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

Vocabulary

Pelos

Contraction of 'por' and 'os'; by the, through the

horrores

Horrors; terrible or frightening events or things

daquele

Contraction of 'de' and 'aquele'; of that, from that

comércio

Commerce, trade, business activity between people

fui

First person singular past tense of 'ser/ir'; I was/went

eu

I; first person singular subject pronoun

pela

Contraction of 'por' and 'a'; by the, through the

primeira

First; feminine ordinal number indicating initial position

vez

Time, instance, occasion in a sequence

arrancado

Torn away, uprooted, forcibly removed from something

de

Of, from; common Portuguese preposition

todas

All, every; feminine plural form of 'todo'

as

The; feminine plural definite article

ternuras

Tenderness, affections, gentle feelings of love

que

That, which, who; relative pronoun or conjunction

eram

Were; third person plural imperfect of 'ser'

naturalmente

Naturally, of course, in a natural manner

caras

Dear, cherished, precious; feminine plural adjective

ao

To the; contraction of 'a' and 'o'

meu

My; masculine singular possessive pronoun

coração

Heart; physical organ or seat of emotion

mas

But; coordinating conjunction indicating contrast

estas

These; feminine plural demonstrative pronoun

pelos

Contraction of 'por' and 'os'; by the, through the

misteriosos

Mysterious, enigmatic, difficult to understand or explain

desígnios

Designs, plans, purposes, intentions of a higher power

da

Of the; contraction of 'de' and 'a'

Providência

Providence; divine guidance or care over human affairs

devo

I must, I should, I owe; first person of 'dever'

considerá-las

To consider them; infinitive with clitic pronoun attached

como

As, like, how; conjunction or adverb of comparison

infinitamente

Infinitely, boundlessly, to an unlimited degree

mais

More; adverb of degree or quantity

do

Of the; contraction of 'de' and 'o'

compensadas

Compensated, offset, balanced by something else

iniciação

Initiation, introduction to a new knowledge or practice

daí

From there, from that, hence, therefore

obtive

I obtained, I acquired; first person past of 'obter'

conhecimento

Knowledge, understanding, awareness of something

religião

Religion; system of faith and worship

cristã

Christian; feminine adjective relating to Christianity

e

And; basic coordinating conjunction

uma

A, an; feminine indefinite article

nação

Nation; a country or people sharing identity

seus

His, her, their, its; masculine plural possessive

sentimentos

Feelings, sentiments, emotional states or attitudes

liberais

Liberal, open-minded, favoring freedom and tolerance

sua

His, her, its, your; feminine singular possessive

humanidade

Humanity, humankind, or the quality of being humane

gloriosa

Glorious, magnificent, worthy of great admiration

liberdade

Liberty, freedom from oppression or restraint

seu

His, her, its, your; masculine singular possessive

governo

Government; the system or body that rules a state

proficiência

Proficiency, skill, competence in a particular area

nas

In the; contraction of 'em' and 'as'

artes

Arts; creative disciplines like painting, music, literature

ciências

Sciences; fields of systematic knowledge and study

exaltou

Exalted, elevated, raised up in status or dignity

a

The; feminine singular definite article

dignidade

Dignity, worthiness, the state of being respected

natureza

Nature; the natural world or essential character of something

humana

Human; feminine adjective relating to humankind

Tenho

I have; first person singular present of 'ter'

consciência

Conscience, awareness, consciousness of right and wrong

implorar

To implore, to beg earnestly for something

o

The; masculine singular definite article

vosso

Your; masculine singular possessive for plural addressee

perdão

Pardon, forgiveness, excuse for a fault or offense

por

For, by, through; common Portuguese preposition

vos

You; second person plural object pronoun

dirigir

To address, to direct, to guide toward someone

obra

Work, literary or artistic piece, creation

tão

So, such, as; adverb of degree

completamente

Completely, entirely, without exception or remainder

desprovida

Devoid, lacking, without; feminine past participle

mérito

Merit, worth, quality deserving recognition or praise

literário

Literary; relating to literature or written works

sendo

Being; gerund of 'ser', used in continuous constructions

ela

She, it; third person feminine singular pronoun

produção

Production, work produced; the act of creating something

um

A, an, one; masculine singular indefinite article

africano

African; adjective or noun referring to Africa

sem

Without; preposition indicating absence or lack

instrução

Instruction, education, formal learning or schooling

movido

Moved, motivated, driven by a feeling or purpose

esperança

Hope, expectation of something desired in the future

se

Himself, herself, itself; reflexive or impersonal pronoun

tornar

To become, to turn into, to return to a state

instrumento

Instrument, tool, means used to achieve a purpose

para

For, to, in order to; purposive preposition

alívio

Relief, alleviation of pain, suffering, or burden

dos

Of the; contraction of 'de' and 'os'

compatriotas

Compatriots, fellow countrymen sharing the same nationality

sofredores

Sufferers, those who endure pain or hardship

confio

I trust, I confide; first person present of 'confiar'

pleiteando

Pleading, advocating, arguing a case on behalf of someone

causa

Cause, legal case, or reason behind an action

será

Will be; third person singular future of 'ser'

absolvido

Absolved, acquitted, freed from blame or guilt

ousadia

Boldness, audacity, daring in behavior or speech

presunção

Presumption, arrogance, overconfident assumption

Que

That, may; used to introduce a wish or desire

Deus

God; the supreme divine being in monotheistic religions

céu

Heaven, sky; the space above or divine realm

inspire

May inspire; subjunctive of 'inspirar', to motivate

os

The; masculine plural definite article

vossos

Your; masculine plural possessive for plural addressee

corações

Hearts; plural of 'coração', seats of emotion

com

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means

singular

Singular, remarkable, extraordinary, exceptional in nature

benevolência

Benevolence, goodwill, kindness toward others

naquele

In that; contraction of 'em' and 'aquele'

importante

Important, significant, of great consequence

dia

Day; a 24-hour period or a specific date

em

In, at, on; common locative preposition

questão

Question, issue, matter under discussion or debate

Abolição

Abolition; the act of formally ending a practice

debatida

Debated, discussed, argued about in a formal setting

quando

When; temporal conjunction or adverb

milhares

Thousands; plural indicating very large numbers

consequência

Consequence, result, outcome of an action or decision

vossa

Your; feminine singular possessive for plural addressee

Determinação

Determination, resolution, firm decision on a matter

haverão

They will; third person plural future of 'haver'

buscar

To seek, to search for, to look for something

Felicidade

Happiness, felicity, state of being joyful and content

ou

Or; coordinating disjunctive conjunction

Miséria

Misery, wretchedness, extreme suffering or poverty

Sou

I am; first person singular present of 'ser'

Meus

My; masculine plural possessive pronoun

Senhores

Gentlemen, lords, sirs; respectful plural form of address

Cavalheiros

Gentlemen, cavaliers; respectful plural term of address

obediente

Obedient, compliant, willing to follow orders or rules

dedicado

Dedicated, devoted, committed to a person or cause

humilde

Humble, modest, not proud or arrogant

Servo

Servant, one who serves another person or master

março

March; the third month of the year

LISTA

List; a written enumeration of items or names

SUBSCRITORES

Subscribers, those who financially supported the publication

Sua

His, Her, Your; formal possessive adjective

Alteza

Highness; royal title used for princes or princesses

Real

Royal; adjective relating to a monarch or royalty

Príncipe

Prince; male member of a royal family

Duque

Duke; a high-ranking noble title

Ilustríssimo

Most Illustrious; honorary superlative title of respect

Conde

Count, Earl; a noble title of rank

Almirante

Admiral; high-ranking naval officer

Sr.

Mr.; abbreviated title of respect for a man

exemplares

Copies, specimens; individual printed copies of a book

Reverendo

Reverend; honorary title given to clergy members