Chapter II

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

willing to undertake or seeking out new and daring enterprises

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

later than; following

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

see with attention

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

brought into existence

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

confined by bonds

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

lacking funds

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

the specified day of the month

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

being seven more than forty

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

having or deserving or conferring glory

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

full of or characterized by joy

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

and nothing more

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

the quality of being just or fair

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

a state in east central United States; a border state during the American Civil War; famous for breeding race horses

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

immediately past

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

not compact or dense in structure or arrangement

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

the largest city in Kentucky; located in north central Kentucky on the Ohio river; site of the Kentucky Derby

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

above and across; more than

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

any competition

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

(chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

-ing form of “rebound” — spring back; spring away from an impact

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

the ability to recall past occurrences

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

plural of “recollection” — the ability to recall past occurrences

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

the state of being under the control of another person

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

having great beauty and splendor

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

the season of growth

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

not in physical motion

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

the environmental condition

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

not bent

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

up to a particular time

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

evoking lifelike images within the mind

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

From this reading And never do I behold the glorious sun rising over the hills and forests but the joyous recollection of that Wednesday morning in May comes back to me, like the rebounding reaction of the bow that is unbent.

at the time that

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

in or at the place that

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

a Caucasian

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading "A still tongue makes a wise head," and so I held my tongue and bided my time until I made at last that successful spring.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I was born in the State of Kentucky, a few miles below Louisville, where my father’s mansion stood on one of those sloping hills that faces the river Ohio, which the French named with justice, the "Beautiful River."

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading That mansion, with all its splendid surroundings, belonged to my father and owner, a white man named Lemuel Jackson; but my own mother, a woman of uncommon beauty, belonged to the colored race.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.

a late time of life

From this reading Though this is the year of grace, just forty-seven years after the date when my adventurous story begins, my recollections of that bright morning in May, 1855, when I arose and at one bound broke loose from slavery, are as vivid as the lightning’s flash.