The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself — Page 5

Vocabulary

Por

By, for, or through; a preposition with multiple uses

conseguinte

Consequently; therefore; as a result

ele

He; third-person singular masculine pronoun

determinou

He/she determined or decided something firmly

condená-la

To condemn her; to sentence her to punishment

à

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

morte

Death; the end of life

porém

However; but; nevertheless; used to contrast ideas

tendo-se

Having been; reflexive gerund of 'ter'

descoberto

Discovered; uncovered; found out previously unknown information

pouco

Little; a small amount or shortly before

antes

Before; previously; earlier in time

de

Of, from; common Portuguese preposition indicating relation

sua

Her/his/your; possessive adjective indicating belonging

execução

Execution; carrying out a death sentence or task

que

That, which, who; conjunction or relative pronoun

ela

She; third-person singular feminine pronoun

tinha

Had; past imperfect tense of 'ter' (to have)

um

A, an, one; indefinite article or number

bebê

Baby; a very young infant

ao

At the, to the; contraction of 'a' and 'o'

seio

Breast; bosom; nursing area of the body

e

And; basic coordinating conjunction connecting words or clauses

não

No, not; basic negation word in Portuguese

havendo

There being; gerund form of 'haver' indicating existence

mulher

Woman; wife; adult female person

alguma

Any, some; feminine indefinite adjective or pronoun

concordasse

Would agree; past subjunctive of 'concordar'

em

In, at, on; preposition indicating location or state

desempenhar

To perform, to fulfill; to carry out a role

o

The; masculine singular definite article

papel

Role, paper; part played in a situation

ama

Wet nurse; caregiver who breastfeeds another's child

leite

Milk; white liquid produced by mammals for nursing

foi

Was, went; past tense of 'ser' or 'ir'

poupada

Spared, saved; kept safe from harm or punishment

por

For, by, through; preposition indicating cause or means

causa

Cause, reason; that which produces an effect

da

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

criança

Child; a young human being, baby or kid

Os

The; masculine plural definite article

homens

Men; plural of 'homem', adult male humans

no

In the, on the; contraction of 'em' and 'o'

entanto

Meanwhile; however; used in 'no entanto' meaning nevertheless

mantêm

Maintain, keep; third-person plural present of 'manter'

a

The; feminine singular definite article or preposition

mesma

Same; identical; the very one mentioned before

fidelidade

Fidelity, faithfulness; loyalty especially in relationships

para

For, to, toward; preposition indicating direction or purpose

com

With; preposition indicating accompaniment or relation

suas

Their, your, her; feminine plural possessive adjective

esposas

Wives; plural of 'esposa', married female partners

qual

Which, as; relative pronoun or conjunction of comparison

esperam

They expect, hope, or wait; third-person plural present

delas

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

pois

Since, because, for; causal or explanatory conjunction

permitem-se

They allow themselves; reflexive form of 'permitir'

ter

To have; fundamental Portuguese auxiliary and main verb

uma

A, an, one; feminine indefinite article or number

pluralidade

Plurality; the state of having more than one

embora

Although, even though; concessive conjunction in Portuguese

raramente

Rarely, seldom; happening only on few occasions

mais

More; comparative adverb indicating greater quantity or degree

do

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

duas

Two; feminine form of the number two

Seu

His, her, your, their; possessive adjective in Portuguese

modo

Mode, way, manner; how something is done

contrair

To contract, enter into; to take on an agreement

matrimônio

Matrimony, marriage; the formal union of two people

é

Is; third-person singular present tense of 'ser'

seguinte

Following, next; the one that comes immediately after

ambas

Both (feminine); referring to two things or people

as

The; feminine plural definite article

partes

Parties, parts; sides involved in an agreement or action

são

Are; third-person plural present tense of 'ser'

geralmente

Generally, usually; in most cases or circumstances

prometidas

Promised, betrothed; pledged to someone for marriage

casamento

Marriage, wedding; the union or ceremony joining two people

quando

When; conjunction or adverb indicating a point in time

jovens

Young people; youth; plural of 'jovem'

seus

Their, his, her; masculine plural possessive adjective

pais

Parents; father and mother together

eu

I; first-person singular subject pronoun

tenha

Have; present subjunctive of 'ter' indicating uncertainty

sabido

Known; past participle of 'saber' meaning to know

casos

Cases, instances; specific examples or occurrences

se

Themselves, if; reflexive pronoun or conditional conjunction

prometem

They promise; third-person plural present of 'prometer'

conta

Account, own initiative; bill or responsibility

própria

Own, proper; belonging to oneself, self-initiated

Nessa

In that, on that; contraction of 'em' and 'essa'

ocasião

Occasion, event; a particular time or opportunity

banquete

Banquet, feast; a large elaborate meal for many

preparado

Prepared, ready; made ready in advance

noiva

Bride, fiancée; woman engaged to be married

noivo

Groom, fiancé; man engaged to be married

levantam

They rise, stand up; third-person plural of 'levantar'

meio

Middle, half, midst; center or among a group

todos

All, everyone; referring to the entire group present

amigos

Friends; people with whom one has close relations

estão

Are; third-person plural present of 'estar'

reunidos

Gathered, assembled; brought together in one place

tal

Such, that; used to indicate a specific purpose or thing

fim

End, purpose, goal; conclusion or objective of something

enquanto

While, whereas; conjunction indicating simultaneous actions

declara

Declares, states; announces or proclaims officially

deve

Must, should, owes; expresses obligation or expectation

doravante

Henceforth, from now on; from this moment forward

ser

To be; fundamental Portuguese verb indicating identity or state

considerada

Considered, regarded; viewed or treated in a certain way

esposa

Wife; a woman joined in marriage to a husband

nenhuma

None, no; feminine pronoun or adjective of negation

outra

Other, another; a different or additional feminine person

pessoa

Person; an individual human being

lhe

To him/her/you; indirect object pronoun in Portuguese

dirigir

To direct, address; to speak or turn toward someone

quaisquer

Any (plural); whatever or whichever, in any form

galanteios

Flirtations, courtly compliments; romantic or flattering advances

Isso

That, this; neuter demonstrative pronoun referring to something

também

Also, too; indicates addition to what was already said

imediatamente

Immediately, at once; without any delay whatsoever

proclamado

Proclaimed, announced; officially declared to the public

nas

In the; contraction of 'em' and 'as' (feminine plural)

redondezas

Surroundings, vicinity; the area around a place

após

After; following in time or sequence

retira

Withdraws, leaves; removes oneself from a place

assembleia

Assembly, gathering; a group of people meeting together