High School
HS Unit I: Free But Far From Equal: The African American Experience in Massachusetts, 1780–1863
Unit Vocabulary List
| abettor: | supporter, helper |
| abject: | miserable |
| accursed: | despised, hated |
| actuated: | motivated |
| adjourn: | to continue at a later date |
| affidavit: | written statement sworn to be true |
| Africs clime: | Africa |
| agency: | action, power |
| agreeable to : | according to |
| alienation: | transferring of property |
| Ango Saxon: | white |
| animated: | energetic |
| apathy: | lack of caring |
| apologist: | defender |
| apprehend: | believe |
| assemblage: | crowd |
| assenting: | agreeing |
| astir: | awake |
| atrocious: | terrible, dreadful |
| barbarous: | inhuman |
| base: | evil, contemptible |
| berthan: | burden; that is, needing financial support from the town |
| brace: | a pair |
| camp meeting: | religious gathering held in the open air |
| castigate: | severely criticize, punish |
| chivalry: | nobility, gallantry, courtesy |
| cipher: | (also spelled cypher) something of no value |
| civility: | politeness |
| claimant: | person claiming his/her slave has run away |
| colonization: | relocation of African Americans to Africa |
| common cause: | independence |
| common school: | public school |
| complexion: | skin |
| concert: | plan |
| concert: | plan |
| confederates: | allies |
| consternation: | anxiety |
| contagion: | fear |
| contempt: | disgust, scorn |
| contend: | argue |
| conveyances: | means of transportation |
| counsel: | lawyer |
| countenanced: | permitted |
| countenanced: | accepted |
| custody: | under arrest |
| cypher: | (also spelled cipher) something of no value |
| dastardly: | cowardly |
| defiance: | open disobedience |
| degeneracy: | evil; involved in degrading someone |
| degradation: | being made to feel unworthy, humiliated |
| degraded: | humiliated |
| denounce: | condemn |
| desecrate: | treat with disrespect, violate |
| despotic: | dictatorial, tyrannical, oppressive |
| detraction: | attempt to make something less important |
| dilapidated: | falling apart |
| discourse: | discussion |
| disenthralled: | free |
| dishearten: | discourage |
| dispassionately: | without emotion |
| disseminating: | spreading |
| dissension: | conflict, protest |
| distinction: | separation |
| distinction of color: | racial segregation |
| doctrine: | principle |
| edicts: | formal pronouncements |
| elevated sphere: | high standing |
| eloquence: | powerful expression |
| enactment: | law |
| endowed: | equipped |
| enfranchisement: | freeing, emancipation |
| equivocate: | use vague statements to mislead |
| estate: | inherited property |
| exact: | expect |
| execute: | carry out |
| expound: | exlplain |
| extension of her wantonness: | [in this context] to prolong or spread slavery |
| extract: | heritage, ancestry |
| extricate: | liberate |
| forbearance: | self-control |
| forfeit: | give up |
| founding: | establishing |
| fugitives from service or labor: | runaway slaves |
| Ham: | Second son of Noah, considered to be the ancestor of the Egyptians and of all African peoples south of Egypt. |
| harbor: | hide |
| hard usage: | very difficult |
| harlot: | prostitute |
| Helots of Sparta: | serfs of ancient Greek city |
| imminent: | about to happen |
| improprieties: | indecencies, inappropriate behavior |
| indignant: | offended, outraged |
| infer: | conclude |
| inference: | reasoning from evidence |
| iniquitous: | terribly unjust |
| inmates: | residents |
| innate: | inborn |
| instrument: | guiding document |
| intemperance: | drunkenness |
| intercedes: | makes a request |
| interposition: | intervention, help |
| interrogatories for discovery: | type of legal documents |
| Jim Crow: | segregated by race |
| liable: | responsible |
| maw: | open jaws |
| menial hirelings: | domestic servants |
| mistress: | woman involved with and supported by a married man |
| mockery: | insulting joke |
| moderation: | calm, middle course |
| molestation: | interference with |
| negro pew: | separate seating for black people, usually in a balcony |
| organ: | [in this context] newspaper or magazine supported by an organization |
| paler hue: | lighter skin, i.e. white skin |
| palpable: | tangible, something that can be felt |
| peculiar: | [older use] particular, special |
| pernicious: | destructive, evil |
| perpetual: | permanent, lasting for ever |
| perpetual: | permanent |
| perpetual servitude: | enslavement |
| persecuting: | hostile, bad |
| person held to service or labor: | a runaway or fugitive slave |
| preferred: | directed |
| presumption: | inappropriate boldness |
| prevailed: | been widespread or current |
| privilage of freemen: | right to vote |
| profuse: | generous |
| proscription: | prohibitions |
| proscriptive act: | restrictive law |
| prosperity: | future good |
| provisions: | food and drink |
| pursuers: | people chasing her |
| quell: | subdue, quiet |
| rabid: | unreasonable, extreme |
| ravaging maw: | great hunger or need |
| ravisher: | rapist |
| Rebel Chieftain: | Confederate officer |
| recantation: | withdrawal of statement or belief |
| recover damages: | to sue for monetary settlement |
| redemption: | rescue |
| redress: | relief |
| refin'd: | made pure |
| reformatory: | intended to improve |
| relished: | enjoyed |
| remedy: | solution |
| repugnant: | disgusting, offensive |
| retain: | keep |
| rod: | 5 ½ yards |
| ruffian: | lawless person, bully |
| sacked: | vandalized, trashed |
| saguinary: | bloody |
| scholars: | students |
| scourge: | whip |
| severity: | harshness |
| sitting: | assembling |
| slander: | malicious false statement |
| sloop: | single-masted sailing vessel |
| Society of Friends: | Quakers |
| solicitation: | request |
| soliloquise: | speak to herself |
| spoilations: | acts of violence |
| standard: | flag, banner |
| statutes: | laws |
| summary: | performed speedily |
| supremacy: | having the most power or authority |
| susceptible: | open to |
| symmetry: | beauty |
| tendered: | offered |
| tort: | wrongful act |
| unequivocal: | clear, absolute |
| unfurled: | to be opened up |
| unpaid toil: | unpaid work, i.e. slavery |
| unreflectingly: | without thinking |
| wardrobe: | [in this context] possessions or baggage |
| was to be effected: | needed to happen |
| wretchedness: | misery |