A
abacería, f., grocery.
abarcar, to clasp, to include.
abarrotes, m. pl., groceries.
abastecer, to provide necessaries, to purvey.
abatir, to throw down, to cut down, to lower, to descend, to stop;
refl., to dishearten.
abigarrado, -a, variegated, motley.
ablandar, to soften.
abogado, m., lawyer, attorney at law.
abolladura, f., dent.
abonado, -a, holder of a season ticket.
abonar, to pay;
to subscribe;
to fertilize.
abono, m., subscription;
fertilizer.
abrasante, burning, scorching.
abrumado, -a, weary, burdened.
abundamiento, a mayor ——, moreover.
acabar, to finish, to end;
—— de, to have just;
—— por, to end by.
acalorarse, refl., to grow warm, to become excited.
acanelado, -a, cinnamon-colored.
acariciar, to caress.
acarrear, to carry.
acaso, m., hazard, chance;
si por ——, if by chance.
acaudalado, -a, rich, wealthy.
accionar, to gesticulate.
aceituna, f., olive.
acendrado, -a, purified, refined.
acendrar, to purify, to refine.
acentuar, to emphasize, to accent.
aceptante, m., he who accepts.
acerca de, about, relating to.
acercarse, refl., to get near, to approach.
acertar, to hit;
to succeed.
aciago, -a, unfortunate, sad.
aclaración, f., explanation.
acoger, to receive;
refl., to take refuge, to resort to.
acogido, see acoger.
acometer, to attack, to undertake.
acomodado, -a, well-to-do.
acondicionar, to pack.
acontecimiento, m., event.
acosar, to pursue closely, to vex.
acostado, -a, lying down.
acrecentar, to increase, to grow.
acreedor, m., creditor.
acriollarse, refl. (Sp. A.), to become acquainted with the customs of a country in which one is a new-comer.
acuarela, f., watercolor.
acudir, to have recourse to, to apply to.
acurrucado, -a, muffled up.
achatado, -a, flattened; see achatar.
achatar, to flatten.
achura, f. (Sp. A.), intestines, viscera.
adelantar, to pay beforehand, to advance, to loan (money);
refl., to step forward, to get ahead.
adelanto, m., advance, progress.
ademán, m., gesture.
además, in addition to, moreover.
aderezar, to dress.
adiós, good-by.
adiosito (Sp. A.), an intimate, affectionate form of adiós.
admitir, to accept, to receive.
adonde, where.
aduana, f., custom-house.
adular, to flatter.
adusto, -a, austere, gloomy, intractable, sullen.
advertir, to take notice, to advise, to warn;
to discover.
afamado, -a, celebrated, noted.
afición, f., inclination.
aficionado, m., amateur.
aflojar, to loosen, to relax.
aforrado, lined.
aforrar, to line.
agarrar, to grasp, to seize, to take.
agasajar, to receive well, to treat kindly.
agavilladora, f., an agricultural machine which reaps and binds grain in sheaves;
steam reaper and binder.
agencia, f., office, bureau;
—— marítima, office of a steamship company;
—— de colocaciones, employment bureau;
—— de mensajeros, district messenger office;
—— de transportes, express office;
—— de mudanzas, moving van office;
—— de alquileres, real estate office;
—— de cambio, money changer’s office.
ágil, nimble, ready, rapid, light.
agio, m., speculation.
agonizante, a dying person, in the death-throes.
agresivo, -a, hostile.
agrícola, agricultural.
agrimensor, m., surveyor.
agua, f., —— dulce, fresh water;
——s servidas, waste waters, sewage.
aguacate, m., alligator pear or the tree which bears this fruit.
aguantar, to bear, to sustain, to endure, to hold out.
aguará, m., a. species of fox found in S. A.
aguardar, to await, to look for.
aguardiente, m., brandy;
—— de caña, rum.
agudeza, f., witty saying;
shrewdness;
subtlety.
agudo, -a, witty.
aguileño, -a, aquiline.
aguinaldo, m., a Cuban vine which blooms about Christmas time.
agutí, m., agouti, a species of small rodent.
aguzado, -a, pointed, keen, sharpened, stimulated, excited.
ahinco, m., ardor, earnestness, zeal.
ahondar, to sound, to penetrate, to dip into, to become acquainted with.
ahora, now;
—— bien, well, granted, nevertheless;
—— mismo, just now;
por ——, for the present;
desde ——, from now on;
hasta ——, until now.
ahorrar, to save.
ahuehuetl or ahuehuete, a giant tree of Mexico.
aire, m., air;
—— libre, fresh air.
ají, m., the dwarf red pepper of the West Indies.
ajo, m., garlic.
ala, f., wing;
—— de sombrero, hat-brim.
alabar, to praise.
alambicado, -a, said of a line of business subjected to keen competition;
in sharp competition.
alar, pertaining to wings.
alargado, -a, elongated, lengthened.
alarido, m., shout, howl.
albaricoque, m., apricot.
albergue, m., lodging, shelter.
albor, m., dawn.
alborotar, to disturb.
alborotos, m. pl. (Sp. A.), popcorn;
noisy demonstrations.
alcance, m., scope, reach;
al ——, within reach.
alcantarilla, f., culvert, drain, underground sewer.
alcanzar, to attain, to reach, to overtake, to comprehend.
alcoba, f., alcove, bedroom.
aleación, f., alloy.
alegato, m., allegation, complaint;
statement by the plaintiff of his grievance.
alejamiento, m., aloofness, distance, strangeness.
alejandrino, m., Alexandrine, a classic form of verse.
alentar, to encourage.
aletargado, -a, in a state of lethargy.
aletargarse, refl., to fall into a state of lethargy.
aleteo, m., clapping of the wings.
alfiler, m., pin;
—— de corbata, scarf-pin.
algarrobo, m., a tree belonging to the leguminous family.
algazara, f., shouting, a noisy expression of joy.
algo, something;
somewhat;
m., a something.
algodonero, m., cotton-plant.
alguno, -a, some, any;
pl., some, certain (ones), a few;
no ... ——, not any ...;
ni ... ——, no ... whatever.
alicates, m., fine-pointed pincers.
aliciente, m., inducement.
aliento, m., breath, spirit, vigor;
de largo ——, requiring much time to accomplish;
long-winded.
alimaña, f., insect or animal pests.
aliviar, to lighten, to mitigate, to relieve.
aljibe, m., cistern, reservoir.
almacén, m., warehouse;
(Sp. A.) grocery.
almendra, f., almond.
alondra, f., lark.
alpaca, f., a ruminant of South America, bearing a certain kind of wool.
alrededor, around, roundabout.
alteroso, -a (Obs.), high, tall.
altiplanicie, f. (Sp. A.), plateau, high tableland.
altisonante, high-sounding.
altivo, -a, haughty, proud.
alto, m., a piece of high ground.
altozano, m., a height of land, a hill.
altura, f., height, top (of a hill).
alusivo, -a, suggestive, making allusion to, alluding to.
alza, f., rise.
alzada, f., height (of horse).
allá, there.
allasito (Sp. A.), dim. from allá.
ama, f., mistress of the house;
—— de casa, housewife, housekeeper.
amagamiento, m., suggestion.
amalgamar, to mix, to put together;
to construe.
amañado, -a, possessed (of an evil spirit).
amargura, f., bitterness, sorrow.
amarrar, to tie, to bind.
amasado, -a, kneaded.
amasar, to knead.
amén de, besides.
americano, -a, belonging to the western hemisphere;
—— del norte, North American, referring particularly to the United States.
amistades, f. pl., friends, acquaintances;
friendships;
friendly relations.
amoldar, to mold.
amordazar, to gag, to deprive of liberty of speech.
ampararse, refl., to claim or enjoy protection.
amparo, m., favor, aid, protection.
ampuloso, -a, pompous.
ánade, m. and f., duck.
analfabeto, m., one unable to read or write.
angarilla, f., a kind of pack-saddle.
anhelar, to desire earnestly.
animal, m., applied to any kind of live stock;
—— fino or de raza or de pura sangre, thoroughbred.
antes, before, beforehand;
—— de, before;
—— de que, before;
—— que, rather than;
cuanto ——, as soon as possible;
de ——, formerly, in olden times.
antiguo, -a, ancient, de ——;
from long ago.
antiparras, f. pl., spectacles with colored lenses, closed at the sides by wire gauze.
antorcha, f., torch.
anudar, to tie.
añadir, to add.
añicos, m. pl., bits, small pieces.
año, m., year;
ahora ——s, years ago.
añoso, -a, old.
apacentar, to graze, to pasture.
apacible, affable, gentle, quiet, placid, pleasant, calm.
aparador, m., sideboard.
aparcero, -a (River Plate), friend.
aparejado, -a, equipped.
aparejar, to equip.
aparejo, m., harness;
apparatus,
equipment in any trade;
fish-hooks and tackle.
aparta, f., the act of dividing herds into groups.
apasionarse, refl., to become excessively fond of a person or thing.
apearse, refl., to alight.
apego, m., attachment, fondness.
apio, m., celery.
aplastar, to flatten, to crush.
apodo, m., nickname;
name.
aporrear, to beat, to knock about.
aportar, to contribute, to bring in;
to set aside.
aposento, m., bedroom.
apoyar, to approve, to second, to back.
apreciar, to estimate, to value, to appreciate.
apremio, m., pressure, strain, insistence, constriction, constraint.
aprendiz, m., apprentice.
apropósito, m., a one-act play which alludes to current events;
a “curtain-raiser.”
aprovechar, to profit, to take advantage.
apuntar, to point out, to mark, to take note of.
apurar, to consume;
to clear up;
(Sp. A.) to press, to hasten.
arado, -a, plowed;
m., plow.
araguato, m., a species of monkey.
araguida, m., a bird with brilliant red plumage.
arambel, m., rag.
araña, f., spider;
chandelier.
arar, to plow.
arbitral, arbitral;
cámara ——, board of arbitration.
arcilla, f., clay;
—— refractaria, fire-clay.
archivo, m., filing cabinet.
arder, to burn.
ardimiento, m., courage, ardor.
arduo, -a, arduous, difficult.
arenga, f., harangue.
arenque, m., herring.
argentado, -a, covered with silver;
silvery.
argentar, to cover with silver.
argentinismo, m., word or idiom peculiar to the Argentine Republic.
argolla, f., a large metal ring.
arhuaco, -a, pertaining to the Arhuacos, an Indian tribe.
arisco, -a, wild, churlish, intractable.
arista, f., edge, groin, rib.
armador, m., ship-owner, ship-builder.
armar, to arm, to adjust, to frame, to put together;
refl. (Sp. A.), to balk.
armario, m., cabinet, closet.
armazón, f., framework.
armiño, m., ermine.
arqueado, -a, arched.
arquear, to form an arch.
arraigar, to take root;
to found, to institute.
arrancar, to pull up by the roots;
to start (off).
arrapiezo, m., street urchin.
arrebatar, to take away by violence.
arredrarse, refl., to become terrified.
arreglillo, m., an amorous adventure or episode.
arremetida, f., attack, assault.
arrendar, to bridle a horse.
arriate, m., border in garden beds.
arriero, m., driver of mules or cattle.
arrinconar, to put a thing in a corner.
arrojar, to throw, to total, to sum up.
arrojo, m., a spurt of bravery.
arrostrar, to face.
arruga, f., a wrinkle.
artificio, m., artifice, ruse.
asado, m., roast (meat).
asaltar, to assault, to assail; to
occur to one.
asamblea, f., assembly, meeting.
ascensor, m., elevator;
—— doméstico, dumbwaiter.
ascua, f., red-hot coal.
aseado, -a, clean, neat.
asear, to clean.
asegurar, to secure, to insure;
to assure.
aseguro, m. (Sp. A.), see seguro.
asentar, to affirm, to assure, to set forth, to set as a basis.
asentir, to acquiesce, to assent.
así, so, thus;
—— como, in the same way as;
—— como ——, any way;
—— que, so that;
¿cómo ——? how so?
asistencia, f., attendance.
asolar, to devastate, to pillage.
áspero, -a, rough, rugged, harsh.
astillero, m., shipyard, navy-yard.
asustarse, refl., to shy (a horse).
atajar, to stop, to intercept.
atambor (Obs.), drum.
atar, to tie, to bind.
atenacear, to tear off with pincers.
atender, to attend.
atenerse, refl., to abide.
aterciopelado, -a, smooth, velvety.
atesorar, to hoard, to save.
atestado, packed full.
atestar, to pack full.
atezado, -a, black.
atiplado, -a, sharp, acute, out of tune.
atisbar, to watch.
atrapar, to overtake, to catch.
atraso, m., backwardness.
atrio, m., the open space before a church.
aturdido, -a, stupefied with a blow.
aturdir, to stupefy with a blow.
aura, f., gentle breeze (Poetical).
aureo, -a, golden, gilt.
auto, m., judicial decree or sentence.
autóctono, native to the country.
avalúo, m., appraisal, valuation.
avanzado, m., outpost, advance guard.
avellano, m., hazelnut tree.
aventajado, -a, surpassing the ordinary or common.
aventajar, to surpass.
aventar, to move the air, to toss in the wind, to winnow grain.
avergonzarse, refl., to be ashamed.
averiado, -a, damaged.
averiar, to damage.
averiguar, to verify, to inquire into.
avestruz, m., ostrich.
avezado, -a, accustomed.
avistar, to descry at a distance.
avivar, to quicken, to enliven.
avizor, -a, watchful.
avo, m., termination of words indicating the denomination of fractions.
ayuda, help;
—— propia, self-help.
azabache, m., jet.
azahar, m., blossom of the orange or lemon tree.
azogado, -a, agitated, surprised, dumfounded.
azogar, to coat with quicksilver;
to agitate;
to bewilder, to amaze.
azotea, f., flat roof of a house.
azúcar, f., sugar;
—— de lustre, fine powdered sugar;
—— mascabada, unclarified sugar;
—— morena or terciada, brown sugar;
—— negra or prieta, coarse brown sugar;
—— piedra or cande, crystallized sugar;
—— parda, clayed sugar.
azufre, m., sulphur.
azulejo, m., glazed tile.


B
bagaje, m., baggage;
beast of burden.
baja, f., fall in price.
bajío, m., shoal, sand-bank, shallow or flat.
bajito, -a, dim. of bajo. bajo, low, short (referring to stature).
balandra, f., small one-masted vessel.
balanza, f., scale, balance.
balazo, m., shot;
also, the wound from a shot.
balcón, m., balcony.
baldío, -a, untilled, uncultivated, vacant (land).
baldosa, f., square tile.
bambuco, m. (Sp. A.), a popular dance in Colombia.
bancario, -a, pertaining to banks and banking.
bandada, f., flock.
banderola, f. (Sp. A.), fanlight, transom.
bando, m., edict or law solemnly published by superior authority.
bandola, f., a small musical instrument resembling a tambourine.
banqueta, f., footstool, seat.
bañado, m. (Sp. A.), also bañadero, water-hole, swamp.
baño, m., bath;
—— maría, steam cooker, double boiler.
barajar, to shuffle cards;
to catch on the wing.
baratillero, m., peddler.
barbudo, -a, bearded, having a long beard.
barca, f., boat;
—— de pesca, fishing boat.
barco, m., boat (this word applies to all kinds of floating craft);
—— de vapor, steamer.
bardo, m., bard.
barquero, m., boatman.
barra, f., bar, reef, or sand-bank at the mouth of a harbor;
—— de fango, mud-bank.
barranca, f., ravine, precipice, cliff.
barrio, m., city ward or district.
barro, m., clay;
loza de ——, earthenware.
bastardo, -a, spurious, illegitimate.
basura, f., sweepings;
withered leaves in a forest.
basurero, m., dust or garbage collector;
dungyard.
batata, f. (Sp. A.), sweet potato.
batey, m., machinery and other appurtenances of a sugar-mill;
(Cuba) the factory itself.
batir, to beat, to stir briskly.
baúl-cómoda, m., wardrobe trunk.
bautismo, m., baptism.
bazar, m. (Sp. A.), store where household goods are sold.
becerro, m., yearling calf.
beduino, -a, Bedouin, Arab of the desert.
begona, f., a S. A. fish.
bejucos, m., creeping plants which climb on trees.
beneficiar, to work and improve a mine;
(Sp. A.) to quarter cattle or sheep.
benteveo, m., South American bird, so named because of its curious cry.
berenjena, f., egg-plant.
bergantín, m., brig, brigantine.
bermejo, -a, of a bright reddish color.
berrear, to bleat like a calf.
berza, f., cabbage.
biblioteca, f., library;
bookcase;
—— giratoria, revolving bookcase.
bienes raíces, m. pl., real estate.
billete, m., ticket.
bisagra, f., hinge.
bisoñería, f. (Sp. A.), lack of experience in the habits of a country.
bizcochuelo, m. (Sp. A.), sponge-cake.
blanquear, to whitewash.
blanquecino, -a, whitish.
bocado, m., bit of a bridle.
boceto, m., sketch;
—— cómico, a short comedy.
bocha, f., wooden ball;
the game of bowls.
bodega, f., storehouse;
wine vault, hence, the establishment where wine is made;
(Sp. A.), grocery.
bodegón, m., a squalid eating-house.
bofetada, f., slap, box, blow in the face with the open hand.
boga, f., a fish.
bohío, m., palm-thatched hut (West Indies).
boina, f., flat, round woolen cap;
cap originally worn by the Carlists.
boldo, m., a medicinal plant found in Chile, used also to color wine.
boleadora, f. (Sp. A.), bifurcated ropes, with weights at the extremities of the bifurcated sections, thrown about the legs of cattle to be caught.
boliche, m. (Sp. A.), the game of ten-pins.
bolos, the game of ten-pins.
bolsa, f., bag, purse;
—— de comercio, stock exchange.
bollo, m., small roll made of fine flour.
bomba, f., pump.
bombilla, f., narrow metal tube ending in a spoon-shaped covered, but perforated, bowl used in drinking mate.
bonetería, f., department in dry-goods stores where knitted goods are sold.
bonito, m., South American fish of fine flavor.
bordado, m., embroidery.
borde, m., strip.
borla, f., tassel.
borracha, f., name applied in Brazil to the rubber tree, sometimes used in Spanish America also.
borrar, to erase, to obliterate, to rub out.
boscaje, m., cluster of trees, grove.
bostezo, m., yawn, yawning.
bota, f., boot;
—— de potro, a crude kind of boot made from the hide covering the joints of the horse’s hind legs;
—— granadera, boot with a stiff cuff, worn by Napoleon’s grenadiers.
botafuego, m., a very highly seasoned dish.
botica, f., drug-store.
boudoir, m. (French), small parlor. The resulting neologism budoar is now in current use.
bóveda, f., vault, arch;
—— celeste, sky.
bovino, -a, relating to cattle.
boyero, m., ox-driver;
a South American bird.
bozal, m., muzzle;
head-stall for a horse.
bracero, m., day laborer.
bramido, m., roar of wild beasts;
bellowing.
brasileño, -a, Brazilian.
bravío, -a, ferocious, savage, wild, untamed.
bravo, -a, brave;
savage, wild;
also applied to beasts;
indio ——, savage Indian.
brazo, m., arm;
bracket.
breva, f., name applied to the first yearly crop of fruit from a fig-tree.
brida, f., bridle, reins.
brinco, m., leap, jump.
brindar, to drink one’s health, to toast.
brío, m., strength, force, vigor;
manliness, spirit, resolution, courage.
brizna, f., blade of grass.
brocal, m., curbstone of a well.
broma, f., joke.
bronceado, -a, brass-paved, brazen.
brotar, to gush, to flow or rush out;
to bud.
brusco, -a, rude, peevish, brusque.
bruto, -a, coarse, rough, crude;
en ——, in a crude state.
bufete, m., desk or writing-table;
lawyer’s office.
buhonero, m., peddler.
buitre, m., vulture.
bullicioso, -a, noisy, lively, restless, clamorous.
buque, m., vessel, ship;
—— mercante, merchant ship.
burgués, -esa, common, not refined.
burla, f., mockery, abuse, sneer.
burlón, m., mocking-bird.
busca, f., search.
butaca, f., armchair;
proscenium seat in a theater.


C
cabalgadura, f., the horse or mule one is riding.
cabalgar, to ride on horse-back.
caballeriza, f., stable.
caballero, m., knight, gentleman;
—— andante, knight-errant.
caballerosidad, f., the condition or quality of being a gentleman.
cabaña, f., shepherd’s hut;
(Sp. A.) stock-breeding establishment.
cabañero, m. (Sp. A.), stock-breeder.
cabecera, f., railroad terminal;
head waters, source of a river.
cabeza, f., head;
(Sp. A.) pommel of a saddle.
cabezada, f., head-stall of a bridle.
cabo, m., extreme, extremity, end;
—— de tabaco, stub of a cigar or cigarette;
al ——, at last.
cabotaje, m., coasting trade.
cabrería, f., place where goat’s milk is sold.
cacao, m., the tree, also the fruit from which the cocoa-bean is obtained.
cacerola, f., stewpan, saucepan.
cacharro, m., coarse earthen pot.
cachupín, also gachupín, m., formerly, a Spaniard who settled in Spanish America.
cada, each, every;
—— uno (-a), each, each one;
—— día, each or every day;
—— vez que, every time that.
cafetal, m., plantation of coffee-trees.
cafeto, m., coffee-tree.
caimito, m., a fruit-tree of tropical America.
caja, f., box, cashier’s desk;
—— de ahorros, savings bank;
—— registradora, cash register.
cal, f., slaked lime;
a la ——, white-washed, kalsomined.
calabaza, f., pumpkin, squash.
calabozo, m., dungeon, cell.
calado, m., draught, the depth of water a vessel draws;
poco ——, shallow draught.
calandria, f., a species of lark found in S. A. and elsewhere.
calaverada, f., foolish or unwise action.
calcar, to trace.
cálido, -a, hot;
piquant.
calinda, f. (Sp. A.), a kind of dance.
calzada, f., road, causeway, paved highway.
calzarse, refl., to put on one’s boots or shoes;
to shoe.
calzonera, f. (Sp. A.), trousers which open at both outer leg-seams, these openings being closed by numerous buttons and buttonholes.
callampa, f. (Sp. A.), mushroom;
derby hat.
callejero, -a, relating to the street.
camarero, m., waiter, steward.
camarote, m., cabin, stateroom, berth.
caminar, to walk;
to march, to proceed.
camino, m., road.
camote, m. (Sp. A.), an unusually large sweet potato found in S. A.
campánula, f., bell-flower.
campaña, f., campaign;
(Sp. A.), the country, as opposed to the city.
campeón, m., champion.
campero, -a (Sp. A.), rural.
campiña, f., field, country, land.
campo, m., country, field.
cana, f., gray hair.
canaca, f. (Sp. A.), relating to the yellow race.
canapé, m., couch, settee, lounge.
cancha, f. (Sp. A.), field for sports, patio, corral;
open space.
candado, m., padlock.
canelo, m., cinnamon tree.
canelón, m., South American tree.
cangrina, f., carbuncle.
cano, -a, gray-haired.
canónico, canonical.
cantar, m., song set to music;
to sing.
cántaro, m., large, narrow-mouthed pitcher.
cantero, m. (Sp. A.), a plot of cultivated ground.
canto, m., song;
poetry, verse;
edge, border, side.
cantor, m., poet, singer.
caña, f., sugar-cane;
a hollow-stemmed reed;
(Sp. A.) rum.
cañada, f. (Sp. A.), rivulet, brook, canyon, gully.
cañagua, f., South American plant.
cañaveral, also cañal (Mex.), m.,
sugarcane plantation.
cañería, f., drain-pipes, water-pipes, piping.
caoba, f., mahogany-tree.
capa, f., cloak, mantle;
layer or stratum;
wrapper-leaf (tobacco).
capataz, m., overseer, superintendent, warden, foreman.
capaz, capable.
capear, to challenge a bull with cloak or flag.
capellán, m., chaplain;
clergyman on a large plantation who has charge of the religious welfare of the family and laborers.
capital, m., money invested or drawing interest;
adj., principal, leading, capital, essential.
capote, m., cloak;
—— para lluvia, raincoat.
caracol, m., snail;
escalera de ——, winding stairs.
característica, f., actress who takes character parts in plays and comedies.
caramba, int., hah! strange!
caramelo, m. (Sp. A.), caramel, candy.