A search method includes the step of creating a list of candidate probe words. For each candidate probe word, the number of item descriptions that contain the candidate probe word is counted. Q probe words are chosen whose word count most equally divides the number of remaining item descriptions into q+1 subgroups. The q probe words are presented for selection. Based on the selection, the list of probe words is pruned to eliminate items that that were not selected. The counting step, choosing step, presenting step and pruning step are repeated until a final list of items remain.