Etymology : Middle English, weaving together of words, from Latin contextus connection of words, coherence, from contexere to weave together, from com- + texere to weave; more at TECHNICAL
Pronunciation : 'kän-"tekst
Function : noun
Date : circa 1568
1. paragraphs surrounding a word or sentence; overall situation, background. context\con*text"\ , v. t. to knit or bind together; to unite closely. [obs.] the whole world's frame, which is contexted only by commerce and contracts. junius.context \con*text"\ , a. [l. contextus, p. p. of contexere to weave, to unite; con- + texere to weave. see:
text.] knit or woven together; close; firm. [obs.] the coats, without, are context and callous.context \con"text\ , n. [l. contextus; cf. f. contexte] the part or parts of something written or printed, as of scripture, which precede or follow a text or quoted sentence, or are so intimately associated with it as to throw light upon its meaning. according to all the light that the contexts afford. rp.context n.
2. discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its interpretation [syn: linguistic context, context of use].
3. the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event; "the historical context" [syn: circumstance].
4. Knit or woven together; close; firm.
5. The part or parts of something written or printed, as of Scripture, which precede or follow a text or quoted sentence, or are so intimately associated with it as to throw light upon its meaning.
6. To knit or bind together; to unite closely. discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its interpretation the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event; "the historical context".
7. 1. The context of an idea or event is the general situation that relates to it, and which helps it to be understood. We are doing this work in the context of reforms in the economic, social and cultural spheres. the historical context in which Chaucer wrote.
8. The context of a word, sentence, or text consists of the words, sentences, or text before and after it which help to make its meaning clear. Without a context, I would have assumed it was written by a man.
9. If something is seen in context or if it is put into context, it is considered together with all the factors that relate to it. Taxation is not popular in principle, merely acceptable in context It is important that we put Jesus into the context of history.
10. If a statement or remark is quoted out of context, the circumstances in which it was said are not correctly reported, so that it seems to mean something different from the meaning that was intended. Thomas says that he has been taken out of context on the issue.