Both Uses of
essential
in
The Great Gatsby
- But all this part of it seemed remote and unessential.†
p. 164.3unessential = not necessary or not importantstandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unessential means not and reverses the meaning of essential. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- And as the moon rose higher the inessential houses began to melt away until gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes — a fresh, green breast of the new world.†
p. 180.2 *inessential = not necessary or not important or not related to the basic nature of somethingstandard prefix: The prefix "in-" in inessential means not and reverses the meaning of essential. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
Definition:
necessary or important or relating to the basic nature of something