The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation (Volume 1): Part III

by M.T. Anderson
Octavian Nothing is an African youth held captive by a group of Enlightenment scientists and philosophers in eighteenth-century Boston. This National Book Award-winning novel explores racism, freedom, and individual identity.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Here are links to our lists for other works by M.T. Anderson: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation (Volume 2), Feed.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. vagrant
    a wanderer with no established residence or means of support
    There are many such vagrants now who have fled the city.
  2. dolorous
    showing sorrow
    Still, however, Mine Host expressed no Satisfaction, and said it was all too Dolorous, and that the Boy should get no Supper, at which the Boy looked with Supplication & Humility & said he had played all the Evening through.
  3. sustenance
    a source of food or nourishment
    Draper offered a small Sustenance & Pay for the Boy’s excellent Music, could he rally us upon the Fife.
  4. transpire
    come about, happen, or occur
    We do not know what transpires within the Town, but there is much Word among the assembled Regiments that it is become a Prison & only those who obtains Passes from Gen. Gage may leave.
  5. abscond
    run away, often taking something or somebody along
    It is with regret that I confirm the report that has come to your ears: The experimental subject has indeed absconded from the property, and, at present, has not been located.
  6. forbearance
    good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
    Your forbearance in this matter shall be a testimony to the equilibrium of your temperament, and provide us with yet another example of the amplitude of your generosity.
  7. impede
    be a hindrance or obstacle to
    ’Twas time for us to rise & fire — but we could not, Prince impeding our Shot — he standing between us & the Enemy — & still John lay upon the Sand, crying out & still they advanced.
  8. bulwark
    an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
    Now he has this new Anger & he spends his Days fiercely Digging & felling Trees & splicing them as Hazards to Infantry & sluicing Mud off his Hands &, with his Detail, building up the Bulwarks & Glacis.
  9. celerity
    a rate that is rapid
    At this, the Gentleman turned to the Side — throughout the Discourse, he turned always from one Side to the Other — an unsettling Habit which made me almost giddy, he being named Mr. Turner — and addressing the Wall, he dictated Orders for an Escort of Four Soldiers for us, & asked me to accompany them & aid them in identifying my dear Friend, & to recall that there was need for (a) Utmost Secrecy and (b) Celerity.
  10. advent
    arrival that has been awaited
    Prince’s Eyes were quick and green—as did they already spy the Gates open before him & the City a-glitter & hear the Whisper of Trumpeters ripe with Secrets & the Fall of all this that had gone before & the Glorious Advent of Liberty.
  11. collude
    act in unison and in secret towards a deceitful purpose
    I do not believe that this Pvt. Goring colluded in obscuring Octavian’s identity for these months
  12. chattel
    personal property, as opposed to real estate
    legal retribution against him would, I believe, gain little and lose much, the confusion of the courts being such as it is, and the dangerously leveling sentiments of many Massachusetts jurists being so opposed to the right to own human chattel.
  13. quiescence
    a state of quiet (but possibly temporary) inaction
    His hands and feet were bound quite quickly in a grove hard by a house seized by the Cambridge Committee of Safety; and, after initial aggression, he fell into a grave quiescence which has not lifted nor lessened.
  14. assiduity
    great and constant diligence and attention
    You may find it eases the anxiety of our other Virginian trustees to inform them that even here in Massachusetts Bay, amidst revolution, the principles of property are upheld with such assiduity; officers keep strict account of which Negro soldiers are free, and which bonded; and of the bonded, who is the owner, that they may be returned upon the cessation of hostilities.
  15. antithetical
    sharply contrasted in character or purpose
    While I must own that there is a spirit antithetical to the continuation of bondage in this Province — especially among the rank-and-file of the citizens’ army — the institution is so fundamental to the health of the whole of these colonies that I foresee no contest in assuring its continuance.
Created on Wed Oct 23 12:38:38 EDT 2013 (updated Tue Aug 05 12:25:00 EDT 2025)

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