The Great Gatsby Vocabulary

privy

sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private)

levity

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

privy

sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private)

levity

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

mar

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

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

imperceptible

impossible to perceive

contemptuous

feeling or expressing deep hatred or disapproval

imperative

crucial

unobtrusive

not noticeable or conspicuous

infinitesimal

indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute

extemporize

to speak without

preparation; to improvise

coherence

overall sense or understandability

peremptory

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

obscure

dark, dim; unclear, and not readily seen

oculist

eye doctor

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

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

contemptuous

expressing deep hatred or disapproval (feeling that someone/something is unworthy of respect)

impetuously

suddenly; impulsively

hilarity

boisterous cheerfulness or laughter

vacuous

stupidly empty

provincial

a person lacking urban polish or refinement

convivial

cheerful and friendly

jauntiness

liveliness and self-confidence

dissension

strong disagreement

discordant

disagreeing

din

a loud continued noise

subterfuge

deceit used in order to achieve one's goal

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

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

gaudily

extravagantly and tastelessly; in a showy manner

conscientiously

in a careful, thorough way

vestige

a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something

confounding

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

pompadour

a men's hairstyle in which the hair is combed into a high mound in front

reproach

an expression of disapproval or

Platonic

striving toward love of spiritual or ideal beauty

meretricious

superficially significant; attractive but having no value in reality

conceits

fanciful ideas

reveries

absent-minded daydreams

ramifications

consequences

turgid

excessively embellished in style or language

debauchee

a person addicted to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures

antecedents

predecessors

invariably

always

genially

in a friendly

septic

infected and offensive

unprecedented

never before known or experienced

obtrusive

noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome or intrusive way

prominent in an unwelcome or intrusive way

dilatory

tending or inclined to delay or waste time

contingency

a possible but not very likely future event or condition; an eventuality

contemptuous

feeling or expressing deep hatred or disapproval

alight

to encounter or notice something accidentally

precipitate

proceeding rapidly or with great haste

sensuous

pleasant, attractive, or appealing in a way that produces or suggests feelings of physical or sexual pleasure

portentous

of momentous or ominous significance

intermittent

occurring occasionally or at regular or irregular intervals; periodic

vicarious

felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another

rancor

malicious resentfulness or hostility; spite

tangible

capable of being perceived by the senses or precisely realized by the mind

presumptuous

too confident especially in a way that is rude; overstepping boundaries

tumult

a loud confused noise, as of a crowd; commotion

dejection

depression and sadness

indiscernible

impossible to see or clearly distinguish

unscrupulously

without morals; not honestly or fairly

grail

a thing that is being honestly pursued or sought after

cahoots

conspiring together secretly

corroborate

confirm or give support to

incorruptible

unable to be corrupted; not suitable to death/decay

garrulous

excessively talkative

forlorn

nearly hopeless

grotesque

repulsively ugly or distorted

fortuitously

happening by accident or change

amorphous

without a clearly defined shape or form

adventitious

coming from another source

circumstantial

pointing indirectly toward someone's guilt but not conclusively proving it

racy

lively, entertaining, and suggestive

surmise

a thought or idea based on little evidence

superfluous

more than what is needed; unnecessary

reverent

feeling or showing deep and solemn respect

complacent

satisfied with oneself

transitory

not permanent