Unit 2 Lang Vocab

accost

(v.) to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

animadversion

(n.) a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

avid

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

brackish

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

celerity

(n.) swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

devious

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

gambit

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

halcyon

(n.) a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher

(adj.) of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent

histrionic

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

incendiary

(adj.) deliberately setting or causing fires; designing to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion

(n.) one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who causes strife

maelstrom

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

myopic

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

overt

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

pejorative

(adj.) tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

propriety

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

sacrilege

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

summarily

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

suppliant

(adj.) asking humbly and earnestly

(n.) one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor

talisman

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

undulate

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