Act I Vocabulary

The Crucible

Predilection

• preference • His predilection for debate led to many interesting discussions.

Autocracy

• dictatorship • Hitler’s Germany was an autocracy.

Trepidation

• fear • Having a fear of flying in an airplane, she approached the upcoming flight with trepidation.

Calumny

• slander • After the newspaper called him a crook, the politician threatened to sue the publisher for calumny.

Prodigious

• Amazing and powerful • The congregation viewed the painting of the crying Madonna as a prodigious sign from God.

Iniquity

• Wickedness • The Puritans also believed that the Devil could tempt them to iniquity.

Inculcation

• Act of impressing on the mind

• Children may learn prejudice by the inculcation of hate by adults.

Abrogation

• Annulment • The abrogation of the trade agreement would make commerce more difficult between the two countries.

Propitiation

• Attempt to make favorably inclined

• After the argument, the husband’s propitiation of his wife included buying her flowers and admitting he was wrong.

Licentious

• Morally loose • While we consider dancing perfectly tame, to the Puritans it was licentious behavior.

Act II

The CrucibleVocabulary

We observed her paleness and weakness as she tried to stand up after being bedridden for two weeks.

• Pallor

In order to improve a bad situation, you must first devise a plan to change it.

• Ameliorate

In fairy tales, a witch is often a withered old woman.

• Crone

Although you are a vegetarian, don’t be reluctant to allow me the pleasure of eating a hamburger.

• Begrudge

In many Asian countries old people are treated with courteous respect.

• Deference

Studying to be a minister, the young man took many courses in religious philosophy.

• Theology

When he is invested with official authority as minister, he will return home to serve the poor of his community.• Ordained

The contents of a dented can might be contaminated.

• Tainted

The new father handled his infant very carefully.

• Gingerly

The Puritans believed in swift retribution for even a hint of speech or action showing contempt for God.• Blasphemy

Other Words to add• Conjured- Summoned by

oath or spell• Faction- A small group

within a larger group• Abomination-Things that

elicit dislike• Inert-unable to move or

act • Partisan-militant

supporter of a party, cause, faction or idea