Vocab III Unit 2

accost

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

animadversion

(n.) a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

avid

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

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

halcyon

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

histrionic

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

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 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, 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 (begging and pleading)

talisman

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

undulate

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