Declaration of Independence - Excerpt

Lauren B. (United States of America)
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words only definitions & notes
  1. unalienable
    incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another
    We hold these truths to be self-evident,
    -- that all men are created equal,
    -- that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
    -- that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
  2. impel
    urge or force to an action; constrain or motivate
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
  3. deriving
    an explanation of the historical origins of a word or phrase
    --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
  4. accustom
    familiarize psychologically or physically
    Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
  5. endow
    give qualities or abilities to
    We hold these truths to be self-evident,
    -- that all men are created equal,
    -- that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
    -- that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
  6. evince
    give expression to
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  7. abolish
    do away with
    --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
  8. law of nature
    a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
  9. Creator
    terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
    We hold these truths to be self-evident,
    -- that all men are created equal,
    -- that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
    -- that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
  10. transient
    lasting a very short time
    Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
  11. dictate
    a guiding principle
    Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
  12. dissolve
    pass into a solution
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
  13. despotism
    dominance through threat of punishment and violence
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  14. derive
    come from
    --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
  15. institute
    set up or lay the groundwork for
    --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
  16. govern
    exercise authority over, as of nations
    --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
  17. alter
    cause to change; make different
    --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
  18. invariably
    without change, in every case
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  19. pursue
    follow in an effort to capture
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  20. assume
    take to be the case or to be true
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
  21. declare
    state emphatically and authoritatively
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
  22. pursuit
    the act of following in an effort to overtake or capture
    We hold these truths to be self-evident,
    -- that all men are created equal,
    -- that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
    -- that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
  23. foundation
    the basis on which something is grounded
    --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
  24. absolute
    perfect or complete or pure
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  25. consent
    give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
    --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
  26. evident
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
    We hold these truths to be self-evident,
    -- that all men are created equal,
    -- that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
    -- that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
  27. provide
    give something useful or necessary to
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  28. separate
    standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
  29. design
    the act of working out the form of something
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  30. principle
    a basic generalization that is accepted as true
    --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
  31. event
    something that happens at a given place and time
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
  32. security
    the state of being free from danger or injury
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  33. established
    brought about or set up or accepted
    Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
  34. liberty
    freedom of choice
    We hold these truths to be self-evident,
    -- that all men are created equal,
    -- that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
    -- that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
  35. train
    educate for a future role or function
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  36. earth
    the third planet from the sun
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
  37. respect
    regard highly; think much of
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
  38. object
    a tangible and visible entity
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  39. experience
    the content of observation or participation in an event
    Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
  40. future
    the time yet to come
    But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
  41. effect
    a phenomenon that is caused by some previous phenomenon
    --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
  42. course
    a connected series of events or actions or developments
    When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
Created on Thu Jan 12 15:55:01 EST 2012

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