Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave — Page 8

Vocabulary

Admitindo

Admitting or granting that something is true

que

That; conjunction used to introduce clauses

este

This; demonstrative pronoun referring to nearby thing

tenha

Has; subjunctive form of ter (to have)

sido

Been; past participle of ser (to be)

um

A, an; indefinite article, also number one

caso

Case, instance, or situation being discussed

extraordinário

Extraordinary; beyond what is usual or normal

de

Of, from; very common Portuguese preposition

deterioração

Deterioration; process of becoming worse or degraded

mental

Mental; relating to the mind or intellect

isso

This, that; neutral demonstrative pronoun

prova

Proves or shows; third-person singular of provar

pelo

By the; contraction of por + o

menos

Less, at least; used in comparisons and expressions

o

The; masculine definite article in Portuguese

escravo

Slave; person held in bondage or servitude

branco

White; color or adjective describing white race

pode

Can, is able to; third-person singular of poder

cair

To fall; to drop down or decline in status

tão

So, as; used in comparisons of equality

baixo

Low; at a low level, position, or standard

na

In the; contraction of em + a

escala

Scale; graduated measure or ranking system

da

Of the; contraction of de + a

humanidade

Humanity; the human race or human qualities

quanto

As much as, how much; used in comparisons

negro

Black; adjective or noun referring to dark color or race

Sr

Mr.; abbreviated title of respect for a man

optou

Chose, opted; past tense of optar (to choose)

com

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or manner

toda

All, entire; feminine form of todo

a

The; feminine definite article in Portuguese

propriedade

Property, appropriateness; fitness or ownership

por

By, for, through; versatile Portuguese preposition

escrever

To write; to produce text or composition

sua

His, her, your; possessive pronoun, feminine form

própria

Own; belonging to oneself, feminine form

Narrativa

Narrative; written account or story of events

em

In, at, on; common Portuguese preposition

seu

His, her, your; possessive pronoun, masculine form

próprio

Own; belonging to oneself, masculine form

estilo

Style; distinctive manner of expression or writing

e

And; basic coordinating conjunction in Portuguese

acordo

Agreement; also used in phrase de acordo (according to)

melhor

Better, best; comparative/superlative of bom

capacidade

Capacity, ability; one's skill or potential

vez

Time, instance; once, turn, or occasion

empregar

To employ, to use; to hire or put to use

outra

Other, another; feminine form of outro

pessoa

Person; individual human being

É

Is; third-person singular present of ser (to be)

portanto

Therefore, thus; indicates logical consequence

inteiramente

Entirely, completely; in a total or whole manner

obra

Work; a literary, artistic, or creative production

considerando

Considering; taking into account or reflecting upon

quão

How; used to express degree or extent

longa

Long; extended in length or duration, feminine

sombria

Dark, gloomy; shadowy or dismal, feminine form

foi

Was, went; past tense of ser or ir

trajetória

Trajectory, path; course traveled or life journey

ele

He; third-person masculine singular pronoun

teve

Had; simple past tense of ter (to have)

percorrer

To travel, to traverse; to cover a path or distance

como

As, like, how; comparison or manner conjunction

poucas

Few; small number of, feminine plural form

foram

Were, went; past plural of ser or ir

oportunidades

Opportunities; favorable circumstances or chances

aprimorar

To improve, to refine; to enhance quality or skill

mente

Mind; the faculty of thought and intellect

desde

Since, from; indicates a starting point in time

quebrou

Broke; simple past of quebrar (to break)

ferros

Irons, shackles; metal chains used to restrain

grilhões

Shackles, fetters; heavy chains binding a prisoner

é

Is; third-person singular present of ser

meu

My; first-person masculine singular possessive

ver

To see; also opinion or view in expressions

altamente

Highly; to a great degree or extent

digno

Worthy, deserving; meriting respect or credit

crédito

Credit; recognition of merit or trustworthiness

para

For, to; preposition indicating direction or purpose

coração

Heart; organ or symbol of emotion and feeling

Aquele

That one; demonstrative pronoun for distant reference

puder

Can, may; future subjunctive of poder

lê-lo

Read it; infinitive ler with clitic pronoun attached

sem

Without; preposition indicating absence or lack

olho

Eye; the organ of sight

lacrimejante

Tearful, watering; eyes filling or flowing with tears

peito

Chest, breast; front torso or seat of emotion

ofegante

Panting, breathless; breathing heavily with emotion

espírito

Spirit; soul, mind, or essence of a person

aflito

Distressed, afflicted; troubled or anguished in feeling

ser

To be; fundamental Portuguese verb of existence

tomado

Taken, seized; past participle of tomar

aborrecimento

Disgust, annoyance; strong dislike or indignation

indizível

Unspeakable, inexpressible; too great to put into words

pela

By the, for the; contraction of por + a

escravidão

Slavery; the institution of owning human beings

todos

All, everyone; masculine plural of todo

os

The; masculine plural definite article

cúmplices

Accomplices; those who assist in wrongdoing

animado

Animated, driven; inspired or motivated by something

uma

A, an; feminine indefinite article in Portuguese

determinação

Determination; firm resolve to achieve a goal

buscar

To seek, to look for; to pursue or fetch

imediata

Immediate; happening without delay, feminine form

derrubada

Overthrow, toppling; act of bringing something down

desse

Of that; contraction of de + esse

sistema

System; organized set of principles or structures

execrável

Execrable, abominable; deserving strong condemnation

tremer

To tremble; to shake with fear or strong emotion

destino

Destiny, fate; the future course of events

deste

Of this; contraction of de + este

país

Country, nation; an independent territorial state

nas

In the; contraction of em + as (feminine plural)

mãos

Hands; plural of mão, the body's grasping limb

Deus

God; the supreme deity or divine being

justo

Just, righteous; fair and morally correct

está

Is; third-person singular present of estar

sempre

Always; at all times, without exception

do

Of the; contraction of de + o (masculine)

lado

Side; one of two or more opposing positions

dos

Of the; contraction of de + os (masculine plural)

oprimidos

Oppressed; those subjected to unjust cruelty or control

cujo

Whose; relative possessive pronoun, masculine form

braço

Arm; the limb or symbolic power to act

não

No, not; basic negation in Portuguese

encurtado

Shortened; made shorter or reduced in length

ponto

Point; a specific place, dot, or extent

poder

To be able; also power or ability as noun

salvar

To save; to rescue from danger or harm

deve

Must, should; third-person singular of dever

ter

To have; fundamental auxiliary and main verb

pedra

Stone, rock; hard mineral material; heart of stone

estar

To be; verb indicating state or condition

qualificado

Qualified; having the necessary skills or credentials

desempenhar

To perform, to carry out; to fulfill a role

papel

Role, paper; part played or sheet of paper

traficante

Trafficker, dealer; one who trades illegally in people

escravos

Slaves; plural of escravo, people held in bondage

das

Of the; contraction of de + as (feminine plural)

almas

Souls; spiritual essences of human beings

homens

Men, humans; plural of homem