Vocab Unit #5 9 Honors Accost –serendipity

Accost V To approach and speak to someone aggressively Synonym: to attack Julia felt threatened when the man accosted her on the dark road.

Animosity N Resentment; hostility Synonym: ill-will Though the friends made up after their fight, it was clear to see that both of them still had animosity toward the other.

Bastion N Stronghold; fortress Synonym: fortified place The soldiers tried to protect their camp, which was the last bastion they had.

Chastise V To inflict punishment on someone Synonym: to discipline The teacher chastised her class for misbehaving for the substitute teacher.

Construe V To interpret Synonym: to understand Allison was confused when she was pulled over for a minor traffic violation; she had always construed the law to mean that she was allowed to take a right at a red light.

Deride V To ridicule; to laugh at contemptuously Synonym: to make fun of The coach derided her players until a number of them decided to quit the team.

Enfranchise V To grant the privileges of citizenship Synonym: to grant the right to vote In the United States, citizens are enfranchised on their 18th birthday.

Fetter V To restrain Synonym: to hold back The criminal was fettered to keep him from running away.

Imminent Adj Just about to happen Synonym: forthcoming The dark clouds indicated that a storm was imminent.

Introspective Adj Thinking about oneself Synonym: self-analyzing The introspective boy was often quiet, though it was clear that he was always thinking something over in his mind.

Maxim N A fundamental principle; an old saying Synonym: motto My father believes in the old maxim “a penny saved is a penny earned.”

Pacify V To calm someone down Synonym: to placate In an effort to pacify his screaming toddler, the father bought the child a stuffed animal.

Plebian Adj Common or low-class Synonym: ordinary The pompous man refused to eat at a local pizza place, claiming that the food was too plebian for him.

Redolent Adj Fragrant Synonym: sweet-smelling The kitchen was redolent with the smell of cinnamon and butter.

Serendipity N Accidental fortune Synonym: happy accident It was serendipity that led to the chemist’s important scientific discovery.