English Vocab Unit 2

accost

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

animadversion

a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

avid

desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

brackish

having a salty taste & unpleasant to drink

celerity

swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

devious

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

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

halcyon

a legendary bird identifies with the kingfisher; or calm, peaceful, happy, golden, prosperous, affluent

histrionic

pertaining to actors & their techniques; theatric, artificial; melodramatic

incendiary

deliberately setting up or causing fires, designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion

maelstrom

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

myopic

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

overt

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

pejorative

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

propriety

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

sacrilege

improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

summarily

without delay or formality, briefly, concisely

suppliant

asking humble & earnestly; one who makes a request humbly & earnestly, a petitioner, suitor

talisman

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

undulate

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