Word of the Day
Word
Accost (v.)
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Difficulty
C — Levels range from A to J. What is my level?
Definition
To address, greet, hail, salute, speak to first, make overtures to.
Details
ACCOST is from the Latin AD, to, and COSTA, which may mean side, the source probably of the English word COAST. The word COSTAL is used today in the sciences to mean pertaining to the ribs, to the side of the body. To ACCOST originally meant in English to approach, draw near, come alongside of, or face-to-face; and although this meaning is obsolete, ACCOST, to speak to, is used only for speaking to a person whom one has just approached. By 7 percent of adult readers ACCOST is believed to mean REBUKE, chide, reprove, reprimand. This may be a confusion of ACCOST with ACCUSE, blame, charge, indict. Or it may be due to the frequent appearance of such a phrase as: "ACCOSTED by an officer of the law," a correct use of the word so long as one thinks of it as meaning approached, addressed, spoken to by an officer, for even in this phrase it does not mean REBUKED, reproved, reprimanded. To 14% of high school juniors ACCOST incorrectly means EVALUATE, appraise, set a just value on. This is probably some confusion of the verb to ACCOST, address, with the word COST. The COST of something is its price, the amount one must pay to obtain it; to EVALUATE something is to appraise it, set a price on it, decide how much it will cost. To another 9% of high school juniors ACCOST incorrectly means AVOID, evade, shun, an exact opposite. To ACCOST and to GREET are practically synonymous, but differ radically in use. GREET comes directly from Anglo-Saxon, and is used for the friendly meeting with an equal. ACCOST, because of its Latin origin, is more formal. One ACCOSTS a stranger for the purpose of asking information. Listen
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