Winter Dreams — Vocabulary
F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
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varybe different
Your mileage may vary.more
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NOW, OF COURSE, the quality and the seasonability of these winter dreams varied, but the stuff of them remained.†p.4.14 more
vary → varied:differed; or changed
Show general definition to be different, or to change
Show editor's word notes Vary is often used to describe small differences or changes--especially about things of the same type. It would be more common to say "The weight of full-grown elephants varies depending upon diet and other factors," than to say "The weight of elephants varies from that of mice."
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malicemalice → malicious:evil; or made with the intent to make others suffer
I am not interested in hearing malicious gossip.more
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Nor, when he had seen that it was no use, that he did not possess in himself the power to move fundamentally or to hold Judy Jones, did he bear any malice toward her.p.16.54 more
desire to see someone suffer
Show general definition the intention or desire to see others suffer
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indifferentwithout interest
About a third are in favor of the change, a third are opposed, and a third are indifferent.more
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He was completely indifferent to popular opinion.p.16.42 more
unconcerned (without interest)
Show general definition without interest
in various senses, including:
  • unconcerned -- as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
  • unsympathetic -- as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
  • not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) -- as in "an indifferent performance"
  • impartial -- as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
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precariousunsure (in danger of falling)
Her footing on the ladder looked precarious.more
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his father, prospering now, would have paid his way--for the precarious advantage of attending an older and more famous university in the East, where he was bothered by his scanty funds.p.4.12 more
unsure
Show general definition unsafe or in danger of getting worse -- especially in danger of falling
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melancholyvery sad
She's been in a melancholy mood since her dog died.more
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At these times the country gave him a feeling of profound melancholyp.1.21 more
sadness
Show general definition a sad feeling or manner -- sometimes thoughtfully sad
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fleetinglasting a short time
Her moments of happiness were few and fleeting.more
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It was a curious day, slashed abruptly with fleeting, familiar impressions.†p.4.91 more
Show general definition lasting a short time
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agonyintense suffering
She was in agony from a toothache.more
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She had brought him ecstatic happiness and intolerable agony of spirit.p.11.92 more
intense feelings of suffering
Show general definition intense feelings of suffering -- can be from mental or physical pain
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implyimply → implied:hinted or suggested
She wouldn't make a direct statement, but she implied that she supported our position.more
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the elements of the comedy were implied in the scene,p.3.5
imply → implied:suggested (said or known indirectly)
Show general definition to suggest or say indirectly -- possibly as a logical consequence
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contemptlack of respect
Familiarity breeds contempt.more
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She had treated him with interest, with encouragement, with malice, with indifference, with contempt.p.11.91 more
disrespect and dislike
Show general definition for contempt (as in: feels contempt towards her) lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior -- often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Show editor's word notes A famous saying, "familiarity breeds contempt" comes from Aesop's fable, "The Fox and the Lion".  (6th century BC)

When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony.

The moral is traditionally, "Familiarity breeds contempt"; though an alternative moral is "Acquaintance softens prejudices."
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ecstaticecstatic → ecstatically:with feelings of intense happiness
They are ecstatically in love.more
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She had brought him ecstatic happiness and intolerable agony of spirit.p.11.91 more
intense happiness
Show general definition feeling intense happiness and excitement (as when in a state of ecstasy)
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prosperprosper → prospering:doing well
She is prospering at school.more
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They persuaded Dexter several years later to pass up a business course at the State university—his father, prospering now, would have paid his way—for the precarious advantage of attending an older and more famous university in the East, where he was bothered by his scanty funds.†p.4.11 more
Show general definition to do well or to grow stronger
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beckonbeckon → beckoned:called
With a nod of her head, she beckoned me to join them.more
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She had beckoned him and yawned at him and beckoned him again and he had responded often with bitterness and narrowed eyes.†p.11.9
beckon → beckoned:called -- typically to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod
Show general definition to call -- typically to ask or tell someone to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod of the head
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conventionconvention → conventional:normal
It was once conventional wisdom that the earth is flat.more
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Then a perfect wave of emotion washed over him, carrying off with it a sediment of wisdom, of convention, of doubt, of honor.p.15.9
what is normal or typical; or a bias in favor of what is normal
Show general definition for convention (as in: conventional behavior) something regarded as normal or typical
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irrelevantnot relevant
The sentence should be deleted because it introduces information that is irrelevant to the passage.more
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When Dexter first saw her she was standing by the caddy house, rather ill at ease and trying to conceal the fact by engaging her nurse in an obviously unnatural conversation graced by startling and irrelevant grimaces from herself.†p.2.5
not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider)
Show general definition not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider)
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accentuateaccentuate → accentuates:emphasizes
It's a difficult situation, but she accentuates the positive and does not get overwhelmed.more
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She wore a blue gingham dress, rimmed at throat and shoulders with a white edging that accentuated her tan.p.5.52 more
accentuate → accentuated:emphasized or drew attention to
Show general definition to emphasize or draw attention to -- possibly to emphasize by increasing
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fluctuatealternately increase and decrease in quantity
"I'm not overweight. I fluctuate between chubby and curvy."more
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The color in her cheeks was centered like the color in a picture—it was not a "high" color, but a sort of fluctuating and feverish warmth, so shaded that it seemed at any moment it would recede and disappear.†p.5.6
fluctuate → fluctuating:alternately increasing and decreasing in quantity
Show general definition to alternately increase and decrease in quantity
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integralessential
That was before China became an integral part of the world economy.more
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Though he was by no means an integral part of the stag-lines at these clubs, he managed to be on hand at dances where Judy Jones was likely to appear.†p.11.5
an essential part or characteristic
Show general definition for integral (as in: integral part) an essential part or characteristic
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perturbperturb → perturbed:disturbed
She is not perturbed by attacks from a hostile press.more
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But he had received a strong emotional shock, and his perturbation required a violent and immediate outlet.p.3.9
perturb → perturbation:anxiety (uneasiness)
Show general definition for perturb (as in: she was perturbed) to disturb in mind or make uneasy
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poignantarousing deep emotion
It is a poignant story about a girl who is paralyzed in a car accident.more
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May one year back had been marked by Judy's poignant, unforgivable, yet forgiven turbulence—it had been one of those rare times when he fancied she had grown to care for him.†p.12.8
sharp or intense
Show general definition sharp or intense -- typically arousing deep emotion such as sadness, but possibly having or creating a sharp smell, taste, or insight
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enumerateenumerate → enumerated:listed one after another
She enumerated the many obstacles she had encounteredmore
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He told himself the trouble and the pain she had caused him, he enumerated her glaring deficiencies as a wife.p.12.2
enumerate → enumerated:to name items individually
Show general definition to name or list things one-by-one