Great Gatsby Vocabulary

Question 1

Sumptuous

Answer 1

adj: luxuriously fine or large; lavish; splendid.

Question 1

Supercilious

Answer 1

adj: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy.

Question 2

Insidious

Answer 2

adj: intended to entrap or trick.

Question 2

Provincial

Answer 2

adj: having the manners, and viewpoints considered characteristic of 
unsophisticated inhabitants of a province; rustic; narrow or illiberal.

Question 2

Punctilious

Answer 2

adj: strict or exact in the observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions.

Question 4

Elicit

Answer 4

vrb: to draw or bring out or forth; educe; evoke

Question 4

Vehement

Answer 4

adj: strongly emotional; intense or passionate

Question 5

Irreverent

Answer 5

adj: not respectful; critical of what is generally accepted or respected.

Question 7

Forlorn

Answer 7

adj: desolate or dreary; unhappy or miserable, as in feeling, condition, or 
appearance.

Question 7

Obstinate

Answer 7

adj: inflexible; stubborn; not yielding.

Question 8

Malevolence

Answer 8

n: ill will, malice, hatred

Question 9

Surmise

Answer 9

vrb: to think or infer without certain or strong evidence; conjecture; guess.

Question 10

Reproach

Answer 10

vrb: to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame

Question 11

Nebulous

Answer 11

adj: hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused.

Question 13

Abortive

Answer 13

Adj: failing to succeed, unsuccessful,

imperfectly developped

Question 14

Complacent

Answer 14

Adj: pleased, especially with oneself or one’s merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect.

Question 15

Ineffable

Answer 15

adj: incapable of being expressed or described in words.

Question 16

Vacuous

Answer 16

adj: lacking in ideas or intelligence; purposeless; idle.

Question 17

Interminable

Answer 17

adj: unending; monotonously continued; having no limits.

Question 18

Vicarious

Answer 18

adj: taking the place of another person or thing; acting or serving as a 
substitute.

Question 19

Languid

Answer 19

adj: lacking in vigor or vitality; lacking in spirit or interest; indifferent.

Question 21

Levity

Answer 21

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

Question 23

Formidable

Answer 23

adj: of great strength; forceful; powerful.

Question 24

Laudable

Answer 24

adj: deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable.

Question 25

Feign

Answer 25

vrb: to imitate deceptively; to make believe; pretend.

Question 26

Indignant

Answer 26

adj: feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base.

Question 27

Garrulous

Answer 27

adj: excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner, esp. 
about trivial matters.

Question 28

Ingratiate

Answer 28

vrb: to establish (oneself) in the favor

or good graces of others by 
deliberate effort.

Question 28

Portentous

Answer 28

adj: ominous, predictive of future bad events

Question 30

Strident

Answer 30

adj: having a shrill, irritating quality or character.

Question 31

Implore

Answer 31

vrb: to beg urgently or piteously, as for aid or mercy; beseech; entreat

Question 32

Superfluous

Answer 32

adj: being more than is sufficient or required; excessive; 
unnecessary or needless.

Question 33

Permeate

Answer 33

vrb: to pass into or through every part of; to be diffused through; saturate.

Question 34

Erroneous

Answer 34

adj: containing error; mistaken; incorrect; wrong.

Question 35

Impetuous

Answer 35

adj: characterized by sudden or rash action, emotion, etc; impulsive