Glossary of Terms
adamant: utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals, urgings, etc
affidavit: a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official
autocracy: government in which one person has uncontrolled or unlimited authority over others; the government or power of an absolute monarch
bowlegged: outward curvature of the legs causing a separation of the knees when the ankles are close or in contact
clod: A lump or chunk, especially of earth or clay
contention: a struggling together in opposition; strife
contiguous: touching; in contact.
Crucible: A container used for heating substances to high temperatures. Also a severe test or trial.
defamation: the act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another, as by slander or libel; calumny
deposition: a statement under oath, taken down in writing, to be used in court in place of the spoken testimony of the witness
excommunicate: to cut off from communion with a church or exclude from the sacraments of a church by ecclesiastical sentence
faction: party strife and intrigue; dissension
gibbet: a gallows with a projecting arm at the top, from which the bodies of criminals were formerly hung in chains and left suspended after execution.
grapple: to seize another, or each other, in a firm grip, as in wrestling; clinch
intimation: to indicate or make known indirectly; hint; imply; suggest.
lechery: unrestrained or excessive indulgence of sexual desire
licentious: sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd.
magistrate: A civil officer charged with administration of the law
obscene: offensive to morality or decency; indecent; depraved
pallor: unusual or extreme paleness, as from fear, ill health, or death; wanness
parish: a local church with its field of activity
pilgrimage: any long journey, esp. one undertaken as a quest or for a votive purpose, as to pay homage
plaintiff: a person who brings suit in a court
poppet: a doll
predilection: A preference, or partiality
pretense: pretending or feigning; make-believe
prodigious: extraordinary in size, amount, extent, degree, force, etc
propriety: conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior or manners.
providence: a manifestation of divine care or direction
reproach: to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame; censure.
struck dumb: rendered mute, unable to speak
subservient: serving or acting in a subordinate capacity; subordinate
titillated: aroused
trepidation: tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation
vengeance: infliction of injury, harm, humiliation, or the like, on a person by another who has been harmed by that person; violent revenge
ClassicNote on The Crucible
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