Unit 2 Vocab (definition)

Question 1

accost

Answer 1

(v.) to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

Question 2

animadversion

Answer 2

(n.) a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

Question 3

avid

Answer 3

(adj.) desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

Question 4

brackish

Answer 4

(adj.) having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink

Question 5

celerity

Answer 5

(n.) swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

Question 6

devious

Answer 6

(adj.) straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

Question 7

gambit

Answer 7

(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

Question 8

halcyon

Answer 8

(n.) a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher
(adj.) of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent

Question 9

histrionic

Answer 9

(adj.) pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic

Question 10

incendiary

Answer 10

(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

Question 11

maelstrom

Answer 11

(n.) a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction

Question 12

myopic

Answer 12

(adj.) nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment

Question 13

overt

Answer 13

(adj.) open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

Question 14

pejorative

Answer 14

(adj.) tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

Question 15

propriety

Answer 15

(n.) the state of being proper, appropriateness
(pl.) standards of what is proper or socially acceptable

Question 16

sacrilege

Answer 16

(n.) improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

Question 17

summarily

Answer 17

(adv.) without delay or formality; briefly, concisely

Question 18

suppliant

Answer 18

(adj.) asking humbly and earnestly
(noun) one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor

Question 19

talisman

Answer 19

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

Question 20

undulate

Answer 20

(v.) to move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form