How to UseContext Clues

to Build Vocabulary

LIST 1

Context Detective

Copyright © 2015 by Ellen M. Chapman

Don’t know the meaning of a word?

It may be hiding in plain sight …

Context clues Can solve the mystery.

Context DetectiveContext Detective

VOCABULARY: An Educated Guess

No one knows the meaning of every word. No one.

If we stop to look up EVERY word we don’t know, reading becomes an impossible task.

So, if we don’t look them up in the dictionary, how do we figure out the meanings of new words?

We make an educated guess.

Educated Guess

• An educated guess is just that: a guess.

• An educated guess is NOT a wild guess, however. A wild guess

depends on luck.

• An educated guess is based on clues. It is a best guess about the

meaning of a word based on evidence.

• The ways that words are used in a sentence (the context clues) can

be helpful in making educated guesses about vocabulary.

Where to find

Context Clues

Consider the following sentence:

“Henry took one bite of the Surströmming and gagged.”

Even if you didn’t already know that Surströmming is a Swedish fermented fish

dish that smells like rotten meat, you could guess that it is a food (“took one bite”)

that not everyone loves (“and gagged”).

Seeing a word in context is one of the ways that we make meaning out of

language.

Words can be defined by their context in a variety of ways.

Sometimes, the sentence includes a definition of the word in question:

“The film critic called her performance a ‘jejune effort,’ which meant that

it was childish and uninteresting.”

Here, jejune clearly means “childish and uninteresting.”

Where to find

Context Clues

Sometimes, the meaning of the word is restated in the sentence:

“The man’s arms were hirsute, covered with thick, curly hair.”

In this case, we would guess that hirsute means hairy, based on the clause

“covered with thick, curly hair.”

Where to find

Context Clues

Other times, a sentence will set up a comparison that helps define a word:

“You are resplendent as the noonday sun!”

Here, the comparison with the noonday sun lets us know that resplendent has

something to do with being impressive, big, colorful, warm … like the sun.

Where to find

Context Clues

And other times, a cause and effect relationship will help define the word:

“The family’s penury prevented them from paying for the boy’s college

education.”

If penury is the cause of the family’s inability to pay for college, it must

have something to do with a lack of money. So, you can assume that

penury = poverty.

Where to find

Context Clues

Mostly, context clues can be found in the overall meaning of the sentence.

“His fine sartorial taste was reflected in his elegant wardrobe.”

Here, since the sentence is commenting on his wardrobe, sartorial should

have something to do with clothing. And it does.

Where to find

Context Clues

A Note on Parts of Speech …One way that we figure out the meaning of a word is to figure out its function, or part of speech.

Although there are nine parts of speech, most of these vocabulary words will fall into one of these four:

NOUN: the name of a person, place or thing (ex: table)

ADJECTIVE: a word modifying (describing) a noun (ex: round table)

VERB: a word denoting an action (ex: walk), occurrence (ex: happen), or state of being (ex: be)

ADVERB: a word modifying a verb (ex: walk briskly, happen suddenly, really am)

Word endings can change the part of speech. So, for example, the adjective SLOW can be changed into an adverb by adding –ly at the end (SLOWLY) or into a noun by adding –ness at the end (SLOWNESS).

The sentences you will see may use more than one form of the same word. So, for example, the word ABATE (a verb), can be used as a noun (ABATEMENT) or in the past tense (ABATED).

All of the forms of a word are useful context clues.

Give it a try!On the following slides, you’ll see a word in bold followed by ten sentences using that word. On your Vocabulary Word Chart:

1. Write a definition of your own (or a synonym) based on the context clues you’ve seen. Discuss.

2. Check your definition against the provided dictionary definition and synonyms. You’ll be surprised at how often you can guess correctly!

3. Note the part of speech (or parts of speech) of each word. This will help you understand the different ways in which it can be used.

4. Finally, draw a pictograph (a picture that reflects the meaning) of each word. This will help you remember the meaning of the word the next time you see it.

yearn1. I yearn for the day when people can live in peace.

2. The high school seniors all yearned for the day of their graduation.

3. When I was a kid, I yearned for Christmas all year long.

4. She went to medical school because she had always yearned to heal people.

5. Delilah was in love with Ralph, and she yearned to be with him every minute.

6. Oh how I yearn for the beginning of summer vacation!

7. The man yearned for the day when he would get to his desired weight and would be able to go off his diet.

8. Once banished to Mantua, Romeo yearned for news of his beloved Juliet back in Verona.

9. Reading so many adventure books made Roy yearn to have an adventure of his own.

10. The fans lined up outside of the theatre, each yearning to catch a glimpse of the movie star.

Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

yearn

DEFINITION: (v) to have an intense feeling of longing for something

SYNONYMS: want, crave, long

1. He wasn’t guilty of murder, but he was found guilty of abetting the crime by driving the get-away car.

2. If you aid and abet student cheating, you will also get in trouble.

3. Few of us want to interfere with the security checks at the airport for fear that we would end up abetting a terrorist act.

4. People who buy stolen goods are aiding and abetting the criminals.

5. The students wanted to protest the principal's decision to shut down the school newspaper, so they staged a sit-in at the administrative offices. The principal accused them of abetting the disruption of learning that day.

6. We shall strike hard at terrorists and those who abet them.

7. The president believes that the media have abetted the feeling of insecurity during this time of trouble.

8. He abetted his cousin in robbing the bank.

9. He is charged with arson as well as aiding and abetting.

10. Brittani had a crush on Johnny, so she abetted the breakup between Johnny and Tiffani by spreading rumors that Tiffani had kissed Chad at the football game.

abet Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

abet

DEFINITION: (v) to encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense

SYNONYMS: incite, provoke, egg on

servile1. Mr. Wimpy had no self esteem and would bow his head in a servile manner to those of higher rank.

2. The maid was required to say, "Yes, m'am," and "No, m'am" to her employers. She felt this was degrading and servile, and she hated it.

3. When Killer, the alpha dog, greeted any of the smaller dogs in the neighborhood, they would tuck their tails between their legs and make a servile display to show that they knew he was boss.

4. Some children are required to call all adults "Mr." or "Mrs." Others come from homes where this is considered to be insulting and servile behavior. In these homes, children call adults by their first names.

5. Some women fear that they will revert to a housewife status as servile as their grandmothers’.

6. It is possible to show a person respect without making a servile display such as a bow.

7. John Brown tried to start a servile revolt amongst American slaves. This helped trigger the Civil War.

8. No actor wants to always be cast in servile roles, playing housekeepers or maids.

9. Although it's nice to receive a compliment now and then, no woman wants to spend time with a servile flatterer.

10. Slaves were required to show absolute and servile obedience to their masters; this was one of the most dehumanizing aspects of the institution.

Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

servile

DEFINITION: (adj) having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others; relating to slavery

SYNONYMS: fawning, obedient, slavish

abate1. Hopefully, the storm will soon abate and the plane will be able to take off.

2. Sometimes, in an effort to abate the mosquito problem, city government will spray the entire city with insecticide. I’d prefer the mosquitoes.

3. Dr. Frankenstein offered special deals on plastic surgery in an effort to abate the anger of the mob.

4. The mother bought a new toy in an effort to abate her child’s tantrum.

5. Ira’s enthusiasm for ballroom dancing abated after his pants split open during a performance.

6. In order to abate the growing government deficit, Congress voted to increase taxes.

7. The teacher ordered everyone to stand up and stretch in an effort to abate the students’ sleepiness.

8. Old houses are often covered in lead paint, which is poisonous. Lead abatement is a process by which the lead paint is safely removed.

9. His love never abated for his wife, even after 50 years of marriage. It was a match made in heaven.

10. His enthusiasm for baseball was as great on his last day in the major leagues as it was on his first; his love for the game never abated.

Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

abate DEFINITION: (v) to cause to become smaller or less intense

SYNONYMS: decrease, diminish, reduce

wrangle1. The cowboy had to wrangle the cattle into the corrals.

2. The political wrangling went on for weeks before the bill was passed into law.

3. An insurance wrangle is holding up compensation payments.

4. Let's agree on the general idea now; we can wrangle over the details later.

5. The lawyers wrangled over the complicated document for weeks.

6. The other portion the president has managed to wrangle from private donors.

7. How did you wrangle the actress into agreeing to do such a small cameo in the movie?

8. There was a bit of a wrangle over how much money to give the high school for its sports programs.

9. He made a living wrangling horses.

10. They had a bitter wrangle over custody of their children.

Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

wrangle DEFINITION: (v) to have a long and complicated argument

SYNONYMS: brawl, hassle, squabble

vilify1. He has been vilified in the press, but it isn't fair; he isn't really a bad guy.

2. Republicans like to vilify Democrats, and Democrats like to vilify Republicans; really they should all just try harder to get along.

3. Just because one kid cheats doesn't mean you need to vilify the entire class.

4. The students at Dingbat Academy tended to vilify Principal Gotcha, for he took genuine pleasure in punishing innocent kids.

5. The racist senator argued for segregation, but he was vilified in the press for his comments.

6. He claimed that he had been vilified by the press because of his conservative views.

7. Joan hates Nancy and vilifies her to other people whenever she gets the chance.

8. When you disagree with someone, you should engage him in conversation, not vilify him by using ugly labels.

9. When we are threatened by those who do not agree with our opinions, we often choose to vilify them to others.

10. Unfortunately, the internet and social media have made it very easy for people to vilify their enemies.

Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

vilify

DEFINITION: (v) to speak or write about someone or something in an abusively negative way

SYNONYMS: speak ill of, bad mouth, slur

loll1. We have a lot to do; we can't afford to loll around all day.

2. It was a lazy summer day, and the girls were happy to loll on the beach all day.

3. When he passed out, his head lolled to the side and his eyes rolled up.

4. After running the race, he slumped against a tree trunk, his head lolling back.

5. It was a lovely day to loll around by the side of the pool.

6. Two cats loll on the window sill in the afternoon heat.

7. The dog's tongue lolled happily out of its mouth after his long run.

8. Under the trees, families loll in hammocks on listless Sunday afternoons.

9. The flag was draped loosely over the mast and it lolled in the breeze.

10. If all you do is loll about all day playing video games, you will become fat and dull-witted.

Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

loll DEFINITION: (v) to sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way

SYNONYMS: slouch, goof off, lounge

abode1. "Welcome to my humble abode," the man said as he ushered his guests into his home.

2. They just moved, so their current abode is still full of unpacked boxes.

3. I wandered the streets until I found his new abode.

4. The Queen of England might call Buckingham Palace her "humble abode" even though it is a palace.

5. The Pope's abode is at the Vatican in Rome.

6. The beavers stacked logs across the stream to build their abode, and in so doing created a pond.

7. Although the old elephant still dreamed of the African savannah, for many years she had made her abode at the London Zoo. At least the food was good.

8. Gujarat's Gir sanctuary in India is the last abode of the Asiatic lion.

9. Hoarders collect more belongings than can fit in their abodes.

10. Many people look into the night sky and believe they are seeing the possible abodes of other life forms.

Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

abode DEFINITION: (n) a house or home

SYNONYMS: dwelling, home, house

callous1. Mr. Snidely was very callous when he assigned homework over the Thanksgiving holiday.

2. The executioner had a callous disregard for the feelings of the man he was about to kill.

3. The man had worked with his hands all his life and they were rough and callous from use.

4. Sometimes girls can say mean, even callous, things when they argue.

5. My dentist likes to hurt people; she has a callous attitude toward her patients.

6. The general sent many men to their deaths in battle, but it never really bothered him. Some would call him callous, others would just say he just accepted the realities of war.

7. Only a very callous teacher would announce a failing student’s grades out loud to the class.

8. Some teachers don’t let their students create art freely; they callously criticize every effort at creativity.

9. The bully had a callous attitude toward others; he did not care how he hurt them.

10. The rhinoceros had a callous hide; it was thick and hard to puncture.

Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

callous

DEFINITION: (adj) showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others

SYNONYMS: cold-blooded, unsympathetic, unfeeling

gaudy1. The dress had too many ruffles and sequins and was considered gaudy by most people.

2. Nowadays, women wear bright nail polish and adhesive nail gems that would have been considered gaudy in my mother's day.

3. The Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain, is a very ornate, even gaudy, basilica designed in the Gothic style. Ironically it was designed by an architect named Antoni Gaudí.

4. In the 1960s, women wore very heavy eye makeup that would be considered gaudy today.

5. For some reason, musicians often use gaudy costumes when they perform. From Liberace to Elton John to today's rappers, sequins and other bling have defined the look.

6. The store's gaudy pink and orange sign attracted a certain type of customer and repelled others.

7. I prefer tasteful Christmas decorations and consider those inflatable lawn Santas to be gaudy.

8. Little girls often make fashion choices, such as purple tutus, that adults consider to be gaudy.

9. Mr. Marvelous has ten replica Greek statues in his front yard. His neighbors hate having to look at such a gaudy display.

10. My mother insists on wearing a big daisy in her hair each day. I think this is a little gaudy for an 80 year old woman.

Pause a moment to write an original definition or synonym for this word based on these context clues.

gaudy

DEFINITION: (adj) extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless

SYNONYMS: tasteless, flashy, garish

Context Detective

Copyright © 2015 by Ellen M. Chapman

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