Dictionary.com

accost

[ uh-kawst, uh-kost ]
/ əˈkɔst, əˈkɒst /
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See synonyms for: accost / accosted / accosts on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to confront boldly: The beggar accosted me for money.
to approach, especially with a greeting, question, or remark.
(of prostitutes, procurers, etc.) to solicit for sexual purposes.

noun

a greeting.

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Origin of accost

First recorded in 1570–80, accost is from the Late Latin word accostāre to be or put side by side. See ac-, coast

OTHER WORDS FROM accost

ac·cost·a·ble, adjectiveun·ac·cost·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for accost

British Dictionary definitions for accost

accost
/ (əˈkɒst) /

verb

(tr) to approach, stop, and speak to (a person), as to ask a question, accuse of a crime, solicit sexually, etc

noun

rare a greeting

Derived forms of accost

accostable, adjective

Word Origin for accost

C16: from Late Latin accostāre to place side by side, from Latin costa side, rib
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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