gatsby vocab Chap 1-4
THE GREAT GATSBY VOCABULARY
Always keep this list near you when reading!!]
Chapter 1
feign (p. 1/5): verb – to make believe; pretend
levity (p. 1/5): noun - a manner lacking seriousness
elation (p. 2/7): noun - a feeling or state of great joy or pride; exultant gladness; high spirits
confer (p. 4/8): verb – 1. to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor; 2. to consult together
acute (p. 6/10): adj. – sharp; intense
reproach (p. 6/10): noun – an object of scorn or contempt
wistfully/wistful (p. 6/10): adv/adj – full of wishful yearning or longing, often with sadness
supercilious (p. 7/11): adj. – having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy; cocky
effeminate (p. 7/11): adj. – having traits, tastes or habits traditionally considered feminine
compulsion (p. 9/14): noun – a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act, esp. one that is irrational or contrary to one's will
extemporize: verb – compose, perform, or produce something such as music or a speech without preparation; improvise.
retort (p. 10/15): verb – to reply to, usually in a sharp or retaliatory way
incredulously/incredulous (p. 10/15): adv/adj – skeptical; disbelieving
reciprocal (p. 11/15): adj. – given or felt by each toward the other; mutual
contemptuously/contemptuous (p. 11/15): adv/adj – showing or feeling disapproval or disdain toward something a person considers mean, vile, or worthless; scornful
languidly/languid (p. 11/16): adv./adj. – lacking energy or vitality; weak
unobtrusively/unobtrusive (p. 12/16): adv./adj. – Not undesirably noticeable or obvious
fervent (p. 13/18): adj. – having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm
vigil (p. 16/20): noun - a devotional watching, or keeping awake, during the customary hours of sleep
cynical (p. 16/21): adj. – distrusting, criticizing, or mocking the motives of others; pessimistic; glass is half empty mentality
corroborate (p. 19/24): verb – to make more certain; confirm
libel (p. 19/24): noun - a false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's
Imperative: adj – of vital importance; crucial.
Sedative: adj – tending to calm, moderate, or tranquilize nervousness or excitement
Profound: adj – : 1. having intellectual depth and insight; 2. extending far below the surface
Transcendent: adj – 1. exceeding usual limits; 2. extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience (for example, “transcending the material world” means going beyond the boundaries of our physical realm)
Uninflected: adj – Monotonous, without inflection
Chapter 2
grotesque gardens (p. 23/27): adj. - fantastically ugly or absurd; bizarre
solemn (p. 24/28): adj. - formal; serious; sober; lacking humor or happiness
facet or gleam of beauty (p. 25/30): noun - aspect, feature
perceptible (p. 25/30): adj. - noticeable; recognizable
vitality (p. 25/30): noun - liveliness; energy (physical and/or mental); spirit; vigor
smoldering (p. 25/30): adj. - burning
discreet (p. 26/31): adj. - marked by caution, prudence, or modesty and wise self-restraint; subtle
defer (p. 26/31): verb - to yield respectfully in judgment or opinion to another [usually followed by “to”; ex: Because she is an accountant, I defer to my mom on questions regarding my taxes.]
muslin (p. 27/31): noun - delicately woven cotton fabric
indeterminate (p. 27/31): adj. - indefinite, uncertain; not clear
haughty (p. 28/33): adj. - proud, cocky, snooty, arrogant
incessant (p. 30/34): adj. - never-ending; ceaseless
disdain (p. 31/35): verb – to despise or scorn; noun – haughty contempt, extreme dislike; scorn
shiftless (p. 32/36): adj. - lazy, without ambition
Chapter 3
permeate (p. 40/44) verb – to fill up, seep into; to saturate
innuendo (p. 40/44) noun - an indirect hint or suggestion about a person or thing, especially of an insulting or an offensive nature
erroneous (p. 41/45) adjective - incorrect; wrong
denied so vehement/vehemently (p. 42/46) adjective/adverb - strongly passionate or emotion; often with anger
cordial remarks (p. 42/46) adjective - friendly; warm
ascertain (p. 45/50) verb - to determine; to make certain or clear
vacuous (p. 46/51) adjective – empty; lacking ideas or intelligence; stupid
florid (p. 48/53) adj. – 1) a healthy reddish color—as in cheeks; 2) elaborately ornate
echolalia (p. 49/54) noun – immediate, uncontrollable repetition of words spoken by others
jauntiness/jaunty about her movements (p. 50/55) noun/adjective - perky; confident; carefree
implore (p. 51/55) verb - to beg urgently
ineptly/inept (p. 51/55) adverb/adjective - lacking skill; awkward; clumsy
dissension (p.51/56) noun - disagreement; difference of opinion
deplorable/deplorably (p. 51/56) adjective/adverb - causing grief, regret, or disapproval
indignant wives (p. 51/56) adjective - angry; annoyed
malevolence (p. 52/57) noun - a desire to harm others; evil
subterfuge (p. 58/63) noun - a plan that hides the real purpose; a deceptive scheme
insolent smile (p. 58/63) adjective - boldly rude; disrespectful
Chapter 4
bootlegger (p. 61/65) noun - someone who sells smuggled goods illegally —in the ‘20s it was alcohol
disintegrate (p. 61/65) verb - to decay; decompose; break up
sporadic (p. 64/68) adj - periodic; random; happening at irregular intervals
punctilious (p. 64/68) adj - painstaking; meticulous; strict attention to minute details
disconcerting (p. 64/69) adj - confusing; disturbing; causing emotional disturbance
evasion (p. 65/69) noun - avoiding something unpleasant; escaping
retribution (p. 65/69) noun - something justly deserved; taking revenge or correcting a wrong
sinister (p. 65/69) adj - evil; bad; wicked
juxtaposition (p. 71/75) noun - placing two or more things side by side to emphasize the link or contrast
succulent (p. 71/75) adj – 1) juicy; 2) rich in desirable qualities