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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What is a picture?
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
archæological
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From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
artist
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From this reading * * * * * We never know what an artist is going to do.
artistic
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From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is, primarily, a purely decorative thing, a delight to look at.
bad
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From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
beautifully
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From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
blue
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From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
coloured
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From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
curious
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From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
Damascus
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From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
decorative
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From this reading It is, primarily, a purely decorative thing, a delight to look at.
delight
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From this reading It is, primarily, a purely decorative thing, a delight to look at.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
exquisite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
fragmentnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/
A small part broken or separated off something larger.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
give
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From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * We never know what an artist is going to do.
historical
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From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What is a picture?
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is, primarily, a purely decorative thing, a delight to look at.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading * * * * * We never know what an artist is going to do.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is, primarily, a purely decorative thing, a delight to look at.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
message
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading * * * * * We never know what an artist is going to do.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is a picture?
pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
Primarily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
purely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is, primarily, a purely decorative thing, a delight to look at.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
sentimental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
spiritual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All archæological pictures that make you say ‘How curious!’ all sentimental pictures that make you say, ‘How sad!’ all historical pictures that make you say ‘How interesting!’ all pictures that do not immediately give you such artistic joy as to make you say ‘How beautiful!’ are bad pictures.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is, primarily, a purely decorative thing, a delight to look at.
tile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is, primarily, a purely decorative thing, a delight to look at.
Venetian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading * * * * * We never know what an artist is going to do.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What is a picture?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Primarily, a picture is a beautifully coloured surface, merely, with no more spiritual message or meaning for you than an exquisite fragment of Venetian glass or a blue tile from the wall of Damascus.
