The Great Gatsby Vocabulary (Chapters 7-9)

dilatory

adj: tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy

caravansary

noun: any large inn or hotel

harrowing

adj: extremely disturbing or distressing; grievous

commutation

noun: the act of commuting, as to and from a place of work

affront

noun: a personally offensive act or word; deliberate act or display of disrespect; intentional slight; insult

croon

verb: to sing or hum in a soft, soothing voice

genial

adj/adv: warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial

refuse

noun (not the verb): something that is discarded as worthless or useless; rubbish; trash; garbage

boisterous(ly)

adj: rough and noisy; noisily jolly or rowdy; unrestrained

alight(ed)

verb: to encounter or notice something accidentally

inviolate

adj: free from violation, injury, desecration, or outrage

precipitate(ly)

adj: proceeding rapidly or with great haste

tumultuous

adj: raising a great clatter and commotion; disorderly or noisy

intermittent

adj: Stopping and starting at intervals

portentous

adj: of momentous or ominous significance; ominously prophetic

vicarious(ly)

adj: Felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another

rancor

noun: bitter resentment or ill will; hatred; malice

leave in the lurch

noun: to leave in an uncomfortable or desperate situation; desert in time of trouble

magnanimous

adj: generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or the need to seek retribution

presumptuous

adj: Going beyond what is right or proper; excessively forward; impolitely bold

inquest

noun: an inquiry into the cause of an unexpected death

expostulation

noun: the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest

laden

adj: burdened; loaded down

truculent

adj: fierce; cruel; savagely brutal

luminosity

noun: the quality or condition of radiating or reflecting light

rift

noun: an opening made by splitting, cleaving, etc.

indiscernible

adj: impossible to see or understand

redolent

adj:1) with a strong, pleasant, or particular scent; 2) suggestive or reminiscent of something

ravenous/ravenously

adj./adverb: extremely hungry or greedy for something

unscrupulous/unscrupulously

adj/adv: not restrained by moral or ethical principles; dishonest; corrupt

stratum

noun: a social class or level of society consisting of people or similar cultural, economic, or educational status

whim

noun: a sudden thought, idea, or desire—especially one based on impulse rather than reason

sharper

noun: a skillful cheat, especially in gambling

day coach

noun: an ordinary railroad passenger car, as distinguished from a sleeping car, parlor car, or other deluxe accommodations

vestibule

noun: 1) an enclosed area at the entrance of a railroad car; 2) a small room/hall between an outer door and the main part of the building

benediction

noun: 1) an expression or approval of good wishes; 2) a prayer asking for God’s blessing, usually at the end of a service

corroborate

verb: to give or represent evidence of the truth of something; to confirm or substantiate

ecstatic

adj: 1) showing or feeling great pleasure or delight; 2) completely dominated by an intense emotion

cahoots

informal plural noun: questionable collaboration; secret partnership

divot

noun: a small lump of grass and earth accidentally dug out of the ground while playing a sport, especially golf

tactful

adj: having or showing concern upsetting or offending people; polite; sensitive to the feelings of others

garrulous

adj: 1) excessively or pointlessly talkative; 2) using too many words

lapped

verb lap:1) to drink a liquid by scooping into the mouth with the tongue; 2) to flow or splash gently against the surface

forlorn

adj: 1) lonely and miserable as though deserted or abandoned; 2) expressing hopelessness and despair

pneumatic

adj: 1) operated by compressed air in a tool or machine; 2) filled with compressed air; 3) concerning or involving the soul or spirit

fortuitous/fortuitously

adj/adv: 1) happening by accident or chance; 2) lucky or fortunate

amorphous

adj: without any clear shape, form, or structure; 2) not obviously belonging to any particular category or type

corrugate

verb: to become folded into parallel ridges and channels, or to fold something—like cardboard—into parallel ridges and channels

adventitious

adj: Occurring accidentally or spontaneously

racy

adj: slightly improper or indelicate

pasquinade

noun: a satire or lampoon, esp. one posted in a public place

deranged

adj: driven insane

surmise

Verb: to think or infer without certain or strong evidence; conjecture; guess

superfluous

adj: being more than is sufficient or required; excessive

addenda

noun: things to be added; an addition

ulster

noun: A loose, long overcoat made of heavy, rugged fabric and often belted

sparse

adj: not thick or dense; thin

ejaculate

verb: to utter suddenly and briefly; exclaim

bulbous

adj: bulb-shaped; bulging

elocution

noun: a person's manner of speaking or reading aloud in public

sullen

adj: showing irritation or ill humor by a gloomy silence or reserve

lustreless

adj: lacking in brightness, sparkle, or sheen

pander

verb: To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or to exploit their weaknesses

aesthetic

adj: Of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste

commensurate

adj: corresponding in amount, magnitude, or degree; proportionate; adequate

orgastic

adj: intense or unrestrained excitement

elude

verb: to avoid or escape by speed, cleverness, trickery, etc.; to evade