Unit 2 Vocabulary

Question 1

Accost (v)

Answer 1

To approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

Question 2

Animadversion (n)

Answer 2

A comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

Question 3

Avid (adj)

Answer 3

Desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

Question 4

Brackish (adj)

Answer 4

Having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink

Question 5

Celerity (n)

Answer 5

Swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

Question 6

Devious (adj)

Answer 6

Straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

Question 7

Gambit (n)

Answer 7

In chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice if a minor piece in oder to gain a latter advantage; any opening move of this type

Question 8

Halcyon (n)

Answer 8

A legendary bird identified with the kingfisher

Question 9

Halcyon (adj)

Answer 9

Calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent

Question 10

Histrionic (adj)

Answer 10

Pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic

Question 11

Incendiary (n) or (adj)

Answer 11

One who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who causes strife; deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion

Question 12

Maelstrom (n)

Answer 12

A whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction

Question 13

Myopic (adj)

Answer 13

Nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or descernment

Question 14

Overt (adj)

Answer 14

Open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

Question 15

Pejorative (adj)

Answer 15

Tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

Question 16

Propriety (n)

Answer 16

The state of being proper, appropriateness; standards of what is proper or socially acceptable

Question 17

Sacrilege (n)

Answer 17

Improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

Question 18

Summarily (adv)

Answer 18

Without delay or formality; briefly, concisely

Question 19

Suppliant (n) or (adj)

Answer 19

One who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor; asking humbly and earnestly

Question 20

Talisman (n)

Answer 20

An object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish

Question 21

Undulate (v)

Answer 21

To move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wave line appearance or form