'context' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'contextus', the past participle of 'contexere', where 'con-' meant 'together' and 'texere' meant 'to weave'.

'context' changed from Latin 'contexere'/'contextus' into Medieval Latin and Old French forms (e.g. 'contexte'), and eventually entered Middle English as 'context'.

Initially, it meant 'that which is woven together' (a joining or joining-together). Over time it evolved into 'the circumstances or surrounding words that 'weave' meaning together', i.e. the modern senses of 'context'.