American Psycho

American Psycho Glossary

Frenzy

A state or time period of extreme excitement or chaos.

Impending

Imminent; about to occur.

Bloodlust

Uncontrollable desire to kill or maim others.

Depersonalization

To take away or lose human characteristics.

Tentatively

To complete something with hesitancy and in a cautious manner.

Tenement

A large building divided into apartments, usually in a poor area of a city.

Illusory

Based on fantasy or imagination; not real.

Spiel

A rather long speech often made with the intention of persuading the audience of a specific cause.

Eradicated

Destroyed completely.

Erasure

The removal of writing or information; in extended use, causing something to disappear.

Fabricated

Invented or concocted.

Aberration

A deviation from normalcy.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Known colloquially as "M&A," transactions in which the ownership of companies, other business organizations, or their operating units are transferred or consolidated with other entities.

Xclusive

The name of the elite fitness facility that Patrick Bateman frequents.

Dorsia

The name of the exclusive restaurant at which Patrick repeatedly fails to reserve a table.

Chemical Bank

The name of a real investment banking firm that provides the first image of the novel.

unscrupulous

having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.

yuppie

derogatory term for a young person with a well-paid job and a fashionable urban lifestyle, originally from an acronym meaning Young Urban Professional.

J&B

Patrick's preferred brand of Scotch whisky and go-to drink order.

Hamptons

Wealthy enclave on the East End of Long Island where Patrick and Evelyn stay.

Buy Study Guide Cite this page