The Great Gatsby vocab

privy

sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private)

confidence

a secret or private matter told to someone under a condition of trust

levity

lightness of mind, character, or behavior; lack of appropriate seriousness or earnestness

mar

to damage or spoil to a certain extent; render less perfect, attractive, useful, etc.

decencies

things required for a reasonable standard of life

elation

great happiness and euphoria 

Teutonic

German

supercilious

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

effeminate

having or showing qualities that are considered more suited to women than to men; not manly

fractiousness

the tendency to be troublesome and quarrelsome

conscientious

(of a person) wishing to do what is right

imperceptible

impossible to perceive

imperative

crucial

unobtrusive

not noticeable or conspicuous

infinitesimal

indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute

extemporize

to speak without preparation; to improvise

devoid

not possessing (something); lacking

coherence

overall sense or understandability

sedative

tending to calm or soothe

rotogravure

a photomechanical printing process

peremptory

leaving no opportunity for refusal or denial (assertive and demanding)

obscure

dark, dim; unclear and not readily seen

oculist

eye doctor

contiguous

touching along a boundary or at a point

sumptuous

extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or extravagant

sensuously

in a way that is

pleasing to the senses

vitality

the quality of being lively, strong, and full of energy

interpose

to place between

haughtily

countenance

appearance;

facial expression

proprietary

owning property

hauteur

arrogance

disdain

the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of respect

strident

loud and harsh

repelled

disgusted

inexhaustible unable to be used up (not exhaustible)

deft

skillful and quick in movement

permeate

spread through

prodigality

lavish abundance

erroneous

characterized by

error

contemptuous

expressing deep hatred or disapproval

impetuously

suddenly, impulsively

hilarity

boisterous cheerfulness or laughter

vacuous

stupidly empty

provocation

something that provokes, arouses, or stimulates

provincial

a person lacking urban polish or refinement

convivial

cheerful and friendly

jauntiness

liveliness and self-confidence

dissension

strong disagreement

discordant

disagreeing, quarrelsome

din

a loud continued noise

retracted

taken back or withdrawn

subterfuge

deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal

bootlegger

someone who sold alcohol illegally during Prohibition

punctilious

showing great attention to detail or correct behavior

disconcerting

causing one to feel unsettled and/or confused

evasions

indirect answers to

avoid a question

incredulous

unwilling or unable to believe something; skeptical

modish

fashionable or popular in a modern way

haughty

arrogantly superior

somnambulatory

in a way similar to sleep-walking

denizen

a person who frequently inhabits a place

disembodied

separated or existing without a body

wan

faint, dim

tactlessly

lacking tact; blunt

gaudily

extravagantly and tastelessly; in a way that is excessively showy

harrowed

distressed

abortive

unsuccessful; imperfectly developed; tending to cut short

conscientiously

in a careful, thorough way

reproach

an expression of disapproval or disappointment

Kant

German philosopher

vestige

a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something

confounding

perplexing and amazing, especially due to a sudden disturbance or surprise

exultation

a feeling of triumphant joy

patron

a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian, protector, or supporter

recurrent

returning or happening time after time

postern

back or side entrance

remotely

from a distance, separated by distance, time, or relation; distantly

remotely

from a distance, separated by distance, time, or relation; distantly