noscitur a sociis^(Lat)

'Know it from its associates'. The meaning or interpretation of a word can be gathered from the context or by reference to the meaning of the words associated with it. This rule of interpretation propounds that "a word is known from the company it keeps." Jarecki v. G.D. Searle & Co., 367 US 303, 81 S Ct 1579, 307, 6 L Ed.2d 859, 863 (1961); or that "English words derive colour from those that surround them." Bourne v Norwich Crematorium Ltd [1967] 1 WLR 691, 696, [1967] 2 All ER 576, 578. cf. ejusdem generis. See also implied term, words meaning of.