"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 4

Learn these 20 words from Act 4 of Arthur Miller’s 1953 "The Crucible" -- a play that dramatized the late 17th century Salem witch trials and served as an allegory of McCarthyism. Here are the links to the word lists for all four acts of “The Crucible”: Act 1, Act 2, Act 3, and Act 4.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. prodigious
    great in size, force, extent, or degree
    Danforth: There is a prodigious stench in this place.
  2. stench
    a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant
    Danforth: There is a prodigious stench in this place.
  3. gaunt
    very thin, especially from disease or hunger or cold
    He is gaunt, frightened, and sweating in his greatcoat.
  4. pardon
    the act of excusing a mistake or offense
    Parris, to Danforth, instantly: Oh, good morning, sir, thank you for coming, I beg your pardon wakin’ you so early.
  5. summon
    ask to come
    But I thought to summon you, sir, that we might think on whether it be not wise, to—He dares not say it.
  6. beguile
    influence by slyness
    Danforth: Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more.
  7. mercy
    a disposition to be kind and forgiving
    Excellency, if you postpone a week and publish to the tow that you are striving for their confessions, that speak mercy on your part, not faltering.
  8. marked
    singled out for notice or especially for a dire fate
    Hale: Goody Proctor, your husband is marked to hang this morning.
  9. indictment
    an accusation of wrongdoing
    He would not answer aye or nay to his indictment; for if he denied the charge they'd hang him surely.
  10. testify
    give a solemn statement in a court of law
    Mr. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw this woman with the Devil.
  11. rejoice
    feel happiness
    Why, you should rejoice to say it if your soul is truly purged of any love for Hell!
  12. purge
    make pure or free from sin or guilt
    Why, you should rejoice to say it if your soul is truly purged of any love for Hell!
  13. penitence
    remorse for your past conduct
    Is there no good penitence but it be public?
  14. banner
    long strip of cloth or paper for decoration or advertising
    Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.
  15. vanity
    feelings of excessive pride
    It is pride, it is vanity.
  16. profit
    derive a benefit from
    What profit him to bleed?
  17. declare
    state emphatically and authoritatively
    Shall the worms declare his truth?
Created on Tue Oct 30 12:30:04 EDT 2012 (updated Mon Nov 04 09:55:54 EST 2013)

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