You can sometimes use the context of an academic word or phrasal compound to tell what means. What is context?

In the realm of language, context refers to the surrounding information that helps us understand the meaning of a word, phrase, or sentence. It's like the backdrop against which language unfolds, providing clues and hints about the intended meaning.

Here's how context helps us understand academic words or phrasal compounds:

* Surrounding Sentences: The sentences before and after the word or compound provide clues about its meaning. For example, if you encounter the phrase "anthropogenic climate change" in a sentence about human activities contributing to global warming, you can infer that it refers to climate change caused by human actions.

* Paragraph and Section: The larger paragraph and section where the word appears give more context. A word like "symbiosis" might have different meanings depending on whether it's used in a biology textbook discussing ecological relationships or a sociology textbook exploring social interactions.

* Overall Text: The type of text, author's purpose, and the overall theme contribute to understanding. A word like "paradigm" might mean a model or a framework in a scientific text, but it could refer to a set of beliefs or values in a philosophical text.

Here's an example:

Imagine you come across the phrase "extraterrestrial life" in a science fiction story. You might not know the exact meaning of "extraterrestrial," but the context of the story suggests that it refers to life forms that exist outside of Earth.

By considering the context, you can often decipher the meaning of even unfamiliar words or compounds, making your reading more efficient and enjoyable.