Main Entry: con·text

Pronunciation: \ˈkän-ˌtekst\

Function: noun

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

Date: circa 1568

1 : the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its meaning
2 : the interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs : environment, setting <the historical context of the war>

— con·text·less \-ˌtekst-ləs\ adjective

— con·tex·tu·al \kän-ˈteks-chə-wəl, kən-, -chəl, -chü-əl\ adjective

— con·tex·tu·al·ly adverb