Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the 50 key terms and definitions from Ms. Farlow's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl vocabulary list.

abolitionist

(noun) a person who worked to end slavery

anguish

(noun) severe mental or physical suffering

artifice

(noun) clever trickery or deception

benevolent

(adjective) kind, generous, and well-meaning

bondage

(noun) the condition of being enslaved or held under another's control

chastisement

(noun) severe punishment, especially physical punishment

conjecture

(noun) a guess or opinion formed from incomplete information

constable

(noun) a law officer with limited policing authority, such as serving warrants or making arrests

consternation

(noun) a feeling of alarm and dismay, often caused by something unexpected

contempt

(noun) the feeling that someone or something is worthless or beneath consideration

degradation

(noun) the state of being lowered in dignity, character, or moral worth

deliverance

(noun) rescue or release from danger, suffering, or captivity

depravity

(noun) moral corruption; wickedness

despondency

(noun) low spirits caused by a loss of hope or courage

destitute

(adjective) lacking the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter

discretion

(noun) the quality of behaving carefully so as to avoid giving offense or revealing private information

entreaty

(noun) an earnest or desperate request

fugitive

(noun) a person who has escaped from captivity and is being pursued

garret

(noun) a small, cramped room just under the roof of a house; an attic

gimlet

(noun) a small hand tool used for boring holes in wood

hypocrisy

(noun) the practice of claiming beliefs or virtues that one does not actually hold or practice

ignominy

(noun) public shame or disgrace

indecorum

(noun) behavior that is improper or in poor taste

indignation

(noun) anger caused by something unfair or unjust

insolence

(noun) rude, disrespectful behavior; under slavery, often the charge against any enslaved person who asserted themselves

insurrection

(noun) a violent uprising against an authority or government

licentious

(adjective) sexually unrestrained; disregarding accepted moral rules

loophole

(noun) a small opening in a wall through which one can look or shoot; also, a means of escape

magistrate

(noun) a local official who administers the law and hears minor cases

manumission

(noun) the formal act of freeing a person from slavery

mortification

(noun) deep shame or humiliation

overseer

(noun) a person who supervises the work of laborers, especially enslaved people

patriarchal

(adjective) relating to a system ruled by a male head of household; describing control exercised by a father figure

persecutor

(noun) a person who harasses, oppresses, or hunts another persistently

remonstrate

(verb) to protest or plead in objection to something

reproach

(noun) criticism that expresses disappointment or disapproval

resolute

(adjective) firmly determined; unwavering

retreat

(noun) a place of hiding, safety, or seclusion

retribution

(noun) punishment given in return for a wrong or injury

sanctuary

(noun) a place of refuge or safety

scrupulous

(adjective) very careful to do what is honest and morally right

servitude

(noun) the condition of being forced to serve another; bondage

solicitude

(noun) care or concern for someone's well-being

speculator

(noun) a person who buys something in order to resell it for profit; under slavery, a trader who bought and sold enslaved people

tyranny

(noun) cruel, unjust, and unrestrained use of power

venerable

(adjective) deserving deep respect because of age, wisdom, or character

vigilance

(noun) careful watchfulness for possible danger

vindictive

(adjective) having a strong desire for revenge

virtue

(noun) moral goodness; in nineteenth-century usage for women, especially sexual purity

zealous

(adjective) showing intense, often extreme, devotion to a cause or belief