Helping English

Glossary

Contextual Meaning and Dictionary Meaning

Something contextual depends on its context or setting to make sense. Both words and activities are and can be contextual. For example, “You’re it” is contextual in a game of tag, but it is less contextual to shout this in a grocery store and those who hear it will be confused. In the same way, riding a skateboard in a dance studio is not contextual, but doing ballet there would be contextual.

To find the contextual help read the surrounding word. E.g if it is an adjective look for the noun and see does it make sense. Dazzling rays, the word dazzling means something related to light and shine. 'Bright’ will be a good synonym for ‘dazzling’  

Imagination (fancy, vision): of poets and travellers was inspired by the bueauty of ancient Arabia.

Remarkable (outstanding): memory refers to a memory that is unsual and extraordinary

Composed (wrote; thought): refers to the songs and poems the poets think of and write.

Bestowed (gifted): its contextual meaning is clear as it refers to the gift of special memory the Arabs have.

Message (idea, moral): means a special idea of great importance and in the context it refers to the Quran which has great significance for Muslims.

Preservation (protection, safeguarding) : has been used for protection of the Quran from any change and therefore it is more suitable than its synonyms protection, defense or safeguarding.

Superstition (fallacy, delusion): has been used with reference to the wrong religious beliefs and practices such as worshipping stones and wooden shapes.

Abandon (leave, end, stop): refers to stop doing a significant work of great importance.

Exercise: 

Match Column A with Colum B 

Key: charm/attraction  - compose/write – civilization/culture – faith/belief – eradicate/eliminate – eloquent/fluent – bestowed with/to confer as a gift – demolish/destroy – proselytizing/preaching – embodiment/living example – chaos/confusion – verge/edge – wonder/surprise – dignity/pride

The Saviour of Mankind 

Prefix: co – un – im – en – mis

Suffix: ness  – ment – ful – ship – less – able

Add appropriate prefixes or suffixes to the following root words to make other words.

one: oneness

belief: disbelief

parallel: unparallel

justice: injustice

*flinching: unflinching

knowledge: acknowledge

construction: reconstruction

*to withdraw or shrink back because of pain or fear 

Use the following words in sentences

1. He fought the illness with courage and __________________.
2. It is very difficult to suppress the ___________to yawn.
3. History is the story of _____________ through wars.
4. This fort was built in the 18^th _______________.
5. Nelson Mandela was a very _________________leader, and he inspired a whole generation.
6. “Prejudice is the child of _______________."
7. China sent a large _______________to the meeting.
8. He would sit ____________and watch what was happening.

Key: 1 determination – 2 urge – 3 conquest – 4 century – 5 influential – 6  ignorance – 7 delegation – 8 quietly