witchcraft
conjure
to make something appear by magic, or as if by magic
theocracy
government in which religious authorities rule the state as God’s representatives
arbitrate
to make a judgement in a dispute outside of a legal court
ameliorate
to make something bad or unsatisfactory better; to improve
deference
humble submission and respect
traffic with spirits
to conjure up through spells or communicate with demons, ghosts, etc.
pious
showing reverence for dirty and devotion to divine worship
callious
feeling or showing no sympathy for others; insensitive or cruel
malign
evil in nature or effect; malevolent
predilection
preference or special liking of something
blasphemy
speaking or acting in a way that shows disrespect for God or sacred things
covenanted Christian
Puritan who was formally accepted as a member of a congregation. The Puritans considered covenanted Christians more holy than those who were merely baptized.
restitution
restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner
the Devil’s Mark
scar or blemish said to be found on a person who has made a pact with the Devil
Propitiation
Appeasement
familiar spirit
evil spirit or demon that serves a witch. They were believed to take the shape of small animals such as cats, dogs, birds, toads, or mice.
break charity
Christians should be united by bonds of love or charity, so to treat someone in an unloving way was to break charity.
witch-hunt
an intensive effort to expose disloyalty, usually based on little or no evidence
Devil’s book
said to be a large book containing the signatures of those who have made a pact with Satan
Pretense
The act of pretending
hysteria/mass hysteria
Through the power of suggestion, many people came to believe witches overran the town. Also called “the madness.”
Quakers
members of the Society of Friends, founded by George Fox in 1647. Quakers believe an “Inward Light” can lead all to a personal experience of God.
McCarthyism
making accusations based on little or no evidence, like the charges Senator Joseph McCarthy made against suspected Communists in the 1950s
Remorselessly
Mercilessly; having no pity or compassion
Anonymity
Secrecy; having an unknown or unacknowledged name