Untitled Flashcards Set

Allen

American Literature 

The Great Gatsby Vocabulary (compiled by students)

(We’re Learning Words! Yeah!)

1. Feign: to give a false appearance of 

• Example: "She tried to feign ignorance when asked about the missing necklace, but her nervousness gave her away."

2. Fractious: irritable, unruly, tending to be troublesome 

• Example: "The fractious children refused to settle down for dinner, making the evening stressful for everyone."

3. Incredulous: skeptical or disbelieving 

• Example: "He gave an incredulous look when he saw the unexpected “For Sale” sign on his lawn. 

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

• Example: "The speaker's levity during the funeral was inappropriate, leaving many attendees uncomfortable."

5. Supercilious: behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.

• Example: The actor’s supercilious remarks about other performers irritated the press and alienated many fans.

6. Conscientious: meticulous, careful 

• Example: "He was a conscientious worker, always ensuring that every detail was perfect before submitting his reports."

7. Infinitesimal: extraordinarily small.

• Example: "The chances of winning the lottery are infinitesimal, but some still hope for the big break."

8. Extemporize: to improvise 

• Example: "When the teleprompter failed, the politician had to extemporize a speech on the spot."

9. Contemptuous: feeling or expressing deep hatred or disapproval

• Example: "Her contemptuous remarks about his work left him feeling humiliated and angry."

10. Privy: Sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private).

• Example: “...I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men” (Fitzgerald 1).

11. Marred: to ruin or diminish the perfection or wholeness of 

• Example: "The beautiful painting was marred by a large tear in the canvas, which could not be repaired."

12.  Libel: a false and typically malicious statement about a person

• Example: After the newspaper printed a libelous article about his personal life, he decided to take legal action.

13. Revelation: a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way.

• Example: The detective’s revelation about the true identity of the culprit left the courtroom in stunned silence.

14. Languid: slow, relaxed 

• Example: "After a long day at work, she walked home languidly, too tired to hurry."

15. Deft: skillful and quick in one’s movements 

• Example: "The deft pianist played the complex piece without a single mistake, impressing the entire audience."

16. Regal: of, resembling, or fit for a monarch, especially in being magnificent or dignified

• Example: The ballroom was decorated in regal colors of gold and purple, fitting for a royal wedding.

17. Saunter: walk in a slow or relaxed manner, without hurry or effort 

• Example: "They decided to saunter through the park on a sunny afternoon, enjoying the warm weather."

18. Perceptible: able to be seen or noticed

• Example: "There was a perceptible change in the atmosphere once the teacher walked into the classroom.” 

19. Incessant: continuing without pause or interruption 

• Example: "The incessant noise from the construction site made it impossible for anyone to concentrate."

20. Shiftless: characterized by laziness and a lack of ambition

• Example: "His shiftless attitude toward work led to his eventual dismissal from the job."

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