Woodrow Wilson: Address to Congress Leading to a Declaration of War against Germany

Glossary

• accredited appointed as ambassador to foreign government
• animus hostility
• autocracy despotism; government by single person having unlimited power
• belligerents nations engaged in war
• compensation something given or received as an equivalent for a loss, service, or debt
• credit loan
• cruisers fast warships with a long cruising range, having less armor and firepower than a battleship
• dominion sovereignty; exercise of control
• extirpate root out
• extraordinary beyond the usual or commonplace; in this case, unscheduled
• fealty faithfulness; allegiance
• forbearance patience; restraint in the face of provocation
• habitual done constantly and repeatedly
• increments increases
• liability obligation
• malignant actively evil in nature
• merchantmen commercial ships
• nullify annul; make void
• privateers ships privately owned and manned but authorized by a government during wartime to attack and capture enemy vessels
• proscribed forbidden
• punctilio precise observance of formalities
• right of dominion the right to exclude other nations
• throwing to the winds recklessly casting aside or disregarding
• vindicate justify