List of all difficult words from The Story of My Life by Helen Keller with their meanings.

Here are some vocabulary words that may be unfamiliar to some readers of The Story of My Life, though there may be other words as well:

• poignancy: the quality of calling forth sadness.


• untainted: not dirtied or sullied.


• tyranny: an oppressive form of government.


• retribution: punishment to avenge a wrongful deed.


• oculist: an eye doctor or ophthalmologist or optometrist. 


• langour: the state of feeling tired or exhausted. 


• idioms: turns of phrase, popular ways of expressing a concept or idea (such as "raining cats and dogs").


• vivid: having clear and lively images. 


• wily: deceitful. 


• portended: served as warning sign.


• repose: a state of rest or to rest.


• epigrams: short and clever sayings.

As you are reading through The Story of My Life, you should circle or otherwise note unfamiliar words and then look them up online or in a dictionary. This process not only helps you better understand the book, but it also helps you build your vocabulary.