sat vocab unit 2

avid

avid

(adj.) desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

halcyon

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

devious

(adj.) straying or wandering from a straight or direct course, roundabout; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

accost

(v.) to approach and speak to first

incendiary

(adj.) deliberarely setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion (n.) one who deliberately starts fires; one who causes strife

animadversion

(n.) a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

covenant

(n.) a solemn agreement

gambit

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

brackish

(adj.) having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink

histrionic

(adj.) pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial, melodramatic

celerity

(n.) swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

suppliant

(adj.) asking humbly and earnestly (n.) one who makes a request humbly and earnestly

propound

(v.) to put forward, offer, suggest for consideration; to set forth

propriety

(n.) the state of being proper, appropriateness (pl.) standards of what is proper or socially acceptable

overt

(adj.) open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

undulate

(v.) to move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form

sacrilege

(n.) improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

talisman

(n.) an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers

myopic

(adj.) nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment

summarily

(adv.) without delay or formality; briefly, concisely

pejorative

(adj.) tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement

maelstrom

(n.) a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction