accost
UK[əˈkɒst]US[əˈkɔːst]
v
to approach and speak to someone, often in an aggressive or demanding way.
v
(of a prostitute) to solicit someone.
Etymology
the word "accost" entered english in the late 16th century from the french verb 'accoster', meaning 'to come alongside'. the french term itself derives from the vulgar latin 'accostare', a compound formed from the latin prefix 'ad-' (to, towards) and the noun 'costa' (rib, side). the literal sense was 'to come up to the side of' someone. this spatial meaning evolved logically into the modern sense of approaching someone directly, often with an implication of confrontation or solicitation, as one must come close to another's side to address them boldly or intrusively.
Analysis
this word is a simplex loanword from french. its spelling and morphological structure are not productively analyzable into smaller, meaningful english morphemes.
Examples
he was accosted by a stranger asking for money.
reporters accosted the minister as she left the building.
she felt nervous walking home alone, fearing someone might accost her.