The Crucible — Vocabulary
Arthur Miller
(Edited)

Play sample Uses ACT/SAT
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warrantwarrant → warrants:documents authorizing something
Mr. Cheever, have warrants drawn for all of these—arrest for examination.p.94.414 more
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Do you have a search warrant?more
document giving the right to do the thing just mentioned
Show general definition for warrant (as in: has a warrant to...) a document (granting the right to do something)
for example:
  • a document signed by a judge giving police the right to search a home
  • a document signed by a judge giving police the right to arrest someone
  • a document giving someone the right to buy stock shares at a given price by a given date
  • a voucher documenting the right to receive payment
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warrant#2warrant → warranted:justified
But this is a snobbish objection and not at all warranted by the facts.p.35.414 more
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The company's reputation for high-quality products is no longer warranted.more
warrant → warranted:justified (reasonable)
Show general definition for warrant (as in: serious enough to warrant surgery) to justify (make an action reasonable or necessary)
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directstraightforward (specific and to the point)
He is steeped in sorrow, exhausted, and more direct than he ever was.p.129.18 more
Show context notes This describes Hale at the beginning of Act 4 when he is very clear in saying that the accused are innocent and he is doing the devil's work in asking them to confess to save their lives.
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I left them with direct instructions.more
straightforward
Show general definition for direct (as in: gave a direct answer) straightforward -- often clear, open, or blunt in speech or behavior
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condemncondemn → condemnation:complete disapproval
PROCTOR: Why'd you let her? You heard me forbid her to go to Salem any more!
ELIZABETH: I couldn't stop her.
PROCTOR, holding back a full condemnation of her: It is a fault, it is a fault, Elizabeth—you're the mistress here, not Mary Warren.p.52.110 more
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We condemn racism wherever it is found.more
strongly criticize
Show general definition for condemn (as in: She condemned their plan) express strong criticism
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condemn#2condemn → condemned:sentenced (assigned legal punishment)
DANFORTH: And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature?p.87.510 more
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The murderer was condemned to death by injection.more
condemn → condemned:legally sentenced (to punishment)
Show general definition for condemn (as in: was condemned to life in prison) to declare someone guilty of a crime and often sentence them to punishment; or more broadly, to cause someone to be judged guilty or doomed to an unwanted fate (as when evidence condemns a suspect)
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frauda person who is dishonest about who they are
Proctor, respected and even feared in Salem, has come to regard himself as a kind of fraud.p.21.19 more
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She was arrested for committing credit card fraud after using someone else’s account to buy expensive electronics.more
deception to get something illegally
Show general definition the act of deceiving someone for personal gain; or a person or thing that is not what it pretends or appears to be
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disputedispute → disputes:disagreements
He was called upon to arbitrate disputes as though he were an unofficial judge, and Rebecca also enjoyed the high opinion most people had for him.p.25.82 more
Show context notes To arbitrate is to act as an impartial referee who helps people who disagree to reach an agreement.
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The area has long been a source of dispute between India and Pakistan.more
disagreement
Show general definition for dispute (as in: their border dispute) disagreement, argument, or conflict
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dispute#2argue
ELIZABETH: I cannot dispute with you, sir; I lack learning for it.p.132.72 more
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She disputes her landlord's claim that the music was that loud.more
dispute → disputes:challenges
Show general definition for dispute (as in: She disputes his claim.) challenge, argue about, or fight over
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conjureconjure → conjuring:summoning to be present
PARRIS, to Abigail: Then you were conjuring spirits last night.p.16.59 more
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She fears his black magic will conjure up evil spirits.more
summon into action or bring into existence
Show general definition summon into action or bring into existence -- often as if by magic
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vengeancerevenge
Long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken,p.7.99 more
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Most Americans wanted vengeance after the 9-11 attacks.more
Show general definition for vengeance (as in: vengeance is mine) the act of taking revenge

(Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
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establishestablish → established:founded (started)
Salem had been established hardly forty years before.p.4.31 more
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Which word choice best maintains the tone established in the first paragraph?more
establish → established:created
Show general definition for establish (as in: establish a positive tone) create, start, or set in [a] place
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establish#2establish → established:demonstrated
DANFORTH—(his first real outburst, in which his contempt for Parris is clear): Mr. Parris, I bid you be silent! (He stands in silence, looking out the window. Now, having established that he will set the gait.) Mr. Cheever, will you go into the court and bring the children here?p.101.31 more
Show context notes By "he will set the gait," Miller is saying that Danforth will be in charge--like someone who controls the gait/pace at which a horse moves.
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The passage is primarily about establishing the relationship between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature.more
establish → establishing:showing or demonstrating
Show general definition for establish (as in: establish that there is a need) show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
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pretensedeception (lying or pretending something is true)
...and confess your pretense, for a quick confession will go easier with you.p.102.88 more
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Nobody is fooled by her pretense.more
pretending
Show general definition a false appearance or action to help one pretend
Show editor's word notes This is sometimes seen in the expression "false pretense" or "false pretenses" which is just emphasizing that behavior or actions do not reflect the true situation.
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contradictcontradict → contradicted:disagreed with
You people seem not to comprehend that a minister is the Lord's man in the parish; a minister is not to be so lightly crossed and contradicted—p.30.6
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Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more
disagree with
Show general definition disagree
in various senses, including:
  • to say something is not true -- as in "She contradicted his testimony."
  • to say something else is true when both can't be true -- as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened."
  • to be in conflict with -- as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
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criticalimportant
PROCTOR—he knows this is critical, and is striving against his disgust with Hale and with himself for even answering:p.69.7
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It is of critical importance.more
highly important
Show general definition for critical (as in: a critical problem) important, serious, or dangerous
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contemptdisrespect and dislike
...his contempt for Parris is clear:p.101.210 more
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Familiarity breeds contempt.more
lack of respect
Show general definition for contempt (as in: feels contempt towards her) lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior -- often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Show editor's word notes A famous saying, "familiarity breeds contempt" comes from Aesop's fable, "The Fox and the Lion".  (6th century BC)

When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony.

The moral is traditionally, "Familiarity breeds contempt"; though an alternative moral is "Acquaintance softens prejudices."
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contempt#2the crime of willful disrespect for the authority of a court
DANFORTH: In that case, I have no choice but to arrest you for contempt of this court, do you know that?p.97.310 more
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The judge held her in contempt.more
the crime of disrespect for the authority of a court
Show general definition for contempt (as in: held in contempt of court) the crime of willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body
Show editor's word notes Formally, this is called "contempt of court," but it is often shortened as just "contempt."
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contendcontend → contention:something claimed
Do you know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children?p.88.96 more
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Her lawyer contends that the contract isn't valid.more
contend → contends:claims or says
Show general definition for contend (as in: She contended that...) to claim that something is true
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contend#2contend → contention:argument
I have had enough contention since I came; I want no more.p.17.76 more
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She contends with headaches.more
contend → contends:struggles
Show general definition for contend (as in: She contended with it) to struggle or argue
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depositiontranscript (written copy) of answers to questions asked in preparation for a trial
GILES, pointing at his deposition: The proof is there! I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it!p.96.812 more
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The purpose of a deposition is to discover facts and obtain evidence.more
pretrial questioning of a witness
Show general definition for deposition (as in: gave her deposition) a pretrial questioning of a witness or the resulting transcript