Use context to identify the meaning of a word
Key Notes:
1. Understand Context Clues
- Definition Clues: Sometimes a word’s meaning is directly provided within the sentence. For example, “Her magnanimous nature, characterized by generosity and forgiveness, was well known.”
- Synonym Clues: Words with similar meanings are used in the sentence to provide hints. For example, “He was elated, or extremely happy, after hearing the good news.”
- Antonym Clues: Words with opposite meanings can help deduce the meaning of an unfamiliar word. For example, “The team’s performance was poor, which was the opposite of their usual excellence.”
- Example Clues: Examples provided in the sentence can help explain the unfamiliar word. For example, “The arboreal animals, such as monkeys and sloths, live in trees.”
2. Analyze Sentence Structure
- Look for Punctuation: Commas, dashes, or parentheses often provide additional information about the unfamiliar word.
- Identify Parts of Speech: Understanding whether the word is used as a noun, verb, adjective, etc., can offer clues about its meaning.
3. Consider the Overall Passage
- Main Idea: Reflect on the main theme or idea of the passage to understand how the word fits in context.
- Tone and Mood: The emotional tone or mood of the passage can provide hints about the word’s meaning.
4. Use Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
- Roots: Understanding common word roots can help infer meanings. For example, “tele” means far, so “telephone” relates to sound over distances.
- Prefixes and Suffixes: Recognize common prefixes and suffixes that modify meanings. For instance, “dis-” often means “not” or “opposite.”
5. Cross-Referencing
- Use Dictionary: Look up the word in a dictionary if context clues are insufficient. Compare the dictionary definition with the context to confirm understanding.
- Synonyms and Antonyms: Find synonyms or antonyms of the word to see how they fit into the context.