Home | Resources | English 11 | The Crucible Vocabulary List: Act I | Act II | Act III | Act IV

(page numbers appearing in parentheses match the Penguin edition)

ACT ONE

1. ideology (6) – a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture

2. paradox (7) – a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true

3. theocracy (7) – government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by church officials who are regarded as divinely guided

4. villainy (7) – wretched, evil conduct

5. hearty (8) – strong, healthy

6. quaking (8) – trembling, shuddering, quivering with fear

7. dissembling (9) – concealing the facts; hiding under a false pretense

8. propriety (9) – socially acceptable behavior and speech

9. heathen (10) – an uncivilized or irreligious person; pagan

10. witched (10) – affected by witchcraft; in a spell

11. opened (10) – been honest; told the complete truth

12. trafficked (10) – traded; had dealings or associations

13. conjured (10) – summoned a devil or spirit by invocation or incantation

14. faction (10) – group; secret faction; clique

15. abominations (11) – sources of utter disgust or intense dislike; hateful, disgusting actions

16. gibberish (11) – unintelligible or meaningless language; nonsense

17. white (12) – free from moral impurity; pure

18. Goody (12) – used as a title preceding a surname—a usually married woman of lowly station

19. sniveling (12) – speaking or acting in a whining, sniffling, tearful, or weakly emotional manner

20. deference (12) – respect and esteem due a superior or an elder

21. marvel (12) – something that causes wonder or astonishment

22. providence (13) – event guided by God or divine leadership

23. ail (13) – suffer ill health

24. naught (13) – nothing

25. dwindling (14) – steadily lessening

26. demonic (14) – possessed or influenced by a demon; satanic; fiendish

27. vindictive (14) – disposed to seek revenge

28. smirched (15) – discredited or disgraced

29. corroborating (15) – supporting with evidence or authority

30. junctures (15) – points of time

31. abyss (15) – an immeasurably deep gulf or great space

32. intimations (15) – hints; suggestions

33. formidable (16) – dreadful; fearful; extremely serious

34. blink (16) – deny; ignore; pretend not to see

35. undone (16) – ruined; destroyed the worldly means, reputation, or hopes

36. trepidation (18) – timorous uncertain agitation; apprehension

37. weirdish (18) – of, relating to, or caused by witchcraft or the supernatural; strange

38. subservient (18) – servile; cringing manner of one very conscious of a subordinate position

39. pointy (20) – sharp; painful

40. hypocrites (20) – persons who put on false appearances of virtue or religion

41. partisans (20) – members of party, faction, or cause

42. calumny (20) – the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to damage another’s reputation

43. inert (20) – motionless; inactive

44. titillated (21) – aroused; excited

45. sidles (21) – moves or turns sideways in a furtive manner

46. pilgrimage (21) – journey to a shrine or sacred place

47. pretense (24) – false show

48. covenanted (24) – formally enrolled in the church

49. notorious (25) – widely and unfavorably known

50. prodigious (25) – strange; unusual; portentous

51. canny (25) – clever, shrewd, crafty

52. exudes (25) – spreads out in all directions

53. arbitrate (25) – to determine the outcome of a dispute

54. contiguous (26) – touching along a boundary or at a point

55. defers (28) – submits to another’s wishes, opinion, or governance usually through deference or respect

56. fathom (28) – understand

57. break charity with (31) – become alienated from

58. clap (31) – attack with a lawsuit

59. defamation (31) – slander; the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously

calculated to damage another’s reputation

60. anarchy (32) – a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority

61. tract (32) – a defined area of land

62. inculcation (34) – teaching and impressing by frequent repetitions or admonitions

63. avidly (39) – eagerly

64. licentious (41) – lacking legal or moral restraints

65. In nomine Domine Sabaoth sui filiique ite ad infernos (42) – Latin for “In the name of the

Lord Sabaoth and of his son, depart to hell.”

66. blanched (42) – became ashen or pale

67. evade (43) – to avoid answering directly

68. truck (43) – have dealings; trade

69. compact (44) – make an agreement; enter into a contract