The Great Gatsby Definitions

Abstracted

Removed in thought from the immediate situation, lost in ones mind

abyss

bottomless hole, a vast expanse or depth

acuity

sharpness of perception

addendum

something added, usually to a book

aesthetic

relating or pertaining to a sense of beauty or art

ambiguous

having more than one meaning; unclear, uncertain

amorphous

shapeless, having no definite shape

antecedent

preceding a cause

apathy

a lack of concer or feeling, indifferent

append

to add in a supplementary manner

banter

to speak in a witty or teasing manner

bizarre

out of the ordinary, odd

boisterous

rowdy,rough, and stormy

buoyant

capable of floating; cheerful

clamor

loud noise, or shouting

combustible

capable of burning

commensurate

equal

complacency

the state of being self-satisfied

confound

to cause one to become confused

contempt

scorn, extreme dislike or disdain

convivial

fond of good company and of festivity

corpulence

state of being very fat

corroboration

confirmation

corrugated

bent into folds

credulous

believing on slight evidence, gullible

crescendo

a gradual increase in volume and intensity

cynical

given to faultfinding, sneering, and sarcasm: exhibiting mocking disbelief

debauchery

moral corruption

deft

skillful, adroit

defunct

no longer exisiting, dead

desolate

deserted, without inhabitants, barren

despairing

hopeless, despondent, discouraged

dilatorty

delaying, slow

din

loud and discordant noises, cacophony

disconcerting

upsetting, frustrating

discord

lack of agreement, tension, strife

disdain

intense dislikel to treat with scorn or contempt, to reject as unworthy

ecstasy

extreme happiness

eddy

a current of air or water moving contrary to the main current (circularly)

elicit

to bring out a response, to evoke

endow

to provide with income or property, to supply with a talent of quality

engrossed

completely occupied or absorbed

euphemism

substitution of an inoffensive term for one that is offensive

exhalt

to glorify, to praise, to raise in rank

feint

a false appearance, a fake punch to occupy defenses allowing a real blow

ferocity

savagery

ferevent

ardent, showing great emotion, impassioned

florid

flowery, flushed with color

foliage

leaves of a plant, leafage

formidable

menacing, causing fear or awe

fortuitous

something that happens by accident or chance (usually good)

fractious

unruly

garnish

to decorate

garrulous

talkative, rambling

gravity

seriousness, importance

haughty

arrogant, excessively proud and vain

hilarity

boisterous merriment or mirth

homogeneous

of the same kind

hues

colors

impetuous

violent, hasty, rash, impulsive

incessany

uninterrupted

indignation

angers as a result of something unjust

ineffable

incapable of being expressed in speech of words

ineptness

lack of competence or judgement

ingratiate

to make an effort to gain good favor with someone

innumerable

very many; more than can be counted

insidious

treacherous or dangerous in a secret sort of way

insolence

insulting or contemptuous behavior

interminable

having or seeming to have no end, wearisomely protracted

invioable

secure from violation of from being profaned

jaunty

stylish and lively in manner or appearance

juxtapose

to place close together or side by side

labyrinthine

like a maze, very convoluted and intricate

languid

slow, sluggish, listless, weak

laud

to praise, to extol

legacy

a gift by will, something handed down by an ancestor or predecessor

lethargic

sluggish,languid

levity

excessive frivoolity, flippancy

luxuriant

abundant in growth, very fertile

magnanimity

having a lofty, generous, and courageous spirit