Unit 2 Vocab (definitions)

Question 1

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

Answer 1

accost

Question 2

(n.) a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

Answer 2

animadversion

Question 3

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

Answer 3

avid

Question 4

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

Answer 4

brackish

Question 5

(n.) swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

Answer 5

celerity

Question 6

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

Answer 6

devious

Question 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

Answer 7

gambit

Question 8

(n. ) a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher

(adj. ) of or relating to the _____; calm, peaceful, happy, golden; prosperous, affluent

Answer 8

halcyon

Question 9

(adj.) pertaining to actors and their technique; theatrical, artificial; MELODRAMATIC

Answer 9

histrionic

Question 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 a strife

Answer 10

incendiary

Question 11

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

Answer 11

maelstrom

Question 12

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

Answer 12

myopic

Question 13

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

Answer 13

overt

Question 14

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

Answer 14

pejorative

Question 15

(n. ) the state of being proper, appropriateness

(plural) standards of what is proper or socially acceptable

Answer 15

propriety

Question 16

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

Answer 16

sacrilege

Question 17

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

Answer 17

summarily

Question 18

(adj. ) asking humbly and earnestly

(n. ) one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor

Answer 18

suppliant

Question 19

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

Answer 19

talisman

Question 20

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

Answer 20

undulate