make a list of all the words you have to memorize with definitions that are as short as possible.
write JUST the words one below another down a sheet of paper
fold it in half so you can see the words
look at each word and try to come up with a meaning for EVERY word, when you write the DEF, flip the sheet over and write them all one below another.
now try and come up with the words from the defintions, writing them inside the folded sheet on 1 half of the paper.
fold the paper in half with your first try inside and the words you just wrote outside.
do it 4 or 5 more times (you will need 1 piece of paper for each 2)
I was taught this by Fritz Engebretson, a Cognitive Researcher and Mathematician