I have an uncomfortably small vocabulary (for a graduate student). The only logical way to deal with this seems to be that I 1) admit the problem, and then 2) learn more words. I tend look up words over and over again because I store their definitions in notebooks and never look at them again. I’m not sure how much I’ll update it, but I’m going to use this page for a database of new words I pick up along the way.
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ad hoc: (adjective) concerned with a specific subject, purpose, or end.
alacrity: cheerfulness; readiness.
andirons: (noun) one of a pair of metal supports used for holding up logs in a fireplace*
astern: (adverb) in a backward direction
cetology: (noun) the study of whales and dolphins.
comport: (verb) to agree, harmonize, mesh well with.
convivial: (adjective) friendly or festive.
decoction: a concentrated matter, made by( boiling it down
dint: (noun) force, power
direful: (adjective) awful
emolument: profit; salary; fee–compensation for services.
exigence: (noun) urgency
heuristic (approach): allowing the learner to think through for herself. 2) trial and error experimentation.
hypos: (noun) a stimulus or boost.
obstreperous: (adjective) boisterous, noisy, or unruly
opine: (verb) hold or express an opinion
portentous: (adjective) momentous, ominously significant, or marvelous
prognosticate: (verb) to predict, foreshadow
prolixity: (noun) wordiness
putative: (adjective) commonly regarded as such
scruple: (verb) to hesitate about
shoal: (noun) a shallow place in the water–sandbar; (verb) to make something shallow
stave: (verb) to break or crush something inward.
supineness: (noun): inertness, indifference
toper: (noun) a chronic drunkard
truculency: brutal, harsh.
univocity: A word with univocity always has the same meaning.
vicissitude: change; mutation; a change of state.
wainscot: (noun) wood (usually oak) used for paneling interior walls
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* Word for word from the American Heritage Dictionary
