Unit 2 Vocab (definitions) Flashcards
(v.) to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way
accost
(n.) a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval
animadversion
(adj.) desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager
avid
(adj.) having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink
brackish
(n.) swiftness, rapidity of motion or action
celerity
(adj.) straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way
devious
(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
gambit
(n. ) a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher
(adj. ) of or relating to the _____; calm, peaceful, happy, golden; prosperous, affluent
halcyon
(adj.) pertaining to actors and their technique; theatrical, artificial; MELODRAMATIC
histrionic
(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
incendiary
(n.) a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction
maelstrom
(adj.) nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment
myopic
(adj.) open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized
overt
(adj.) tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling
pejorative
(n. ) the state of being proper, appropriateness
(plural) standards of what is proper or socially acceptable
propriety
(n.) improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred
sacrilege
(adv.) without delay or formality; briefly, concisely
summarily
(adj. ) asking humbly and earnestly
(n. ) one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor
suppliant
(n.) an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish
talisman
(v.) to move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form
undulate
