Unusual and Archaic Words

The CEM 11+ exam is known for including words that many students have not seen before. Some of these are unusual words from formal or literary English, while others are archaic words — words that were once common but are now rarely used in everyday speech. This lesson will prepare you for these trickier vocabulary questions.

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Why Does the CEM Exam Use Unusual Words?

CEM exams are designed to identify students with a wide vocabulary and strong reading skills. By including unusual or archaic words, the exam can tell the difference between students who read widely (novels, classic stories, non-fiction) and those who have a more limited vocabulary. The good news is that these words often appear in context, so you can use clues from the surrounding text to work out their meaning.

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Unusual Words You Should Know

These words are not everyday vocabulary, but they appear regularly in challenging 11+ papers:

Word	Meaning	Example
Abode	A home or dwelling place	The old cottage was her humble abode.
Adorn	To decorate or make more attractive	Flowers adorned every window sill.
Arduous	Difficult and tiring	The arduous climb left them exhausted.
Bountiful	Large in quantity; generous	The harvest was bountiful that year.
Countenance	A person's face or facial expression	His cheerful countenance brightened the room.
Dwell	To live in a place	Badgers dwell in underground setts.
Fathom	To understand something complex; a unit of depth	She could not fathom why he had left.
Gait	A way of walking	The horse had a smooth, steady gait.
Haste	Speed or urgency	In his haste, he forgot his coat.
Imminent	About to happen very soon	The storm was imminent — dark clouds filled the sky.

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Archaic Words from Literature

These words come from older English and appear in classic texts. CEM passages sometimes include extracts from older literature, so knowing these words is very helpful.

Word	Meaning	Where you might see it
Alas	An exclamation of sadness or regret	"Alas, the kingdom was lost!"
Behold	Look; see	"Behold the magnificent view!"
Betwixt	Between	"The path lay betwixt the two hills."
Ere	Before (in time)	"We must leave ere the sun sets."
Forsake	To abandon or give up	"He vowed never to forsake his friends."
Hither	To this place; here	"Come hither, young traveller."
Perchance	Perhaps; by chance	"Perchance we shall meet again."
Thrice	Three times	"He knocked thrice upon the door."
Vex	To annoy or worry	"The riddle vexed the entire court."
Woe	Great sadness or trouble	"Woe to those who break the law!"

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