Great Gatsby Vocab List 1

Levity

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

Plagiaristic

adjective - a way that is using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting the original author.

Epigram

noun - any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.

Irrecoverable

adjective - unable to be remedied or rectified; irretrievable.

Supercilious

adjective - haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression.

Effeminate

adjective - characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence; feminine

Fractiousness

noun – quality of being refractory or unruly

Incredulously

adverb - disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptically

Unobtrusively

adverb - inconspicuously, unassertively, or reticently

Infinitesimal

adjective - indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute

Complacency

noun - a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.

Extemporizing

verb - to sing, or play on an instrument, composing the music as one proceeds; improvise.

Rotogravure

noun - a photomechanical process by which pictures, typeset matter, etc., are printed from an intaglio copper cylinder

Peremptorily

adverb - leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal; imperatively

Libel

noun - a defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.

Intimation

noun - a hint; suggestion

Impenetrable

adjective - not penetrable; that cannot be penetrated, pierced, entered, etc.

Contiguous

adjective - in contact; in close proximity; near

Sumptuous

adjective - luxuriously fine or large; lavish; splendid

Jovially

adverb - hearty, joyously humorous or a spirit of good-fellowship

Rakish

adjective - smart; jaunty; dashing

Immoderately

adverb - exceeding just or reasonable limits; excessively; extremely

Languid

lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow

Hauteur

noun - haughty manner or spirit; arrogance; snobbery

Strident

adjective - having a shrill, irritating quality or character

Toiled

verb - to engage in hard and continuous work; labor arduously

Harlequin

noun - a comic character in commedia dell'arte and the harlequinade, usually masked, dressed in multicolored, diamond-patterned tights, and carrying a wooden sword or magic wand; a buffoon

Innuendo

noun - an indirect intimation about a person or thing, especially of a disparaging or a derogatory nature

Prodigality

noun - an instance of wasteful extravagance in spending

Erroneous

adjective - containing error; mistaken; incorrect; wrong

Credulity

noun - willingness to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullibility

Spectroscopic

adjective - displaying a continuous range or entire extent

Vacuous

without contents; empty; lacking intelligence

Corpulent

adjective - large or bulky of body; portly; stout; fat

Convival

adjective - friendly; agreeable