Added to
Favorites
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Word Dynamo
Quotes
Reference
Translator
Spanish
Log In
Sign Up
Premium
Introducing a cool
new way to learn!
accost
Use
Accost
in a sentence
ac·cost
/
əˈkɔst, əˈkɒst
/
Show Spelled
[
uh
-
kawst
,
uh
-
kost
]
Show IPA
verb (used with object)
1.
to confront boldly:
The beggar accosted me for money.
2.
to approach, especially with a greeting, question, or remark.
3.
(of prostitutes, procurers, etc.) to solicit for sexual purposes.
noun
4.
a greeting.
Origin:
1570–80;
<
Late Latin
accostāre
to be or put side by side. See
ac-
,
coast
Related forms
ac·cost·a·ble,
adjective
un·ac·cost·a·ble,
adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To
accost
Relevant Questions
What Is Accosted?
What Is Accosted?
00:10
Accost
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is
fletcherise
. Does it mean:
So is
absquatulate
. Does it mean:
So is
yaff
. Does it mean:
to run away hurriedly; flee.
to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
to flee; abscond:
to bark; yelp.
to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
accost
(əˈkɒst)
—
vb
1.
(
tr
) to approach, stop, and speak to (a person), as to ask a question, accuse of a crime, solicit sexually, etc
—
n
2.
rare
a greeting
[C16: from Late Latin
accostāre
to place side by side, from Latin
costa
side, rib]
ac'costable
—
adj
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
accost
1570s, from M.Fr. accoster "move up to" (16c.), 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Nevertheless, I was half minded to
accost
some passer-by and throw myself upon
his mercy.
The costs you had in your attempt to
accost
of replacing a gravel driveway with
a con-quire or begin a specific business.
Four swaggering youths in flip-flops
accost
your correspondent and demand to
know what he is doing.
Lobbyists
accost
you from all corners.
Strangers
accost
her to wish her luck.
But it was not my place to
accost
her directly and accuse her of that.
Vases in wild patterns and with colors both muted and brilliant
accost
the eye.
See how they
accost
each other and how they defend themselves.
When he was a judge-if he had been a judge-he had not felt the need to
accost
strangers and tell them that he was a judge.
Daddy taught her how to box, and she once demonstrated her skill by bashing a ruffian who tried to
accost
her.
Upgrade to Ad-free Premium Membership!
Related Words
panhandle
board
greet
waylay
MORE
Matching Quote
"In the course of the world, a man must very often put on an easy, frank countenance, upon very disagreeable occasions; he must seem pleased, when he is very much otherwise; he must be able to
accost
and receive with smiles, those whom he would much rather meet with swords."
-Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield, 4th Earl
MORE
Related Searches
Accosted means
Animadversion
Acquiesce
Abscond
Implore
Reticent
Laconic
Acme
Nearby Words
accorder
according
according as
according hoyle
according to
according to al...
according to ho...
accordingly
accordion
accordion door
accordion fold
accordion graft
accordion pleat
accordion pleat...
accordion sched...
accordion-fold
accordion-pleat
accordionfold
accordionist
accorporate
accost
accostable
accosted
accouchement
accoucheur
accoucheur's ha...
accoucheuse
account
account book
account cur ren...
account cur-ren...
account current
account day
account executi...
account for
account payable
account receiva...
account represe...
account stateme...
account to
account-book
Synonyms
proposition
challenge
confront
welcome
address
salute
bother
MORE
Synonym Game
address
confront
annoy
proposition
cross
entice
hail
PLAY
Partners:
Word
Bloglines
Citysearch
The Daily Beast
Ask Answers
Ask Kids
Life123
Sendori
Home Advisor
Copyright ©
2013 Dictionary.com, LLC
. All rights reserved.
About
PRIVACY POLICY
Terms
API
Careers
Advertise with Us
Contact Us
Suggest a Word
Help
Please
Login
or
Sign Up
to use the Favorites feature
Please
Login
or
Sign Up
to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT