The struggle to end slavery: a glossary

annuities income or payment paid yearly
anodyne soothing, relieving pain
avarice greed
barbarism uncivilized state, not cultivated
beneficial good, favourable
calamitous disastrous
capital money
cessation bringing or coming to an end
concerted joint effort
condoned overlooked or accepted
cross trade in this case, the trade between the West Indies and British America, and vice versa
cultivation growing or farming or land
cupidity excessive desire, normally for wealth
decrepitude weakened, worn out
deprecate excessive disapproval, deplore
devoid completely lacking
diffuses to spread out freely
disaffection to lose affection or loyalty
dishonour disgrace, shame
dissenters normally someone who refuses to accept the doctrines of the Church of England
execrated hated
impious lacking respect, irreverent
incentive something that causes action - could be fear or hope of a reward
lamentable inspiring regret
meted given out, distributed
mortification feeling of shame or humiliation
partakers take part in, share
pillage take goods by force
pocket borough/ rotten borough a parliamentary seat that was under the control of a single person or family. They were abolished by the Reform Act of 1832.
procured obtained or acquired
prodigal extravagant waste
promulgated announce officially
rapine plunder
rendered given or made available
sectarian relating to one group, often holding extreme or bigoted views
solicitude concern
stripes marks from being whipped
unascertained not sure, not certain
violation breaking the law, non-observance
wrought in this case, worked them up into state of rebellion
zealots people who are fanatically committed

 

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