The Crucible Vocab Act I

Inert

Definition: lacking the power to move

Sentence: His daughter, Betty Paris, aged ten, is lying on the bed, inert.

Predilection (p. 4)

Definition: an established preference for something

Sentence: This predilection for minding other people's business was time-honored among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the suspicions which were to feed the coming madness.

Insoluble (p.6)

Definition: having or admitting of no solution or explanation

Sentence: The times, to their eyes, must have been out of joint, and to the common folk must have seemed as insoluble and complicated as do ours today

Paradox (p.6)

Definition: a statement or sentiment that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true

Sentence:

1. The Salem tragedy, which is about to begin in these pages, developed from a paradox.

2. It is a paradox in whose grip we still live, and there is no prospect yet that we will discover its resolution.

Theocracy (p.6)

Definition: government of a state by immediate divide guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided

Sentence: Simply it was this: for good purposes, even high purposes, the people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies

Dissembling (p. 8)

Definition: to put on the appearance of (simulate)

Sentence: He is bending to kneel again when his niece Abigail Williams, seventeen, enters— a strikingly beautiful girl, an orphan, with an endless capacity for dissembling.

Conjure (p.10)

Definition: to summon by or as if by invocation or incarnation

Sentence: But we never conjured spirits

Abomination (p.10 and 11)

Definition: something regarded with disgust or hatred

Sentence:

Abominations are done in the forest—-

Whatever abomination you have done, give me all of it now, for i dare not be taken unaware when i go before them down there

Sniveling (p.11)

Definition: to speak or act in a whining, sniffing, tearful, or weakly emotional manner

Sentence: It's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman!

Providence (p. 12)

Definition: divine guidance or care

Sentence: It is a providence the thing is out now!

Faction (p.13)

Definition: a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking (clique)

Sentence: Bayley had all the qualifications, and a two thirds got into the bargain, but a faction stopped his acceptance, for reasons that are not clear.

Vindictive (p.14)

Definition: disposed to seek revenge: vengeful

Sentence: His vindictive nature was demonstrated long before the witchcraft began.

Contention (p. 16)

Definition: rivalry, competition (anger and disagreement)

Sentence: I have enough contention since I came; I want no more

Trepidation (p.17)

Definition: a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation: apprehension

Sentence: with hushed trepidation: How is Ruth sick?

Subservient (p.17)

Definition: useful in an inferior capacity: subordinate

Sentence: She is seventeen, a subservient, naive lonely girl

His daughter, Betty Paris, aged ten, is lying on the bed, _______

inert

This_______for minding other people's business was time-honored among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the suspicions which were to feed the coming madness.

predilection

The times, to their eyes, must have been out of joint, and to the common folk must have seemed as _______and complicated as do ours today

insoluble

1. The Salem tragedy, which is about to begin in these pages, developed from a ________.

2. It is a ________ in whose grip we still live, and there is no prospect yet that we will discover its resolution.

paradox

Simply it was this: for good purposes, even high purposes, the people of Salem developed a __________, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies

theocracy

He is bending to kneel again when his niece Abigail Williams, seventeen, enters— a strikingly beautiful girl, an orphan, with an endless capacity for ___________.

dissembling

But we never ________ spirits

conjured

1. ___________ are done in the forest—-

2. Whatever ____________ you have done, give me all of it now, for i dare not be taken unaware when i go before them down there

Abomination(s)

It's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, ___________ woman, and I will not work for such a woman!

sniveling

It is a _____________ the thing is out now!

providence

Bayley had all the qualifications, and a two thirds got into the bargain, but a ____________ stopped his acceptance, for reasons that are not clear.

faction

His ____________ nature was demonstrated long before the witchcraft began.

vindictive

with hushed __________: How is Ruth sick?

trepidation

She is seventeen, a ______________, naive lonely girl

subservient

I have enough _____________ since I came; I want no more

contention