Context Clues: Words Among Words

Solved Mysteries: Unlocking Meanings of Unknown Words

English, whose vocabulary is vast and growing, is the third most spoken language and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world. While the vast majority of English words are no longer (and may have never been) in common use, a large number are common parlance among the literate. A dictionary will always be the single best resource for elucidating definitions; however, very often we must rely on context clues provided in the rest of the sentence to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. Fortunately, this context often provides vital clues for quick comprehension.

Understanding context requires context! Here’s an example:

The instructor eschewed lectures in favor of group work and discussions.

You don’t need to know what eschew means prior to reading this sentence, since the context reveals that the instructor prefers group work and discussions. Thus, eschew means “to shun” or “reject harshly.”

Let’s go through a list of edifying examples:

The district organized a parley concerning the restructuring of the schools.

If you know even a little French, you will notice that parley resembles the verb parler. But you don’t need to know French to understand that the district would want to organize a “discussion” of its plans with the community.

The fulgent sun caused her to squint.

Here the context gives everything away; it’s no surprise that fulgent means “bright” or “dazzling.”

The knight gladly accepted his lady’s handsel before his joust.

This one is a bit more difficult. The word itself contains hand so logic suggests that the lady handed the knight something. A cursory knowledge of history should serve as a reminder that knights often wore a lady’s “token” as a symbol of good luck.

Hat-wearing by women is a custom that’s fallen into desuetude.

This one is easier. Women used to wear hats whenever they went outside, so this custom has fallen into “disuse.”

Being a morning person herself, she couldn’t understand her colleagues’ morning hebetude.

Here you need to know that a morning person is someone who is bright and chipper in the morning. The opposite of that implies “lethargy” or “dullness.”

Lizzie was the avatar of health with her bright eyes and light step.

This one is easier. Lizzie demonstrates health in her looks and movement, so she is an “embodiment” of health.

Often, knowing part of a word combined with its context can help you deduce its meaning. This tactic is particularly useful with Greek and Latin roots and affixes. Here is an example:

After working thirty years, she became a superannuated civil servant.

Now it’s your turn to put into practice both your deductive skills and your knowledge of roots and affixes!

Here’s another one!