How to increase your vocabulary?

Reading books can help you expand your vocabulary because they present Words that you don't necessarily know within a context. Context provides meaning for Words that is beyond that of a dictionary definition because it gives you something to associate the Words with, such as feelings and tone.

For example:

"Jeeves: I happened to be pursuing him this morning with the view of fetching him a clip on the side of the head.

"Wooster: Great Scott, Jeeves! You?

"Jeeves: The lad is of an outspoken disposition, sir, and had made an opprobrious remark respecting my appearance.

"Wooster: What did he say about your appearance?

"Jeeves (coldly): I do not recall, sir. But it was opprobrious."

In this context, you understand that Jeeves is upset about what the lad said about his appearance, which was "opprobrious." Using this context, you can understand that the Word "opprobrious" means "offensive and reproachful." Because of the context, you can use the Word when describing what someone has said about you the next time you are offended by someone.