English 12 Unit 2 Vocab

Accost (Verb)

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

Animadversion (Noun)

A comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

Avid (Adjective)

Desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

Brackish (Adjective)

Having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink

Celerity (Noun)

Swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

Devious (Adjective)

Straying or wandering from a striaght or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

Gambit (Noun)

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 (Noun, Adjective)

A legendary bird identified with the kingfisher; Of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful; happy golden; prosperous, affluent

Historic (Adjective)

Pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic

Incendiary (Adjective, Noun)

Deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir strife or rebellion; One who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; One who causes strife

Maelstrom (Noun)

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

Myopic (Adjective)

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

Overt (Adjective)

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

Pejorative (Adjective)

Tending to make worse; Expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

Propriety (Noun)

The state of being proper, appropriateness; Standards of what is proper or socially acceptable

Sacrilege (Noun)

Improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

Summarily (Adverb)

Without delay or formality; Briefly, concisely

Suppliant (Adjective, Noun)

Asking humbly and earnestly; One who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor

Talisman (Noun)

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

Undulate (Verb)

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