The Crucible Glossary

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