All 3 Uses of
tact
in
The Great Gatsby
- Nevertheless there was a vague understanding that had to be tactfully broken off before I was free.
p. 59.1tactfully = in a manner that makes others feel good
- But, because the offer was obviously and tactlessly for a service to be rendered, I had no choice except to cut him off there.
p. 83.2tactlessly = in an offensive mannerstandard suffix: The suffix "-lessly" in tactlessly means in a manner that is without. This is the same pattern you see in words like harmlessly, fearlessly, and remorselessly.
- Probably it had been tactful to leave Daisy's house, but the act annoyed me, and her next remark made me rigid.
p. 155.3 *tactful = polite (handled in a way that is considerate of others' feelings)
Definition:
the ability or act of saying or handling things in such a way that others feel good about them