REBOL [
    Type: 'module
    Exports: [old-to-word]
]

old-to-word: func [wd][
    attempt [
        bind/new to word! wd system/contexts/user
    ]
]

bind-to-something: func ['wd /or ctx [object! module!]][
    any [
        all [
            ctx
            in :ctx :wd
            bind :wd ctx
        ]
        all [
            in system/contexts/user :wd
            bind :wd system/contexts/user
        ]
        all [
            in system/contexts/sys :wd
            bind :wd system/contexts/sys
        ]
        all [
            in system/contexts/natives :wd
            bind :wd system/contexts/natives
        ]
    ]
]

old-to-word: func [wd [any-string!]][
    all [
        wd: to word! wd
        any [
            bind-to-something :wd
            :wd
        ]
    ]
]