Helping English

Vocabulary in Context 3

Stated Meaning

A context is a sentence, paragraph, or longer unit of writing that surrounds a word. Sometimes the context states the meaning of a word directly.

E.g. Some dentists provide services free to the poor because they are altruistic – unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others.

This states that altruistic means  " unselfishly concerned for the welafare of poor." 

Ways in Which Word Meanings Are Stated

Writers often give straightforward definitions of words. Underline the definition of the italicized term in the following sentence:

Your receptive vocabulary is the words you know when you read and listen.

 Your receptive vocabulary is the words you know when you read and listen. 

Word meanings are also often set off with punctuation such as parentheses (  ), commas, and dashes ( - )

Examples:

• The progeny (offspring) of one insect can number in the thousands, but most of them do not survive for long.

The meaning of progeny is set off by parentheses.

• Learn the rules of orthography, or spelling, that are explained in Chapter 18 of this book.  

The meaning of orthography is set off by commas.

• When you write papers for your college course, take care that you do not plagiarize – present the words or ideas of others as though they are your own.

The meaning of plagiarize is set off by a dash.

Exercise: Underline the synonyms or definitions of the boldface words in the following sentences.

1. He understood his mother’s frown to be adverse, or unfavorable criticism.  
2. In the 1950s the bourgeois (middle class) moved in great numbers from the cities to the suburbs.
3. It is futile (useless or ineffective) to try to learn information by reading it over and over, therefore, study for tests by reciting information you want to learn.
4. Some people are gullible – easily cheated or tricked because they believe everything that others say.
5. By jogging for twenty minutes at the rate of five miles per hour, one will expend (or use) two hundred calories.

Answer key:

1. He understood his mother’s frown to be adverse, or unfavorable criticism.  
2. In the 1950s the bourgeois (middle class) moved in great numbers from the cities to the suburbs.
3. It is futile (useless or ineffective) to try to learn information by reading it over and over, therefore, study for tests by reciting information you want to learn.
4. Some people are gullible – easily cheated or tricked because they believe everything that others say.
5.  By jogging for twenty minutes at the rate of five miles per hour, one will expend (or use) two hundred calories.