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Learning
New
Words
from
the
Context
What
is
the
context?
Most
of
the
time,
a
word
is
used
not
by
itself
but
with
other
words.
These
other
words
are
its
context.
The
meaning
of
a
word
is
often
found
in
its
context—the
other
words
with
which
it
is
used.
Suppose,
for
example,
we
were
asked
for
the
meaning
of
strike.
We
would
not
be
able
to
give
a
definite
answer
because
strike,
as
presented
to
us,
is
all
by
itself;
it
has
no
context.
But
if
we
were
asked
to
define
strike
in
one
of
the
following
sentences,
we
would
have
no
trouble
telling
its
meaning
from
its
context—the
other
words
with
which
it
is
used.
1. Strike
three!
You’re
out!
(Strike
means
“a
ball
pitched
over
the
plate
between
a
batter’s
knees
and
shoulders.”)
2. There
were
no
mild
deliveries
because
of
a
strike.
(Strike
means
“a
work
stoppage
because
of
a
labor
dispute.”)
3. He
made
a
fist
as
if
to
strike
be.
(Strike
means
“hit.”)
How
can
the
context
help
you
expand
your
vocabulary?
Here
is
an
amazing
fact:
the
context
can
often
give
you
the
meaning
not
only
of
common
words
like
strike,
but
also
of
unfamiliar
words,
including
words
you
have
never
before
seen
or
heard!
“What,”
asks
a
friend,
“is
xenophobic?”
“How
should
I
know?”
you
say,
“I
never
heard
of
it.”
“It’s
in
today’s
paper,”
says
the
friend.
“Here
it
is.”
You
take
the
newspaper
and
read
the
sentence
with
the
strange
word:
“The
new
ruler
is
xenophobic;
he
has
ordered
all
foreigners
to
leave
the
country.”
“Aha!”
you
say.
“Now
I
know:
xenophobic
means
‘afraid
or
distrustful
of
foreigners.’
The
context
gives
us
the
meaning.”
Vocabulary
in
Context
If
you
were
asked
to
define
the
words
torrid,
ascertain,
and
euphoria,
you
might
have
some
difficulty.
On
the
other
hand,
if
you
saw
these
words
in
sentences,
chances
are
you
could
come
up
with
fairly
accurate
definitions.
For
example,
see
if
you
can
define
the
words
in
italics
in
the
three
sentences
below.
Circle
the
letter
of
each
meaning
you
think
is
correct.
To
avoid
the
burning
sun
in
torrid
climates
such
as
deserts,
many
animals
come
out
only
at
night.
Torrid
means
a. familiar
b.
extremely
hot
and
dry
c.
humid
The
officer
tried
to
ascertain
the
truth
about
the
accident
by
questioning
each
witness
separately.
Ascertain
means
a. create
b.
avoid
c.
find
out
In
the
euphoria,
the
fans
of
the
winning
team
danced
in
the
stadium
aisles
and
chanted
victory
songs,
until
a
sudden
downpour
dampened
their
intense
joy.
Euphoria
means
a. intense
joy
b.
hurry
c.
disappointment
In
each
sentence
above,
the
context—the
words
surrounding
the
unfamiliar
word—provides
clues
to
the
word’s
meaning.
You
may
have
guessed
from
the
context
that
a
torrid
climate
is
an
extremely
hot
and
dry
one,
that
ascertain
means
“find
out,”
and
that
euphoria
is
“intense
joy.”
Types
of
Context
Clues
1. Examples
2. Synonyms—a
word
that
means
the
same,
or
almost
the
same,
as
another
word
in
the
same
language,
either
in
all
of
its
uses
or
in
a
specific
context.
3. Antonyms—a
word
that
means
the
opposite
of
another
word.
4. General
sense
of
the
sentence
or
passage
Examples
1. Nocturnal
creatures,
such
as
bats
and
owls,
have
highly
developed
senses
that
enable
them
to
function
in
the
dark.
Nocturnal
means
a. feathery
b.
living
c.
active
at
night
2. The
adverse
effects
of
this
drug,
including
dizziness,
nausea,
and
headaches,
have
caused
it
to
be
withdrawn
from
the
market.
Adverse
means
a. deadly
b.
harmful
c.
expensive
3. Common
euphemisms
include
“final
resting
place”
(for
grave),
“intoxicated”
(for
drunk),
and
“comfort
station”
(for
toilet).
Euphemism
means
a. Unpleasant
reactions
b.
answers
c.
substitutes
for
offensive
terms
Synonyms
A
context
clue
is
often
available
in
the
form
of
a
synonym:
a
word
that
means
the
same
or
almost
the
same
as
the
unknown
word.
A
synonym
may
appear
anywhere
in
a
passage
to
provide
the
same
meaning
as
the
unknown
word.
In
each
of
the
following
items,
the
word
to
be
defined
is
italicized.
Underline
the
synonym
for
the
italicized
word
in
each
sentence.
1. Are
you
averse
to
exercise?
You
would
not
be
so
opposed
to
it
if
you
had
a
partner
to
work
out
with
you.
2. If
we
assess
ourselves
favorably,
our
self‐esteem
will
be
high,
but
if
we
judge
ourselves
negatively,
it
will
suffer.
3. Although
the
salesperson
tried
to
assuage
the
angry
customer,
there
was
no
way
to
soothe
her.
Antonyms
An
antonym—a
word
that
means
the
opposite
of
another
word—is
also
a
useful
context
clue.
Antonyms
are
often
signaled
by
words
and
phrases
such
as
however,
but,
yet,
on
the
other
hand,
and
in
contrast.
In
each
sentence
below,
underline
the
word
that
means
the
opposite
of
the
italicized
word.
Then
circle
the
letter
of
the
meaning
of
the
italicized
word.
1. Trying
to
control
everything
your
teens
do
can
impede
their
growth.
To
advance
their
development,
allow
them
to
make
some
decisions
on
their
own.
Impede
means
a.
block
b.
predict
c.
improve
2. Religions
in
America
are
not
static,
but
changing,
especially
in
this
period
of
shifting
values.
Static
means
a.
unchanging
b.
unknown
c.
shifting
3. Many
people
have
pointed
out
the
harmful
effects
that
a
working
mother
may
have
on
the
family,
yet
there
are
many
salutary
effects
as
well.
Salutary
means
a.
well‐known
b.
beneficial
c.
hurtful
Note
that
the
three
antonyms
above
are
indicated
by
signal
words:
instead,
but,
and
yet.
General
Sense
of
the
Sentence
or
Passage
Sometimes
it
takes
a
bit
more
detective
work
to
puzzle
out
the
meaning
of
an
unfamiliar
word.
In
such
cases,
you
must
draw
conclusions
based
on
the
information
given
with
the
word.
Asking
yourself
questions
about
the
passage
may
help
you
make
a
fairly
accurate
guess
about
the
meaning
of
the
unfamiliar
word.
Each
of
the
sentences
below
is
followed
by
a
question.
Think
about
each
question;
then
circle
the
letter
of
the
answer
you
think
is
the
correct
meaning
of
the
italicized
word.
1. A
former
employee,
irate
over
having
been
fired,
broke
into
the
plant
and
deliberately
wrecked
several
machines.
(What
would
be
the
employee’s
state
of
mind?)
irate
means
a.
relieved.
b.
very
angry
c.
undecided
2. Despite
the
proximity
of
Ron’s
house
to
his
sister’s,
he
rarely
sees
her.
(What
about
Ron’s
house
would
make
it
surprising
that
he
didn’t
see
his
sister
more
often?)
proximity
means
a.
similarity
b.
nearness
c.
superiority
3. The
car
wash
we
organized
to
raise
funds
was
a
fiasco—it
rained
all
day.
(How
successful
would
a
car
wash
be
on
a
rainy
day?)
Fiasco
means
a.
great
financial
success
b.
welcome
surprise
c.
complete
disaster