

Cause, mission or movement fought for

anti-esclavagiste

Anti-slavery; opposing the institution of slavery

une

A, an; feminine singular indefinite article

impulsion

Impulse, momentum, driving force given to something

puissante

Powerful, strong, mighty (feminine adjective)

lui

Him, her, to him/her; third person pronoun

serait

Would be; conditional of 'être'

donnée

Given; past participle of 'donner' (feminine)

un

A, an; masculine singular indefinite article

coup

Blow, strike, hit; also used in many expressions

retentissant

Resounding, striking, making a loud impact

en

In, on, by; versatile preposition or pronoun

même

Same, even, itself; used for emphasis

porté

Carried, brought, directed (past participle of 'porter')

contre

Against, opposing; common preposition

les

The; plural definite article

préjugés

Prejudices, biases, preconceived negative opinions

du

Of the; contracted form of 'de le'

Nord

North; referring to a geographic direction or region

l'

The; elided definite article before vowel sound

égard

Regard, consideration; 'à l'égard de' means regarding

d'

Of, from; elided form of 'de' before vowel

personne

Person; also means 'nobody' in negative sentences

couleur

Color; 'personne de couleur' means person of color

Je

I; first person singular subject pronoun

m'

Me, myself; elided first person reflexive pronoun

efforçai

Tried hard, strove; passé simple of 's'efforcer'

donc

Therefore, so, thus; logical conclusion connector

instiller

To instill, gradually introduce a feeling or idea

espoir

Hope, expectation of something positive happening

le

The; masculine singular definite article or pronoun

courage

Courage, bravery, boldness in facing difficulty

dans

In, inside, within; common preposition of place

esprit

Mind, spirit, wit, intellect

afin

So that, in order that; used with 'que'

qu'

That, which; elided conjunction or relative pronoun

il

He, it; third person masculine singular pronoun

osât

That he dare; imperfect subjunctive of 'oser'

s'

Himself, herself; elided reflexive pronoun

engager

To commit, engage, involve oneself in something

vocation

Vocation, calling, strong inclination toward a role

si

So, if; intensifier or conditional conjunction

anomale

Anomalous, unusual, deviating from the norm

lourde

Heavy, burdensome (feminine adjective)

responsabilités

Responsibilities, duties, obligations one must fulfill

pour

For, in order to; very common preposition

sa

His, her, its; possessive adjective (feminine singular)

situation

Situation, position, circumstances one finds oneself in

je

I; first person singular subject pronoun

fus

Was; passé simple first person singular of 'être'

secondé

Assisted, supported, backed up by someone

cet

This; masculine singular demonstrative adjective before vowel

effort

Effort, exertion, attempt to achieve something

par

By, through, per; common preposition

des

Some, of the; plural indefinite or partitive article

amis

Friends; masculine plural of 'ami'

au

To the, at the; contracted form of 'à le'

cœur

Heart; center of emotion or courage

généreux

Generous, giving, open-handed (masculine adjective)

notamment

Notably, in particular, especially among others

feu

Late, deceased (adjective); also fire as a noun

Agent

Agent, representative acting on behalf of an organization

général

General; broad in scope or rank (adjective/noun)

Société

Society, organization, association of people

M.

Mr.; abbreviated title of respect for a man

dont

Whose, of which; relative pronoun replacing 'de + qui/quoi'

jugement

Judgment, opinion, assessment, decision on a matter

cette

This, that; feminine singular demonstrative adjective

occasion

Occasion, opportunity, particular instance or event

coïncidait

Coincided, aligned, matched; imperfect of 'coïncider'

entièrement

Entirely, completely, wholly, without exception

avec

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means

mien

Mine; first person singular possessive pronoun (masculine)

Au

At the, to the; contracted form of 'à le'

début

Beginning, start, outset of something

ne

Not; first part of French negation (ne…pas etc.)

put

Could, was able; passé simple of 'pouvoir'

donner

To give, provide, offer something to someone

aucun

No, none, not any; negative indefinite adjective

encouragement

Encouragement, support that motivates someone forward

modestie

Modesty, humility, lack of excessive self-pride

sincère

Sincere, genuine, honest, free from pretense

exprima

Expressed; passé simple third person singular of 'exprimer'

conviction

Conviction, firm belief or certainty about something

n'

Not; elided negation particle before vowel sound

était

Was, were; imperfect third person singular of 'être'

pas

Not; second part of standard French negation

hauteur

Height; 'à la hauteur de' means equal to, up to

tâche

Task, assignment, duty to be accomplished

aussi

Also, too, as well; or 'so, thus' after inversion

grande

Great, large, big (feminine adjective)

chemin

Path, road, way, route to follow

tracé

Traced, mapped out, laid out (path or route)

vierge

Virgin, untouched, blank, unmarked by any trace

toute

All, every, any (feminine singular adjective)

empreinte

Imprint, mark, trace left by someone or something

craignait

Feared, was afraid; imperfect of 'craindre'

sincèrement

Sincerely, genuinely, honestly, with true feeling

faire

To do, to make; one of the most common verbs

plus

More, most; also 'no more' in negation

mal

Harm, evil, bad, pain; opposite of 'bien'

que

That, than, which; subordinating conjunction or pronoun

bien

Good, well; adverb or noun meaning good/benefit

Après

After, following; preposition or adverb of time

mûre

Ripe, mature; 'mûre réflexion' means careful thought

réflexion

Reflection, thought, deliberation about a matter

cependant

However, nevertheless, yet; marks a contrast

consentit

Consented, agreed; passé simple of 'consentir'

essai

Essay, trial, attempt, test of something new

depuis

Since, from; indicates duration or starting point

lors

Then; used in 'depuis lors' meaning since then

a

Has; third person singular present of 'avoir'

exercé

Exercised, practiced, carried out (an activity)

tant

So much, so many, as much; expression of quantity

agent

Agent, operative, representative of an organization

conférencier

Lecturer, speaker who gives public talks

sous

Under, beneath; preposition of position or authority

auspices

Auspices, patronage, sponsorship of an organization

soit

Either, whether; or subjunctive of 'être' (be)

américaine

American (feminine adjective); relating to America

celle

The one, that one; feminine singular demonstrative pronoun

Dans

In, within; preposition of place or time

travaux

Works, labors, efforts, projects undertaken

été

Been; past participle of 'être'; also summer

prolifiques

Prolific, highly productive, generating much output

succès

Success, achievement, favorable outcome

lutte

Struggle, fight, battle for a cause or goal

conquête

Conquest, winning over of people or territory

prosélytes

Proselytes, converts, newly won supporters of a cause

agitation

Agitation, stirring up of public opinion or unrest

esprits

Minds, spirits, intellects of people

loin

Far, far away; 'loin de' means far from

dépassé

Surpassed, exceeded, gone beyond expectations

espérances

Hopes, expectations, anticipated outcomes

optimistes

Optimistic; expecting positive results (adjective/noun)

qui

Who, which, that; subject relative pronoun

furent

Were; passé simple third person plural of 'être'

soulevées

Raised, stirred up (feminine plural past participle)

commencement

Beginning, start, outset of an activity or career

brillante

Brilliant, shining, outstanding (feminine adjective)

carrière

Career, professional life or course of occupation

Il

He, it; third person masculine singular subject pronoun

est

Is; third person singular present of 'être'

conduit

Led, conducted; past participle or present of 'conduire'

douceur

Gentleness, softness, sweetness in manner or feeling

humilité

Humility, modesty, absence of arrogance or pride

mais

But; coordinating conjunction showing contrast

véritable

True, genuine, real, authentic (adjective)

virilité

Virility, manly strength, vigor and courage

caractère

Character, personality, nature, moral quality of a person