Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
accomplishment
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
acquires
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
admirable
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From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
afford
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From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
affords
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From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
ardently
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From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
artist
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From this reading For the artist works entirely upon honour.
artistic
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
Balzac
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From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
blind
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From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
bulk
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From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
buried
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From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
certain
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
cheap
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
condemned
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From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
day
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From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
design
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
desires
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From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
easily
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
endeavours
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From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
energy
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For the artist works entirely upon honour.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
exquisite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
feels
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From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
finish
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From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
first-hand
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the artist works entirely upon honour.
gross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
honour
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From this reading For the artist works entirely upon honour.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
keenlyadverbUS /ˈkiːnli/
with sharp attention or strong interest
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
knows
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From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
landslip
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From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
mass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
merit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
merits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
miner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
practice
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From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
proficiency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
quest
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From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
recasts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
recognise
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From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
refinements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
rejects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
revises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
temper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
toil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
training
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For the artist works entirely upon honour.
value
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merits of design, the merit of first-hand energy, the merit of a certain cheap accomplishment which a man of the artistic temper easily acquires—these they can recognise, and these they value.
vigorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to those more exquisite refinements of proficiency and finish, which the artist so ardently desires and so keenly feels, for which (in the vigorous words of Balzac) he must toil “like a miner buried in a landslip,” for which, day after day, he recasts and revises and rejects—the gross mass of the public must be ever blind.
works
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the artist works entirely upon honour.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Nor will the practice of art afford you pleasure only; it affords besides an admirable training.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The public knows little or nothing of those merits in the quest of which you are condemned to spend the bulk of your endeavours.
