Well, you can't 100% rely on "looking it up" or "using context."
Definitely not! And I'm reasonably sure that all the "looking it up" people can rely on context at least a little because if you can't you could never learn how to talk.
But sometimes context just isn't enough. Like that time fantasy writers all learned the word "lambent" and started applying it, of all things, to eyes.
(It means "flickering or gleaming, like a candle". But if you don't set that up properly in the text I guarantee your readers will all think you're talking about sheep.)
no subject
Definitely not! And I'm reasonably sure that all the "looking it up" people can rely on context at least a little because if you can't you could never learn how to talk.
But sometimes context just isn't enough. Like that time fantasy writers all learned the word "lambent" and started applying it, of all things, to eyes.
(It means "flickering or gleaming, like a candle". But if you don't set that up properly in the text I guarantee your readers will all think you're talking about sheep.)