The Crucible Vocabulary

Acts I-IV

inert• adjective

• Having no power of action, motion or resistance; inactive or unable to react

• She was lying inert in her bed when her mother tried to wake her for school.

somber• adjective

• Gloomily dark; depressing or dismal; serious

• The mood at her grandmother’s funeral was somber.

theocracy

• noun

• A form of government in which God is recognized as the supreme civil ruler

• The Puritans lived under a theocracy; therefore, worshipping Satan was against the law.

hearty• adjective

• vigorous and healthy; warm-hearted and affectionate

• Our mother cooked us a hearty meal consisting of meat, potatoes, and vegetables.

dissemble• verb

• To give a false or misleading appearance; to conceal the truth

• Abigail Williams has an endless capacity for dissembling because she is living a lie.

faction• noun

• A group or clique within a larger group; strife or trouble within a group

• There was a faction against Thomas Putnam in Salem.

abomination• noun

• A vile, shameful, horrible, detestable action; anything disliked as evil or hated

• Dancing in the forest was considered an abomination to the Puritans.

vindictive• adjective

• Inclined or likely to get revenge; showing a vengeful spirit

• Many vindictive Puritans of Salem used witchcraft accusations to get back at those with whom they had a conflict

corroborate• verb

• To make certain; to confirm, authenticate or validate

• The two scientists corroborated their hypothesis about global warming

intimation• noun

• A hint or suggestion

• Her father had a slight intimation about the party she had the night before.

formidable• adjective

• Causing fear, apprehension, or dread; of awesome strength or size

• The undefeated football team was a formidable opponent.

• Cleaning her room as a formidable task.

trepidation• noun

• Tremulous fear, alarm; trembling or quivering

• Her trepidation about giving the speech increased as she took the stage.

prodigious• adjective

• Extraordinary in size, amount, or extent; wonderful or marvelous; monstrous

• The prodigious Rocky Mountains are a well-known natural beauty.

inquisitive• adjective

• Given to asking questions;; eager for knowledge; intellectually curious; prying

• Her inquisitive nature came in handy when she became a reporter.

arbitrate• verb

• To determine or settle an argument or dispute

• Since she was skilled at arbitration, she decided to become a counselor.

squabble• Verb and noun

• To engage in a petty quarrel or fight

• The family’s squabble over money lasted for years.

iniquity• Noun

• An injustice or wickedness; a violation; sin

• Because of her numerous iniquities, she was known as a sinner and thought to be worshipping the devil.

defamation• Noun

• The act of injuring the good reputation of another, as by slander (using language/insult)

• When she made up the rumor about her friend, it was undoubtedly a cruel act of defamation.

anarchy• Noun

• A state of society without government or law; lack of obedience to an authority

• When her parents were gone, the home was in a complete state of anarchy.

licentious• Adjective

• Sexually unrestrained; immoral or going beyond proper bounds or limits; disregarding rules

• Her promiscuously immoral habits caused her to be known as a licentious trouble maker.

Act II

condemnation• Noun

• An expression of disapproval; a judgment; an accusation

• He expressed his condemnation after he witnessed her horrible behavior.

scoff• Verb

• To mock or speak badly about; to belittle

• When her daughter asked for a new car, the mother scoffed at the idea.

conviction• Noun

• A fixed or firm belief

• Her convictions allowed her to live an honest life.

ameliorate• Verb

• To make or become better or more bearable; to improve

• He hoped to ameliorate the situation by lending a helping hand.

compact• Noun

• A formal agreement between two or more parties or states; a contract

• Tituba claimed to have made a compact with the Devil.

base• Adjective

• Morally low; immoral; dishonorable

• John Proctor asked his wife if she thought he was base for his indiscretions.

pious• Adjective

• Showing a reverence for God; extremely religious

• Rebecca Nurse was known as a pious woman who went to church and prayed regularly.

wily• adjective

• Full of tricks; tricky or sly; deceitful

• Abigail Williams is a wily girl who tells lies to get power.

trifle• noun

• A matter or thing of little value or importance; a small thing

• When they went for coffee, they talked of trifles.

covet• verb

• To desire wrongfully; to want to wish for eagerly

• Thomas Putnam coveted the land of others, so he accused them of witchcraft.

quail• verb

• To shrink in fear; to cower

• When she saw a spirit, she quailed in fear.

evasively

• adverb

• Avoiding ; not answering straightforwardly

• She evasively answered his difficult questions.

gingerly• adverb

• Done with great care; carefully

• She gingerly placed the eggs into her basket so as not to break them.

calamity• noun

• A great disaster or catastrophe; a misfortune

• Many people’s homes were left in ruins after the calamity of Hurricane Sandy.

vengeance• noun

• Infliction of harm; violent revenge; desire for revenge

• Thomas Putnam sought vengeance and began accusing innocent people of witchcraft.

menacingly

• adverb

• Harmfully, dangerously; done in a way that causes harm; threateningly

• Government soldiers in armored vehicles menacingly drove through the streets firing into crowds.

blasphemy• noun

• Cursing or disrespecting God or sacred things

• Blasphemy is a serious crime in Puritan society and could cause one to be accused of witchcraft.

lechery• noun

• Unrestrained sexual desire; excessive indulgence; lust

• John Proctor committed an act of lechery when he had the affair with Abigail Williams.

pretense• noun

• Pretending; make believe

• The girls in Salem were never punished for excessive pretense

providence• noun

• Luck or divine intervention; fate; The care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth

• The Puritans believed there was providence in Salem, so they behaved according to the laws of God

Act III

abundant• adjective

• Present in great quantity; well supplied; plentiful

• She had such an abundant supply of clothes that she gave things away to her friends.

scorn• noun

• Disrespect or despisal of something

• Religious people expressed their scorn for the Devil.

remorseless

• adjective

• Without guilt in spite of wrongdoing; inhuman

• When Abigail Williams seemed remorseless when she accused Tituba of making her conjure.

daft• adjective

• Senseless; stupid or foolish; insane or crazy

• Elizabeth thought her husband John had gone daft when he cheated

contentious

• adjective

• Tending to argue; causing conflict or arguments

• The relationship between the Putnams and most other people in Salem is contentious because the Putnams always have conflict with others.

affidavit• noun

• A written declaration upon oath used for evidence in court; testimony; a sworn statement

• Giles Corey was asked by the judges to submit his affidavit that his wife is not a witch.

contempt• noun

• Antipathy (not caring); aversion; disrespect; hatred of something

• Many people in Salem were arrested on charges of contempt, which is disrespect of the court.

baffle• verb

• To confuse or bewilder; to frustrate or perplex

• Judge Danforth appears baffled when he hears that the girls were pretending

deferentially• adverb

• Respectfully following judgment or opinion of others; respectful or courteous regard.

• The people of Salem have to approach the judges deferentially, or they might otherwise be arrested.

summon• verb

• To call into action; to command or gather

• Many people in Salem were summoned to the court on charges of witchcraft.

effrontery• noun

• Shameless boldness; audacity

• Judge Danforth exclaims that he will not have any effrontery in his court, so most people kept to themselves.

incredulously• adverb

• Skeptically; done in a way that shows disbelief

• Many watched incredulously as Elizabeth Proctor, a good woman, was taken away on charges of witchcraft.

solemn• adjective

• Grave or serious as a person in speech, tone, or mood

• His manner was solemn at his grandmother’s funeral while he read the elegy.

pretense• noun

• Pretending; make believe

John Proctor tries to tell Reverend Hale that everything the girls do is pretense and that no one should believe them.

apprehensively• adverb

• Uneasy or fearful about something that might happen

• Elizabeth Proctor apprehensively opened the door for Reverend Hale to come in and question her about her religious nature.

vengeance

• noun

• Infliction of injury or harm to another; the desire for revenge

• The Putnams are famously known for seeking vengeance on many of those in Salem by accusing them of witchcraft.

deception• noun

• Misleading by a false appearance; unfaithfulness

• Abigail Williams is an expert at deception because she is able to trick many of those around her.

allegiance• noun

• Loyalty or devotion to something or someone

• Tituba is pressured into admitting that she has an allegiance to the Devil.

befoul• verb

• To make dirty or filthy; defile; to soil

• The judges agree that witchcraft has befouled many people in Salem.

denounce• verb

• To condemn or disapprove of something publicly; to make a formal accusation against

• At the end of act three, Reverend Hale denounces the proceedings and quits the court.

Act IV

gaunt• adjective

• Extremely thin and bony, as from great hunger, weariness, or torture; emaciated

• After he had been in jail for months, John Proctor wasn’t eating and became very gaunt.

excommunication• noun

• To sentence a member of the church to exclusion from the church or community

• John Proctor was excommunicated from the church in Salem because of the accusations against him.

beguile• verb

• To influence by trickery or flattery; to mislead, charm, or divert

• The judges don’t want to admit they’ve been beguiled by the girls.

retaliate• verb

• To take action against, especially by returning some injury or wrong

• John Proctor was the only one willing to retaliate against the judges.

adamant• adjective

• Unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of urgings; not willing to change

• Reverend Hale was adamant about trying to get people to confess to save their lives.

indictment

• noun

• A formal accusation or charge

• Many people in Salem faced false indictments.

spite• noun

• Malicious (negative) desire to harm, frustrate, or annoy another

• John Proctor would not confess out of spite.

penitence

• noun

• Regret for one’s wrongdoing or sinning

• The judges seemed to have no penitence for what they had done and only cared about themselves.

salvation

• noun

• The act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, or destruction

• John Proctor would rather die than gain salvation from the corrupt church.

incredulous• adjective

• Skeptical or unsure; showing disbelief

• The judges were incredulous when it came to hearing testimonies.