Accost: meaning, definitions and examples
🚶♂️
accost
[ əˈkɔːst ]
confronting someone
To accost someone means to approach them boldly or confrontationally, often in a aggressive manner. This term is frequently used in contexts where one person stops another to speak to them, typically with an unexpected or intrusive inquiry. The person approaching may have ulterior motives or be seeking information, and the encounter can often make the other person feel uncomfortable or threatened. Accosting can occur in various settings, including on the street or in social situations.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The journalist accosted the celebrity for a quick interview.
- He was accosted by a stranger asking for directions.
- She felt uneasy when a man accosted her in the alley.
Translations
Translations of the word "accost" in other languages:
🇵🇹 abordar
🇮🇳 सम्बोधित करना
🇩🇪 ansprechen
🇮🇩 mendekati
🇺🇦 підходити
🇵🇱 zaczepić
🇯🇵 近づく
🇫🇷 aborder
🇪🇸 acercarse
🇹🇷 yaklaşmak
🇰🇷 접근하다
🇸🇦 اقتراب
🇨🇿 přistoupit
🇸🇰 pristúpiť
🇨🇳 接近
🇸🇮 pristopiti
🇮🇸 nálgast
🇰🇿 жақындау
🇬🇪 მოახლოვება
🇦🇿 yanaşmaq
🇲🇽 acercarse
Etymology
The word 'accost' originates from the Middle French term 'acoster', meaning 'to approach', which in turn comes from 'à' (to) and 'coster' (to coast or lie alongside). This term gained popularity in English during the late 14th century and is often used in legal contexts to describe the act of confronting or addressing someone directly. Over time, the meaning has evolved to include a more aggressive connotation, where the act of approaching carries an implication of unwanted attention or challenge. The term is now commonly associated with street encounters, where individuals may be accosted for various reasons, including questions, requests for money, or other confrontations.