Dictionary.com
definitions

accosted

[ uh-kaw-stid, uh-kos-tid ]
/ əˈkɔ stɪd, əˈkɒs tɪd /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR accosted ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Heraldry.

(of animals) represented as side by side: two dolphins accosted.

RELATED CONTENT

Belligerent And Other Trending Words On Dictionary.comFrom California weed growers to the big screen, here are the news stories that had you asking, "Hey, what does that word mean?"
READ MORE
What Happens When Memes Go WrongLOLcats. Good Guy Greg. Forever Alone Rage Face. Scumbag Steve. If you recognize that these are internet memes, you’re not oblivious to the raging cultural phenomenon that has swept internet screens in the last several years.  So, what does meme mean? For the uninitiated, an internet meme is any concept expressed through digital media that goes viral—a photo, video, GIF, song, doodle, fictional character, symbol. The …
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

confront, annoy, buttonhole, bother, welcome, cross, hail, face, dare, flag, proposition, call, greet, entice, address, brace, challenge, salute

Nearby words

  1. accordion pleat,
  2. accordion pleats,
  3. accordion-fold,
  4. accordionist,
  5. accost,
  6. accouchement,
  7. accoucheur,
  8. accoucheur's hand,
  9. accoucheuse,
  10. account

Origin of accosted

First recorded in 1600–10; accost + -ed2
Related formsun·ac·cost·ed, adjective

accost

[ uh-kawst, uh-kost ]
/ əˈkɔst, əˈkɒst /

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.

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
Related formsac·cost·a·ble, adjectiveun·ac·cost·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for accosted

British Dictionary definitions for accosted

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 Formsaccostable, 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
Word Origin and History for accosted

accost

v.

1570s, from Middle French accoster "move up to," from Italian accostare or directly from Late Latin accostare "come up to the side," from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + costa "rib, side" (see coast (n.)). The original notion is of fleets of warships attacking an enemy's coast. Related: Accosted; accosting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper