context
/ˈkɑn.tɛkst/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.63 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The surroundings, circumstances, environment, background or settings that determine, specify, or clarify the meaning of an event or other occurrence.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The text in which a word or passage appears and which helps ascertain its meaning.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The surroundings and environment in which an artifact is found and which may provide important clues about the artifact's function and/or cultural meaning.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
For a formula: a finite set of variables, which set contains all the free variables in the given formula.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "—In what context did your attack on him happen? —We had a pretty tense relationship at the time, and when he insulted me I snapped."
- "The display and result must be placed in the context that was it was against a side that looked every bit their Fifa world ranking of 141 - but England completed the job with efficiency to record their biggest away win in 19 years."
- "Without context, I can't tell if dish refers to a plate, or to the food served thereon."
- "The whole worlds frame, which is contexted onely by commerce and contracts."
- "If the Subiect bee Historie, or contexted Fable, then I hold it better put in Prose, or Blanks: for ordinarie discourse neuer shewes so well in Meeter"
- "1541?, Robert Copland (translator?), Guydon's Questionary Chirurgical, translation of 1533, Guy de Chauliac, La questionaire des cirugiens at barbiers The skynne is composed & context and woven with thredes and vaynes."
Etymology
From Latin context(us).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *tetḱ-, contextus
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkɑn.tɛkst/
- British English: /ˈkɒn.tɛkst/
Usage
Inflected Forms
contexts (plural)
contexts (present, singular)
contexting (participle, present)
contexted (participle, past)
contexted (past)
more context (comparative)
most context (superlative)