Vocabulary in Young Goodman Brown

Based on context, the expression “widows’ weeds” likely refers to the mourning clothes worn after the death of a woman’s husband. The devil continues to emphasize how many people have performed sinful deeds when not in the public eye.

The noun “convert” is generally used as a religious term for someone who accepts a new faith. Here, the meaning is twisted as the converts are not accepting Christianity; they are turning to the devil.

Since Hawthorne has revealed the forest to be a place full of sin, the presence of a “congregation” in the “heart of the solitary woods” reveals the pervasiveness of evil. A “congregation” typically refers to a group of people who gather for a church service, giving this word religious and moral connotations. While Puritan congregations try to cleave away their evil tendencies by appearing good to one another, this congregation in the dark woods further supports the idea that evil is an indelible part of human nature that will always find its place.

The verb “to spur up” means to increase speed. It comes from the practice of using spurs to prick a horse in order to make it go faster.

The noun “powwow” is rooted in North American Indian culture and tradition. It can refer to a religious or magical ceremony. It also can refer to a council or conference of Native Americans. Regardless of the nature of the meeting, the Puritans viewed powwows as a kind of non-Christian, or pagan, behavior.

In a religious context, the noun “ordination” refers to the ceremony in which an individual takes vows to become a preacher or priest.

The noun “twinkling” means the time required for a wink—which is instantaneous for the purposes of this expression. Another similar expression is to say “be there in a flash.” The idea that witches could travel in supernatural ways was a popular superstition among the Puritans.

The list of items here are all associated with sorcery and witchcraft: “smallage” and “cinquefoil” are herbs, and wolf's bane is toxic if consumed, making it a kind of poison.

The title of “deacon” refers to a minister or officer in the Christian church. Typically deacons perform administrative functions at the church and distribute the elements at communion during the Sabbath.

The name “Goody” is a shortened form for Goodwife and is used as a title before a woman’s last name. In the case of Goodman, it is the masculine form of Goodwife. These titles are archaic forms now often replaced with “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” or “Ms.”

A “knot” is usually a combining of parts of one or more ropes, strips of cloth, or anything flexible enough to bind. The compound adjective “pitch-pine” refers to the “pitch,” or sap, from a “pine,” a type of evergreen tree. A pitch-pine knot then is likely highly flammable, and such a thing could be thrown into a village and cause a fire—exactly like what the devil says Goodman Brown’s father did.

The noun “covenant” refers to an agreement, in particular one that is solemn and binding. The word has been historically associated with making a covenant with God to be a Christian. Because Goodman Brown had previously vowed to journey into the woods to meet the devil, his covenant is an inversion of his Puritan faith.

An "ecclesiastical council" refers to a meeting in which church administration or religious matters are discussed.