noun

1. the parts of a sentence, paragraph, discourse, etc. immediately next to or surrounding a specified word or passage and determining its exact meaning to quote a remark out of context
2. the whole situation, background, or environment relevant to a particular event, personality, creation, etc.

Etymology: ME < L contextus, a joining together, orig., pp. of contexere, to weave together < com-, together + texere, to weave: see technic