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A mirror for witches
A mirror for witches

Chapter II

Cover illustration for A mirror for witches
Context Illustration Reading 1/57 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.
A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.
In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.
For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.
Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A mirror for witches

Chapter II

Reading 1/57 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.
Line 2
A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.
Line 3
In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.
Line 4
For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.
Line 5
Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “_There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.”

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading “In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.”

Exact adjective US /ɪɡˈzækt/

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading “Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.”

Muttered verb US /ˈmʌtərd/

spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear

From this reading “For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.”

All words in this reading · 94

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1665

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

apples

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

bad

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

bedevilment

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

Boston

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

church

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

conduct

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

confusion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

cousin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

crone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

decent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

doll

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

elderly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

estimable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

evil

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

fall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

fallen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

Germain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

godly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

hag

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

hanged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

house

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

humour

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

indentured

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

ladder

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

loft

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

made

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

making

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

male

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

malicious

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

many

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

Meeting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

moment

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

Mr

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

mutteredverbUS /ˈmʌtərd/

spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

nose

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

observing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

old

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

Peterham

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

purpose

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

put

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

refused

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

returning

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

rotten

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

Saul

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

servant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

sign

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

small

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

smell

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

straw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

swine

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

taken

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

There

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

throws

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

thumb

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For this the old crone muttered at him, making an evil sign by her thumb and her nose, and took herself off in great bad humour.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

wench

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

wife

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Peterham, on returning to his house, found that his wife—an estimable church woman—had fallen from a ladder she had put to the loft for the purpose of observing the conduct of her servant wench and the indentured male servant, the exact moment the crone had made her evil sign.

WITCHCRAFT

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _There is a small smell of_ WITCHCRAFT _in and about Boston.

woman

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A straw doll taken to Meeting throws many into confusion._ In the fall of 1665 two were hanged in Boston for the bedevilment of an elderly woman, her cousin Germain, and her swine.

year

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In that same year Mr. Saul Peterham, a godly, decent man, refused some small rotten apples to an ancient and malicious hag.