“I Have a Dream” Glossary
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appalling - shocking, disgusting
decree - an order or demand
defaulted - failed to pay what was rightfully owed
degenerate - to pass from a higher to a lower condition; decay, fall apart
destiny - your fortune, your future, your fate
discords - disagreements
Emancipation Proclamation - 1863 document issued by President Abraham Lincoln
freeing slaves
fatigue - tiredness, weariness
gradualism - doing something very slowly
heir - someone who inherits or gets something from an ancestor
hew - cut, chop
interposition - claiming that a state can ignore the laws of the federal government
languishing - weakening, getting sicker
militancy - aggressiveness, assertiveness, a willingness to demand your rights
mobility - the ability to move around as you please
momentous - very important
nullification - the governor of Alabama claimed his state could nullify or ignore any
federal law it didn't like, including any law that gave Black people equal rights
oasis - a spring in the desert where travelers can refresh themselves
plane - a level place; in this case, struggling on a "high plane" means having high
moral standards; not stooping to violence, as many of those who opposed civil rights
did
prodigious - a very large amount, plenty
promissory note - a paper given to someone promising that he will be paid in the
future
sacred - holy
segregation - separation; in this case, separation of the races by law
self-evident - obvious
sweltering - sweating, overwhelming heat
threshold - entrance, doorway
tranquilizing - having the effect of making you sleepy or lazy
unalienable - something that cannot be taken away from you
withering - cutting down or destroying
PROTEAM DREAMQUEST CURRICULUM
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