Crucible Vocab Part 1 & 2

Predilection

A strong, established preference, liking, or bias in favor of something

Ex: As a child, she showed a predilection for drawing

Ingratiating

Behavior intended to charm, please, or gain favor, often considered insincere, or manipulative

Ex: she offered an ingratiating compliment to the manager, hoping to secure a promotion

Compact

A formal agreement, binding, treaty

Ex: A trade compact between nations

Notorious

Being widely known for bad behavior, infamous, or having a negative reputation

Ex: The area is notorious for violence

Evade

To avoid, escape, or elude someone or something, often through cleverness, trickery, or dishonesty

Ex: My neighbor was arrested for evading taxes

Prodigious

remarkably great in size, amount, extent, or degree

Ex: He was a prodigious talent for music, astonishing everyone

Defamation

The act of communicating false statements about a person or entity to a third party, causing damage to their reputation

Ex: The congressman was prosecuted for false defamation to a business.

Pallor

An unnatural, unhealthy, or extreme paleness of the skin

Ex: The boy’s sickly pallor concerned his parents

Ameliorate

To make a bad, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory situation better, more tolerable, or improved

Ex: Medicines were introduced to ameliorate the pain

Avidly

To do something with great enthusiasm, intense interest, eagerness, or devotion

Ex: She reads avidly, finishing two books every week.

Base

Describes something lacking moral principle, dishonorable, selfish, or of low quality

Ex: He was arrested for his base actions

Deference

The respectful submission, yielding, or courteous regard shown to the judgment, opinion, or wishes of another, typically a higher authority

Ex: The children showed deference to the elder by allowing them to enter a room first

Theology

The systematic study of the nature of the divine, religious beliefs, and practice

Ex: My intro to religion professor had a masters in biblical theology

Abomination

A thing or action that causes extreme disgust, hatred, loathing, or horror

Ex: Spitting in public is an abomination

Blasphmeny

The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence to god or somethin sacred

Ex: She was condemned by the church for uttering blasphemies