This is the epigraph to the novel “The Great Gatsby” by Francis Scott Fitzgerald. How would you interpret it?

VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR LIST

NO	LANGUAGE UNITS	NOTES
1.	In my younger, more VULNERABLE [1] years…	easily harmed or hurt: He took advantage of me when I was at my most vulnerable. We work mainly with the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
2.	“When you FEEL LIKE CRITICIZ ING anyone, just remember…”	SP to want something, or to want to do something: I feel like a cup of coffee. Do you feel like going for a swim?
3.	Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.	SP to not give your opinion about something until a later time when you have more information: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its judgment over issue of alleged corruption…
4.	Gatsby represented everything for which I have an unaffectedscorn.	SCORN the feeling that someone or something is stupid or does not deserve respect [= contempt]: He felt scorn for his working-class parents.
5.	It’s what preyed on him that gives rise to this story.	1. if an animal or bird preys on another animal or bird, it hunts and eats it [↪ predator]: Cats prey on birds and mice. 2. to try to deceive or harm weaker people: religious cults that specialize in preying on young people
6.	The foul dust that poisoned his dream in the summer of 1922. [fa4l]	very dirty: Refugees in the camps are short of food and at risk from foul water. extractor fans to remove foul air from the tunnel
7.	I returned home RESTLESS.	unwilling to stay in one place, and always wanting new experiences: After a few weeks in Marseille, I grew restless and decided to move on.
8.	I decided to go and learn the bond business.	an official document promising that a government or company will pay back money that it has borrowed, often with interest: My father put all his money into stock market bonds. furious trading on the bond market
9.	A pair of enormous eggs jut out into Long Island Sound. (jut-jutted)	something that juts out sticks out further than the other things around it: Tall jagged rocks jutted out over the beach. Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx and Westchester County, New York, and connects to the East River. On its eastern end it opens to Block Island Sound.
10.	Millionaires tuck themselves away in hidden palaces.	if someone or something is tucked away, they are hidden or difficult to find: The envelope was tucked away in her jewel box.
11.	I drove across the bay.	a part of the sea that is partly enclosed by a curve in the land: a house with a view across the bay
12.	my second cousin once removed	a child of a cousin of one of your parents
13.	…one of the most powerful ends playing football at Yale	an old and respected US university, established in 1701 in New Haven, Connecticut. Yale is one of the Ivy League colleges
14.	They spent a year in France DRIFTING aimlessly among the rich.	to move, change, or do something without any plan or purpose I just drifted into teaching, really. The conversation driftedfrom one topic to another.
15.	There’s a persistent wail of mourning all along the North Shore.	cry out with a long high sound, especially because you are very sad or in pain: the wail of police sirens (verb) Somewhere behind them a child began to wail.
16.	(Gr.) You must have heard of Gatsby’s parties.	= You have surely heard of them.
17.	A great, big hulking physical specimen of a man.	very big and often awkward: Two hulking figures guarded the entrance of the club.
18.	We are Nordics…We’re in real danger of being submerged.	to make obscure or subordinate: suppress personal lives submerged by professional responsibilities
19.	I can fling you together.	A FLING a crush or romance between two young people: Their fling may turn out to be more.
20.	SHE MIGHT HAVE THE DECENCY not to call at dinner-time.	polite, honest, and moral behaviour and attitudes that show respect for other people: The film was banned on the grounds of public decency. If they're going to charge people a fee, they ought to at leasthave the decency to tell them in advance.
21.	IT COULDN’T BE HELPED.	SP used to say that there is nothing you can do to change a bad situation: She said she had to leave him for a while; it couldn't be helped.
22.	A nightingale. He’s just singing away.	used to emphasize that an action continues: Sue was singing away to herself in the bath. They've been hammering away all day.
23.	God, I’m so SOPHISTICATED.	having a lot of knowledge and experience of difficult or complicated subjects and therefore able to understand them well: Consumers are getting more sophisticated and more demanding. Ten-year-olds can have a highly sophisticated grasp of morality.
24.	This is a Valley of Ashes.	the ash that remains when a dead person's body is burned: His ashes were scatteredat sea.
25.	Brooding over the solemn dumping ground are the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg… Now dimmed by many paintless days under the sun and the rain.	BROOD to keep thinking about something that you are worried or upset about: There's no point brooding over it - she's gone. TO DIM 1. to become less bright The theatre lights dimmed and the show began. 2. literary if your eyes dim, or if something dims them, you become less able to see clearly
26.	It’s a terrible place. Does her good to get away.	to have a useful effect: I'll talk to him but I don't think it will do any good. A bit more exercise would do you good.
27.	Everything that happened had a dim and hazy cast over it. *cast ~ colour	not clear because there is a lot of smoke, dust, or mist in it: hazy sunshine
28.	Neither of them can STAND who they’re married to.	SP used to say that you do not like someone or something at all, or that you think that something is extremely unpleasant [= can't bear]: I can't stand bad manners. I can't stand people smoking around me when I'm eating. She can't stand to hear them arguing.
29.	We’re out of BOOZE.	INFML DFDalcoholic drink: a bottle of booze He's been on the booze (=drinking too much alcohol) for five days.
30.	You must be on your way to those… gaudy dances they throw for the servicemen. ['gO:dI]	clothes, colours etc that are gaudy are too bright and look cheap - used to show disapproval: gaudy jewellery
31.	Yeah. “Gatsby” WILL DO.	used to say that something will be enough or be acceptable: A few sandwiches will do mefor lunch. It won't do (=it is not acceptable) to say that the situation couldn't have been avoided.
32.	Men and girls came and went like moths.	an insect related to the butterfly that flies mainly at night and is attracted to lights. Some moths eat holes in cloth.
33.	And somehow ENDED UP at Gatsby’s party.	to be in a particular situation, state, or place after a series of events, especially when you did not plan it: He came round for a coffee and we ended up in bed together. I wondered where the pictures would end up after the auction. Most slimmers end up putting weight back on.
34.	an amusement park	a large park with many special machines that you can ride on, such as roller coasters and merry-go-rounds
35.	The guests frolicked on the beach.	TO FROLI C to play in an active happy way: Lambs frolicked in the next field.
36.	I dropped out [of the tournament]. A caddie accused me of improving my lie. *lie – the position of a ball in golf	someone carrying golf clubs for a person who is playing golf
37.	I got a brand new gown.	long dress that a woman wears on formal occasions wedding/evening/ball gown
38.	a bona fide piece of printed matter ["bq4nq'faIdI]	real, true, and not intended to deceive anyone: Only bona fide members are allowed to use the club pool.
39.	Thought the library might SOBER ME UP.	to gradually become less drunk, or to make someone become less drunk: Some coffee should sober you up.
40.	Just ask for it, old sport.	an upper-class or ex-public school (=private in the UK) type of expression; used among peers (a very Oxbridge thing)
41.	It was the first time he CALLED ON me. He wanted us to ride up to the city for a fancy lunch.	CALL ON SMB to stop at a house or other place for a short time to see someone or do something: Let's call on James on the way home. FANCY AmE fancy food is of a high quality
42.	The infantry couldn’t advance.	soldiers who fight on foot: an infantry regiment
43.	They found the insignia of three German divisions. [In'sIgnIq]	a badge or sign that shows what official or military rank someone has, or which group or organization they belong to [↪ emblem]: the royal insignia military insignia
44.	You like my cuff buttons. Human molars.	CUFF BUTTON a small piece of jewellery that a man can use to fasten his shirt cuffs MOLARone of the large teeth at the back of the mouth that are used for breaking up food
45.	He’s a GAMBLER. He fixed the 1919 World Series.	TO GAMBLE to risk money or possessions on the result of something such as a card game or a race, when you do not know for certain what the result will be [↪ bet]: Jack loves gambling on the horses. The 1919 World Series matched the American League champion Chicago White Sox against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. The events of the series are often associated with the Black Sox Scandal, when several members of the Chicago franchise conspired with gamblers to throw (i.e., intentionally lose) World Series games. (BASEBALL)
46.	He half expected her to WANDER into one of his parties some night. She never did. ! ['w2ndq]	to walk slowly across or around an area, usually without a clear direction or purpose I'll wander around the mall for half an hour. She wandered aimlesslyabout the house.
47.	She GAVE UP HOPE and became betrothed to Tom…	GIVE UP to stop trying to do something: We spent half an hour looking for the keys, but eventually gave up and went home. I give up. What's the answer? She has still not given up the search. TO BE BETROTHED TO SMB to have promised to marry someone
48.	Gatsby’s smile was one of those rare smiles with the quality of eternal REASSURANCE in it.	something that is said or done which makes someone feel calmer and less worried or frightened about a problem: Parents are looking for reassurance about their children's safety. We have been given reassurances that the water is safe to drink.
49.	Precisely at that point the smile vanished. You were looking at an elegant young roughneck.	VANISH disappear suddenly, especially in a way that cannot be easily explained: My keys were here a minute ago but now they've vanished. The bird vanished from sight. She seemed to have just vanished into thin air. (=suddenly disappeared in a very mysterious way) ROUGHNECK INFML a rough, crude person, esp. one who is quarrelsome and disorderly
50.	His elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd.	having a lot of small parts or details put together in a complicated way: pure silks embroidered with elaborate patterns
51.	…accidentally BUMP INTO Daisy…	to meet someone who you know when you were not expecting to [= run into]: I bumped into Jean in town.
52.	(Gr.) The meeting was to be spontaneous.	= It was supposed to be spontaneous.
53.	I don’t think I’m gonna fit in here.	if something fits in with other things, it is similar to them or goes well with them: A new building must fit in with its surroundings. You can't expect a baby to fit in with your existing routine.
54.	No one will tell the difference.	= be able to recognise the difference
55.	An inconceivable pitch of intensity. Now he was running down like an over-WOUND CLOCK.	INCONCEIVABLE too strange or unusual to be thought real or possible: A few years ago a car fuelled by solar energy would have been inconceivable. TO WIND to turn part of a machine around several times, in order to make it move or start working: Did you remember to wind the clock?
56.	He showed an immediate disdain for the guests.	FML a complete lack of respect that you show for someone or something because you think they are not important or good enough She watched me with disdain. his disdain for capitalism
57.	Confronted by the garishness of their newfound wealth.	GARISH very brightly coloured in a way that is unpleasant to look at [= brash; ≠ subtle]: Many of the rugs are too garish for my taste. garish colors
58.	He owns drugstores. He’s a bootlegger.	TO BOOTLEG to illegally make or sell alcohol
59.	Middle West (Midwest)	the central area of the United States
60.	By that last sentence she would obliterate the last thing standing in the way of their happiness.	to remove a thought, feeling, or memory from someone's mind: Nothing could obliterate the memory of those tragic events.
61.	Something WAS UP.	something is upSPif something is up, someone is feeling unhappy because they have problems, or there is something wrong in a situation: | I could tell by the look on his face that something was up. What's up? Why are you crying?
62.	Put your husband on.	to give someone the telephone so that they can talk to someone who is telephoning: Can you put Janet on?
63.	I won’t stand for this.	Br E to not allow something to continue to happen or someone to do something: She's been lying about me, and I won't stand for it.
64.	Oh, don’t be morbid. Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.	MORBID with a strong and unhealthy interest in unpleasant subjects, especially death: The trip was made all the worse by Frankie's morbid fearof flying. CRISP weather that is crisp is cold and dry [≠ humid]: a crisp, clear autumn day The weather remained crisp and dry.
65.	She’s got an indiscreet voice.	careless about what you say or do, especially by talking about things which should be kept secret [≠ discreet]: It was very indiscreet of Colin to tell them about our plan.
66.	You think I’m pretty DUMB, don’t you?	INFML stupid: What a dumb question. 'What is it?' I asked, playing dumb (=pretending to be stupid).
67.	an inexplicable step	too unusual or strange to be explained or understood [= incomprehensible, strange]: inexplicable behaviour For some inexplicable reason, he felt depressed.
68.	“a place to have a mint julep ”	American English DFDa drink in which alcohol and sugar are mixed with ice and mint leaves are added
69.	It was an opportunity they gave some of the officers after the ARMISTICE.	an agreement to stop fighting [↪ ceasefire, truce]
70.	What kind of ROW are you trying to cause in my house, anyhow? [ra4]	a short angry argument, especially between people who know each other well [= quarrel]: He had just hada rowwith his wife. a family row
71.	You have to turn your house into a pigsty to have friends in the modern world.	TAa building where pigs are kept [= pigpen American English]
72.	Every once in a while I GO OFF ON A SPREE.., but I always come back.	a short period of time when you do a lot of one activity, especially spending money or drinking alcohol Theywent on a drinkingspree. a shopping spree
73.	You’re REVOLTING.	extremely unpleasant [= disgusting]: The food was revolting! What a revolting colour!
74.	She’s not leaving me. Certainly not for a common swindler …	TO SWINDLE to get money from someone by deceiving them [= cheat]: a businessman who swindled investors out of millions of pounds
75.	Suit yourself about that, old sport.	SPused to tell someone they can do whatever they want to, even though it annoys you or you think they are not doing the right thing: 'Mind if I sit here?' he said gently. 'Suit yourself.'
76.	You left him in the lurch, didn’t you?	to leave in an uncomfortable or desperate situation; desert in time of trouble: Our best salesperson left us in the lurch at the peak of the busy season.
77.	He was glad …to pay off what he’d EMBEZZLED from the bank.	to steal money from the place where you work: Two managers were charged with embezzling $400,000.
78.	I tried to grab the wheel.	= steering wheel TTa wheel that you turn to control the direction of a car
79.	I’ll go see if there’s any commotion.	sudden noisy activity: They heard a commotion downstairs. Everyone looked to see what was causingthe commotion.
80.	Jay Gatsby had broken up like glass against Tom’s hard malice. ['m1lIs]	the desire to harm someone because you hate them His eyes gleamed with malice. She did it out of sheer malice. James boreher no malice (=did not feel any malice towards her).
81.	I even hoped she’d throw me over for a while…	old-fashioned to end a romantic relationship with someone
82.	They’re a rotten crowd.	INFML if someone is rotten, they are unpleasant, unkind, or dishonest: Why are you being so rotten? a rotten little brat
83.	Though you might think me a HYPOCRITE …	someone who pretends to have certain beliefs or opinions that they do not really have - used to show disapproval
84.	Said he’d been deranged by grief.	someone who is deranged behaves in a crazy or dangerous way, usually because they are mentally ill: a deranged gunman
85.	They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money.	retreat into yourself/your shell/fantasy etc to ignore what is happening around you and give all your attention to your private thoughts
86.	I wanted to go where his body lay and REASSURE him.	to make someone feel calmer and less worried or frightened about a problem or situation: Teachers reassured anxious parents. He tried to reassure me that my mother would be okay.
87.	Whatever remained to be done ON HIS BEHALF, I would do.	a) instead of someone, or as their representative: She asked the doctor to speak to her parents on her behalf. On behalf of everyone here, may I wish you a very happy retirement. b)because of or for someone: Oh, don't go to any trouble on my behalf.
88.	A bugle call at 6 a.m.	a musical instrument like atrumpet, which is used in the army to call soldiers
89.	He WAS BOUND TO get ahead.	to be very likely to do or feel a particular thing: 'It's hot!' 'Well, it was bound to be, I just took it out of the oven.' When you are dealing with so many patients, mistakes are bound to happen.
90.	GET RID OF the bonds.	to throw away or destroy something you do not want any more: It's time we got rid of all these old toys. Governments should be encouraged to get rid of all nuclear weapons.
91.	They got a circular from New York five minutes before.	a printed advertisement, notice etc that is sent to lots of people at the same time
92.	YOU NEVER CAN TELL in these hick towns.	you never can tell/you can never tell SPused to say that you cannot be certain about what will happen in the future: The boy might turn out to be a genius. You never can tell. HICK located in a rural or culturally unsophisticated area, provincial
93.	The bonds he had FORGED to get her.	to illegally copy something, especially something printed or written, to make people think that it is real: Someone stole my credit card and forged my signature. a forged passport
94.	That fellow HAD IT COMING.	SP used to say that you are not sorry that something bad has happened to someone, because they deserved it: I'm not surprised his wife left him - he's had it coming for years. When they lost their fortune, everyone said that they had it coming.
95.	The East was HAUNTED for me now. Distorted beyond my eyes’ power of correction.	HAUNT if the soul of a dead person haunts a place, it appears there often: The pub is said to be haunted by the ghost of a former landlord. DISTORT to change the appearance, sound, or shape of something so that it is strange or unclear: Tall buildings can distort radio signals. His face was distorted in anger.
96.	As I brooded on the old unknown world...	to keep thinking about something that you are worried or upset about: Lubos sat brooding into his coffee mug ignoring the prattle of the others in the cafe.
97.	Somewhere back in that vast obscurity …	the state of not being known or remembered The group produced two albums before disappearing into obscurity. O'Brien died in obscurity. She rose from obscurity to stardom.
98.	The orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter. Tomorrow we will run faster… *orgiastic ßorgy	RECEDE 1. if something you can see or hear recedes, it gets further and further away until it disappears: footsteps receding into the distance 2. if a memory, feeling, or possibility recedes, it gradually goes away: The pain in his head gradually receded. ELUDE if something that you want eludes you, you fail to find or achieve it: She took the exam again, but again success eluded her.

SOURCES:
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.thefreedictionary.com
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/dim_19
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary

[1] CAPITALISED words and expressions are our “active” vocabulary. Pay more attention to them.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29