English 12A Vocabulary Unit 2

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 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