the crucible vocab (act III & IV)

ap lang: acts three and four vocabulary - mr. lynskey

forbidding (adj.)

1. grim, unfriendly, hostile, sinister

2. dangerous/threatening

contentious (adj.)

1. likely to create or cause argument or strife; quarrelsome

probity (noun.)

1. honesty; integrity and uprightness

prodigious (adj.)

1. extraordinary in size, amount, extent, degree, force, etc.

reproach (verb.)

1. to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame; censure

effrontery (noun.)

1. behavior or an attitude that is so shamelessly bold that it’s

   insulting

immaculate (adj.)

1. free from spot or stain; spotlessly clean.

2. free from moral blemish or impurity; pure

qualm (noun.)

1. an uneasy feeling about the rightness of an action or conduct

2. a sudden feeling of apprehension, uneasiness, or sickness

guile (noun.)

1. treacherous cunning or cleverness in attaining a goal; crafty or artful

   deception

incredulous (adj.)

1. skeptical; disbelieving

lechery (noun.)

1. unrestrained/excessive indulgence of sexual desire/lustful behavior

ipso facto (adverb.)

1. latin for by that very fact or act; as an inevitable result; a direct consequence

gaunt (adj.)

1. extremely thin and bony; haggard and drawn, as from great hunger, weariness, /torture; emaciated

embodiment (noun.)

1. a person, being, or tangible thing that expresses an abstract idea, spirit,/principle

flounder (verb.)

1. to struggle with stumbling or plunging movements (usually followed by about, along, on, through, etc.)

2. to struggle clumsily or helplessly

reprieve (noun.)

1. a rest from impending punishment

2. any rest or temporary relief

adamant (adj.)

1. stubbornly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals, urgings, etc.

cleave (verb.)

1. to adhere closely to; stick to; cling to; to remain faithful to (usually followed by to)

quail (verb.)

1. to lose heart or courage in difficulty/danger; shrink with fear

calamity (noun.)

1. a great misfortune or disaster, as a flood/serious injury

2. serious/significant distress; adversity; misery

conciliatory (adj.)

1. attempting to reconcile with someone; trying to overcome the distrust, hostility/anger of someone; willing to regain someone’s friendship/goodwill

purge (verb.)

1. to rid of whatever is impure/ undesirable; cleanse; purify

2. to rid, clear, /free (usually followed by of or from)

frantic (adj.)

1. desperate/wild with excitement, passion, fear, pain, etc.; frenzied

merely (adv.)

1. only as specified and nothing more; simply