The Hypocrisy of American Slavery — Vocabulary
Frederick Douglass
1852 Speech
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
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principlebelief
I accept as a basic principle that all people are precious and should be treated with equal dignity.more
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Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?†1 more
principle → principles:basic rules or beliefs
Show general definition a basic rule or belief
The exact meaning of principle can depend upon its context. For example:
  • "our guiding principles" -- basic moral beliefs that guide decisions and behavior
  • "electromagnetic principles" -- rules describing how the world works
  • "She lacks principles." -- lacks moral guidelines
  • "We agree in principle." -- about important basic beliefs
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denouncedenounce → denounced:strongly criticized or accused publicly
She denounced him as a liar.more
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Would you argue more and denounce less, would you persuade more and rebuke less, your cause would be much more likely to succeed.†2 more
to strongly criticize or accuse publicly…
Show general definition to strongly criticize or accuse publicly

or more rarely:  to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
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reproachreproach → reproached:criticized and expressed disappointment
She reproached him for treating his sister so thoughtlessly.more
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To forget them, to pass lightly over their wrongs and to chime in with the popular theme would be treason most scandalous and shocking, and would make me a reproach before God and the world.†1 more
a criticism; or to express criticism
Show general definition a criticism; or to express criticism or disappointment -- especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Show editor's word notes The expression "beyond reproach" is often used to indicate that one must not only be careful to do everything right, but must be careful not to do anything that might make people suspect they did something wrong. For example, politicians often need to behave in a manner that is beyond reproach.

"Beyond reproach" can also suggest that something is perfect. More rarely, it can also be used to suggest that someone is too powerful or too well-connected to criticize.
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implyimply → implied:hinted or suggested
She wouldn't make a direct statement, but she implied that she supported our position.more
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I have better employment for my time and strength than such arguments would imply.†
suggest (say indirectly)
Show general definition to suggest or say indirectly -- possibly as a logical consequence
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deceptiondeceiving or misleading
The law is intended to defeat denial and deception strategies.more
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To him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mock; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.†
the act of lying to or misleading someone; or something that misleads
Show general definition the act of lying to or misleading someone; or something that misleads
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cunningclever and deceitful
She came up with a cunning scheme to cheat him.more
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If I do forget, if I do not remember those bleeding children of sorrow this day, "may my right hand forget her cunning, and may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth!"†
good at achieving goals through cleverness and deception
Show general definition for cunning (as in: a cunning thief) being good at achieving goals through cleverness -- and typically through deception as well (tricking others)
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eloquenteloquent → eloquence:powerful use of language
Her eloquence is unquestioned even amongst those who disagree with her.more
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In a case like that, the dumb might eloquently speak, and the "lame man leap as an hart."†
eloquent → eloquently:with powerful use of language
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creedset of beliefs
Freedom of religion allows people to follow any creed they choose without fear of persecution.more
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What point in the anti-slavery creed would you have me argue?†
any system of principles or beliefs
Show general definition any system of principles or beliefs
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grievousvery serious; or very bad
She suffered grievous bodily harm.more
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Fellow citizens, above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions, whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are today rendered more intolerable by the jubilant shouts that reach them.†
Show general definition very serious; or very bad; or causing grief
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proprietysocially correct or appropriate behavior
While she took comfort in propriety, he saw it as a straitjacket.more
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The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be denounced.†
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frauddeception to get something illegally
She was arrested for committing credit card fraud after using someone else’s account to buy expensive electronics.more
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To him your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mock; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.†
the act of deceiving someone for personal gain…
Show general definition the act of deceiving someone for personal gain; or a person or thing that is not what it pretends or appears to be
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prejudiceunreasonable and unfair belief or feeling
The group works to eliminate racial prejudice.more
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I will use the severest language I can command, and yet not one word shall escape me that any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice, or who is not at heart a slave-holder, shall not confess to be right and just.†
bias that prevents objective consideration
Show general definition bias that prevents objective consideration -- especially an unreasonable belief that is unfair to members of a race, religion, or other group
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ridiculemock (make fun of)
It's easier to ridicule her ideas than to seriously refute her findings.more
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had I the ability, and could I reach the nation's ear, I would today pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke.†
mock (make fun of); OR  the language or behavior that does so
Show general definition mock (make fun of); or the language or behavior that does so
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rouserouse → roused:awakened
A persistent knocking at the door finally roused her from her dreams.more
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The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be denounced.†
rouse → roused:to awaken, make more active, or excite
Show general definition to awaken, make more active, or excite
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blasphemydisrespect of something considered sacred
The government of the Muslim nation monitors major websites for blasphemy.more
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There is blasphemy in the thought.†
disrespectful of something considered sacred
Show general definition something said or done that is disrespectful of something considered sacred -- especially God or religion
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stolidemotionless
She listened to both arguments thoughtfully, but with a face as stolid as a cow's.more
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Who so stolid and selfish that would not give his voice to swell the hallelujahs of a nation's jubilee, when the chains of servitude had been torn from his limbs?†
having or revealing little emotion
Show general definition having or revealing little emotion -- sometimes indicating qualities of not changing or being dependable

or (much more rarely):

of an object:  not interesting -- often large and unmoving
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abolitionending the system or practice
The abolition of slavery in the United States was officially achieved with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment.more
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But I fancy I hear some of my audience say it is just in this circumstance that you and your brother Abolitionists fail to make a favorable impression on the public mind.†
abolition → abolitionists:reformers who favored ending slavery
Show general definition the act of formally ending a system, practice, or institution -- most often used to refer to the movement to end slavery when no specific system is named
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sacrilegedisrespect of something sacred
They consider it sacrilege to depict Muhammad in a drawing.more
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To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.†
sacrilege → sacrilegious:disrespectful of something others consider important -- especially something sacred
Show general definition disrespect of something others consider important or sacred
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monarchya government ruled by a king of queen
The monarchy is over three hundred years old, but it was forced to share power and adopt a constitution during the last century.more
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Go search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.†
monarchy → monarchies:governments, countries, or ruling families of countries ruled by a king of queen
Show general definition a government, country, or ruling family of a country ruled by a king of queen
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perpetuatecause to continue
Spreading false rumors can perpetuate harmful stereotypes.more
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Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity, which is outraged, in the name of liberty, which is fettered, in the name of the Constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery — the great sin and shame of America!†
Show general definition to cause to continue