About Vocabulary Words

There aren't many short cuts to the comfort and assurance of self-confidence. However, the ability to communicate thoughts effectively provides a solid step in that direction. The handiest members of our communications tool chest are words. They are the ones we can learn and access at will, and vibrate right out of our throats in the pacing and intonation that we choose. Other tools we possess are non-verbal such as body posture, gestures, and all the mysterious subtleties of facial expression. But they are somewhat second nature or built-in, and as such, allow less control. So, why not focus on the things that we can control, and let words grow in an ever expanding vocabulary to deliver the nuances of meaning that we intend. Why not wallow in the satisfaction brought by the response of another which confirms that the difficult or abstract or mystical or nebulous information transfer you just attempted actually worked. Why not see how word definitions, synonyms, and antonyms can open doors to new possibilities, new ways to observe, think, and analyze.

There are many vocabularies that we live with every day. Dance is the vocabulary of non-utilitarian expression in motion. Distinctive musical vocabularies from contemporary artists such as Greg Osby, Egberto Gismonti, Les Paul, Nina Simone, Nano Vasconcelos, Steve Turre, Jimi Hendrix, Bobby McFerrin, Erroll Garner, Collin Walcott, and Robert Fripp have expanded the experience of one of humankind's five senses in a variety of interesting ways.

Words occupy at least five vocabularies. Word definitions shape concepts that provide an element of terrain for a thinking vocabulary. Others are reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Reading and listening allow the aid of context. Writing requires creative effort with the benefit of time. Speaking vocabulary is one that cannot be fudged. It requires a mental archive that is ready to go. Filling that archive is the purpose of periodic review of a list of words found to be useful. With the exception of the "geometry" and "music" definition subsets in color, which are included as reference entries, this VOCABULARY WORD list is presented as a group of speaking vocabulary wannabees.

That's the sensible side of the story. This is the real reason the word list is here. The closet reality of my life is that I am a word-crazy. Members of List Keepers Anonymous, with their rehabilitation oriented 12-step programs (you know who you are) will sympathize. I would hate to have to defend this state by any rational standard. To some degree I believe it developed as a reaction to the widespread overuse of trendy cliches, street vernacular, and empty professional pleasantries we face every day, which become an endless cycle of triteness that makes me want to go somewhere and hide.

With the advent of word processor software we list keepers grew to the stature of our full potential. Suddenly there was no end to the types and numbers of alpha or numeric ordered lists we could keep, AND make additions to quite simply. Rejoice and be glad!

In April 1986 I had a reason to partake in the magic of the new personal computers. This word list is my oldest file.

So, if you have any tinge of word-affinity in your bones, please indulge the quiet, vicarious pleasure of peering into the private cache of treasured gems of another. The list is divided into three pages. Navigate within each page by dragging the right side scroll bar.