The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself — Page 1

Vocabulary

IL

Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'

INTERESSANTE

Describes something that captures attention or curiosity

NARRAZIONE

A narrative or account of events told in sequence

DELLA

Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the'

VITA

Life; the existence or biography of a person

DI

Preposition meaning 'of' or 'by'

O

Conjunction meaning 'or'; also used as an alternative name marker

L'

Elided definite article 'lo' or 'la' before a vowel

AFRICANO

Adjective or noun meaning 'African', from Africa

SCRITTA

Written; past participle of 'scrivere', to write

DA

Preposition meaning 'by' or 'from'

LUI

Third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'him' or 'he'

STESSO

Adjective meaning 'same' or 'himself', emphasizing identity

Ecco

Exclamation meaning 'here is', 'behold', or 'look'

Dio

God; the supreme divine being in monotheistic religion

è

Third-person singular present tense of 'essere', meaning 'is'

la

Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'

mia

Feminine singular possessive pronoun meaning 'my'

salvezza

Salvation; the act of being saved or rescued

mi

First-person singular reflexive or object pronoun meaning 'me'

fiderò

Future tense of 'fidarsi', meaning 'I will trust'

e

Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses

non

Adverb of negation meaning 'not'

avrò

Future tense of 'avere', meaning 'I will have'

paura

Fear; an emotion caused by perceived danger or threat

poiché

Conjunction meaning 'because' or 'since', introducing a reason

il

Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'

Signore

Lord or Mister; a title of respect or divine reference

forza

Strength or force; physical or moral power

mio

Masculine singular possessive pronoun meaning 'my'

canto

Song or chant; a melodic vocal expression

egli

Formal third-person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he'

stesso

Adjective meaning 'himself' or 'same', used for emphasis

diventato

Past participle of 'diventare', meaning 'become'

E

Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses

in

Preposition meaning 'in' or 'on', indicating location or time

quel

Demonstrative adjective meaning 'that', used before consonants

giorno

Day; a 24-hour period or a specific calendar date

direte

Second-person plural future of 'dire', meaning 'you will say'

Lodate

Imperative plural of 'lodare', meaning 'praise' or 'glorify'

invocate

Imperative plural of 'invocare', meaning 'call upon' or 'invoke'

suo

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

nome

Name; the word by which someone or something is called

proclamate

Imperative plural of 'proclamare', meaning 'proclaim' or 'announce'

le

Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'

sue

Feminine plural possessive pronoun meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'

opere

Works or deeds; actions or artistic creations of someone

tra

Preposition meaning 'among', 'between', or 'within'

i

Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'

popoli

Peoples or nations; groups sharing culture or origin

LONDRA

London; the capital city of England and the United Kingdom

Stampato

Printed; past participle of 'stampare', to print

per

Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', or 'through'

venduto

Sold; past participle of 'vendere', to sell

dall'

Contraction of 'da' and 'l'', meaning 'by the' or 'from the'

Autore

Author; the person who wrote the text or work

Venduto

Sold; past participle indicating where the book was available

anche

Adverb meaning 'also' or 'too', adding additional information

dal

Contraction of 'da' and 'il', meaning 'by the' or 'from the'

Sig

Abbreviation of 'Signore', meaning 'Mr.' or 'Sir'

di

Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'by'

fronte

Front or forehead; 'di fronte a' means 'opposite' or 'facing'

al

Contraction of 'a' and 'il', meaning 'to the' or 'at the'

può

Third-person singular of 'potere', meaning 'can' or 'may'

essere

Infinitive meaning 'to be'; fundamental Italian auxiliary verb

acquistato

Purchased; past participle of 'acquistare', to buy or acquire

da

Preposition meaning 'from', 'by', or 'at'

tutti

Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'everyone'

Librai

Booksellers; plural of 'libraio', a person who sells books

città

City or town; an urban settlement of significant size

provincia

Province; an administrative region outside the capital city

Registrato

Registered; past participle of 'registrare', to register officially

alla

Contraction of 'a' and 'la', meaning 'at the' or 'to the'

Illustrazione

Illustration; a picture or image accompanying a text

o

Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative option

l'

Elided definite article before a vowel, meaning 'the'

Africano

African; a person from or relating to the continent Africa

Ai

Contraction of 'a' and 'i', meaning 'to the' masculine plural

Spirituali

Spiritual; relating to the spirit or the Lords Spiritual

Temporali

Temporal; relating to worldly matters, as in Lords Temporal

ai

Contraction of 'a' and 'i', meaning 'to the' masculine plural

Comuni

Commons; the lower house of Parliament or common people

del

Contraction of 'di' and 'il', meaning 'of the'

Parlamento

Parliament; the legislative body of a government

della

Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the'

Gran

Adjective meaning 'great' or 'grand', used before nouns

Bretagna

Britain; the island nation comprising England, Scotland, Wales

Miei

Masculine plural possessive meaning 'my', as in 'my lords'

Signori

Lords or gentlemen; plural of 'Signore', a respectful address

Permettetemi

Imperative meaning 'allow me' or 'permit me', formal address

con

Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment or manner

massima

Greatest or utmost; superlative feminine form of 'massimo'

deferenza

Deference; respectful submission to another's authority or wishes

rispetto

Respect; esteem or consideration shown toward another person

deporre

To lay down or submit; to present formally before someone

vostri

Masculine plural possessive meaning 'your', formal or plural

piedi

Feet; plural of 'piede', the lower extremities of the body

seguente

Following or next; the adjective describing what comes after

genuina

Genuine or authentic; describing something true and unfeigned

Narrazione

Narrative or account; a structured telling of events or story

cui

Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'which', or 'of which'

scopo

Purpose or aim; the intended goal of an action or work

principale

Main or principal; most important or primary in significance

quello

Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'that one'

suscitare

To arouse or evoke; to stir up feelings or reactions in others

nelle

Contraction of 'in' and 'le', meaning 'in the' feminine plural

vostre

Feminine plural possessive meaning 'your', formal or plural

auguste

August or venerable; dignified and inspiring respect

assemblee

Assemblies; gatherings of people for deliberation or decision

un

Masculine singular indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'

senso

Sense or feeling; an awareness or perception of something

compassione

Compassion; sympathetic concern for others' suffering

miserie

Miseries or sufferings; plural of 'miseria', extreme hardship

che

Conjunction or relative pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'

Tratta

Trade or trafficking; here referring to the slave trade

degli

Contraction of 'di' and 'gli', meaning 'of the' masculine plural

Schiavi

Slaves; plural of 'schiavo', a person held in bondage

ha

Third-person singular of 'avere', meaning 'has' or 'have'

inflitto

Inflicted; past participle of 'infliggere', to impose suffering

miei

Masculine plural possessive meaning 'my'

sventurati

Unfortunate or wretched; describing people in miserable circumstances

compatrioti

Compatriots; fellow countrymen sharing the same national origin