What is the best way to learn vocabulary words and definitions?

What is the best way to learn vocabulary words and definitions?

Arthur Bornstein (Founder, The Bornstein School for Memory Training) gives expert video advice on: What is the best way to learn vocabulary words and definitions?; Can notes around the house help me remember vocabulary?; How can I remember words in other languages? and more...

Vocabulary words and definitions is to bring the unfamiliar word to the definition; lock the two together. So you're learning the word 'assuage'. Assuage sounds like a massage. And see a big 'm' in front of the 'a' and that gives you massage. Assuage. Massage. Which means to take away pain; to soothe; to calm.You see a word like 'slake', s-l-a-k-e, and that's a simple word. Lake is within the word slake. Slake means to quench or to satisfy so you want to see people drinking and satisfying down by the slake. Lake. Slake. But when you come with a very abstract word like 'noisome', n-o-i-s-o-m-e, it means a foul smell. You might notice n-o-s-e within the word. We smell through the nose. But a little more dramatic association: you see somebody holding a skunk and he says, "does this annoy some?" Skunk annoys some. Get the picture? Now when you take a word like 'eschew', it means to avoid. So I want you to see this picture: somebody is ducking and avoiding the shoe. Shoe. Avoid. Get the picture? Make it a game of learning and have fun improving your vocabulary.