Unit 2 Vocab

accost

to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

accost

The nobleman was —— by beggars on his way to the castle

animadversion

a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

animadversion

The inexperienced filmmaker was disheartened by the —— of the film critic.

avid

desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

avid

Many writers are also —— readers who have loved books since childhood.

brackish

having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink

brackish

The shipwrecked passengers adrift on the lifeboat became ill after drinking —— water.

celerity 

swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

celerity

Although the heavy snowfall was not expected, the highway department responded with surprising ——-.

devious

straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

devious

The interrogator used —— methods to try to get the suspect to incriminate himself

gambit

in chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type.

gambit

Asking an interesting stranger about his or her job is a popular party ——.

halcyon

a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher; of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful. happy, golden, prosperous, affluent

halcyon

The teacher read the legend of the ——, a mythical bird nested in the calm sea

The woman often spoke of the ——- days of her childhood.

histrionic

pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial, melodramatic

histrionic

Upon receiving his award, the young actor gave a ——- speech.

incendiary

deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion; one who deliberately sets fires, one who causes strife.

incendiary

The arsonist planted an —— device in the basement of the store.

The radical —— was sentenced to life imprisonment.

maelstrom

a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction

maelstrom

Many innocent people caught in the —— of the revolution lost their lives and property.

myopic

nearsightedness; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment.

myopic

The —— foreign policy of the last administration has led to serious problems with our allies. 

overt

open; not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

overt

In order for Congress to declare war, the President must demonstrate an ——- threat.

pejorative 

tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling 

pejorative

The lawyer was accused of making a ——— remark when referring to the defendant’s background.

propriety

the state of being proper, appropriateness; standards of what is proper or socially acceptable

propriety

The social worker questioned the ——- of the police’s request to see confidential records.

sacrilege

improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred. 

sacrilege

The anthropologist was accused of committing a —— when she disturbed a burial ground.

summarily

without delay or formality; briefly, concisely

summarily

As soon as there was evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the official was ——- ousted from his post.

suppliant 

asking humbly and earnestly; one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor. 

suppliant

He made a —— address to the parole board.

Stranded in the deserted city of Moscow, Napoleon had to turn to the Czar not as a conqueror but as a ———-.

talisman

an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish.

talisman

Most people do not believe that rabbit’s feet and other —— actually bring good luck.

undulate 

to move in waves or wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form. 

undulate

The baseball fans began to —— as they cheered, so that they appeared to move in a wave.