Vocabulary in The Crucible

In a state of complete unresponsiveness, unable to move or speak, as if frozen — here describing Betty's trance-like collapse after the night in the forest.

To summon spirits or practice magic through secret rituals; in this play it means calling on the Devil or supernatural forces, which is treated as a serious crime.

To deal or have forbidden dealings with someone or something — here specifically to have secret contact or commerce with the Devil or evil spirits.

A small handmade doll; in the play it is used as supposed evidence of witchcraft because a needle found in it is claimed to prove a curse was cast on someone.

A written, sworn statement given outside of court as legal testimony; in the play characters submit depositions to challenge the court's accusations.

An entrance hall or antechamber just inside the outer door of a building; here it is the waiting area outside the main courtroom of the Salem meeting house.

Bound together by a formal agreement or pact — in this context, secretly allied with the Devil through a covenant, which is the accusation leveled at the condemned.

To publicly declare something wrong or illegitimate and formally withdraw support from it; here Hale announces he rejects the court's authority entirely.

The official actions and events of a legal or formal process — here referring to the witch-trial hearings conducted by the court.

Felt intense sexual desire for someone outside of marriage; Proctor uses it as a confession of his own moral failing and sin with Abigail.

Continuing without end, never stopping — used here to describe the unrelenting, suffocating grief and suspicion Elizabeth carries inside her that never lifts.

Tied or committed by a secret agreement — here meaning secretly pledged or enslaved to Satan through a supernatural pact.

To walk very quietly and carefully so as not to disturb someone; used figuratively here to mean Proctor has been cautiously avoiding anything that might upset Elizabeth.

Warning — the dropped final g reflects the dialect speech of the characters; here it means no prior sign or notice was given before the sudden collapse.

Hit suddenly and violently — used in the simile 'like a struck beast' to describe the sudden, violent way the girl collapsed to the floor.

With tender, affectionate feeling — here Proctor means he thought of Abigail with warmth and desire, not harshly, which makes his guilt worse in his own eyes.

The burial place of a dead person — used here figuratively: Abigail hopes Elizabeth will die so she can take her place as Proctor's wife.

To formally admit guilt — in the play this means publicly declaring you made a pact with the Devil, whether true or not, in order to avoid execution.

Morally corrupt or already ruined — Proctor uses it to say his reputation was already destroyed long before he considered signing a false confession.

A person's moral integrity and worth — Elizabeth uses it to mean Proctor has reclaimed his inner virtue and honor by refusing to sign the false confession.

Damaged, ruined, or made worthless — here Proctor means that signing a lie cannot destroy what was already morally corrupt before.

Put under an evil spell by a witch — in the play this is the formal accusation: that someone used supernatural power to harm or control another person.

To leave or abandon something entirely — here used in a formal, emphatic sense meaning Hale is permanently withdrawing from the court and its authority.