What really happened during the Salem Witch Trials - Brian A. Pavlac

Important Vocabulary Words From The Video

fiendish

The adjective fiendish means cruel, wicked, and evil. It often describes things that are not supposed to be alive, like monsters.

  • The creature was so fiendish that even the bravest of men was afraid to approach it.
  • The fiendish witch was able to cast spells that made people sick.
apparitions

Apparitions are people or things that are not really there. They can be ghosts, demons, or other supernatural beings.

  • There were reports of apparitions in the haunted house.
  • The teacher saw apparitions of her students in the classroom.
prickling

When something makes you feel very uncomfortable or uneasy, it's called a prickling sensation. You might feel a prickling sensation when you're cold or when you're in a dangerous situation.

  • The prickling feeling was a sign that the danger was approaching.
  • The prickling sensation was a sign that the safety net was about to drop.
tormenting

To torment is to cause someone pain or suffering. You can torment someone by doing something to them that is unpleasant or painful.

  • The prisoners were tormented by the guards every day.
  • The dog was tormenting the cat by chasing it around.
accusers

accusers is a word that is used to describe people who are always criticizing others. They are always looking for someone to blame, and they are never happy with anything that anyone does.

  • The accusers in the neighborhood always find something to complain about.
  • The accusers in the school always find someone to blame.
scapegoating

scapegoating is the act of blaming someone or something else for something that is wrong or bad. When the school administration scapegoated the students for the cheating, they were actually blaming the wrong people.

  • The students were scapegoated for the cheating, even though they didn't do it.
  • The company is scapegoating the workers for the poor performance, even though it's really the CEO's fault.
groupthink

Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of people becomes too afraid to disagree with each other. They start to think alike and act in a way that is harmful to themselves.

  • Groupthink can be a problem when a group of people is making decisions.
  • Groupthink can be a problem when a group of people is working on a project.