Unit 2 Flashcards
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
adj
desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager
brackish
adj
having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink
celerity
noun
swiftness, rapidity of motion or action
promptness, speed
devious
adj
straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way
gambit
noun
an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage
halcyon (hal’ see uhn)
noun
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
noun
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
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
noun
the state of being proper, appropriateness
(plural) standards of what is proper or socially acceptable
