The Crucible ACT I Vocabulary

Mrs. BlakeEnglish III and English III Honors

persecute• V. cause to suffer• Syn.-harass, abuse, torture• Ant.-encourage,endorse

province• N. the territory occupied by one of the constituent

administrative districts of a nation• N. a sphere or field of activity or authority, as of a

person.• Syn.- region, area, city

creed• n. any system of principles or beliefs• Syn.- doctrine, dogma, faith• Ant.- disbelief, doubt, skepticism

somber• Adj. grave or even gloomy in character• Ant- cheerful, joyful Syn.- serious, dull

predilection• N. a strong liking• Favored• Syn.- preference, bias• Ant.- hate, disinterest

maraud• V. raid and rove in search of booty, treasure, loot,

or gold• Syn.- hijacker, raider, robber

heathen• N. a person who does not acknowledge your

god• Syn.- pagan, ungodly, disbeliever• Ant.- religious, moral

conjure• v. summon into action or bring into existence,

often as if by magic• Syn- enchant, charm, memorize, invoke, bid,

call• Ant.- dismiss, terminate,discharge

faction• n. a clique (often secret) that seeks power

usually through intrigue• Syn.- gang, party, group Ant.- individual,

singular

abomination• N. an action that is vicious or vile; an action

that arouses disgust or abhorrence• Syn.- scandal, atrocity, horror, hatred, evil• Ant.-pleasant, marvelous, estimable

deference• N. courteous regard for people's feelings• Syn.- respect, admiration, esteem• An.- insolence, impudence, disregard

deference

partisan• N. fervent and even militant proponent of

something• Syn- biased, following, prejudiced• Ant.- impartial, neutral, detached

calumny• Adj. a false accusation of an offense or a

malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions

• Syn.- slander, defamation, denigration• Ant.- truth, certainty, fact

pretense• Adj. the act of giving a false appearance• Syn.- trick, charade, fabrication, façade,

pretext• Ant.- genuine, reality, truth

exude• v. make apparent by one's mood or behavior• Syn.- radiate, project, display• Ant.-absorb, engage, engross

abide• V. put up with something or somebody

unpleasant• Syn.-accept, stand, bear, tolerate, endure• Ant.- forbid, prevent, inhibit

enrapture• V. hold spellbound• Syn.- captivate, mesmerize, enthrall• Ant.- bore, windbag,

calculated• v. carefully thought out in advance• Syn.- intended, premeditated, deliberate• Ant.- spontaneous, unstructured, impulsive,

extemporaneous

defer• V. yield to another's wish or opinion• Syn.- submit, comply, concede• Ant.- deny, refuse, reject

BASE• Base (ADJ)- having low moral standards • Syn.- corrupt, vile, dishonorable • Ant.- noble, principled, ethical, righteous