Vocabulary Definitions

• Vocabulary and character definitions from study text

Vocabulary

• Forbade: The teacher forbade students from using their phones during class.
• Snivel (verb): To cry or whine with sniffling. The child began to snivel when he didn’t get the toy he wanted.
• Abrogation (noun): The act of repealing or abolishing a law or agreement. The abrogation of the outdated policy led to more workplace equality.
• Propitiation (noun): The action of appeasing a god, spirit, or person. The villagers offered sacrifices as a propitiation to the gods.
• Licentious (adjective): Morally unrestrained, especially in sexual matters, His licentious behavior at the party made many people uncomfortable.
• Trepidation (noun): A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen. She approached the haunted house with great trepidation.
• Ingratiating (adjective): Intended to gain approval or favor; sycophantic. His ingratiating smile made it clear he was trying to impress the boss.
• Calumny (noun): A false and malicious statement intended to harm someone’s reputation. The politician's career was nearly destroyed by a vicious calumny.
• Ameliorate (verb): To make something better or improve a bad situation. The new policies were meant to ameliorate the living conditions of workers.
• Lechery (noun): Excessive or offensive sexual desire; lustfulness. His lechery made him the subject of many workplace complaints.
• Affidavit (noun): A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, used as evidence in court. She submitted an affidavit to support her claim in the lawsuit.
• Effrontery (noun): Shameless boldness; insolence. His effrontery in talking back to the judge shocked the courtroom.
• Qualm (noun): An uneasy feeling of doubt or worry. She had a qualm about signing the contract without reading it thoroughly.
• Ipso facto (adverb): By that very fact or act; automatically. If you don’t pay your membership fees, you are ipso facto no longer a member.
• Unperturbed (adjective): Not worried, upset, or disturbed. Despite the chaos around him, he remained unperturbed.
• Conciliatory (adjective): Intended to placate or pacify. His conciliatory tone helped to calm the heated argument.
• Belie (verb): To give a false impression of; to contradict. His cheerful smile belied the sadness he felt inside.
• Cleave (verb): Can mean to split or sever something, or to adhere closely to something. He used an axe to cleave the log in two. She cleaved to her beliefs despite opposition.
• Tantalize (verb): To tease or torment with something desirable but out of reach. The aroma of freshly baked cookies tantalized him as he walked past the bakery.
• Sibilant (adjective): Making or characterized by a hissing sound. The snake let out a sibilant hiss before slithering away.
• Penitence (noun): The feeling of sorrow and regret for having done wrong. He showed true penitence for his actions by apologizing sincerely.
• Rescind (verb): To revoke, cancel, or repeal a law, order, or agreement. The company decided to rescind the job offer after discovering false information on the resume.

Rev. Parris

• Paranoid and self-serving minister in Salem
• More concerned about his reputation than the truth
• Helps fuel the witch trials to protect himself

Tituba

• Parris’s slave from Barbados
• First accused of witchcraft
• Falsely confesses to save herself, sparking hysteria

Abigail Williams

• Parris’s manipulative niece and main antagonist
• Starts the witch trials by falsely accusing others
• Aims to cover up her own wrongdoing
• Wants to get rid of Elizabeth Proctor to be with John Proctor

Susanna Walcott

• Friend of Abigail
• One of the girls joining in the accusations of witchcraft

Thomas Putnam

• Wealthy and greedy man
• Uses the trials to accuse people and seize their land

Mercy Lewis

• Cruel and vindictive girl
• Follows Abigail and participates in the accusations

Mary Warren

• Timid servant of the Proctors who gets caught up in the hysteria
• Initially tries to tell the truth
• Pressured into lying again by Abigail and the other girls

John Proctor

• Respected farmer who had an affair with Abigail
• Tries to expose the lies behind the trials
• Accused himself and chooses death over falsely confessing

Rebecca Nurse

• Kind and pious elderly woman falsely accused of witchcraft
• Refuses to confess and is executed

Giles Corey

• Strong-willed old man who challenges the court
• Pressed to death with stones for refusing to enter a plea
• Famously said, "More weight."

Rev. John Hale

• Minister and supposed witchcraft expert
• Initially supports the trials
• Later realizes the truth and tries to stop the executions

Elizabeth Proctor

• John Proctor’s wife
• Accused by Abigail but spared execution because she is pregnant
• Represents honesty and virtue

Francis Nurse

• Rebecca Nurse’s husband
• Tries to defend his wife and others accused of witchcraft but is ignored by the court

Ezekiel Cheever

• Court clerk who arrests the accused
• Later has doubts about the trials

Marshal Herrick

• Law enforcement officer who carries out arrests and oversees the prisoners

Judge Hathorne

• Strict, unforgiving judge
• Believes in the trials and refuses to question the accusations

Deputy Governor Danforth

• Main judge presiding over the trials
• Refuses to stop the executions to maintain his authority
• Even when he begins to suspect the accusations are false

Sarah Good

• Poor, homeless woman and one of the first accused of witchcraft
• Falsely confesses to avoid execution