level g vocab: unit 2 definitions

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; any 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; designed 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 or 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