Accost Definition

ə-kôst, ə-kŏst
accosted, accosting, accosts
verb
accosted, accosting, accosts
To approach and speak to, especially aggressively or insistently, as with a demand or request.
American Heritage
To approach and speak to; greet first, before being greeted, esp. in an intrusive way.
Webster's New World
To approach and speak to with the intent of having sex.
American Heritage
To solicit for sexual purposes.
Webster's New World
To approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand or request.
Wiktionary
Antonyms:
noun
accosts

(rare) Address; greeting.

Wiktionary

Origin of Accost

  • French accoster from Old French from Medieval Latin accostāre to adjoin Latin ad- ad- Latin costa side kost- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French accoster, from Vulgar Latin accosto (“to come alongside someone”), from ad (“near”) + costa (“rib, side”)

    From Wiktionary

  • First attested in the 1570's.

    From Wiktionary

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