Wordnik.com - All About Words

As any other linguist, I am fascinated by words. Something that has me thinking constantly is the actual number of words an English speaker employs habitually. Experts say that English speakers nowadays have a repertoire of words that amounts to 2,000 – 3,000 at best. Now, compare it with the number of words Shakespeare wielded. It is said the Bard mastered over 20,000 words. Now, that is quite a difference and something to mull over. It was another time, granted, and the role literature had in society was a markedly different one in every sense. But the figures are impressive any way you look at them.

How does that make you feel? Like broadening up your vocabulary? If that is so, Wordnik will come to the rescue. Basically, this new site will enable you to search words and see their definitions and all their possible connotations. A pronunciation guide is likewise included, and as a site user you will be able to save your favorite words and share them with others.

I am not sure whether or not this can make you reach the heights of the Bard, but I will be the first to agree it is a great way to start down the linguistic road. Harrison once sang “when you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there”. Now, if you know where you are going and which road to take, things are always easier.

“An ongoing project devoted to discovering all the words and everything about them.”

It will help anybody learn more about words and how they relate to each other.

How many words are already included as part of the database? Is pronunciation included in every case?