Crossword Dictionary

ACCOST

accost, accosts, accosted, accosting, abord, accoast - v 
to approach and speak to first 

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Synonyms

annoy, buttonhole, confront, address, bother, brace, call, challenge, cross

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Examples

He was accosted by four youths and forced to give them all his money.

I'm usually accosted by beggars and drunks as I walk to the station.

Female booking clerk at once enthusiastic accost, call person offer one's seat to sb.

sentencedict

Etymology

1570s, "come side-by-side or face-to-face with," for any reason, from French accoster "move up to, come alongside" (Old French acoster), from Late Latin accostare "come up to the side," from assimilated form of Latin ad "to" (see ad-) + costa "a rib, side" (see coast (n.)). Now usually in the sense "approach and speak to" (1610s). Also picked up as the verb for a prostitute's solicitation of a customer (1812). Related: Accosted; accosting.

etymonline