Act I - Terms

It stood, dark and threatening, over their shoulders night and day, for out of it Indian tribes marauded from time to time and Reverend Parris had parishioners who had lost relatives to these heathen.

• a person who does not acknowledge your god

• characterized by a state of violent mental agitation

• the territory in an administrative district of a nation

• a fervent and even militant proponent of something

Mary Warren, with hysterical fright: What’s got her?

• characterized by a state of violent mental agitation

• a strong liking

• the act of giving a false appearance

• summon into action or bring into existence

Salem had been established hardly forty years before. To the European world the whole province was a a barbaric frontier inhabited by a sect of fanatics who, nevertheless were shipping out products of slowly increasing quantity and value.

• the territory in an administrative district of a nation

• put up with something or somebody unpleasant

• any system of principles or beliefs

• a clique that seeks power usually through intrigue

He believed he was being persecuted wherever he went, despite his best efforts to win people and God to his side.

• cause to suffer

• cause physical pain or suffering in

• make apparent by one's mood or behavior

• a false accusation of an offense

Salem had been established hardly forty years before. To the European world the whole province was a barbaric frontier inhabited by a sect of fanatics who, nevertheless were shipping out products of slowly increasing quantity and value.

• live in; be a resident of

• make apparent by one's mood or behavior

• serious and gloomy in character

• a fervent and even militant proponent of something

Their creed forbade anything resembling a theater or “vain enjoyment.”

• any system of principles or beliefs

• a strong liking

• hold spellbound

• a fervent and even militant proponent of something

Which is not to say that nothing broke into this strict and somber way of life.

• serious and gloomy in character

• cause physical pain or suffering in

• put up with something or somebody unpleasant

• make apparent by one's mood or behavior

That there were some jokers, however, is indicated by the practice of appointing a two-man patrol whose duty was to “walk forth in the time of God’s worship to take notice of such as either lye about the meeting house, without attending to the word and ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof, and to take the names of such persons and to present them to the magistrates, whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against.”

• give evidence of

• avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing

• an unshakable belief in something without need for proof

• a person who does not acknowledge your god

That there were some jokers, however, is indicated by the practice of appointing a two-man patrol whose duty was to “walk forth in the time of God’s worship to take notice of such as either lye about the meeting house, without attending to the word and ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof, and to take the names of such persons and to present them to the magistrates, whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against.”

• an authoritative rule

• an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence

• carefully thought out in advance

• use of a position of trust for dishonest gain

This predilection for minding other people’s business was time-honored among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the suspicions which were to feed the coming madness.

• a strong liking

• any system of principles or beliefs

• a clique that seeks power usually through intrigue

• summon into action or bring into existence