Note: Denise and I recommend only products that we have tried and tested. These include the popular vocabulary-improvement software Ultimate Vocabulary.*
In 1921, Professor Edward Thorndike wrote The Teacher's Word Book, comprising a list of 10,000 words. According to Thorndike, his list provided the most frequently occurring words that should be reinforced by instruction and thus become a permanent part of a student's vocabulary. Theoretically, when you have learned all the important meanings of the words in the list, you will have the basis of a non-technical working vocabulary (Pitkin, 63).
Some of the words in Thorndike's vocabulary word list are archaic. So, I have put together a refined list of around 800 words from Thorndike's vocabulary word list, as earlier refined in Walter Pitkin's The Art of Rapid Reading. When learning these words, remember you must learn all the different shades of meaning of the word, because a good vocabulary is one that is both wide and deep.
To learn these words properly, you can use the popular vocabulary-building software Ultimate Vocabulary. If you already have Ultimate Vocabulary, then:
- Click "Custom Word Lists"
- Click "Create New" (call the list something like Thorndike word list)
- From the list below, copy the word you want to learn
- Paste the word in Ultimate Vocabulary's dictionary and click "Lookup"
- Click "Add to list"
Ultimate Vocabulary will then drill you on the meanings of these words, with pronunciation, flash cards, exercises, and other proven techniques for improving your vocabulary. Of course, you can also use the many prebuilt vocabulary word lists that already come with Ultimate Vocabulary.
Here is a selection from Thorndike's vocabulary word list:
A VOCABULARY WORD LIST TO MASTER
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abash abject abridge absolve abstinence accessory accordance accost acquit acute adhere adieu adjourn adjudge admonish adverse affront afresh aggravate aghast agitate akin alacrity albeit alcove allay allege alliance ally aloof alternate alumni amiss amity anecdote animosity annihilate antagonist antic aperture apothecary apparatus apparition appease appertain apprehend approbation arbitrary arrant ascertain ascribe aspire assay assemblage astray atone attest audacious augment austere auxiliary avarice baffle balk balmy barge barrow bask bass baste bauble bawl beacon bearing beck belated belie benefactor benevolence benign bequeath bevel bleak blight blithe bluster bode bolster brandish brawl brawn bray brazen breach bristle brittle broach broil buff bulwark cackle canopy capacious caprice carouse carrion caustic cavalier challis chamois chancellor chandelier chasm chide chink chivalry churl clamber clamorous clemency clench clink cloy commodious commune complement concord concur conflagration conjugation conjunction conjure consort conspire contemporary contention continental continuance continuation contrive convene covetous coy crag cravat craven creak creditor credulous creed crevice crystalline cudgel cue dastard daub dearth debase decimal declension defer degenerate degrade deity delta delude deluge demeanor denote denounce dependant dependent depute deride descry |
desist destitute determinate devout diadem dilapidated dilate diligence dilute diplomat discern disclaim discomfit discord discreet dismount dispatch displace dissembler dissension dissipate dissolution dissuade divination divulge dogma doleful domain don dotage dote dower dowry dram dreg dross drought dupe durable dwindle edify edition efface effective eke elapse embark embassy embattled ember embody emboss eminence emit enact encamp encompass endue engender engross enhance enjoin enmity ensign ensnare entangle enthusiast entrails entrust envelop environ epitaph epoch equity equivalent eschew espouse espy estrange ethereal evade evince exempt exert exhalation exhort expedient expend extol fallow famish fealty felon fervent fillet flange flank flay flecked flexible flinty flounce flue foliage forbade forbearance forcible forfeiture formation formidable fortitude frailty fraught fray frenzy froth frugal gabble gaberdine gaiter galvanize gambol gape garner garret garrison gaudy gauge gaunt gauze gesture geyser girth gnash goad gradation grail granary grandeur granulate grapple graven grimace gripe grotesque grovel gruel guile guise gully hackney hale halter hap harbinger harmonious harrow haunch havoc hazard haze heinous hereditary heresy heritage hie hillock hilt hitch hock hoist homage hone hub huff |
hulk hull husk hustle hypocrisy hysterical ignoble imbibe immeasurable imminent immovable immunity immutable impair impartial impediment impel impend impenetrable imperil imperious impetuous impious imply imposition impotent impressive impute inanimate incessant inclination incomparable indictment indolence inducement inestimable inexhaustible infallible infamous infidel infuse ingenious inglorious iniquity injunction inlaid inscribe insinuate insole insolence inspect insulate insure insurgent interpose intolerable intricate invariable invert inveterate invigorate invoice ire jay jeopardy jocund jollity jot jubilant judicious jurisdiction jut keel knead knoll labyrinth lading ladle languid lank lapse lascivious lathe lattice laud lea leathern leaven leer legacy legible legislate lever levy lewd liable libel liege lineal lineament lint loam loathsome loft lop lore lucid luminous luxurious macaroon machinist magnanimity maim malicious mallet mangle manifestation mantel marrow maul maxim meager mediator meditation medley meed menace mercenary meridian mete metropolis mettle mien minion ministration minnow mitigate molten monotonous monumental mortar mortify motley mottle muff muffle mull muster mutinous myriad nave negate negligence negotiate nestle nether nettle nominate notch notorious novice noxious oblique oblivion obnoxious obscene obscurity obsequious observance obstruction obtainable officious olfactory omnipotent opportune |
oppressive originate pageant palate pall palpable parable pare parley partition pastoral pedant penance pelt pendant penetrate penitent pent penury peradventure percolate perdition perennial perjure pernicious perpetuate perplexity persecution perseverance personage perspective pert pertain peruse pervade pestilence petrify pinnacle pique piston plaid plait pluperfect pompous populace portal portentous prance prate precaution precede precipice precocious predecessor predominant preeminence prejudice premier preparatory preposition prerogative presage prescription pretext privy proclamation prodigal prodigy proffer proficient profuse progeny prologue promenade promontory propagate propensity prophetic propitious prostrate provocation prowess quire quotient radius raiment rampant rampart rapine rapt ratify rational ravenous ravine ravish raze repine rebellious rebound recede receptacle recessive reck recline recoil reconciliation recount redoubt redress reek reflexive regime reiterate relinquish repeal repel reprobate repress repulse repute requite resemblance residue respite resplendent restitution retinue retort reverberate revere revert revery revile rife riotous robust roe rood rosette rosin rout rue ruminate rung russet sachet salutary salve sanction satiate saunter savour scabbard scaffold scamper scoop scruple scullion scurry scythe sect sedate sediment sedition seer semblance sentinel sepulchre sequel sequester seraph settee sexton shawl sheaf |
sheen sheer shekel shellac shuttle sickle sieve sill simultaneous sinewy singe skein skirmish skulk slunk smitten smock sodden solder solidify solvent sombre sonnet sordid specious spectre spick sportive sprawl sprig sprightly sprite squall stark statute stave stealth sterile stifle stile straiten stratagem strewn stripling strode stronghold strop strung subvert successor succour sufferance suite sully sultry sumptuous sunder sundry sup superfluity superiority supplant supple suppliant supplicate supremacy surety surmise surmount sustenance swarthy swerve sylph sylvan symmetrical symphony symptom syndicate tabernacle tabor tallow taunt tawny teem temperament tempestuous temporal terrestrial testament tether thrall thwart timorous tincture tinder tinge tithe torpid torrid transact transcendent transgress transient travail tremulous tribulation tribunal trivet trodden troth trowel trundle tuft tumultuous turbulent turnpike twill undefiled unerring unfeigned unfurl unscrupulous upholster usurp usury vacillate vane vantage variable variegated vassal vat vaunt vehement venturous verdant verdure vernal vesper vestal vesture vial victual vigilance vigorous vintage virtual visage voile volley voluptuous wampum wane wantonness weal wean wend whit whoop wile wrangle wrathful wrest wringer writhe wroth yore zephyr |
REFERENCES
Edward Thorndike, The Teacher's Word Book (1921)
Walter B Pitkin, The Art of Rapid Reading (1929)
*Denise and I have agreed to receive a commission from some sales of the Ultimate Vocabulary software because we are happy to endorse that software.
