The Crucible Vocabulary
ACT ONE
ideology – a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture.
paradox – a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true.
theocracy – government ruled bydivine guidance or by church officials who are regarded as divinely guided.
Compromise – to endanger the reputation or interest of; to expose to suspicion
Naïve – lacking knowledge or the ways of the world, unsophisticated.
villainy – wretched, evil conduct
hearty – strong, healthy
quaking – trembling, shuddering, quivering with fear
dissembling – concealing the facts; hiding under a false pretense
propriety – socially acceptable behavior and speech
heathen – an uncivilized or irreligious person; pagan
witched – affected by witchcraft; in a spell
opened – been honest; told the complete truth
trafficked – traded; had dealings or associations
conjured – summoned a devil or spirit by invocation or incantation
faction – group; secret faction; clique
abominations – sources of utter disgust or intense dislike; hateful, disgusting actions
gibberish – unintelligible or meaningless language; nonsense
white – free from moral impurity; pure
Goody – used as a title preceding a surname—a usually married woman of lowly station
Sniveling – speaking or acting in a whining, sniffling, tearful, or weakly emotional manner
Deference – respect and esteem due a superior or an elder
Marvel – something that causes wonder or astonishment
Providence – event guided by God or divine leadership
ail – suffer ill health
naught --nothing
dwindling – steadily lessening
demonic – possessed or influenced by a demon; satanic; fiendish
vindictive – disposed to seek revenge
smirched – discredited or disgraced
corroborating – supporting with evidence or authority
junctures – points of time
abyss – an immeasurably deep gulf or great space
intimations – hints; suggestions
formidable – dreadful; fearful; extremely serious
blink – deny; ignore; pretend not to see
undone – ruined; destroyed the worldly means, reputation, or hopes
trepidation – timorous uncertain agitation; apprehension
weirdish – of, relating to, or caused by witchcraft or the supernatural; strange
subservient – servile; cringing manner of one very conscious of a subordinate position
pointy – sharp; painful
hypocrites – persons who put on false appearances of virtue or religion
partisans – members of party, faction, or cause
calumny – the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations calculated to damage another’s reputation
inert – motionless; inactive
titillated – aroused; excited
sidles – moves or turns sideways in a furtive manner
pilgrimage – journey to a shrine or sacred place
pretense – false show
covenanted – formally enrolled in the church
notorious – widely and unfavorably known
prodigious – strange; unusual; portentous, significant
canny – clever, shrewd, crafty
exudes – spreads out in all directions
arbitrate – to determine the outcome of a dispute
contiguous – touching along a boundary or at a point
defers – submits to another’s wishes, opinion, or governance usually through deference or respect
fathom – understand
break charity with – become alienated from
clap – attack with a lawsuit
defamation – slander; See Calumny
anarchy – a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority
tract – a defined area of land
inculcation – teaching and impressing by frequent repetitions or admonitions
avidly – eagerly
licentious – lacking legal or moral restraints
blanched – became ashen or pale
evade – to avoid answering directly
truck – have dealings; trade
compact – make an agreement; enter into a contract
ACT TWO
“…the crowd will part like the sea for Israel”
– reference to Moses’ leading the Israelites from Egypt and the parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21)
pallor – paleness
poppet – small doll
ameliorate – to make better or more tolerable
indignant – showing anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean
crone – a withered old woman
sarcastical – in a scornful, mocking or derisive manner
“from this out” – from now on
“cry me out” – accuse me as a witch
wily – crafty; cunning
flailing – searching in frustration
daft – mad; insane
suspicion – a state of mental uneasiness and uncertainty
tainted – contaminated; corrupted
quail – to recoil in dread or terror
“I’d as life” – I’d rather
Pontius Pilate – Roman governor of Judea who presided at the interrogation of Jesus in the New Testament
ACT THREE
vestry – an elective body in an Episcopal parish composed of the rector and a group of elected parishioners administering the temporal affairs of the parish
abundant – marked by great plenty
sophistication – cultured; knowledgeable
wrath – retributory punishment for an offense or a crime
riot – public violence, tumult, or disorder
affidavit – a sworn statement in writing made especially under oath or on affirmation before an authorized magistrate or officer
deposition – testimony taken down in writing under oath
imperceptible – extremely slight, gradual, or subtle
deferentially – in a manner of showing respect and esteem due a superior or an elder
befuddled – muddled, stupefied, confused
plaintiff – a person who brings a legal action against another
effrontery – shameless boldness
immaculate – spotlessly clean
qualm – misgiving; a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience or propriety
ipso facto – Latin for “by the fact itself”
probity – honesty; integrity; adherence to the highest principles and ideals
gait – pace; a manner or rate of movement or progress
callously – in a manner of feeling or showing no emotion
manifest – evidence; appearance; sign
auger – a tool used for boring or drilling holes
incredulously – skeptically; with disbelief
base – degrading; contemptuous
slovenly – lazily slipshod
unperturbed – untroubled
gulling – taking advantage of; deceiving
ACT FOUR
presently – soon
stench – foul odor; stink
gaunt – excessively thin and angular
agape – being in a state of wonder
strongbox – locked box for keeping valuables
gibbet – gallows; an post with a projecting arm for hanging the bodies of executed criminals as a warning
excommunication – exclusion from the rights of church membership, to remove from the church and its blessings.
conciliatory – eager to make peace, to reconcile
beguile – deceive by guile; hoodwink
floundering – proceeding or acting clumsily or ineffectually
reprieve – to delay the punishment of
retaliation – returning like for like; vengeance for an injury
adamant – unyielding; unshakable or immovable especially in opposition
perfection – completion
cleave – cling; to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly
disputation – verbal controversy; debate; argument
sibilance – a hissing sound
tantalized – teased, fascinated