Accosted
(of animals) represented as side by side:
two dolphins accosted.
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.
a greeting.
Contemporary Examples
The doctors were accosted by local settlers, and the Arab doctors and their families were subjected to racial harassment.
Israeli Peace Camp: Empower Moderate Settlers Samuel Lebens May 28, 2013
The young lawyer was returning to her townhouse near Regents Park with her boyfriend when she was accosted soon after dark.
Thief Holds Tony Blair’s Daughter At Gunpoint Demanding Jewels and Cash Nico Hines September 18, 2013
November 20—Franco November 21—Harvard On reaching the sidewalk, they were accosted by the New Haven police.
My Address—and Apology—to Yale Christopher Buckley May 23, 2009
When they split up, Luis and Brandon were accosted by four men a few blocks away.
Arnold Pardoned My Son’s Attacker Bruce Henderson May 10, 2011
They sneaked into the garage claiming it was public property and accosted her.
Inside Katie Holmes’s New Life Paula Froelich July 4, 2012
Historical Examples
He mounted his horse, therefore, and was on the point of starting homeward when Dr. Harrison accosted him.
A Man of Honor George Cary Eggleston
I accosted him, when, to my chagrin and disappointment, he was a white man.
Biography of a Slave Charles Thompson
Peter thanked her, and, walking away, accosted the first policeman.
The Honorable Peter Stirling and What People Thought of Him Paul Leicester Ford
As the boy came through the little gate Mortimer accosted him.
Thoroughbreds W. A. Fraser
Fenwick, as soon as he saw Lord St. George, accosted him before he spoke to the others.
The Vicar of Bullhampton Anthony Trollope
verb
(transitive) to approach, stop, and speak to (a person), as to ask a question, accuse of a crime, solicit sexually, etc
noun
(rare) a greeting
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.
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