The Crucible Mrs Dagen Vocab 25-26

Adamant

Completely firm and unwilling to change one’s mind

Affidavit

a written, sworn statement used as evidence in court.

Ambiguous

unclear, able to be understood in more than one way.

Apprehensive

Fearful or uneasy about what might happen.

Base

Morally low, dishonorable, lacking proper values

Beguile / Guile

(Beguile) to trick or deceive; (guile) sly or deceitful cunning

Calumny

False and harmful accusations meant to damage someone’s reputation

Covenanted

Formally pledged or promised, especially to a christian moral life. Or, agreed by lease or formal contract.

Condemn

Express complete disapproval, typically in public. Censure

Contentious / Contention

Quarelsome, likely to cause argument, heated disagreement.

Conjure

to call up spirits or supernatural beings through rituals or magic

Deference

Respectful submission or yielding to someone else’s judgement/authority

Delusion

False belief strongly held despite evidence against it

Denounce

Publicly accuse or speak against someone as wrong or evil

Deposition

Testimony taken outside of court and written down

Dissembling

Hiding one’s true motives or feelings, pretending, lying by omission

Evasive

deliberately vague or avoiding direct answers

Exaltation

feeling of great joy or elevation, almost religious excitement

Factions

small groups within a larger community who oppose each other

Formidable

impressively powerful or threatening, inspiring fear or respect.

Gaunt

extremely thin and worn looking, often from worry or illness.

Gait

Person’s manner of walking

Hypocrisy

Pretending to have virtues or principles that one does not actually possess.

Inept

foolish or clumsy ; lacking experience or competence

Incredulous

unwilling or unable to believe something; skeptical

Indictment

formal accusation or charge of wrongdoing

Iniquity

Wickedness, a very sinful or immoral act.

Lechery

Lustful behavior, excessive or inappropriate desire

Licentiousness

Lack of moral restraint, especially s*xuality; immoral behavior

Notorious

Widely known usually for something bad

Parochial

Narrow minded, limited in viewpoint(literally related to church parish)

Pious

Devoutly religious, showing reverence to god

Plaintiff

Person who brings lawsuit or accusation to another

Pretense

act of pretending, false show meant to decieve

Predilection

preference or special liking for something, bias in favour of something

Prevail

Succeed/win out; to gain the upper hand

Probity

Honesty; strong moral principles

Prodigious

Extraordinary in size or degree; impressive or enormous

Providence

God’s guidance, protection, and will over human life

Quail (verb)

Draw back in fear, shrink or cower

Quavers

Trembles/shakes, usually from fear.

Qualms

doubts, misgivings, uneasy feelings

Slovenly

messy or untidy in appearance or habits

Trepidation

Fear or anxiety about something that may happen

Undermine

Weaken or lessen the effectiveness/power of gradually or secretly

Vindictive

Desiring revenge; wanting to harm someone who wronged you.

Wily

Skilled at gaining advantage, typically through deceit.