The code
\definefontfamily[mainface][serif][Brill]
[protrusion=quality,
expansion=quality,
mode=node,
force=yes,
]
\definefallbackfamily[mainface][mm][TeX Gyre Pagella]
[preset=math:digitsnormal,features=f:oldstyle,scale=0.93]
\definefallbackfamily [mainface] [mm] [Brill]
[preset=math:lowercasegreeknormal]
\definefallbackfamily [mainface] [mm] [Brill]
[preset=math:lowercasegreekitalic]
\definefallbackfamily [mainface] [mm] [Brill]
[preset=math:uppercasegreeknormal]
\definefallbackfamily [mainface] [mm] [Brill]
[preset=math:uppercasegreekitalic]
\definefontfamily[mainface][mm][TeXGyre Termes Math][scale=0.94]
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\starttext
Euclid \emph{Elem}.\ 3.20 states that if \m{BC} is joined to the center
\m{O} of the circle, then \m{\angle BOC = 2\cdot\angle A}, and \m{\angle
BOC} is equal to \m{BC\kern-1em\raise1.8ex\hbox{\frown}}.%
%
\footnote{Euclid \emph{Elem}.\ 3.20 states that if \m{BC} is joined to the
center \m{O} of the circle, then \m{\angle BOC = 2\cdot\angle A}, and
\m{\angle BOC} is equal to \m{BC\kern-1em\raise1.8ex\hbox{\frown}}.}
\stoptext
processes as it should using earlier versions (e.g., ConTeXt ver:
2017.03.26) but goes awry using ConTeXt ver: 2017.05.06.
So far as I can tell, the problem comes with the specification of the
fonts. If one omits the stuff before “\starttext”, the footnote looks as it
should and everyone but the publisher would be happy.
Alan