How do you deal with unfamiliar words?

[Amagine]

I usually pull out a dictionary and look the word up. Once I am sure that I have it memorized, I go back and re-read the passage that had the word in it and try to put it proper context. I love when I come across unfamiliar words though. I'm always interested in expanding my vocabulary.

[Tsheola Asavela]

I dive in, and drown in attempting to overstand them as I sink in, going as deep as I can in comprehending them from whatever possible depth in the ocean of knowledge. See, their like the fauna and flora that live there, and I'm the deep sea diver that lives, in order to drown and die in there because, the heavy pressure is just mind-blasting! Just so that I can resurrect and live on forever, in illumination and bliss.

[michelonline29]

I deal with unfamiliar words by listing it and finding the meaning in the dictionary which I installed it in my phone.

[Immaculata Uduma]

I deal with unfamiliar words by looking them up in the dictionary.The contextual meaning may not give the exact meaning of the word.Looking it up in the dictionary gives the exact meaning as well as the usage.

[Rosie22]

Both my parents were avid readers, and I have been all my life too.
I tend to let it pass if I get the gist of it; (or I think I do!)....but often hit the dictionary too, online dictionary more these days as I tend to not be far from the laptop when I read.
I appreciate the reminder about dictionary in ereader too, though I've seen it I don't think I've ever used it.
I read mostly non-fiction, so it may be less likely to come up then.
The times I look up words the most are during my occasional crossword puzzle benders; there's a reward for finding the right word then.

[Lucy Kelly]

I am lucky to have a function on my Kindle that will bring up definitions of any word or phrase that I hold my finger down upon. So, if I am truly stumped, I check it out!

[raeryn]

If I'm reading an ebook, I just look it up right then and there. If I happen to be reading in front of my computer and I'm not particularly lazy, I'll google it. But when it comes to paper copies, I'm pretty lazy.

[christinac_2585]

I just happen to see this discussion and thought, "wow, I'm reading a book right now that I'm dealing with a lot of words that are unfamiliar." Since, it is on my Kindle I am able to pull up the dictionary with that word to be able to learn what it means. If it was a physical book I would try to look it up on my phone to get the definition.

[ReekaCheeka]

I think E-readers are great for this, or even my phone. If I get some kind of reading app where I can download books, I just click on the work and the definition and context examples pop up. Sometimes I'll ask someone nearby though if I'm reading a hard copy.

[godreaujea]

Being a reader of classics, I feel like I run into new words all the time. Sometimes I look up the words, but most times (to my shame) I just try to figure out the words given the context.

[ifeoma obike]

I installed an app on my phone which I easily use to look up words and their pronunciation. I don't enjoy reading if I don't the know the real meaning of words even if i can relate it to the subject matter. English is not my native language, so l get thrilled when I finish a book with lots of new words added to my vocabulary

[Jesalison]

When possible, I use the in-app dictionary (Kindle). It's so fast and easy. I often catch my finger hovering over a word on paper, having forgotten that feature isn't available yet for hard and paperbacks!

[Pm7lucas]

Since I usually read on my e-reader, there's a built-in dictionary, so I look the words up as they come up in the text. I love that! If I'm reading a print book and I don't understand a word I will look it up in the dictionary if there is one available.

Paula

[Mailis]

I usually guess through context what the word means, but if I really have no idea or if it's some native slang that I want to be sure that I understand 100% correctly, I'll use the magic of Google to look it up. I think the only author that I love to read and who sometimes manages to surprise me with words I really don't know is Wodehouse at the moment.

[DennisK]

I usually guess through context what the word means, but if I really have no idea or if it's some native slang that I want to be sure that I understand 100% correctly, I'll use the magic of Google to look it up. I think the only author that I love to read and who sometimes manages to surprise me with words I really don't know is Wodehouse at the moment.

I'll have to keep Wodehouse in mind. I remember enjoying the DVD series, Jeeves And Wooster. I had no idea he was such a prolific writer. I really like British humor.
Foreign expressions will always stumble my reading. Some writers in English seem to like to lace their work with French expressions.