context
context
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "context" is /ˈkɒntɛkst/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ˈkɒn:
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/ɒ/: Open back rounded vowel (as in "lot")
/n/: Alveolar nasal
tɛkst:
/t/: Voiceless alveolar stop
/ɛ/: Open-mid front unrounded vowel (as in "bed")
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/s/: Voiceless alveolar fricative
/t/: Voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Context" is primarily a noun. It has related forms that serve as other parts of speech.
Noun Forms:
Singular: context (e.g., "Consider the historical context.")
Plural: contexts (e.g., "The word has different meanings in various contexts.")
Related Forms:
Adjective: contextual (e.g., "We need a contextual understanding.")
Adverb: contextually (e.g., "The phrase is used contextually.")
Verb: contextualize (e.g., "Try to contextualize the statement.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun Definitions
The circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text, utterance, or idea, that give it meaning.
Synonyms: Background, setting, framework, situation, environment, circumstance, surrounding
Antonyms: Isolation, separation, fragment, decontextualization
The parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.
Synonyms: Textual environment, linguistic setting, accompanying text
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; refers to the encompassing parts)
Examples of Use
Books
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960) - This quote highlights the importance of understanding context.
"The historical context of the play reveals deeper meanings about societal anxieties of the time." (Common in literary criticism or academic texts)
Newspapers and Online Publications
"The minister's remarks, taken out of context, caused widespread outrage." (The Guardian)
"Understanding the cultural context is crucial for effective global marketing strategies." (Harvard Business Review)
"The data must be viewed within the broader economic context to avoid misinterpretation." (Bloomberg)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film: Documentaries often provide historical or social context to help viewers understand complex events.
Television: "To fully appreciate this scene, you need to remember the context of their strained relationship." (Heard in TV show analyses or character discussions)
Music: A song's meaning can change significantly depending on the political or social context in which it was written.
Video Games: Narrative-driven games often provide lore entries or character dialogues to build the context of the game world.
General Public Discourse
"I think you're taking what I said out of context." (Common phrase when feeling misunderstood)
"We need to look at this problem in a global context, not just locally." (Discussing wider implications)
"The meaning of the word changes depending on its context." (Explaining linguistic nuances)
"Can you give me some context before you tell me the news?" (Requesting background information)
10 Quotes Using Context
"A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanging; it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used." (Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.) - This eloquently describes the importance of context for understanding.
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." (Pablo Picasso) - This quote, while not using "context," implies that one's gift finds meaning in a larger context of giving.
"The problem with quotes on the internet is that it's hard to verify their authenticity." (Abraham Lincoln) - This humorous, misattributed quote is a self-referential example of the importance of context and source.
"To understand is to perceive patterns; to perceive patterns is to find meaning; to find meaning is to create context." (Original)
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." (Aldous Huxley, Brave New World) - This highlights that facts exist independently of their perceived context.
"Truth is like a lion. You don't have to defend it. Let it loose. It will defend itself." (Augustine of Hippo) - This suggests that truth needs no artificial context to be powerful.
"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated." (Confucius) - Complexity often arises from losing sight of simple context.
"Always consider the context before making a judgment." (Original)
"What you say means little without the proper context." (Original)
"The historical context is crucial for understanding the decision." (Original)
Etymology
The word "context" comes from the Latin verb "contexere," which meant "to weave together" or "to unite." This Latin word is formed from "con-" (meaning "together" or "with") and "texere" (meaning "to weave," which is also where we get words like "text" and "textile").
So, at its root, "context" is about how different parts are woven together to form a coherent whole, giving meaning to each piece.
The first known use of "context" in English, appearing around the early 15th century, referred to the structure or coherence of a piece of writing or discourse. By the late 16th century, it gained its more common modern meaning of the surrounding circumstances or background information that helps to understand something.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Context
In context: Within the original circumstances or environment that gives meaning.
Example: "Her remarks were misinterpreted because they were taken out of context."
Out of context: Quoted or presented without the surrounding words or circumstances, distorting the original meaning.
Example: "Don't quote him out of context; it changes everything."
Historical context: The historical events, conditions, and attitudes that influenced something.
Example: "Understanding the historical context is vital to interpreting ancient texts."
Cultural context: The social, cultural, and traditional environment in which something exists or is interpreted.
Example: "The ritual has a deep cultural context that outsiders might not grasp."
Within context: Similar to "in context," emphasizing understanding based on surrounding information.
Example: "We must analyze the data within context of the overall market trends."
Big picture: (An idiom referring to the overall perspective or context of a situation).
Example: "Don't get bogged down in details; look at the big picture."
Lay of the land: (An idiom meaning the essential features or arrangement of a situation, providing context).
Example: "Before deciding, I need to get the lay of the land."
Set the scene: (To provide background information or context for a story or event).
Example: "The narrator's opening lines effectively set the scene."
Frame of reference: (A set of criteria or values within which something is considered or measured, providing context).
Example: "His worldview operates within a very different frame of reference."
Color one's perception: (Meaning to influence one's understanding or interpretation, showing how context affects perception).
Example: "His past experiences often color his perception of new situations."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of context from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
