PART ONE 1
Chapter Ⅰ．A GENERAL SURVEY OF ENGLISH VOCABULARY 1
1．The Development of English Vocabulary 3
2．Classification of English Words According to Different Criteria 9
PART TWO 21
Chapter Ⅱ．MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH WORDS 21
1．Morphemes 21
2．Classification of Morphemes 23
Chapter Ⅲ．WORD-FORMATION(Ⅰ)(The Three Major Processes of Word-formation) 31
1．General Remarks 31
2．Compounding 35
3．Derivation 42
4．Conversion 55
Chapter Ⅳ．WORD-FORMATION(Ⅱ)(The Minor Processes of Word-formation) 72
1．Acronymy:Initialisms and Acronyms 72
2．Clipping 75
3．Blending 77
4．Back-formation 81
5．Words from Proper Names 83
6．Reduplication 86
7．Neoclassical Formation 87
8．Miscellaneous 88
PART THREE 93
Chapter Ⅴ．WORD MEANING AND SEMANTIC FEATURES 93
1．Conventionality and Motivation 93
2．Main Types of Word Meaning 95
3．Componential Analysis and Semantic Features 101
Chanter Ⅵ．POLYSEMY AND HOMONYMY 109
1．Polysemy 109
2．Homonymy 115
3．The Stylistic Value of Polysemy and Homonymy 119
Chapter Ⅶ．SENSE RELATIONS BETWEEN WORDS 124
1．Synonymy 124
2．Antonymy 136
3．Hyponymy 142
4．Semantic Field 143
Chapter Ⅷ．MEANING AND CONTEXT 152
1．Two Types of Contexts 152
2．The Vital Role of Context in Determination of Word Meaning 157
3．Suggested Ways for the Correct Comprehension of Word Meaning 162
Chapter Ⅸ．CHANGES IN WORD MEANING 168
1．Causes of Changes in Word Meaning 169
2．Four Tendencies in Semantic Change 176
3．Semantic Development or Change Resulting from the Figurative Use of Words 185
PART FOUR 190
Chapter Ⅹ．ENGLISH IDIOMS 190
1．Introductory Remarks 190
2．Sources of English Idioms 192
3．Classification of Idioms 193
4．Syntactic,Structural and Stylistic Analysis of Idioms 201
Chapter Ⅺ．AMERICAN ENGLISH 211
1．Growth of American English 211
2．Characteristics of American English 216
3．Differences between British and American English 224
Chapter Ⅻ．ENGLISH DICTIONARIES AND HOW TO USE THEM 236
1．Introductory Remarks 236
2．Types of Dictionaries 238
3．The Choice of a Dictionary 246
4．How to Use a Dictionary 248
Key to Exercises 256
Reference Books 269
常用英语词汇学术语英汉对照表 272