* Context: The words and sentences surrounding a particular word can give you clues about its meaning. This is called "context clues." For example, if you see the word "serene" used in a sentence describing a peaceful lake, you can infer that it means calm and tranquil.
* Structure: The way a word is built can also help you understand its meaning. For example, knowing that the word "unhappy" is formed by adding the prefix "un" to the word "happy" can help you deduce that it means the opposite of happy.
* Etymology: The origin and history of a word can shed light on its meaning. Knowing that the word "pandemic" comes from the Greek words "pan" (all) and "demos" (people) can help you understand that it refers to a widespread disease affecting a whole population.
In addition to these, other factors can help you understand word meaning, like:
* Synonyms and antonyms: Words with similar or opposite meanings can provide clues.
* Word roots, prefixes, and suffixes: These elements can reveal the core meaning of a word.
* Dictionaries and thesauruses: These resources provide definitions and synonyms for words.
Remember, understanding a word's meaning often involves combining multiple methods. Don't rely on just one!