The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Chapters 4, 5, & 6 Vocabulary

fluctuate “I think that voice held him most, with its fluctuating, feverish warmth, because it couldn’t be over-dreamed — that voice was a deathless song” (Fitzgerald). In the desert, the temperature fluctuates dramatically.

fluctuate verb to change continually; shift back and forth

sporadic “He was balancing himself on the dashboard of his car with that resourcefulness of movement that is so peculiarly American — that comes, I suppose, with the absence of lifting work or rigid sitting in youth and, even more, with the formless grace of our nervous, sporadic games” (Fitzgerald). A student with sporadic attendance will usually have a hard time passing the class.

sporadic adjective appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; occasional

divine retribution “His right hand suddenly ordered divine retribution to stand by” (Fitzgerald). Gregory sees his death from infectious disease as divine retribution for his evil deeds.

divine retribution noun punishment from a higher being for bad deeds or transgressions

elicit “It appreciated fully the chain of national circumstances which had elicited this tribute from Montenegro's warm little heart” (Fitzgerald). His comments about building a wall elicited public outrage.

elicit verb to draw or bring out or forth; educe; evoke

somnambulatory “…whereupon Mr. Wolfshiem swallowed a new sentence he was starting and lapsed into a somnambulatory abstraction” (Fitzgerald). The sleep therapist was studying patients who somnambulate.

somnambulatory adjective related to sleep walking

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Chapters 4, 5, & 6 Vocabulary

denizen “ ‘He’s quite a character around New York – a denizen of Broadway’ ” (Fitzgerald). Deer, foxes and squirrels are among the denizens of the forest.

denizen noun an inhabitant; a resident; one that frequents a particular place

jaunty “She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body” (Fitzgerald). She walks with a jaunty step.

jaunty adjective easy and sprightly in manner or bearing

rout “At first I thought it was another party, a wild rout that had resolved itself into ‘hide-and-go-seek’ or ‘sardines-in-the box’ with all the house thrown open to the game. But there wasn’t a sound” (Fitzgerald).  After our fifth goal the match became a rout.

rout noun an overwhelming defeat

suppress “He waited, looking at me with suppressed eagerness” (Fitzgerald). Angry as she was, she couldn't suppress a smile.

suppress verb to do away with; abolish; stop

innumerable “The flowers were unnecessary, for at two o’clock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsby’s, with innumerable receptacles to contain it” (Fitzgerald). After giving her boyfriend innumerable chances, she had to break it off with him.

innumerable adjective very numerous; incapable of being counted; countless

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Chapters 4, 5, & 6 Vocabulary

ecstatic “Daisy’s face, tipped sideways beneath a three-cornered lavender hat, looked out at me with a bright ecstatic smile” (Fitzgerald). Her little feet in their white satin dancing shoes did their work swiftly, lightly, while her face beamed with ecstatic happiness.

ecstatic adjective subject to or in a state of ecstasy; rapturous

reproach “He raised his hand to stop my words, looked at me with unforgettable reproach, and, opening the door cautiously, went back into the other room” (Fitzgerald). She reproached him for his bad deeds.

reproach verb to find fault with (a person, group, etc); blame

exult “He literally glowed; without a word or a gesture of exultation a new well-being radiated from him and filled the little room” (Fitzgerald). We all exulted greatly in our success, while feeling a little pity for the losers.

exult verb to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice; be highly elated or jubilant

nebulous “He was now decently clothed in a ‘sport shirt,’ open at the neck, sneakers, and duck trousers of a nebulous hue” (Fitzgerald).. The two amateurs had concocted only the most nebulous plan.

nebulous adjective hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused

laudable “This was his day off and with laudable initiative he had hurried out ’to see’”(Fitzgerald). While Jason did not win 1st place in the contest, his efforts were laudable enough to get an honorable mention from the judges.

laudable deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Chapters 4, 5, & 6 Vocabulary

insidious “...he saw Dan Cody's yacht drop anchor over the most insidious flat on Lake Superior” (Fitzgerald). Spammers are becoming more insidious and are able to trick some people out of their money.

insidious adjective intended to entrap or trick

debauch  ”...the pioneer debauchee who during one phase of American life brought back to the eastern seaboard the savage violence of the frontier brothel and saloon“(Fitzgerald). Jake engaged in an alcoholic debauch and ended up in the emergency room.

debauch noun an uninhibited spree or party

antecedent “He told me all this very much later, but I’ve put it down here with the idea of exploding those first wild rumors about his antecedents, which weren’t even faintly true” (Fitzgerald). Student motivation is an antecedent to accelerated education.

antecedent noun a preceding circumstance, event, object, style or phenomenon

ingratiate “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 Sunday afternoon” (Fitzgerald). Sam complimented the teacher to ingratiate himself with her.

ingratiate verb to establish (oneself) in the favor or good graces of others by deliberate effort

dilatory “The dilatory limousine came rolling up the drive” (Fitzgerald). “After a pause he added "sir." in a dilatory, grudging way” (Fitzgerald). Students sometimes try to use dilatory tactics when they forget to do their homework.

dilatory adjective tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy