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
sacrilege
noun
improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred
summarily
adv
without delay or formality; briefly, concisely
suppliant
adj
asking humbly and earnestly
noun
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
