The Crucible Vocabulary
1. abyss – bottomless hole, a vast expanse or depth
The man had fallen into the abyss of depravity.
Derivatives – abysmal, abysmally
2. ameliorate – to make better, to relieve, to improve
Social workers attempt to ameliorate the conditions of people living in slum areas.
Derivatives – ameliorated, ameliorating, amelioration, ameliorator
3. begrudge – to give reluctantly, to envy a possession or one’s enjoyment
She did not begrudge the money spent on her child’s education
Derivatives – begrudged, begrudging, begrudgingly
4. beguile – to deceive, to mislead, to persuade with charm
We sometimes allow ourselves to be beguiled by flatterers.
Derivatives – beguiled, beguiling, beguilement, beguiler
5. blasphemous – irreverent, profane
Telling that sacrilegious joke is blasphemous.
Derivatives – blaspheme, blaspheming, blasphemer, blasphemously, blasphemy
6. conciliate – to reconcile, to pacify, to appease, to renew a friendship
My husband tried to conciliate me with a gift of roses.
Derivatives – conciliated, conciliating, conciliator, conciliatorily
7. contentious – quarrelsome, belligerent, stirring controversy
My contentious child will not listen to any form of reason.
Derivatives – contentiously, contentiousness, contention
8. defamation – act of harming or ruining another’s reputation
The defamation of another’s character is a horrible thing.
Derivatives – defamatory, defame, defamed, defamer
9. deference – courteous going along with the opinions or wishes of another
In deference to your wishes, I will not see him again.
Derivatives – deferential, deferentially
10. dogmatic – strongly opinionated in an unwarranted manner
He was so dogmatic that having an intelligent discussion was impossible.
Derivatives – dogmatical, dogmatically, dogmatism
11. formidable – menacing, causing fear or awe
That retired boxer was a formidable opponent in his time.
Derivatives – formidability, formidableness, formidably
12. heretical – contrary to church doctrine or accepted beliefs or standards
His heretical statements were offensive to many believers.
Derivatives – heretic, heretically
13. indignation – anger as a result of something unjust
I have great indignation that the drunk driver who hit my child received a light sentence.
Derivatives – indignant, indignantly, indignance
14. ineptness – lack of competence or judgment
The evidence of his ineptness as a coach is his poor win-loss record.
Derivatives – inept, ineptly, ineptitude
15. ingratiate – to make an effort to gain good favor with someone
He tried to ingratiate himself with the girl’s parents by always being polite.
Derivatives – ingratiating, ingratiatingly, ingratiation
16. innate – existing from birth, inborn
He has innate athletic talents that cannot be taught.
Derivatives – innately, innateness
17. malevolence – ill will or evil intentions; malice
The old man’s malevolence was obvious when he removed the girl from his will.
Derivatives –malevolent, malevolently
18. paradoxical – something that appears false or contradictory but is actually correct
It is paradoxical that a man from the South led the fight for the passage of civil rights.
Derivatives – paradoxicalness, paradoxicality
19. predilection – preference
He has a predilection for fish when he goes out to eat.
Derivatives – predilect, predilected
20. propriety – correct conduct
Those who attend the meeting should conduct themselves with propriety.
Derivatives – proprieties
21. prudent – wise and careful about practical matters
In the city, it is prudent to have locks on all doors and windows.
Derivatives –prudence, prudential, prudently
22. reproach – to blame for something, admonish, rebuke; a disgrace
Her conduct was so good it was beyond reproach.
Derivatives – reproachable, reproachful, reproachfully, reproachingly
23. rescind – to cancel
He said that he will have to rescind his offer if he does not hear from us by Tuesday.
Derivatives – rescindable, rescinder
24. trepidation – fear, trembling, agitation
Since I did not study, I have a lot of trepidation about this exam.
Derivatives – trepid, trepidly, trepidity
25. vindictive – revengeful, spiteful
You should be more forgiving and less vindictive.
Derivatives – vindictively, vindictiveness