The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself — Page 2

Vocabulary

est

Third person singular of 'être'; means 'is'

par

Preposition meaning 'by' or 'through'

les

Definite plural article meaning 'the'

horreurs

Plural noun meaning 'horrors' or 'atrocities'

de

Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'

ce

Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this'

commerce

Noun meaning 'trade' or 'commerce'

que

Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which'

je

First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'

fus

Past tense of 'être'; means 'was'

abord

Used in 'd'abord', meaning 'first' or 'at first'

arraché

Past participle of 'arracher'; torn away forcibly

à

Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'from'

tous

Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'every'

tendres

Adjective meaning 'tender' or 'affectionate'

liens

Plural noun meaning 'bonds' or 'ties'

qui

Relative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'

étaient

Imperfect tense of 'être'; means 'were'

naturellement

Adverb meaning 'naturally' or 'by nature'

chers

Adjective meaning 'dear' or 'precious'

mais

Conjunction meaning 'but'

ceux-ci

Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'these' or 'the latter'

travers

Used in 'à travers', meaning 'through' or 'across'

voies

Plural noun meaning 'ways', 'paths', or 'means'

mystérieuses

Adjective meaning 'mysterious' or 'enigmatic'

la

Definite feminine singular article meaning 'the'

Providence

Noun referring to divine guidance or foresight

dois

First person singular of 'devoir'; means 'must'

considérer

Verb meaning 'to consider' or 'to regard'

comme

Conjunction or preposition meaning 'as' or 'like'

infiniment

Adverb meaning 'infinitely' or 'immeasurably'

plus

Adverb meaning 'more' or 'no longer'

compensés

Past participle of 'compenser'; meaning 'compensated'

accès

Noun meaning 'access' or 'entry'

ai

First person singular of 'avoir'; means 'have'

ainsi

Adverb meaning 'thus', 'so', or 'in this way'

obtenu

Past participle of 'obtenir'; meaning 'obtained'

connaissance

Noun meaning 'knowledge' or 'acquaintance'

religion

Noun meaning 'religion' or 'faith'

chrétienne

Adjective meaning 'Christian', feminine form

et

Conjunction meaning 'and'

une

Indefinite feminine article meaning 'a' or 'an'

nation

Noun meaning 'nation' or 'country'

ses

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

sentiments

Plural noun meaning 'feelings' or 'sentiments'

libéraux

Adjective meaning 'liberal' or 'open-minded'

son

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

humanité

Noun meaning 'humanity' or 'human kindness'

glorieuse

Adjective meaning 'glorious' or 'magnificent'

liberté

Noun meaning 'liberty' or 'freedom'

gouvernement

Noun meaning 'government' or 'governance'

sa

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

maîtrise

Noun meaning 'mastery', 'command', or 'expertise'

des

Contracted article meaning 'of the' or 'some'

arts

Plural noun meaning 'arts' or 'creative disciplines'

sciences

Plural noun meaning 'sciences' or 'fields of knowledge'

a

Third person singular of 'avoir'; means 'has'

élevé

Past participle of 'élever'; raised or elevated

dignité

Noun meaning 'dignity' or 'self-respect'

nature

Noun meaning 'nature' or 'natural character'

humaine

Adjective meaning 'human', feminine form

Je

First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'

sens

First person singular of 'sentir'; meaning 'feel'

devrais

Conditional of 'devoir'; meaning 'should' or 'ought'

implorer

Verb meaning 'to implore' or 'to beg'

votre

Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (formal)

pardon

Noun meaning 'pardon', 'forgiveness', or 'sorry'

vous

Second person plural pronoun meaning 'you'

soumettre

Verb meaning 'to submit' or 'to present'

œuvre

Noun meaning 'work', especially a literary or artistic one

aussi

Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'as well'

totalement

Adverb meaning 'totally' or 'completely'

dépourvue

Adjective meaning 'devoid of' or 'lacking'

mérite

Noun meaning 'merit' or 'worth'

littéraire

Adjective meaning 'literary' or 'of literature'

en

Preposition meaning 'in', 'as', or 'while'

tant

Used in 'en tant que', meaning 'as' or 'in the capacity of'

production

Noun meaning 'production' or 'work produced'

un

Indefinite masculine article meaning 'a' or 'an'

Africain

Noun or adjective meaning 'African'

sans

Preposition meaning 'without'

lettres

Plural noun meaning 'letters' or 'literary education'

animé

Adjective meaning 'driven', 'motivated', or 'animated'

espoir

Noun meaning 'hope' or 'expectation'

devenir

Verb meaning 'to become'

instrument

Noun meaning 'instrument' or 'tool'

au

Contracted article meaning 'to the' or 'at the'

service

Noun meaning 'service' or 'assistance'

du

Contracted article meaning 'of the'

soulagement

Noun meaning 'relief' or 'alleviation of suffering'

compatriotes

Plural noun meaning 'compatriots' or 'fellow countrymen'

souffrants

Adjective meaning 'suffering' or 'in pain'

fais

First person singular of 'faire'; means 'do' or 'make'

confiance

Noun meaning 'trust' or 'confidence'

tel

Adjective meaning 'such' or 'such a'

homme

Noun meaning 'man' or 'human being'

plaidant

Present participle of 'plaider'; meaning 'pleading'

telle

Adjective meaning 'such', feminine form

cause

Noun meaning 'cause' or 'case'

sera

Future tense of 'être'; means 'will be'

absous

Past participle of 'absoudre'; meaning 'absolved'

toute

Adjective meaning 'all', 'every', feminine form

audace

Noun meaning 'audacity' or 'boldness'

présomption

Noun meaning 'presumption' or 'arrogance'

Que

Conjunction meaning 'that' or 'may' in subjunctive

le

Definite masculine singular article meaning 'the'

Dieu

Noun meaning 'God'

ciel

Noun meaning 'sky' or 'heaven'

inspire

Subjunctive of 'inspirer'; meaning 'may inspire'

vos

Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (plural/formal)

cœurs

Plural noun meaning 'hearts'

bienveillance

Noun meaning 'benevolence' or 'goodwill'

particulière

Adjective meaning 'particular' or 'special'

jour

Noun meaning 'day'

important

Adjective meaning 'important' or 'significant'

où

Relative adverb meaning 'where' or 'when'

question

Noun meaning 'question' or 'issue'

Abolition

Noun meaning 'abolition', elimination of a practice

doit

Third person singular of 'devoir'; means 'must'

être

Verb meaning 'to be'

débattue

Past participle of 'débattre'; meaning 'debated'

milliers

Plural noun meaning 'thousands'

hommes

Plural noun meaning 'men' or 'people'

conséquence

Noun meaning 'consequence' or 'result'

Décision

Noun meaning 'decision' or 'ruling'

devront

Future tense of 'devoir'; means 'will have to'

chercher

Verb meaning 'to seek' or 'to look for'

Bonheur

Noun meaning 'happiness' or 'well-being'

ou

Conjunction meaning 'or'

Misère

Noun meaning 'misery' or 'wretchedness'

suis

First person singular of 'être'; means 'am'

Mes

Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (plural)

Seigneurs

Plural noun meaning 'Lords' or 'Sirs'

Messieurs

Plural noun meaning 'Gentlemen' or 'Misters'

Votre

Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (formal)

très

Adverb meaning 'very'

obéissant

Adjective meaning 'obedient' or 'dutiful'

Et

Conjunction meaning 'and'

dévoué

Adjective meaning 'devoted' or 'dedicated'

humble

Adjective meaning 'humble' or 'modest'

Serviteur

Noun meaning 'servant'

mars

Noun meaning 'March', the third month

LISTE

Noun meaning 'list'

SOUSCRIPTEURS

Plural noun meaning 'subscribers' or 'patrons'

Son

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

Altesse

Noun meaning 'Highness', a royal title

Royale

Adjective meaning 'Royal', feminine form

Prince

Noun meaning 'Prince', a royal title

Duc

Noun meaning 'Duke', a noble title

Le

Definite masculine singular article meaning 'the'

Très

Adverb meaning 'very', used in honorific titles

Honorable

Adjective meaning 'Honorable', used as a title

Comte

Noun meaning 'Count' or 'Earl', a noble title

Amiral

Noun meaning 'Admiral', a naval rank

M.

Abbreviation for 'Monsieur', meaning 'Mister'

exemplaires

Plural noun meaning 'copies' of a publication

Ecuyer

Noun meaning 'Esquire', a courtesy title

Révérend

Adjective meaning 'Reverend', a clerical title