Resources: Vocabulary
100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
The editors of the American Heritage® dictionaries have compiled a list of 100 words they recommend every high school graduate should know.
5000 Collegiate Words with Brief Definitions
The 5000 words, with brief definitions, are free for individual and classroom use. A 36-page, small-print, two-column PDF version is also downloadable for printing.
Alan Cooper's Homonyms
"I consider homonyms to be the prime numbers of the English language. Like primes, they cannot be predicted by any rules of grammar or diction. In the way that you can't search the number line for primes, you cannot systematically search the dictionary for homonyms. You just have to find them, like Easter Eggs in the dictionary."
Antagonyms
An antagonym (a term the author coined) is single word that has meanings that contradict each other. For example: Cleave, which means to adhere tightly and also to cut apart. Antagonyms are also known as "contronyms."
Calliope, Muse of Eloquence
Worksheets for English words from classical mythology
The Collective Nouns
This page as much fun as an exaltation of larks and an ostentation of peacocks.
Fake Out
The Definition Guessing Game from Houghton Mifflin's Education Place.
Glossary of Literary Terms
Presented by Bedford/St. Martin's, college publisher specializing in the humanities.
A good vocabulary will make you a better writer
By Stephen Wilbers--First published by the Minneapolis Star Tribune: March 5, 1999.
Vocabulary University
This is the home of Vocabulary University® Participate in these FREE vocabulary puzzles to enhance vocabulary mastery. Earn your diploma at VOCAB U. Teachers have endorsed this site which enriches classroom curriculum. These exercises help prepare for SSATreg;, PSATreg;, GEDreg;, SATreg; and ACTreg; tests, and they supplement personal vocabulary acquisition, are used in home-schooling and ESL programs.
Wordsalive
Wordsalive, a vocabulary acquisition model combines researched-based strategies, many of which are utilized by Virginia teachers, into a student-friendly graphic organizer. It is appropriate for vocabulary instruction in any content area and for learners in graders five through nine.
Wordsmith.org
Wordsmith.org is the home of A Word A Day and other services.