Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Chapters 4–6

by Frederick Douglass
Written by the influential abolitionist, Douglass's autobiography bears witness to the horrors of slavery. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the text: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–11
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. impudence
    the trait of being rude and impertinent
    He was one of those who could torture the slightest look, word, or gesture, on the part of the slave, into impudence, and would treat it accordingly.
  2. immutable
    not subject or susceptible to change or variation
    To be accused was to be convicted, and to be convicted was to be punished; the one always following the other with immutable certainty.
  3. homage
    respectful deference
    He was just proud enough to demand the most debasing homage of the slave, and quite servile enough to crouch, himself, at the feet of the master.
  4. servile
    submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
    He was just proud enough to demand the most debasing homage of the slave, and quite servile enough to crouch, himself, at the feet of the master.
  5. barbarity
    the quality of being cruel, inhumane, or uncivilized
    His savage barbarity was equalled only by the consummate coolness with which he committed the grossest and most savage deeds upon the slaves under his charge.
  6. consummate
    complete and utter; without qualification or limitation
    His savage barbarity was equalled only by the consummate coolness with which he committed the grossest and most savage deeds upon the slaves under his charge.
  7. expedient
    a means to an end
    He was asked by Colonel Lloyd and my old master, why he resorted to this extraordinary expedient.
  8. subversion
    the act of overthrowing or destroying, as a government
    He was setting a dangerous example to the other slaves, — one which, if suffered to pass without some such demonstration on his part, would finally lead to the total subversion of all rule and order upon the plantation.
  9. arraign
    call before a court to answer an indictment
    Thus she escaped not only punishment, but even the pain of being arraigned before a court for her horrid crime.
  10. imposing
    impressive in appearance
    It was the first large town that I had ever seen, and though it would look small compared with some of our New England factory villages, I thought it a wonderful place for its size — more imposing even than the Great House Farm!
  11. incur
    make oneself subject to
    I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence.
  12. abhorrence
    hate coupled with disgust
    I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence.
  13. discord
    strife resulting from a lack of agreement
    That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one of harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon.
  14. vestige
    an indication that something has been present
    There is a vestige of decency, a sense of shame, that does much to curb and check those outbreaks of atrocious cruelty so commonly enacted upon the plantation.
  15. emaciated
    very thin, especially from disease or hunger or cold
    Henrietta was about twenty-two years of age, Mary was about fourteen; and of all the mangled and emaciated creatures I ever looked upon, these two were the most so.
Created on Fri Aug 16 14:07:28 EDT 2013 (updated Wed Jun 25 15:01:43 EDT 2025)

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