Kaylie Shaffer
Ms. Elbert
English/Period 8
March 11, 2013
The Great Gatsby Vocabulary Study
Chapter 1:
Vulnerable(page 1) - adjective, to be open to being damaged physically or mentally
“In my younger and my vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.”
Synonyms- susceptible, liable, sensitive
Antonyms- invulnerable, unexposed, guarded
Epigram (page 4) - noun, a poem that demonstrates satire or witty sayings
“This isn’t just an epigram–life is much more successfully looked at from a single window, after all.”
Synonyms- aphorism, proverb, maxim
Antonyms-
Conscientious (page 8) - adjective, conforming because of a conscience idea
“That other girl, Daisy, made an attempt to rise–she leaned slightly forward with a conscientious expression–then she laughed, an absurd, charming little laugh, and I laughed too and came forward into the room.”
Synonyms- ethical, honest, honorable
Antonyms- immoral, unjust, unprincipled
Languidly (page 11) - adverb, sluggish and weak due to exhaustion
“Slenderly, languidly, their hands set lightly on their hips, the two young women proceeded us out onto a rosy-colored porch, open toward the sunset, where four candles flickered on the table in the diminished wind.”
Synonyms- limp, spiritless, enervated
Adjectives- ambitious, animated, energetic
Intriguing (page 16) - adjective, inspiring interest to cause one to engage
“To a certain temperament the situation might have seemed intriguing-my own interest was to telephone immediately for the police.”
Synonyms- absorbing, consuming, engaging
Antonyms- boring, tedious, monotonous
Chapter 2:
Persistent (page 24) - adjective, continuing without any change in the structure
“I followed him over a low whitewashed railroad fence, and we walked back a hundred yards along the road under Doctor Eckleburg’s persistent stare.”
Synonyms- insistent, tenacious, preserving
Antonyms- hesitant, disloyal, surrendering
Sumptuous (page 25) – adjective, extremely expensive, luxurious, magnificent
“It had occurred to me that this shadow of a garage must be a blind, and that sumptuous and romantic apartments were concealed overhead, when the proprietor himself appeared in the door of an office, wiping his hands on a piece of waste.”
Synonyms- deluxe, lavish, palace
Antonyms- stingy, thrifty, frugal
Initiative (page 29) – adjective, readiness and ability in initiating action; ones personal decision
“A reluctant elevator-boy went for a box full of straw and some milk, to which he added on his own initiative a tin of large, hard dog biscuit- one of which decomposed apathetically in the saucer of milk all afternoon.”
Synonyms- action, ambition, drive
Antonyms- reluctance, hesitation, passively
Proprietary (page 30) – noun, owning or belonging property
“She came in with such a proprietary haste and looked around so possessively at the furniture that I wondered if she lived here.”
Synonyms- branded, patented, trademarked
Antonyms-
Strident (page 35) – adjective, commanding attention by a loud or harsh sound
“I wanted to get out and walk eastward toward the park through the soft twilight, but each time I tried to go I became entangled in some wild, strident argument, which pulled me back, as if with ropes, into my chair.”
Synonyms- noisy, loud, unruly
Antonyms- calm, quiet, silent
Chapter 3:
Cataracts (page 39) – noun, a descent of water over a steep surface; a furious rush of water
“At high tide in the afternoon I watched his guests driving from the tower of his raft, or taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two motor-boats slit the water s of the Sound, drawing aquaplanes over cataracts of foam.”
Synonyms- flood, waterfall, overflow
Antonyms- drought
Permeate (page 40) – verb, to pass or diffuse through
“The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot, and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names.”
Synonyms- transfuses, infuse, and pass
Antonyms- empty, drain, void
Sauntered (page 43) – verb, to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner
“With Jordan’s slender golden arm resting on mine, we descended the steps a sauntered about the garden.”
Synonyms- stroll, wander, roam
Antonyms- run, sprint, hurry
Inspired (page 44) – adjective, aroused or animated with the spirit to do something, by a divine influence
“It was testimony to the romantic speculation he inspired that there were whispers about him from those who had found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this world”.
Synonyms- boost, stimulate, enforce
Antonyms- discourages, dishearten, dispirit.
Innuendo (page 44) – noun, a parenthetic explanation
“There were three married couples and Jordan’s escort, a persistent undergraduate given to violent innuendo, and obviously under the impression that sooner or later Jordan was going to yield him up by her person to a greater or less degree.”
Synonyms- allusion, hint, reference
Antonyms- evidence, proof
Chapter 1:
Starting off as a journalist can be tough. It often takes a long time before any of your pieces are even looked at yet alone receiving a consistent pay. One may find themselves acting languidly because they are trying to meet deadlines and break the stories first. They often begin trying to write stories that they find intriguing but soon learn that that is a freedom one receives with experience and that in the beginning of their career they will be forced to write what they are told. Due to this constant control they often find themselves writing conscientiously because they want to leave a good impression not only on their boss, but on the readers as well. They will find themselves vulnerable to criticism and often hear things that they may not like, but this all come with becoming a better writer. In order to keep their hopes up, one may want to hang up an epigram on their desk just to keep their spirits high on their quest to the top.
Chapter 2:
Hannah was determined to buy herself a new pair of shoes. She had seen them in the window at the mall and the sparkle they gave off caught her eye. She had contemplated stealing them when she first saw them, but was discouraged by the thought of the strident alarm that would go off. She decided to work persistently for two weeks and put aside a certain amount of money so she would have enough at the conclusion of this time. She knew that it would not be easy and that she would have to show initiative on her part, but she was determined to achieve her goal. If she did, this would be the first sumptuous thing she had ever bought for herself since graduating college. It was important to her because she was just starting off and it was important for her to have a sense of proprietary. She knew that when she reached her goal, she would feel great and that it would be a true sense of accomplishment, which kept her working hard.
Chapter 3:
Marley loved to walk down the beach at her summer home. The calm wind through her hair and the cold sand sinking between her feet. She loved to dip her feet ever so slightly in the cataracts that the ocean would create just to feel a little bit of the large rush on her feet. The small jettys that guarded each beach allowed the water to permeate through its surface, which often created the most beautiful views of water splashing through the solid rock. She would tend to saunter along the length of four beaches before she decided it was time to take break. She would sit down in the sand and pat it flat around where she sat. Marley loved staring off into the sunset and observing the waves which always inspired her when she wrote her poems. The beautiful scenery is what attracted her to the beach at all times of day. The night was always her favorite as it was cool and the beaches often saw few visitors. She used calming innuendo in her work as she penned the creative pieces into her journal until deciding it was time to go home.
Chapter 4:
Punctilious (page 64) – adjective, strict or exact in the observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions
“This quality was continually breaking through his punctilious manner in the shape of restlessness.”
Synonyms- precise, careful, scrupulous
Antonyms- careless, informal, easy going
Unfathomable (page 77) – adjective, not being completely understood, immeasurable
“She used to sit on the sand with his head in her lap by the hour, rubbing her fingers over his eyes and looking at him with unfathomable delight.”
Synonyms- infinite, abysmal, boundless
Antonyms- explainable, fathomable, comprehensible
Skepticism (page 79) – noun, doubt or unbelief
“Suddenly I wasn’t thinking of Daisy and Gatsby anymore, but of this clean, hard, limited person, who dealt in universal skepticism, and who leaned back jauntily just within the circle of my arm.”
Synonyms- disbelief, distrust, faithlessness
Antonyms- belief, godliness, piety
Jauntily (page 79) – adverb, sprightly, self-confidently
“Suddenly I wasn’t thinking of Daisy and Gatsby anymore, but of this clean, hard, limited person, who dealt in universal skepticism, and who leaned back jauntily just within the circle of my arm.”
Synonyms- briskly, gaily, happily
Antonyms- depressed, lethargic, lifeless
Wan (page 80) – adjective, lacking in forcefulness, competence, or effectiveness
“Her wan, scornful mouth smiled, and so I drew her up again closer, this time to my face.”
Synonyms- ashen, dim, faint
Antonyms- colorful, flushed, strong
Chapter 5:
Gaudily (page 83) – adverb, marked by extravagance or sometimes tasteless showiness
“So I don’t know whether or not Gatsby went to Coney Island, or for how many hours he “glanced into rooms” while his house blazed gaudily on.”
Synonyms- flamboyant, glitzy, excessive
Antonyms- conservative, understated, quiet
Counterfeit (page 86) – adjective, made in imitation so as to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine, fake or simulated
“Gatsby, his hands still in his pockets, was reclining against the mantelpiece in a strained counterfeit of perfect ease, even of boredom.”
Synonyms- false, fraud, mock
Antonyms- genuine, real, true
Exaltation (page 89) – noun, the act of being praised
“He literally glowed; without a word or a gesture of exultation a new well-being radiated from him and filled the little room.”
Synonyms- acclaim, rise, tribute
Antonyms- debasement, denunciation, humiliaton
Vitality (page 95) – noun, the power to live or grow
“Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.”
Synonyms- animated, energy, spirit
Antonyms- apathy, lethargy, dead
Illusion (page 95) – noun, the state or condition of being deceived
“Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.”
Synonyms- hallucinating, delusion, fantasy
Antonyms- certainty, fact, reality
Chapter 4:
Ms. Brown was a wonderful teacher who devoted most of her time to contributing to the education of her students. Not only did she put in 100% during school, but she put in countless hours outside of it as well. She conducted herself jauntily as she taught, whether it was handing out papers or writing on the board, she always did it with a smile. Her students often found themselves enjoying their time in the class and got along well with her personality. They did tend to have a rough time with the unfathomable amount of work she gave. However, what they didn't realize was the lessons that it taught them. They unknowingly would become punctilious with deadlines and were more efficient when given an assignment. In their later years, they would often discover this for themselves and their skepticism would be gone. They would not find themselves wan like the other early employees around them, but were able to see themselves excelling in their workforce because of Ms. Brown and her tactics.
Chapter 5:
Hollywood is always portrayed as a lovely and extravagant place. Every street is covered in top dining cuisine and designer clothing. The streets are line with beautiful architecture and the cars that ride along the roads are only the best on the market. There is an illusion that everything and anything that may appear in this city is perfect in every way. However, it is often there that it can be seen that these are the people that have the greatest flaws. The have to attend parties and dozens of clothes that are paired gaudily with large stacks of jewelry. Their children are then influenced to live the exact same way and continue in the path no matter how much pressure it may seem to be. Some may even resort to counterfeit goods so that they can keep up with those around them even if they can't afford to. They receive exaltation for having the nicest house, the best job, the most fashionable outfit. Not for being a good mother, a good friend, or an honest human being. Many crash under the ideas that Hollywood has and find themselves beginning to crack. It is difficult to keep up a vitality that allows one to remain bulletproof to the negativity while absorbing all the ways to stay ahead. It seems that even those who appear to have it all together, may be more disheveled than any one else in the country.
Chapter 6:
Laudable (page 97) - adjective, deserving praise
“This was his day off and with laudable initiative he had hurried out “to see”.”
Synonyms- commendable, admirable, worthy
Antonyms- bad, blameable, unworthy
Notoriety (page 97) – noun, reputation
“Gatsby’s notoriety, spread about by the hundreds who had accepted his hospitality and so become authorities upon his past, had increased all summer long until he fell just short of being news.”
Synonyms- fame, name, celebrity
Antonyms- shame, bad, infamous
Meretricious (page 98) – adjective, alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions
“His father’s business, the service of a vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty.”
Synonyms- blant, brazen, showy
Antonyms- genuine, unembelished, real
Turgid (page 99) – adjective, swollen
“The none too savory ramifications by which Ella Kaye, the newspaper woman, played Madame de Maintenon to his weakness and sent him to sea in a yacht, were common knowledge to the turgid sub-journalist of 1902.”
Synonyms- bloated, enlarged, inflated
Antonyms- plain, simple, small
Ingratiate (page 101) – verb, to get on someone’s good side
“For several weeks I didn’t see him or hear his voice on the phone-- mostly I was in New York, trotting around with Jordan and trying to ingratiate myself with her senile aunt- but finally I went over to his house one Saturday afternoon.”
Synonyms- attract, flatter, charm
Antonyms- deter, disgust, repel
Chapter 7:
Caravansary (page 114) – noun, an inn or hotel at which caravan used to rest at night
“So the whole caravansary had fallen in like a card house at the disapproval in her eyes.”
Synonyms- hotel, hospice, lodge
Antonyms-
Stagnant (page 118) – adjective, stopped advancement or development
“On the green Sound, stagnant in the heat, one small sail crawled slowly toward the fresher sea.”
Synonyms- dormant, still, inactive
Antonyms- moving, advancing, progressing
Indiscreet (page 120) – adjective, not discreet
“'She's got an indiscreet voice,' I remarked. 'It's full of-' I hesitated.”
Synonyms- indelicate, tactless, unwise
Antonyms- judicious, discreet, prudent
Emerged (page 122) – verb, to rise up and become known
“After a moment the proprietor emerged from the interior of his establishment and gazed hollow-eyed at the car.”
Synonyms- arise, materialize, surface
Antonyms- disappear, fade, leave
Presumptuous (page 135) – adjective, going over the boundaries
“Go on. He won't annoy you. I think he realizes that his little presumptuous little flirting is over.”
Synonyms- forward, presuming, immodest
Antonyms- modest, unassuming, humble
Chapter 6:
Jeffrey was a very determined athlete. People could see it from a very young age that he was going to be going places. It was no surprise to anyone when he became a nationally recognized swimmer in high school. He was able to ingratiate all those that he had met and that helped him gain support from any who followed his career. When he received a college scholarship, no one was surprised and he had become a notorious swimmer from his region of the country. He continued work hard in college and smash many records in his league, but this had all come to a halt when he learned that his ankle had become turgid do to a deep sprain. Yet he was not willing to let this stop him and he worked even harder to get back into the sport that he loved. So when he was able to make the Olympic team and his story was heard, many were inspired by his story. His continued training and achievements were laudable to anyone who watched him on the television. Not only was his success story great but his ability to remain down to earth was refreshing while he was surrounded by meretricious athletes.