The Great Gatsby Vocab

privy

sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private)

levity

humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect

parcelled

(parcel something out) divide into portions and then distribute

excursions

a short journey or trip, especially one engaged in as a leisure activity

abortive

failing to produce the intended result

commuting

travel some distance between one's home and place of work on a regular basis

epigram

a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way

contour

an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something

superficial

not thorough, deep, or complete

savours

(savor of) have a suggestion or trace of (something, especially something bad)

anticlimax

a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events

reproach

the expression of disapproval or disappointment

turbulence

violent or unsteady movement of air or water, or of some other fluid

supercilious

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

effeminate

(of a man) having or showing characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; unmanly

fractiousness

(typically of children) irritable and quarrelsome

wistfulness

having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing

ajar

(of a door or other opening) slightly open

divan

a long low sofa without a back or arms, typically placed against a wall

imperceptibly

in a way that is so slight, gradual, or subtle as not to be perceived

incredulously

in a manner indicating disbelief

accentuated

make more noticeable or prominent

wan

(of a person's complexion or appearance) pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion, (of a smile) weak; strained

unobtrusively

in a way that is not conspicuous or attracting attention

bantering

characterized by good-humored teasing

pessimist

a person who believes that this world is as bad as it could be or that evil will ultimately prevail over good

infinitesimal

extremely small

extemporizing

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

devoid

entirely lacking or free from

tangible

perceptible by touch, clear and definite; real

settee

a long upholstered seat for more than one person, typically with a back and arms

turbulent

characterized by conflict, disorder, or confusion; not controlled or calm

uninflicted

not varying in intonation or pitch

contemptuous

showing contempt; scornful

rotogravure

a sheet or magazine printed by rotogravure, especially the color magazine of a Sunday newspaper

Peremptorily/peremptory

(especially of a person's manner or actions) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way

libel

a false and typically malicious statement about a person or a thing or circumstance that brings undeserved discredit on a person by misrepresentation

banns

a notice read out on three successive Sundays in a parish church, announcing an intended marriage and giving the opportunity for objections

transcendent

beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience

oculist

an ophthalmologist or optometrist

sauntered

(past tense) walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort

sumptuous

splendid and expensive-looking

anaemic

lacking in color, spirit, or vitality

sensuously

attractive or gratifying physically, especially sexually

muslin

lightweight cotton cloth in a plain weave

regal

of, resembling, or fit for a monarch, especially in being magnificent or dignified

countenance

a person's face or facial expression

ectoplasm

a supernatural viscous substance that is supposed to exude from the body of a medium during a spiritualistic trance and form the material for the manifestation of spirits

chiffon

a light, sheer fabric typically made of silk or nylon

hauteur

haughtiness of manner; disdainful pride

appendicitis

a serious medical condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and painful

ecstasy

an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement

kyke

a contemptuous term for a Jewish person

strident

loud and harsh; grating

lather

(a lather) informal a state of agitation or nervous excitement

deft

neatly skillful and quick in one's movements

cataracts

large waterfalls

omnibus

dated a bus: a horse-drawn omnibus

harlequin

in varied colors; variegated

permeate

spread throughout (something); pervade

innuendo

an allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one

prodigality

spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant

cordial

warm and friendly

credulity

a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true

homogeneity

the quality or state of being all the same or all of the same kind

staid

sedate, respectable, and unadventurous

spectroscopic

having to do with the branch of science concerned with the investigation and measurement of spectra produced when matter interacts with or emits electromagnetic radiation

impetuously

acting or done quickly and without thought or care

bonafide

genuine; real

belasco

a playwright, director, and theater producer who was known for innovative special effects and lighting on stage

contralto

the lowest female singing voice

convivial

(of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial

swooning

be emotionally affected by someone or something that one admires; become ecstatic

obstetrical

relating to childbirth and the processes associated with it

rivulets

a very small stream(s)

vinous

resembling, associated with, or fond of wine

indignant

feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

jaunty

having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner

caterwauling

make a shrill howling or wailing noise like that of a cat

crescendo

the loudest point reached in a gradually increasing sound

poignant

evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret

haughty

arrogantly superior and disdainful

subterfuges

deceit used in order to achieve one's goal

disconcerting

causing one to feel unsettled

threadbare

(of an argument, excuse, idea, etc.) used so often that it is no longer effective

elicited

evoke or draw out (a response, answer, or fact) from someone in reaction to one's own actions or questions

non-olfactory

(not) relating to the sense of smell, (When Nick describes money in this way, presumably he means that the money doesn’t “stink” and isn’t “dirty,” instead, it was made honestly through hard work and not illegally

somber

dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy

somnambulatory

doing without thinking as if sleepwalking or in a trance

abstraction

a state of preoccupation

denizen

formal or humorous an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place

beaux

(plural) a boyfriend or male admirer

disembodied

separated from or existing without the body

cornices

an ornamental molding around the wall of a room just below the ceiling

elongating

make (something) longer, especially unusually so in relation to its width

rout

Law, dated an assembly of people who have made a move toward committing an illegal act which would constitute an offense of riot

receptacles

an object or space used to contain something

defunct

no longer existing or functioning

abortive

failing to produce the intended result

reproach

address (someone) in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment