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accost

 - 3 dictionary results

ac⋅cost

  [uh-kawst, uh-kost]
Use accost in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to confront boldly: The beggar accosted me for money.
2. to approach, esp. with a greeting, question, or remark.
3. (of prostitutes, procurers, etc.) to solicit for sexual purposes.
–noun
4. a greeting.
Origin:
1570–80; < LL accostāre to be or put side by side. See ac-, coast

Related forms:
ac⋅cost⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To accost
ac·cost   (ə-kôst', ə-kŏst')   
tr.v.   ac·cost·ed, ac·cost·ing, ac·costs

  1. To approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand or request.

  2. To solicit for sex.


[French accoster, from Old French, from Medieval Latin accostāre, to adjoin : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin costa, side; see kost- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

accost 
1578, from M.Fr. accoster "move up to," from L.L. accostare "come up to the side," from L. ad- "to" + costa "rib, side" (see coast). The original notion is of fleets of warships attacking an enemy's coast.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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