“THE PEOPLE COULD FLY”
VOCABULARY
1. Captured

Context: The fugitive slave was captured in the
North and taken back down South to his owner.
 What
does it mean
 What gives it away?

Definition: to be caught
2. Misery

Context: Many people say that misery loves
company, but when my grandfather died I just
wanted to be alone.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: sadness; feeling bad
3. Trembled

Context: The slave trembled as the master drew the
whip back getting ready to slash into the slave’s
back.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: to shake with fright; To shake when
afraid
4. Labored

Context: Slaves were forced to labor from sun up
until sun down.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: worked
5. Soothe

Context: I tried to soothe his burn by putting some
aloe on it to alleviate the pain.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: to comfort
6. Croon

Context: The mother crooned to her crying baby in
an effort to calm him down.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: to sing softly
7. Pity

Context: Many abolitionists felt great pity for the
slaves that were beat, over worked, and under fed.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: to feel sorrow for
8. Shed

Context: The slave shed his clothing so fast in order
to get the hounds off of his scent.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: to get rid of; to let go of
9. Scorned

Context: The man scorned by his brother vowed to
get revenge in anyway possible.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: to be humiliated
10. Bawling

Context: The mother could not stop her child from
bawling no matter how many times she tried to
shush him.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: to cry
11. Glinty

Context: The glinty end of the sword flashed as the
sunlight hit its surface.
 What
does it mean?
 What gives it away?

Definition: shiny; flashy