context
UK[ˈkɒntɛkst]US[ˈkɑːntɛkst]
n
The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood.
n
The parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
text
con
together
text
weave
Etymology
The word "context" originates from the Latin contextus, meaning "a joining together, connection, scheme", which is the past participle of contexere, "to weave together". This verb is formed from the prefix con- (together) and texere (to weave). The literal image is of weaving threads together to form a fabric. Over time, this concrete notion evolved into the abstract idea of the surrounding words or circumstances that are "woven together" with a specific element, giving it its shape and meaning. Thus, the modern sense retains the core logic of interconnected parts forming a coherent whole that defines any individual component.
Analysis
Structure: con (together) + text (weave)
- con: A prefix from Latin, meaning "together, with". Its functional role is to indicate combination or union.
- text: A root from Latin texere, meaning "to weave". Its functional role is to provide the core semantic concept of constructing or fabricating something.
Examples
To understand the author's argument, you must consider the historical context.
The meaning of a word can often be deduced from its context in a sentence.
The decision was made in the context of severe budget cuts.