The Great The Great GatsbyGatsbyVocabulary IIVocabulary II

euphemism• noun

• inoffensive expressions that stand in for potentially offensive ones

• To avoid embarrassment, my neighbor used the euphemism “let go” instead of saying he’d been fired.

insidiousinsidious

adjectiveadjective treacherous; harmful, but treacherous; harmful, but

enticingenticing The The insidiousinsidious bait on the hook bait on the hook

enticed the large-mouth bass.enticed the large-mouth bass.

profusion• noun

• abundance; of great supply

• A profusion of snowflakes obliterated our view of the road.

libertine• noun

• a person unrestrained by conventions or morality

• Tom Buchanan, an unrepentant libertine, paid no heed to the marriage vows he had made.

morbid• adjective

• gloomy; gruesome

• The morbid discussion at lunch about the fatal accident depressed me.

commensurate

• adjective

• proportionate; equal in measure or extent

• A fair punishment is commensurate to the crime.

fortuitously• adverb

• happening by chance

• Tom and Jane’s meeting was fortuitous since neither one knew the other was in California.

protégé• noun

• person trained, influenced, and helped along by others

• The Chief of Surgery took a special interest in the promising young surgeon and taught his protégé everything he knew.

superfluoussuperfluous

adjectiveadjective excessive; unnecessaryexcessive; unnecessary Her Her superfluous superfluous descriptions descriptions

were so detailed and tiresome were so detailed and tiresome that I quit listening.that I quit listening.

surmise• noun

• idea based on little evidence; conjecture

• His surmise did not hold up in court because no one else corroborated it.