gatsby vocab Chap 1-4

feign

to make believe; pretend

levity

a manner lacking seriousness

elation

a feeling or state of great joy or pride; exultant gladness; high spirits

confer

1. to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor; 2. to consult together

acute

sharp; intense

reproach

an object of scorn or contempt

wistfully

full of wishful yearning or longing, often with sadness

supercilious

having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy; cocky

effeminate

having traits, tastes or habits traditionally considered feminine

compulsion

a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act, esp. one that is irrational or contrary to one's will

extemporize

compose, perform, or produce something such as music or a speech without preparation; improvise

retort

to reply to, usually in a sharp or retaliatory way

incredulously

skeptical; disbelieving

reciprocal

given or felt by each toward the other; mutual

contemptuously

showing or feeling disapproval or disdain toward something a person considers mean, vile, or worthless; scornful

languidly

lacking energy or vitality; weak

unobtrusively

Not undesirably noticeable or obvious

fervent

having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm

vigil

a devotional watching, or keeping awake, during the customary hours of sleep

cynical

distrusting, criticizing, or mocking the motives of others; pessimistic; glass is half empty mentality

corroborate

to make more certain; confirm

libel

a false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's reputation

Imperative

of vital importance; crucial

Sedative

tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement

Profound

having intellectual depth and insight; extending far below the surface

Transcendent

exceeding usual limits; extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience

Uninflected

Monotonous, without inflection

grotesque

fantastically ugly or absurd; bizarre

solemn

formal; serious; sober; lacking humor or happiness

facet

aspect, feature

perceptible

noticeable; recognizable

vitality

liveliness; energy (physical and/or mental); spirit; vigor

smoldering

burning

discreet

marked by caution, prudence, or modesty and wise self-restraint; subtle

defer

to yield respectfully in judgment or opinion to another

muslin

delicately woven cotton fabric

indeterminate

indefinite, uncertain; not clear

haughty

proud, cocky, snooty, arrogant

incessant

never-ending; ceaseless

disdain

to despise or scorn; haughty contempt, extreme dislike; scorn

shiftless

lazy, without ambition

permeate

to fill up, seep into; to saturate

innuendo

an indirect hint or suggestion about a person or thing, especially of an insulting or an offensive nature

erroneous

incorrect; wrong

vehement

strongly passionate or emotional; often with anger

cordial

friendly; warm

ascertain

to determine; to make certain or clear

vacuous

empty; lacking ideas or intelligence; stupid

florid

a healthy reddish color—as in cheeks; elaborately ornate

echolalia

immediate, uncontrollable repetition of words spoken by others

jauntiness

perky; confident; carefree

implore

to beg urgently

ineptly

lacking skill; awkward; clumsy

dissension

disagreement; difference of opinion

deplorable

causing grief, regret, or disapproval

indignant

angry; annoyed

malevolence

a desire to harm others; evil

subterfuge

a plan that hides the real purpose; a deceptive scheme

insolent

boldly rude; disrespectful

bootlegger

someone who sells smuggled goods illegally

disintegrate

to decay; decompose; break up

sporadic

periodic; random; happening at irregular intervals

punctilious

painstaking; meticulous; strict attention to minute details

disconcerting

confusing; disturbing; causing emotional disturbance

evasion

avoiding something unpleasant; escaping

retribution

something justly deserved; taking revenge or correcting a wrong

sinister

evil; bad; wicked

juxtaposition

placing two or more things side by side to emphasize the link or contrast

succulent

1) juicy; 2) rich in desirable qualities