The Crucible Act One Vocab
an authoritative rule
That there were some jokers, however, is indicated by the practice of appointing a two-man patrol whose duty was to “walk forth in the time of God’s worship to take notice of such as either lye about the meeting house, without attending to the word and ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof, and to take the names of such persons, and to present them to the magistrates, whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against.”
As suggested by the sentence structure, "ordinance" and "word" are nearly synonymous nouns—"ordinance" refers to the authoritative rules of the Salem community, which are mostly based on the Puritans' interpretations of the authoritative "Word" of God.
a predisposition in favor of something
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.
make resentful or angry
It was also, in my opinion, one of the things that a John Proctor would rebel against, for the time of the armed camp had almost passed, and since the country was reasonably—although not wholly—safe, the old disciplines were beginning to rankle.
The first part of the definition connects more vividly to the Latin origin: "dracunculus" means "small serpent" and in the eyes of the Puritans, if old disciplines rankle, then that could be because the Devil (often connected to the form of a serpent) is gnawing into a person's flesh and soul.
capable of winning favor
They were a band of individualists, and a much more ingratiating group than the Massachusetts men.
a formal command or admonition
Long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken, despite the Bible’s charitable injunctions.
"Jungere" means "to join"—this Latin root can be seen more clearly in words such as "junction" and "conjunction" but it is hinted at here, since the "injunctions" described are those that are charitable and that should keep neighbors joined in peaceful harmony. However, similar to "ordinance" in this list, the example sentence focuses on the breaking of commands and rules.
pretending with intention to deceive
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.
a dissenting clique
There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit.
an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence
Now then, in the midst of such disruption, my own household is discovered to be the very center of some obscene practice. Abominations are done in the forest—
courteous regard for people's feelings
He sees her, and a certain deference springs into him, although his worry remains.
the guardianship and control exercised by a deity
It is a providence the thing is out now! It is a providence.
a dispute where there is strong disagreement
Mr. Parris, I have taken your part in all contention here, and I would continue; but I cannot if you hold back in this.
a slight suggestion or vague understanding
Believe me, sir, you never saw more hearty babies born. And yet, each would wither in my arms the very night of their birth. I have spoke nothin’, but my heart has clamored intimations.
a feeling of alarm or dread
ABIGAIL, with hushed trepidation: How is Ruth sick?
Compare with "apprehension" in this list—both states of mind refer to Abigail, and on the surface, suggest that she's worried about her cousin and friend's health. But the phrasing of the question here hints at Abigail's more selfish concern, because her focus is not on how sick Ruth is, but on how Ruth got sick, which could be traced back to their improper activities in the forest.
an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly—and a Proctor is always marked for calumny therefore.
an agreement between a god and the people
I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men!
of momentous or ominous significance
That is a notorious sign of witchcraft afoot, Goody Nurse, a prodigious sign!
having a common boundary or edge
In addition, certain families allied to the Nurses by blood or friendship, and whose farms were contiguous with the Nurse farm or close to it, combined to break away from the Salem town authority and set up Topsfield, a new and independent entity whose existence was resented by old Salemites.
morally objectionable behavior
To top it all, Mrs. Putnam—who is now staring at the bewitched child on the bed—soon accused Rebecca’s spirit of “tempting her to iniquity,” a charge that had more truth in it than Mrs. Putnam could know.
an extended area of land
I bought that tract from Goody Nurse’s husband five months ago.
teaching or impressing upon the mind by frequent instruction
...when we see the steady and methodical inculcation into humanity of the idea of man’s worthlessness—until redeemed—the necessity of the Devil may become evident as a weapon, a weapon designed and used time and time again in every age to whip men into a surrender to a particular church or church-state.
extremely conservative or resistant to change
In the countries of the Communist ideology, all resistance of any import is linked to the totally malign capitalist succubi, and in America any man who is not reactionary in his views is open to the charge of alliance with the Red hell.
an official or legal cancellation
Political opposition, thereby, is given an inhumane overlay which then justifies the abrogation of all normally applied customs of civilized intercourse.
the act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity
I have no doubt that people were communing with, and even worshiping, the Devil in Salem, and if the whole truth could be known in this case, as it is in others, we should discover a regular and conventionalized propitiation of the dark spirit.
lacking moral discipline
We have all manner of licentious people in the village!
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
HALE, with rising exaltation: You are God’s instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil’s agents among us.
an authoritative rule
That there were some jokers, however, is indicated by the practice of appointing a two-man patrol whose duty was to “walk forth in the time of God’s worship to take notice of such as either lye about the meeting house, without attending to the word and ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof, and to take the names of such persons, and to present them to the magistrates, whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against.”
As suggested by the sentence structure, "ordinance" and "word" are nearly synonymous nouns—"ordinance" refers to the authoritative rules of the Salem community, which are mostly based on the Puritans' interpretations of the authoritative "Word" of God.
a predisposition in favor of something
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.
make resentful or angry
It was also, in my opinion, one of the things that a John Proctor would rebel against, for the time of the armed camp had almost passed, and since the country was reasonably—although not wholly—safe, the old disciplines were beginning to rankle.
The first part of the definition connects more vividly to the Latin origin: "dracunculus" means "small serpent" and in the eyes of the Puritans, if old disciplines rankle, then that could be because the Devil (often connected to the form of a serpent) is gnawing into a person's flesh and soul.
capable of winning favor
They were a band of individualists, and a much more ingratiating group than the Massachusetts men.
a formal command or admonition
Long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken, despite the Bible’s charitable injunctions.
"Jungere" means "to join"—this Latin root can be seen more clearly in words such as "junction" and "conjunction" but it is hinted at here, since the "injunctions" described are those that are charitable and that should keep neighbors joined in peaceful harmony. However, similar to "ordinance" in this list, the example sentence focuses on the breaking of commands and rules.
pretending with intention to deceive
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.
a dissenting clique
There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit.
an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence
Now then, in the midst of such disruption, my own household is discovered to be the very center of some obscene practice. Abominations are done in the forest—
courteous regard for people's feelings
He sees her, and a certain deference springs into him, although his worry remains.
the guardianship and control exercised by a deity
It is a providence the thing is out now! It is a providence.
a dispute where there is strong disagreement
Mr. Parris, I have taken your part in all contention here, and I would continue; but I cannot if you hold back in this.
a slight suggestion or vague understanding
Believe me, sir, you never saw more hearty babies born. And yet, each would wither in my arms the very night of their birth. I have spoke nothin’, but my heart has clamored intimations.
a feeling of alarm or dread
ABIGAIL, with hushed trepidation: How is Ruth sick?
Compare with "apprehension" in this list—both states of mind refer to Abigail, and on the surface, suggest that she's worried about her cousin and friend's health. But the phrasing of the question here hints at Abigail's more selfish concern, because her focus is not on how sick Ruth is, but on how Ruth got sick, which could be traced back to their improper activities in the forest.
an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly—and a Proctor is always marked for calumny therefore.
an agreement between a god and the people
I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men!
of momentous or ominous significance
That is a notorious sign of witchcraft afoot, Goody Nurse, a prodigious sign!
having a common boundary or edge
In addition, certain families allied to the Nurses by blood or friendship, and whose farms were contiguous with the Nurse farm or close to it, combined to break away from the Salem town authority and set up Topsfield, a new and independent entity whose existence was resented by old Salemites.
morally objectionable behavior
To top it all, Mrs. Putnam—who is now staring at the bewitched child on the bed—soon accused Rebecca’s spirit of “tempting her to iniquity,” a charge that had more truth in it than Mrs. Putnam could know.
an extended area of land
I bought that tract from Goody Nurse’s husband five months ago.
teaching or impressing upon the mind by frequent instruction
...when we see the steady and methodical inculcation into humanity of the idea of man’s worthlessness—until redeemed—the necessity of the Devil may become evident as a weapon, a weapon designed and used time and time again in every age to whip men into a surrender to a particular church or church-state.
extremely conservative or resistant to change
In the countries of the Communist ideology, all resistance of any import is linked to the totally malign capitalist succubi, and in America any man who is not reactionary in his views is open to the charge of alliance with the Red hell.
an official or legal cancellation
Political opposition, thereby, is given an inhumane overlay which then justifies the abrogation of all normally applied customs of civilized intercourse.
the act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity
I have no doubt that people were communing with, and even worshiping, the Devil in Salem, and if the whole truth could be known in this case, as it is in others, we should discover a regular and conventionalized propitiation of the dark spirit.
lacking moral discipline
We have all manner of licentious people in the village!
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
HALE, with rising exaltation: You are God’s instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil’s agents among us.
