Phillis Wheatley: Poems

Phillis Wheatley: Poems Glossary

refulgent

shining, gleaming, glorious

fetters

shackles or chains placed on the feet of a human or animal

empyreal

of the highest part of heaven

Sylvanus

Roman god of the countryside

pinions

a pinnacle

austere

stern in manner, forbidding; harsh terrain

benighted

to be covered by night; to be in moral or intellectual darkness

sable

blackness, darkness

auspicious

a good sign or prediction of good

retinue

a group accompanying a person, especially a noble; a set of emotions, circumstances, or objects that follow something

appellation

to appeal to a higher court against the decision of a lower court; the act of challenging a decision

beatitude

special or supreme blessedness or happiness

fane

a banner, flag or pennant

genial

pleasantly warm or temperate

seraphic

a living creature with six wings, hands, feet, and a (presumably) human voice depicted in the Bible; later considered by Christian interpreters to be an angel of the highest order distinguished by their passionate love

Salem

an abbreviation of Jerusalem

Damon

greek mythological hero who comes to represent a willingness to sacrifice oneself for a friend's sake

Aurora

the Roman goddess of the dawn; the rising light of the morning

pealing

to create a loud noise; to sound loudly

zephyr

the west wind; the Greek god of the west wind