vocabulary

Vocabulary, n.; pl. Vocabularies.

Etymology: [LL. vocabularium, vocabularius: cf. F. vocabulaire. See Vocable.]

1. A list or collection of words arranged in alphabetical order and explained; a dictionary or lexicon, either of a whole language, a single work or author, a branch of science, or the like; a word-book.

2. A sum or stock of words employed. His vocabulary seems to have been no larger than was necessary for the transaction of business. Macaulay.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for vocabulary; he lists it under diction, language.

Where he writes about it:

An author's vocabulary is the range of words which he brings into his use. — from diction

Synonyms

diction language barbarism dialect expression idiom mother tongue patois phrase phraseology speech style tongue verbiage vernacular wording

Antonyms

none given

etymology Webster’s online