The Great Gatsby Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

corpulent

having a large, cumbersome body

denizen

inhabitant

dilatory

procrastinatory

ectoplasm

a gel-like material which supposedly helps to summon spirits

euphemism

substitution of an inoffensive phrase or word for an offensive one

fortuitous

occurring by chance; lucky; serendipitous

fractious

unruly; quarrelsome; irritable

garrulous

pointlessly wordy; over-talkative

malevolence

intense ill will

meritricious

tawdry; gaudy

peremptory

admitting no argument; characterized by arrogant self-assurance

portentious

self-consciously weighty; pompous

prodigality

lavishness; reckless luxury

provincial

limited; narrow; unsophisticated

punctilious

characterized by extreme attention to detail

redolent

aromatic; scented; suggestive of

strident

commanding attention with volume or obtrusiveness

supercilious

contemptuous

turgid

swollen; bombastic in style