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Determining Word Meanings

Transcript

Hi, and welcome to this video about determining word meanings!

Regardless of our level of schooling, whether you are a student or working in a corporate environment, we all come across words that we don’t know. Thankfully, figuring out the meaning of words can be done without Google or a dictionary. Here are a few tips on how to find the meaning of an unknown word.

Context

Context is the “setting” or scene in which an idea or event takes place. In writing, context can help us understand the situation in how a word is being used. In other words, the sentence the unknown word is in can help you figure out its definition. Read the sentences before and after the unknown word to help you determine what the word could mean. The actual definition of a word can be changed depending on the context around it.

Let’s look at an example.

It’s a match!

Here, the word match has little context to it. Are we referring to a match that makes fire, or did someone find an identical pair of shoes? We don’t really know in this case what match means because there is no context.

So, let’s add some:

She pulled a 3 of clubs from the deck of cards and placed it next to the 3 of diamonds and yelled, “It’s a match!”

Here, because of context we know we are not reading about a match that makes fire, but a matching pair of cards. As you can see, context can make quite the difference.

Let’s look at using structural analysis, or looking at the different parts of the word.

Many words, even some of the shortest ones you can think of, are made up of some combination of prefixes, suffixes, and roots.

Prefixes

Prefixes are the parts of words that come at the beginning. Examples of prefixes are re-, pre-, de-, and many more. Each of these word segments has a meaning.

Here are a few examples:

The prefix re- means “to do again,” like in the word reuse.

The prefix pre- means “before,” like in the word prepare.

The prefix de- means “to undo,” like in the word detach.

Prefixes can also change the original meaning of a word. For example, the word do means “to perform an action.” But what if we add the prefix un- to it? It now becomes undo, which means the opposite of do.

Knowing what prefixes mean can help you determine a word’s meaning.

Suffixes

Suffixes serve the same role as prefixes, but suffixes come at the end of a word. For example:

The suffix -ment means “a result,” like in the word government.

The suffix -ion refers to a process, like in the word invention.

The suffix -ful means “full of,” like in the word useful.

Again, just like prefixes, suffixes can change the original meaning of a word. For example, govern means to rule over something; it’s an action or verb. When we add the suffix -ment to the word it now becomes government which is a system that rules over something (the word government is a thing or noun).

Root Words

Though Latin is no longer used in the common world, many English words have Latin roots. Knowing and recognizing these root words in common English can help you determine a word’s meaning. Here are a few examples of words with similar Latin roots.

The Latin root rhino means “nose.” You can see this in the words rhinoplasty, rhinoceros, and rhinovirus.

The Latin root reg means “to control.” You can see this in the words regulate, regime, and regal.

The Latin root tox means “poison.” You can see this in the words toxic, detox, and intoxicated.

This doesn’t mean you need to learn a dead language to learn the definition of more English words. However, the more English vocabulary you learn, the more connections you’ll be able to make to new words you didn’t know before.

For example, if you don’t know the meaning of a word, look at the root word and see if you can think of other words that you do know that have similar roots. For example, if you don’t know the definition of animate but can identify the root anim, you can think of words with the same root that you do know, like animal. From there, you can determine what the root word anim means (“alive/life), along with context, if there is any, and figure out how it relates to the unfamiliar word. In this example, we know anim means “life,” just like animals are alive and move freely. Therefore, we can figure out that animate, the act of moving objects, is aptly named because it’s bringing still or motionless objects to “life.”

What if we took this example a step further and add a prefix to the word animate? The prefix in- means “not.” Therefore, if we add in- and animate together, we get the word inanimate, which means, you guessed it, “to not move.”

Prefixes, suffixes, and roots make up countless words, and the context of the sentence these mystery words are found in can also bring its true meaning to light. When put together, these tools can be used to solve the meaning of unknown words and make reading and writing easier.

Thanks for watching, and happy studying!

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Maybe you are in the middle of an exam and suddenly come across a word that makes absolutely no sense. This is usually a cue for most people to panic if a dictionary is not handy. But don’t worry! There are several steps you can take to help you figure out the meaning of a word without a dictionary.

1
Read the entire sentence. It can be very frustrating to have your reading interrupted by an unknown word. If you are in the middle of an exam or an assignment for school or work, it can also be very stressful. If you can’t reach for a dictionary, take other steps to figure out what the word means.
- Your first step is to go back and re-read the entire sentence. You probably lost track of what your were reading when you stumbled upon the new word.
- Think about the content of the sentence. Do you understand the sentence without using the new word? Or is it incomprehensible?
- Try underlining the unknown word. This will help you separate it from the rest of the sentence.
2
Identify words you do understand. You can often use other words in the sentence to help you define the unknown word. Think about what else is happening in the sentence. Hopefully, this will help you figure out whether the unknown word is a noun, verb, or adjective.
- For example, maybe you are looking at a sentence that says, «It was a very sultry day in the middle of the summer.» You probably understand each word except for «sultry».
- Think about what you know about the summer. It is likely that «sultry» has something to do with weather.
- Maybe your biology exam has this sentence, «Many members of the canine family are predators, looking for other animals to eat.» You can surmise that «predators» prey on other animals.
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3
Look for illustrative examples. Once you have examined the other words in that sentence, you can move on. Start looking at the sentences that follow the unknown word. An author will often give descriptions that can help you figure out the meaning of an unknown word.^[1]
- For example, take the sentence, «It was a very sultry day in the middle of summer.» It could be followed by the sentence, «The heat and humidity made it appealing to sit in the shade and drink lemonade.»
- You can now more confidently define «sultry». The descriptive words such as «heat» and «humidity» are further clues that it is a description of the weather.
- Sometimes, the descriptive examples will be right in the original sentence. For example, it could say, «Sultry days are so damp and hot.»
4
Think logically. Sometimes, the context clues will not be as clear. You will have to use logic to figure out the word. You can also use experience, or prior knowledge, of the topic.^[2]
- For example, maybe a sentence says, «In the antebellum South, many plantation owners kept slaves.» It is likely that «antebellum» is the unknown word.
- The sentence itself does not offer many clues. However, the following sentences are, «But after the Civil War, slavery was outlawed. This was a major change between the two periods.»
- Think about what you know now. You are reading information about two different time periods, right? Before the Civil War and after the Civil War.
- You can now make a pretty logical assumption about the word «antebellum». Based on your experience and reading the following sentences, you know it probably means «before the war».
5
Use other context clues. Sometimes an author will offer other types of clues. Look for restatement. This is where the meaning of the word is restated in other words.
- Here is an example of «restatement»: «The pig squealed in pain. The high-pitched cry was very loud.»
- You can also look for «appositives». This is where an author highlights a specific word by placing a further description between two commas.
- This is an example of the use of an appositive: «The Taj Mahal, which is a massive white marble mausoleum, is one of the most famous landmarks in India.
- You may not know the words «Taj Mahal», but the use of appositives makes it clear that it is a landmark.

1
Look for a prefix. Etymology is the study of the meanings of words. It also looks at the origins of words, and how they have changed over time. By learning about etymology, you can find new ways to define unknown words without using a dictionary.
- Start by looking at each part of the word in question. It is very helpful to look to see if the word has a common prefix.
- Prefixes are the first part of the word. For example, a common prefix is «anti».
- «Anti» means «against». Knowing this should help you figure out the meanings of words such as «antibiotic» or «antithesis».
- «Extra» is a prefix that means «beyond». Use this to figure out words such as «extraterrestrial» or «extracurricular».
- Other common prefixes are «hyper», «intro», «macro» and «micro». You can also look for prefixes such as «multi», «neo» and «omni».
2
Pay attention to the suffix. The suffix are the letters at the end of the word. There are several suffixes in the English language that are common. They can help you figure out what kind of word you are looking at.
- Some suffixes indicate a noun. For example, «ee» at the end of the word almost always indicates a noun. Some examples are «trainee» and «employee».
- «-ity» is also a common suffix for a noun. Examples include «electricity» and «velocity».
- Other suffixes indicate verbs. For example, «-ate». This is used in words such as «create» and «deviate».
- «-ize» is another verb suffix. Think about the words «exercise» and «prioritize».
3
Identify root words. A root word is the core word, without a prefix or suffix. Most words in the English language come from either a Latin or Greek root word.^[3]
- By learning common root words, you can begin to identify new words more easily. You will also be able to recognize words that have had a prefix or suffix added.
- An example of a root word is «love». You can add many things to the word: «-ly» to make «lovely».
- «Bio» is a Greek root word. It means «life, or living matter». Think about how we have adapted this root word to become «biology», «biography», or «biodegradable».
- The root word mater- or matri- comes from the Latin word mater, meaning mother. By understanding this root, you can better understand the definitions of words like matron, maternity, matricide, matrimony, and matriarchal.

1
Keep notes. If you can increase the size of your vocabulary, you will find yourself less likely to encounter unknown words. There are several steps you can take to effectively build your vocabulary. For example, you can start by writing notes.
- Every time you encounter an unfamiliar word, write it down. Then later, when you have access to a dictionary, you can look it up for a precise definition.
- Keep a small pack of sticky notes with you while you read. You can write the unfamiliar word on a note and just stick it on the page to return to later.
- Start carrying a small notebook. You can use it to keep track of words that you don’t know and new words that you have learned.
2
Utilize multiple resources. There are a lot of tools that you can use to help you build your vocabulary. The most obvious is a dictionary. Purchase a hard copy, or book mark an online dictionary that you find useful.
- A thesaurus can also be very helpful. It will give you synonyms for all of the new words you are learning.
- Try a word of the day calendar. These handle desk tools will give you a new word to learn each day. They are available online and at bookstores.
3
Read a lot. Reading is one of the best ways to increase the size of your vocabulary. Make it a point to read each day. Both fiction and non-fiction will be helpful.
- Novels can expose you to new words. For example, reading the latest legal thriller will likely expose you to some legal jargon you’ve never heard before.
- Read the newspaper. Some papers even have a daily feature that highlights language and explores the meanings of words.
- Make time to read each day. You could make it a point to scroll through the news while you drink your morning coffee, for example.
4
Play games. Learning can actually be fun! There are many enjoyable activities that can help you to build your vocabulary. Try doing crossword puzzles.
- Crossword puzzles are a great way to learn new words. They will also stretch your brain by giving you interesting clues to figure out the right word.
- Play Scrabble. You’ll quickly learn that unusual words can often score the most points.

Add New Question

Question

Is there a list of prefixes/suffixes, or a simple etymology handbook, that I can obtain from the Internet or someplace else?

I’m sure there are many! Check websites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or other booksellers who might sell grammar handbooks. You could also try checking your local book stores.
Question

How does one find out and understand the formation of words?

If you can recognize the prefixes, suffixes, and anything else that might alter the root word, then you’ll know how the root is being altered. For example, ‘amuse’ is made up of ‘a’ as in ‘not’ and ‘muse’ referring to ponderous thought. Even if you don’t recognize the root ‘muse’ because it’s a more archaic term, you know that the ‘a’ inverses it’s meaning.
Question

How can I know the exact meaning of a word using dictionaries from many leanings given?

Substitute each meaning into the sentence where you encountered the word, and see which definition makes the most sense within the context of that sentence.

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Keep a notebook. This could be useful if you come across a word that you want to learn later, if you want to list any words that share suffixes or prefixes (both of which are known as «roots», which also include anything that goes into the middle.)
Read etymology dictionaries. They are found online and presumably in bookstores if you look hard enough.
Make your own notes in your personal English notebook to remember important points later on.

References

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To understand a word without a dictionary, try re-reading the entire sentence to see if the context helps you to find out what the word means. If it’s unclear, try to figure it out by thinking about the meaning of the words you’re familiar with, since the unknown word might have a similar meaning. Additionally, look for common prefixes in words, such as «anti,» which means against, or «extra,» which means beyond. Next, check the following sentences for clues, such as the topic the word is related to. Alternatively, keep a list of unknown words so you can check them in a dictionary at a later date. For tips on how to identify root words and how to learn words by doing crossword puzzles, read on!

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How do I find the meaning of a word?

Objectives

use word parts (roots, prefixes, and suffixes) to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
use context clues to confirm the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
use a graphic organizer to achieve a deeper understanding of specific vocabulary words.

What is the meaning of terms?

(Entry 1 of 2) 1 : a word or expression that has an exact meaning in some uses or is limited to a subject or field legal terms. 2 : a period of time fixed especially by law or custom a school term. 3 terms plural : conditions that limit the nature and scope of something (as a treaty or a will) the terms of a contract.

What is the example of definition of terms?

The definition of a term is a word or group of words that has a special meaning, a specific time period or a condition of a contract. An example of term is “cultural diversity.” An example of term is three months for a college semester. An example of term is to name a newly discovered organism.

What is the difference between term and definition?

A definition is a statement of the meaning of a term (a word, phrase, or other set of symbols). Terms are words and compound words or multi-word expressions that in specific contexts are given specific meanings—these may deviate from the meanings the same words have in other contexts and in everyday language.

What should I put in Definition of Terms in research?

Answer: Operational definition of terms refers to a detailed explanation of the technical terms and measurements used during data collection. This is done to standardize the data. Whenever data is being collected, it is necessary to clearly define how to collect the data.

What is conceptual definition of terms in research?

A conceptual definition tells you what the concept means, while operational definitions only tell you how to measure it. A conceptual definition tells what your constructs are by elplaining how they are related to other constructs. This explanation and all of the constructs it refers to are abstract.

What is another word for conceptual?

theoretical	abstract
metaphysical	imaginary
unapplied	visionary
speculative	hypothetical
conjectural	philosophical

What is the conceptual definition?

The definition of conceptual is something having to do with the mind, or with mental concepts or philosophical or imaginary ideas. An example of conceptual is when you formulate an abstract philosophy to explain the world which cannot be proven or seen. adjective.

What are the benefits of having a definition of terms?

The definition of definition is “a statement expressing the essential nature of something.” At least that’s one way Webster defines the word. Because definitions enable us to have a common understanding of a word or subject; they allow us to all be on the same page when discussing or reading about an issue.

Why are key terms important?

In short, if you define your key terms, you’ll clarify the concepts behind the terms you are using in that argument, in that document you wrote, or if they are added to some custom dictionary, in that specific field the dictionary covers.

What is the task word?

Task words are the words or phrases in a brief that tell you what to do. Common examples of task words are ‘discuss’, ‘evaluate’, ‘compare and contrast’, and ‘critically analyse’.

What is topic called in English?

noun. a subject of conversation or discussion: to provide a topic for discussion. the subject or theme of a discourse or of one of its parts.

What is a limiting word?

Limiting words: Words that limit the scope of the topic to a particular area, e.g. all, some, the majority of; references to time, place(s) and/or specific group(s).

What does task mean in writing?

TASK: The type of writing you are asked to do: letter, feature article, editorial, or speech. AUDIENCE: The person (people) you are pretending to write to for the prompt. PURPOSE: The reason are you writing: to. argue, to narrate an event, and to inform.

What does Tapp stand for in writing?

Tasks, Appointments, Priorities, and People

What does Tapfor stand for in writing?

TAPFOR

Acronym	Definition
TAPFOR	The Army Portion of Force Status & Identity Report (FORSTAT)

What is another word for tasks?

Synonyms of task

assignment,
chore,
duty,
job.

What’s the meaning of endeavor?

(Entry 1 of 2) transitive verb. 1 : to attempt (something, such as the fulfillment of an obligation) by exertion of effort endeavors to finish the race. 2 archaic : to strive to achieve or reach.

What does it mean to stay on task?

Staying on task means staying focused on what you should be doing and not letting distractions get in the way. Staying focused on the task at hand is the key to for your students to use their time effectively.

Whats another word for should?

What is another word for should?

must	need to
need	be obliged to
will	ought
shall	be required to
got to	be compelled to

What will make a man cry?

However, movies like Miracle, Homeward Bound, Big Fish, or Field of Dreams have all been known to make guys cry. There’s something about war stories that break a guy down to his core and hits at his emotions. Listening to war stories will grab a guy’s attention and get him in touch with his emotions at the same time.

How do you express your feelings to your boyfriend in a letter?

Thank you for making an effort to make me laugh when I’m feeling sad. Thank you for being there for me whenever I need you. Thank you for being the best boyfriend in the whole world! I want you to know how much I appreciate your every gesture and how much I look forward to being there for you like you are there for me.

How do you know if your boyfriend is losing interest in a long distance relationship?

Signs that you are losing interest in your long-distance partner:

You’re no longer looking forward to talking to your long-distance partner.
You have boring conversations.
You try to avoid any form of communication with your partner.
You are no longer looking forward to seeing them.

How do you punish a guy over text?

The best way to make a guy feel guilty over text is to make him ask those questions himself. Tell him that you have a friend who could help you if he cheated, and let him think it’s hilarious when he realizes he’s been caught. And then ask him how he feels about getting back together with you. Be gentle.

How do I find the meaning of a word?

by
Alex Heath

·
2019-03-22

How do I find the meaning of a word?

Objectives

use word parts (roots, prefixes, and suffixes) to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
use context clues to confirm the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
use a graphic organizer to achieve a deeper understanding of specific vocabulary words.

What does the word Something refer to?

(Entry 1 of 2) 1a : some indeterminate or unspecified thing. b : some indeterminate amount more than a specified number —used in combination twenty-something years olda group of fifty-somethings. 2 : a person or thing of consequence.

What is it called when you say something but don’t mean it literally?

Idiom

Are the words indicating the person or thing referred to?

The most common pronouns are the personal pronouns. These refer to the person or people speaking or writing (first person), the person or people being spoken to (second person), or other people or things (third person).

What is the verb form of person?

Person: In English, we have six different persons: first person singular (I), second person singular (you), third person singular (he/she/it/one), first person plural (we), second person plural (you), and third person plural (they). We must conjugate a verb for each person.

What are examples of person?

The definition of a person is an individual human being. An example of a person is one man. An individual; usually a human being.

What is Person and its type?

Person is a category used to distinguish between (1) those speaking, (2) those being addressed, and (3) those who are neither speaking nor being addressed (i.e., everybody else). These three categories are called the first person, the second person, and the third person.

What kind of person means?

adj. 1 having a friendly or generous nature or attitude. 2 helpful to others or to another. a kind deed. 3 considerate or humane.

Which sentence is written in the second person?

Answer: The sentence that is written in second-person point of view is D. Wherever you go, there you are. Explanation: The second-person point of view is the “you” perspective. Unlike the first person point of view, it is used to refer to a person that is not the speaker.

How do you say I believe without using first person?

Examples of personal opinion: “I believe…” “I think…” “In my opinion…” “I would say that…” The third person point of view is often used as an alternative to first person as the “voice” in academic writing.

Why do I talk in third person?

Some people find that speaking in third person improves their self-esteem, their ability to perform well under stress, to manage their emotions more favorably, and to think through complex situations in a more rational and calm manner.

Why does Elmo talk in third person?

During the Muppets, Music & Magic event at The Cinema Arts Centre in August 2007, Elmo says that he speaks in third person because he is paid every time he says his own name.

Why does Terry talk in third person?

Most fans know that Terry likes to refer to himself in the third-person, which created a big problem with a female co-worker named Terry, unaware of his habit. What goes unnoticed by many viewers is that Terry talks to Terry in third-person when the subject is his emotions, as a way to detach.

How old is Jake Peralta?

As of season seven, he is 38 years old and has been a detective with the 9-9 since 2005….

Jake Peralta
Nationality	American

Why does Gina leave the 99?

She returned to the show in the same year’s finale as a guest star, marking her final appearance thus far. Narrative-wise, Gina decides to it’s time to leave the precinct, realizing that her talents would be better used elsewhere like being an online celebrity.

Does Terry leave the 99?

At the end of Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 6, however, the Nine-Nine received news that Terry would remain at their precinct after all. Simply happy about the unexpected development, no one from the team pressed Captain Holt on why Terry was no longer transferring.

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Vocabulary
Building and Reading Comprehension

The meaning of unknown words which you come across
in your reading sometimes can be known by their surroundings,
that is, their contexts. The context of the sentence
can tell us the part of speech of the unknown word.
Using the context of the paragraph to define unknown
words can also helpful.

Although it takes practice, it is the easiest and
most efficient way to identify words. Often, using
the context is the only way to figure out the meaning
of the word as it is used in the sentence, passage,
or chapter.

Consider the word «bar». Bar is a common word. But
without surrounding words, you don’t know if it describes
soap, a place that serves beer, a sand formation at
the beach, a way to lock the door, or…

Readers often have trouble because they identify the
literal but incorrect meaning of a word when they
should identify the way it was used in the passage.
The following sections will give you more explanation
and some exercises on how to get help on the meaning
of unknown words by checking their part of speech
and their place in context.

A. Using The Part of Speech of the unknown word
as a help in reading.

One consideration in using the context is to determine
the unknown word’s part of speech. The words around
the unknown word give you clues. Once you know if
the word is a noun or if it is an adjective, it often
is enough for you to continue reading intelligently
without having to stop to look up the meaning of the
word. After coming across the word a few more times,
you will know its meaning more firmly than if you
had just looked it up.

In the following sentences, identify the part of speech
of the italicized words by writing N if the word is
a noun, V if the italicized word is a verb, Adj if
the italicized word is an adjective, or Adv if the
italicized word is an adverb.

Example: She liked to wear red and always wore jewelry
made of carnelian. Ans. N

1. The dirty old man gave the young woman a salacious
look.

2. The president prayed for the sagacity to
make the right decision in the face of many alternatives.

3. The man looked at the rusty old gadget and
wondered how its mechanism worked.

4. The dying man designated his son to receive
his property.

5. The brindled dog barked loudly.

6. The father caressed his crying child with
great tenderness.

7. «Don’t patronize us; we are not children!» said the angry indigenous leaders to the politicians.

8. John was a good emanuensis, always taking
dictation correctly and typing up all of his employer’s
correspondence.

9. The boy was disappointed by the paltry amount
he received as an inheritance when his grandfather
died.

10. The young boy ran clumsily down the hill
with his arms and legs flapping all over.

B. USING OTHER CLUES GOTTEN FROM THE TEXT ITSELF

Knowing the part of speech of the unknown word is
not the only way to figure out its meaning. There
are other clues to the meanings of unknown words.
They are found directly within a sentence, paragraph,
passage, or chapter. Being able to recognize these
clues helps you define new words in context. These
clues are found right in the text and can be words
or punctuation marks or specific words or phrases.

You use them to compare words or to identify unknown
words that mean the same or the opposite of words
you already know. The clues can also be used to define
unknown words that are examples of a group.

There are five other clues that will help you: 1.
Punctuation clues, 2. Definition clues, 3. Contrast
clues, 4.Comparison clues, and 5. Example clues.

Of these types, the most important are the Contrast
clues and the Comparison Clues. The other clues are
very obvious and are given here just for the sake
of completeness. The reader should concentrate on
the Contrast and the Comparison clues.

The five text based clues are useful but the most
powerful tool is the Framework based clue. This is
the use of information from your own experience, common
sense, and the context in which you find the difficult
word. There will be examples of this tool at the end
of the paper.

1. Punctuation Clues

Punctuation clues are given when the unknown word
is set off by commas, parentheses, brackets, or dashes.
The information contained within the punctuation marks
sometimes means the same or nearly the same as the
unknown words. Or, the unknown word might be set off
from its meaning by punctuation marks. Information
set off by punctuation marks may clarify rather than
define the word. Finding these clues is not foolproof.

Example of Punctuation Clue: Nicotine, a colorless
and oily drug in tobacco, stains the teeth of chain
smokers. Explanation: The words between the commas-a
colorless and oily drug in tobacco-define nicotine
.

Punctuation Exercise: Underline the punctuation clue
that tells you the meaning of the italicized word.

1. The soldiers advanced down the small deep-sided
gulch (a narrow valley) into an ambush.

2. The philosopher Descartes helped to establish dualism
(the separation of mind and body).

3. Metamemory -knowledge about one’s memory
processes-is helpful in helping us store and recall
information.

4. Adjunct aids-techniques used to assist students’
comprehension of reading materials-have been found
to be quite useful.

5. The deluge, a flood of rain, threatened
to drown the little town.

2. Definition Clues

Definition clues join the unknown word with the word(s)
that rename it or tell its meaning. The clues precede
or follow words that are or act like linking verbs.
A linking verb shows no action but indicates being.

Examples of these verbs are: is, was, are, means,
i.e. (that is), involves, is called, that is, or resembles.

For example: The mansion’s piazza resembled
a large uncovered patio. Explanation: The word resembled
joins piazza with its meaning so it is a clue that
lets us know that a piazza is a large uncovered patio.

Definition Exercise: Use definition text-based clues
to find the meaning of the italicized word. Underline
the word (or words) that tells you the meaning of
the italicized word.

1. The art, science, or profession of teaching is
called pedagogy.

2. Divergent thinking is generating many different
ideas in order to solve a problem.

3. Conservative behavior involves cautious
or conventional actions.

4. The seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and southern
Asia is a monsoon.

5. Criterion means a standard or rule by which
a judgment is formed.

6. A souk is an open-air marketplace in North
Africa.

3. Contrast Clues

With contrast clues, you use the opposite of known
information to determine the unknown word. Connecting
words like however, yet, on the other hand, instead
of, but, while, and although join the unknown word
with another word that is its opposite.

Example of Contrast Clue:

My sister is extremely neat in appearance while she
is slovenly in her housekeeping.

Explanation: The word «while» indicates that slovenly
means the opposite of neat. Thus, slovenly means sloppy
or messy.

Contrast Exercise: Determine the meaning of the italicized
word by using contrast text-based clues. Exercise
Example: Although the patron asked for a solemn poem,
the poet wrote doggerel.

1.The tumor was benign; nevertheless, the doctor
decided to treat it as if it could injure the patient.

2.Some business disputes can be settled out of court;
on the other hand; others require litigation.

3. At first the labor union leaders and the factory
owners argued about pay schedules and benefits; however,
they finally came to a compromise.

4. Gina’s leg muscles continued to atrophy
because of her injury, but she exercised to build
up their strength.

5. Carlos acquiesced to Jane’s demands instead
of standing his ground and defending his viewpoint.

4. Comparison Clues

Comparison clues indicate that two or more things
are alike. A comparison is possible because the known
and unknown words have similarities. Words like similarly,
as well as, both, and likewise show you that comparisons
can be made.

Examples of Comparison Clue:

Miss Johnson is a prim, modest woman; likewise,
many of her friends are very proper.

Explanation: Likewise is used to compare prim to proper.
Proper means respectable. Thus, prim has a similar
meaning.

1. The Greek vase was made of alabaster; similarly,
the Roman lamp was also of a translucent, white stone.

2. Taking out the garbage was an onerous task;
likewise, washing dishes can be a hard job.

3. Repartee, as well as other kinds of humorous
conversation, kept the talk show from becoming boring.

4. Birds are oviparous; similarly, fish and
reptiles lay eggs that hatch outside of the body.

5. Both accountants and CPA’s are necessary
for a large company’s financial office.

6. The old chair was protected by both handmade antimacassars
and other coverings.

5. Example Clues

Example clues tell you an example of an unknown word
follows. You derive the meaning of the unknown word
by determining what the examples have in common. Example
clues are usually introduced by the following words
and phrases: such as, such, other, for example, and
like.

Example of «Example» Clue: Potentates-such
as kings, queens, and emperors-are very powerful and
wealthy people. Explanation: Since kings, queens,
and emperors are the rulers of countries, potentates
are rulers.

«Example» Clue EXERCISE: Underline the words that
explain the italicized words.

Canines, such as collies, pugs, and poodles,
are good pets.

Edifices, such as skyscrapers and condominiums,
are found in cities.

Various means of conveyance-for example, cars,
subways, and ships are used worldwide.

Nickels, dimes, dollars, and other kinds of legal
tender are used to purchase goods.

Many people enjoy eating mollusks, like clams
and snails.

Fiduciaries, like lawyers and bankers, were
chosen to manage the young heir’s money.

Framework Based Clues

To find meanings from text-based clues (like contrast
clues, comparison clues, definition clues, example
clues), you looked for clues in the sentence itself.
A second kind of clue does not rely on specific words
or punctuation marks to indicate meaning. This kind
of context clue is called framework-based

Your knowledge of the meanings of surrounding words
helps you discover the meaning of a word or of a sentence.
The background information you find in these frameworks
helps you get the meanings of new words. Common sense
and your knowledge of the parts of speech also help
in defining unknown words. You combine your experience
with what the text contains to determine meaning.

Framework Based Clue Example: The angry driver shouted
vehemently during his fight with the other driver.
What does vehemently mean? You know what angry means,
and you know how people feel when they argue. From
this, you can figure out that vehemently has something
to do with strong emotion or intense feeling. This
is an example of using framework-based context to
find the meanings of new words. The meaning you find
comes from your personal experience.

Sometimes it takes a bit more detective work to puzzle
out the meaning of an unfamiliar word. In such cases,
you must draw conclusions based on the information
given with the word. Asking yourself questions about
the passages may help you make a fairly accurate guess
about the meaning of the unfamiliar word. Each of
the sentences below is followed by a question. Think
about each question; using your common sense and asking
yourself a question about the sentence you should
be able to know the correct meaning of the italicized
word.

1. A former employee, irate over having been
fired, broke into the plant and deliberately wrecked
several machines. (What would be the employee’s state
of mind?)

2. John always praised his bosses; he always agreed
with what they said. He said he was just a good employee
but his friends said he was a sycophant. (What
behaviors were his friends describing with the word
they put on John?)

3. The car wash we organized to raise funds was a
fiasco -it rained all day.

(How successful would a car wash be on a rainy day?)

The first sentence provides enough evidence for you
to guess that irate means very angry. Sycophant in
the second sentence means sweet-talker. And a fiasco
is a complete disaster. (These are not exact dictionary
definitions of the words. But by using context clues,
but you will often be accurate enough to make good
sense of what you are reading. And the good thing
is that you save time in your reading because you
don’t have to look up every word!)

Try to answer the question that follows each item
of the list on the other side of this page. Then use
the logic of each answer to help you circle the letter
of the meaning you think is correct. Note that some
of these sentences have been taken from college textbooks.
This should prove to you that your new skills in reading
will help you in your college studies. In the future
you will be able to make up your own questions to
help you.

1. Jamal didn’t want to tell Tina the entire plot
of the movie, so he just gave her the gist
of the story. (What would Jamal say to Tina?)