100 Classic Words

Mrs. Medieval Mom (United States of America)
By Michael Clay Thompson. “What words do students really need to know if they are to read comfortably in the classics of English and American literature? My ten-year study of 35,000 examples from 130 different works indicates that the following words appear with high frequency. They are the top 100 words in my Classic Words database, in descending order of frequency, and they appear even in socalled children’s classics, such as Tom Sawyer, Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows, and The Call of the Wild.”

From his free download here:http://www.rfwp.com/pages/michael-clay-thompson/downloads/.
100 words 855 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. countenance
    the appearance conveyed by a person's face
  2. profound
    situated at or extending to great depth
  3. manifest
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
  4. serene
    not agitated
  5. sublime
    of high moral or intellectual value
  6. prodigious
    great in size, force, extent, or degree
  7. singular
    being a single and separate person or thing
  8. clamor
    utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
  9. visage
    the human face
  10. abate
    become less in amount or intensity
  11. allude
    make an indirect reference to
  12. grotesque
    distorted and unnatural in shape or size
  13. undulate
    move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
  14. acute
    ending in a sharp point
  15. vivid
    having striking color
  16. venerate
    regard with feelings of respect and reverence
  17. exquisite
    delicately beautiful
  18. melancholy
    a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
  19. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
  20. traverse
    journey across or pass over
  21. repose
    freedom from activity
  22. lurid
    glaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism
  23. languid
    lacking spirit or liveliness
  24. superfluous
    more than is needed, desired, or required
  25. sagacity
    the trait of having wisdom and good judgment
  26. vulgar
    of or associated with the great masses of people
  27. placid
    calm and free from disturbance
  28. tremulous
    quivering as from weakness or fear
  29. odious
    extremely repulsive or unpleasant
  30. pallor
    an unnatural lack of color in the skin
  31. abyss
    a bottomless gulf or pit
  32. stolid
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
  33. condescend
    behave in a patronizing manner
  34. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
  35. prostrate
    stretched out and lying at full length along the ground
  36. remonstrate
    argue in protest or opposition
  37. palpable
    capable of being perceived
  38. vex
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
  39. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  40. perplex
    be a mystery or bewildering to
  41. portent
    a sign of something about to happen
  42. peremptory
    putting an end to all debate or action
  43. somber
    serious and gloomy in character
  44. importune
    beg persistently and urgently
  45. audible
    heard or perceptible by the ear
  46. expostulate
    reason with for the purpose of dissuasion
  47. subtle
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
  48. tangible
    perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
  49. vivacious
    vigorous and animated
  50. despondent
    without or almost without hope
  51. doleful
    filled with or evoking sadness
  52. pervade
    spread or diffuse through
  53. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
  54. apprehension
    fearful expectation or anticipation
  55. procure
    get by special effort
  56. abject
    of the most contemptible kind
  57. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  58. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
  59. oppress
    come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
  60. oblique
    slanting or inclined in direction or course or position
  61. sallow
    unhealthy looking
  62. ignominy
    a state of dishonor
  63. eccentric
    conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
  64. resolute
    firm in purpose or belief
  65. articulate
    express or state clearly
  66. furtive
    secret and sly
  67. fain
    having made preparations
  68. genial
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
  69. mien
    a person's appearance, manner, or demeanor
  70. affect
    have an influence upon
  71. billow
    a large sea wave
  72. confound
    be confusing or perplexing to
  73. wan
    pale, as of a person's complexion
  74. indolent
    disinclined to work or exertion
  75. maxim
    a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
  76. reproach
    express criticism towards
  77. morose
    showing a brooding ill humor
  78. latter
    the second of two or the second mentioned of two
  79. conjure
    summon into action or bring into existence
  80. retort
    a quick reply to a question or remark
  81. antipathy
    a feeling of intense dislike
  82. alacrity
    liveliness and eagerness
  83. animated
    having life or vigor or spirit
  84. vestige
    an indication that something has been present
  85. verdure
    green foliage
  86. adjacent
    having a common boundary or edge
  87. rebuke
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
  88. zenith
    the highest point of something
  89. inexorable
    impossible to prevent, resist, or stop
  90. livid
    furiously angry
  91. din
    a loud, harsh, or strident noise
  92. dilate
    become wider
  93. fortnight
    a period of fourteen consecutive days
  94. abash
    cause to be embarrassed
  95. profane
    grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred
  96. imperious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  97. conjecture
    believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
  98. swarthy
    naturally having skin of a dark color
  99. impute
    attribute or credit to
  100. appellation
    identifying words by which someone or something is called
Created on Thu Apr 04 14:45:39 EDT 2013 (updated Fri Apr 05 08:07:54 EDT 2013)

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