The Crucible - ACT IV

agape

In a state of wonder or amazement, as with the mouth wide open; astonished. "She is transfixed - with all the girls, she is whimpering open-mouthed, agape at the ceiling" (114).

disputation

The act of arguing or debating; verbal controversy; discussion or debate. "Goody Proctor, you are not summoned here for disputation. Be there no wifely tenderness within you?" (132).

beguile

To deceive by guile or charm; mislead; delude. "Danforth: Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more" (129).

reprieve

To delay the impending punishment or sentence of (a condemned person). "Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now" (129).

conciliatory

To overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease; to make compatible; reconcile. "Danforth, conciliatory: You misunderstand, sir; I cannot par-don these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just" (129).

retaliation

To return like for like, especially revenge; counterattack, retribution. "If retaliation is your fear, know this - I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statutes" (129).

floundering

To struggle clumsily or helplessly. "Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now" (129).

cleave

To to remain faithful to; adhere to. "Beware, Goody Proctor- cleave to no faith when faith brings blood. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice" (132).

tantalized

To torment with, or as if with, the sight of something desired but out of reach; provoke; frustrate. "He moves as an animal, and a fury is riding in him, a tantalized search" (138).

prevail

To use persuasion or inducement successfully; coax. "I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess" (132).

adamant

Utterly unyielding in attitude or opinion in spite of all appeals, urgings, etc. stubborn; uncompromising; rigid. "Danforth, to Herrick: Is he yet adamant? Has he struck at you again?" (130).

gibbet

A device used for hanging a person until dead; a gallows. "Let Rebecca stand upon the gibbet and send up some righteous prayer, and I fear she'll wake a vengeance on you" (127).

stench

A foul or objectionable quality; "There is a prodigious stench in this place" (124).

embodiment

A person, being, or thing providing a body or concrete form to a spirit, principle, abstraction, etc; incarnation. "He reaches out his hand as though toward an embodiment not quite real, and as he touches her, a strange soft sound, half laughter, half amazement, comes from his throat" (134).

dispatch

A report, sent to one from another location. "Cheever opens the dispatch case, searches" (128).

faction

A small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics. "There be a faction here, feeding on that news, and I tell you true, sir, I fear there will be riot here" (127).

sibilance

A speech sound having a hissing effect; "sss". "A sound- the sibilance of dragging feet on stone... Herrick enters with John Proctor. His wrists are chained" (133).

strongbox

A stoutly made box or safe in which valuables are deposited; safe. "My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my - my strongbox is broke into" (126).

presently

At once; immediately. "Presently, Danforth lifts his eyes, stands up, takes out a kerchief and blows his nose" (102).

righteous

Characterized by uprightness or morality; justifiable; virtuous. "Let Rebecca stand upon the gibbet and send up some righteous prayer, and I fear she'll wake a vengeance on you" (127).

gaunt

Extremely thin and bony in appearance; haggard and drawn, as from great hunger, weariness, or torture. "He is gaunt, frightened, and sweating in his greatcoat" (125).

belie

Fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict. "I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves" (131).

excommunication

Officially exclude (someone) from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church. "In solemn meeting, the congregation rescinded the excommunications - this in March 1712. But they did so upon orders of the government" (146).