The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself — Page 3

Vocabulary

Está

Third person singular of 'estar'; is (temporary state)

situado

Located or situated in a particular place

quase

Almost, nearly

sob

Under, beneath

linha

Line, as in a boundary or geographic line

equador

The equator, Earth's central latitude line

estende-se

Extends itself, stretches across a distance

longo

Along, used in phrase 'ao longo de'

costa

Coast, the land bordering the sea

por

For, by, through; preposition of various uses

cerca

About, approximately, used in 'cerca de'

milhas

Miles, units of distance measurement

mas

But, however; coordinating conjunction

penetra

Penetrates, goes deep into an area

interior

Interior, inland region away from the coast

África

Africa, the continent

distância

Distance, the space between two points

até

Until, up to, even; versatile preposition

agora

Now, at this moment

acredito

I believe, I think something is true

nunca

Never, at no time

ter

To have; infinitive of auxiliary or main verb

sido

Been; past participle of 'ser'

explorada

Explored, investigated or surveyed (feminine)

nenhum

No, none, not any; negative determiner

viajante

Traveler, someone who travels

parece

Seems, appears to be something

ser

To be; infinitive indicating permanent state

terminado

Ended, terminated, finished at a boundary

apenas

Only, just, merely

império

Empire, a large sovereign territory or domain

seu

His, her, its, your; possessive pronoun

início

Beginning, start of something

Este

This; demonstrative pronoun or adjective (masculine)

reino

Kingdom, a territory ruled by a king

está

Is (temporary state); third person singular estar

dividido

Divided, split into parts or sections

muitas

Many, a large number of (feminine plural)

províncias

Provinces, administrative regions of a country

ou

Or; disjunctive conjunction

distritos

Districts, subdivisions of an administrative area

mais

More, most; used in comparisons

remotas

Remote, distant, far from the center (feminine plural)

férteis

Fertile, productive for growing crops (plural)

delas

Of them (feminine); contraction of 'de' and 'elas'

chamada

Called, named; past participle of 'chamar'

nasci

I was born; first person past of 'nascer'

ano

Year, a period of twelve months

encantador

Charming, delightful, enchanting place or thing

fértil

Fertile, rich and productive land

vale

Valley, a low area between hills or mountains

chamado

Called, named; past participle of 'chamar' (masc.)

desta

Contraction of 'de' and 'esta'; of this (fem.)

província

Province, an administrative region or district

capital

Capital city of a region or country

marítima

Maritime, relating to the sea or coast

deve

Must, should, owes; third person of 'dever'

muito

Very, much, a lot

considerável

Considerable, significant in size or importance

pois

Because, since, for; causal conjunction

havia

There was/had; imperfect of 'haver'

ouvido

Heard; past participle of 'ouvir'

falar

To speak, to talk about something

homens

Men, adult male human beings

brancos

White (people); adjective describing skin color

europeus

Europeans, people from the continent of Europe

nem

Nor, neither; negative conjunction

mar

Sea, a large body of salt water

nossa

Our; first person plural possessive (feminine)

sujeição

Subjection, state of being under authority

rei

King, the male monarch of a kingdom

era

Was; imperfect tense of 'ser'

pouco

Little, a small amount or degree

nominal

Nominal, in name only, not real or effective

cada

Each, every; distributive determiner

transação

Transaction, a deal or official interaction

governo

Government, the system of ruling a state

onde

Where; relative adverb of place

minha

My; first person singular possessive (feminine)

limitada

Limited, restricted in scope or range

observação

Observation, the act of watching carefully

alcançava

Reached, extended to; imperfect of 'alcançar'

conduzida

Conducted, managed, led (feminine past participle)

chefes

Chiefs, leaders of a community or group

anciãos

Elders, older respected members of a community

lugar

Place, a particular location or spot

costumes

Customs, traditional practices of a community

povo

People, a community or nation as a group

tem

Has, have; third person singular of 'ter'

comércio

Commerce, trade between people or nations

outros

Other, others; adjective or pronoun (masculine plural)

países

Countries, sovereign nations

são

Are; third person plural of 'ser'

geralmente

Generally, usually, in most cases

simples

Simple, uncomplicated, straightforward

história

Story, history, or narrative of events

se

Reflexive pronoun; oneself, or if (conjunction)

passa

Passes, takes place, happens

família

Family, a group of related people

aldeia

Village, a small rural settlement

pode

Can, may; third person singular of 'poder'

servir

To serve, to function as something

como

As, like, how; comparison or manner word

amostra

Sample, an example representing a larger whole

nação

Nation, a country or people with shared identity

Meu

My; first person singular possessive (masculine)

pai

Father, a male parent

desses

Of those; contraction of 'de' and 'esses'

quem

Who, whom; relative or interrogative pronoun

falei

I spoke; first person past of 'falar'

termo

Term, a word or expression with specific meaning

bem

Well, good; adverb of manner or quality

lembro

I remember; first person of 'lembrar'

denotava

Denoted, signified; imperfect of 'denotar'

alta

High, tall, great (feminine adjective)

distinção

Distinction, a mark of honor or difference

significava

Meant, signified; imperfect of 'significar'

língua

Language, tongue; a system of communication

_marca_

Mark, a sign or symbol indicating something

grandeza

Greatness, grandeur, magnificence