the great gatsby Flashcards

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1
Q

mar

A

to damage, ruin, or deface; to make imperfect

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2
Q

wistful

A

(adv/adj) full of wishful yearning or longing, usually with sadness

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3
Q

superscillious

A

(adj) showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy; cocky

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4
Q

compulsion

A

a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act, especially one
that is irrational or contrary to one’s will/ in other words, that urge to do something you know you shouldn’t do. 2. using force to cause something to occur

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5
Q

contemptuous

A

(adv/adj) showing or feeling disapproval or disdain towards something a person considers mean, vile, or worthless

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6
Q

infinitesimal

A

immeasurably small; so small it can’t be measured

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7
Q

cynical

A

believing the worst about human nature; distrusting, criticizing, or mocking the motives of others; pessimistic; glass is half-empty mentality

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8
Q

solemn

A

formal, serious, and dignified; lacking humor

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9
Q

saunter

A

to walk or stroll with leisure

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10
Q

anemic

A

weak; lacking power, vigor, or vitality; wishy-washy

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11
Q

vitality

A

liveliness; energy (physical and/or mental); full of spirit; vigor

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12
Q

discreet

A

marked by caution, carefulness, or modesty and wise self-restraint; subtle; under the radar

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13
Q

defer

A

to yield respectfully in judgment or opinion to another

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14
Q

incessant

A

never-ending; ceaseless; continuing without interruption/ has a negative connotation

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15
Q

hauteur

A

obnoxious display of overwhelming pride evidenced by acting in a superior manner towards those perceived as inferior; cockiness

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16
Q

strident

A

unpleasantly loud, harsh, grating, or shrill

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17
Q

permeate

A

to pass through; seep into; to saturate; to spread

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18
Q

innuendo

A

an indirect hint or suggestion about a person or thing, usually of an insulting or offensive nature

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19
Q

erroneous

A

incorrect; wrong; containing errors

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20
Q

vacuous

A

empty; lacking ideas or intelligence; devoid of matter or significance

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21
Q

ascertain

A

to determine; to make certain or clear; to find out something using calculations. an investigation, experiment or study

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22
Q

dissension

A

disagreement among those expected to cooperate; difference of opinion

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23
Q

jaunty

A

having cheerful, lively, self-confident air; 2.. marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners

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24
Q

juxtaposition

A

two or more things placed side-by-side to emphasize the link or contrast

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25
Q

disconcerting

A

something that makes you uneasy or unsettles you; causing emotional disturbance or confusion

26
Q

obliged

A

p.83 (v) to place under a debt of gratitude for some benefit, favor or service

27
Q

defunct

A

no longer in use; not operating or functioning

28
Q

obstinate

A

p.88 (adj) stubbornly adhering to an attitude, opinion, or course of action; hard-headed

29
Q

Vestige

A

p.89 (n) a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence

30
Q

garnish

A

p.91 (v) to adorn or decorate; to provide or supply with something ornamental

31
Q

disarray

A

disorder; confusion

32
Q

scanty

A

acking in amount, quantity; meager; not adequate

33
Q

nebulous

A

hazy, vague, indistinct, or cloudy; lacking definite form or limits

34
Q

transpire

A

to occur; to happen; to take place

35
Q

laudable

A

deserving or worthy of high praise; commendable

36
Q

insidious

A

attractive or enticing but harmful; intended to entrap; 2. working or spreading in a hidden and harmful way

37
Q

ineffable

A

incapable of being expressed; indescribable or unutterable

38
Q

repose

A

to lie or be at rest, as from work, activity, etc.; lean in a comfortable resting position

39
Q

lethargic

A

p.106 (adj) lacking energy or sluggish; deficient in alertness or activity

40
Q

euphemism

A

p.107 (n) an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh

41
Q

menagerie

A

a collection of wild or unusual animals, or an unusual and varied group of people

42
Q

affront

A

a deliberately offensive act or word or display of disrespect; an insult

43
Q

genial

A

warmly and pleasantly cheerful; being warmly friendly

44
Q

refuse

A

something that is discarded as worthless or useless; trash; rubbish; garbage

45
Q

portentous

A

of momentous or ominous significance; ominously prophetic; threatening

46
Q

rancor

A

a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will

47
Q

magnanimous

A

noble and generous in spirit; 2. generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or the need to seek retribution

48
Q

presumptuous

A

excessively forward; taking liberties and doing something too boldly; assuming too much

49
Q

truculent

A

defiantly aggressive; savagely brutal; fierce

50
Q

redolent

A

having a strong pleasant scent; 2. suggestive or reminiscent of something; serving to bring to mind

51
Q

unscrupulous

A

not restrained by moral or ethical principles; dishonest; corrupt

52
Q

stratum

A

people having the same similar social, economic, or educational status

53
Q

corroborate

A

to give evidence for; to confirm, substantiate, or strengthen by backing someone’s story

54
Q

garrulous

A

excessively or pointlessly talkative; 2. using too many words

55
Q

fortuitous

A

happening by a happy or lucky accident or chance

56
Q

surmise

A

to think or infer without certain or strong evidence; conjecture; guess

57
Q

sparse

A

not thick or dense; thin

58
Q

elude

A

to avoid or escape by speed, cleverness, trickery, etc.; to evade

59
Q

commensurate

A

corresponding in amount, size, degree, or extent; proportionate

60
Q

sullen

A

showing gloomy irritation or ill humor usually manifested by a glum silence