Maybe you find yourself in the middle of an exam and suddenly come across a word that doesn't make sense. This is generally the signal for most people to panic if they don't have a dictionary on hand. But do not worry! There are several steps you can take to help you figure out the meaning of a word without a dictionary.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use context to define the word
Step 1. Read the entire sentence
It can be very frustrating to have your reading interrupted by an unfamiliar word. If you are in the middle of an exam or an assignment for school or work, it can also be very stressful. If you don't have a dictionary handy, follow other steps to find out what the word means.
- Your first step is to reread the entire sentence. You may have lost track of what you were reading when you came across the new word.
- Think about the content of the sentence. Do you understand the sentence without using the new word? Or is it incomprehensible?
- Try to underline the unknown word. This will help you separate it from the rest of the sentence.
Step 2. Identify the words you understand
You can often use other words in the sentence to help you define the unknown word. Think about what else happens in the sentence. Hopefully this will help you determine if the unknown word is a noun, a verb, or an adjective.
- For example, perhaps you are reading a sentence that says, "It was a very muggy day in the middle of summer." You may understand every word except "muggy."
- Think about what you know about summer. "Sultry" probably has something to do with the weather.
- Your Biology test may have this sentence: "Many members of the canine family are predators who seek out other animals to eat." You can assume that "predators" hunt other animals.
Step 3. Find illustrative examples
Once you've examined the other words in that sentence, you can move on. Begin by reading the sentences that follow the unknown word. An author will often give descriptions that can help you determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
- Take for example the sentence "It was a very muggy day in the middle of summer." It could be followed by the sentence "The heat and humidity made sitting in the shade drinking lemonade an attractive option."
- Now you can define "muggy" with more confidence. Descriptive words like "heat" and "humidity" are more clues that it is a description of the weather.
- Sometimes the descriptive examples will be in the same original sentence. For example, you might say "Muggy days are so hot and humid."
Step 4. Think logically
Sometimes the context clues won't be so clear. You will have to use logic to determine the meaning of the word. You can also use experience or your prior knowledge of the topic.
- For example, perhaps a sentence reads, "In the antebellum South of the US, many farm owners owned slaves." It is probable that "prewar" is the unknown word.
- The sentence itself offers no further clues. However, the following sentences are: "However, after the American Civil War, slavery was abolished. This was a major change between the two eras."
- Think about what you know now. You're reading information about two different eras, right? Before the civil war and after the civil war.
- Now you can make a pretty logical guess as to the word "antebellum." Based on your experience and reading the sentences below, you know that it probably means "before the war."
Step 5. Use other context clues
Sometimes an author will offer other types of clues. Look for reaffirmations. This is when the meaning of the word is repeated in other words.
- This is an example of a "reaffirmation": "The pig was screaming in pain. Its high-pitched cry was very loud."
- You can also search for "appositions". This is when an author highlights a specific word by placing a later description between two commas.
- This is an example of the use of an apposition: "The Taj Mahal, which is a huge white marble mausoleum, is one of the most famous monuments in India."
- You may not know the words "Taj Mahal", but the use of an apposition makes it clear that it is a monument.
Method 2 of 3: Understand Basic Etymology
Step 1. Search for a prefix
Etymology is the study of the meanings of words. It also studies their origins and how they have changed over time. By learning etymology, you can find new ways to define unfamiliar words without using a dictionary.
- Start by looking at each part of the word in question. It is very useful to find if the word has a common prefix.
- Prefixes are the first part of the word. For example, a common prefix is "anti".
- "Anti" means "against". Knowing this should help you determine the meanings of words like "antibiotic" or "antithesis."
- "Extra" is a prefix that means "beyond." Use it to solve words like "alien" or "extracurricular."
- Other common prefixes are "hyper", "intro", "macro" and "micro". You can also search for prefixes like "multi", "neo" and "omni".
Step 2. Pay attention to the suffix
The suffix is the letters at the end of the word. There are several suffixes that are common in the Spanish language. They can help you determine what type of word it is.
- Some suffixes indicate a noun. For example, "ado" at the end of the word sometimes indicates a noun. An example is "employee".
- Another common suffix for a noun is "idad". Examples include "electricity" and "speed."
- Other suffixes indicate verbs. For example, "ar". This is used in words like "create" and "divert".
- Another verb suffix is "izar". Think of the words "exorcise" and "prioritize."
Step 3. Identify the root words
A root word is the central word, without a prefix or suffix. Most of the words in the Spanish language come from either a Latin or a Greek root word.
- By learning common root words, you can begin to identify new words more easily. You will also be able to recognize words to which a prefix or suffix has been added.
- An example of a root word is "love." You can add a lot of things to that word: "bear" to make it "loving", for example.
- "Bio" is a Greek root word. It means "life or living matter." Think about how we have adapted this root word to become "biology," "biography," and "biodegradable."
Method 3 of 3: Build Your Vocabulary
Step 1. Take notes
If you can increase the size of your vocabulary, you will be less likely to come across unfamiliar words. There are several steps you can take to develop your vocabulary effectively. For example, you can start by taking notes.
- Every time you come across an unfamiliar word, write it down. Later, when you have access to a dictionary, you can look it up to get an accurate definition.
- Keep a small packet of sticky notes with you as you read. You can write the unknown word in a note and simply paste it on the page to return to it later.
- Start taking a small notebook with you. You can use it to monitor words you don't know and new words you have learned.
Step 2. Use multiple resources
There are many tools that you can use to help you develop your vocabulary. The most obvious is a dictionary. Buy a hard copy or bookmark a useful online dictionary.
- A thesaurus can also be very helpful. It will give you synonyms for all the new words you learn.
- Try a word of the day calendar. These helpful desktop tools give you a new word to learn every day. They are available online and in bookstores.
Step 3. Read a lot
Reading is one of the best ways to increase the size of your vocabulary. Make an effort to read every day. Both fiction and nonfiction will be helpful.
- Novels can expose you to new words. For example, reading the latest legal thriller will likely expose you to some legal jargon that you've never heard before.
- Read the newspaper. Some newspapers even have a daily element that highlights the language and explores the meanings of the words.
- Set aside time to read each day. You can strain to glance at a news website while sipping your morning coffee, for example.
Step 4. Play
Learning can be fun! There are many enjoyable activities that can help you build your vocabulary. Try doing crossword puzzles.
- Crosswords are a great way to learn new words. They will also stretch your brain giving you interesting clues to guess the correct word.
- Play Scrabble. You'll quickly learn that unusual words often get the most points.
Advice
- Have a notebook. This could be useful if you come across a word that you want to learn later, or if you want to make a list of words that share suffixes or prefixes (both of which are known as "roots," which also include anything that goes in the middle).
- Read etymology dictionaries. You can find them online and presumably in bookstores if you look carefully.
- Buy a dictionary.