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Essays and Lectures
Essays and Lectures

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Essays and Lectures is here in full — 130 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.
The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.
He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.
But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.
And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Essays and Lectures

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Essays and Lectures is here in full — 130 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.
/ˈhævɪŋ dʌn ðɪs juː mʌst pleɪs jɔːr ˈwɜːrkmən ɪn ðə mɪdst ʌv ˈbjuːtəfəl sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
Line 2
The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.
/ðə ˈɑːrtəst ɪz nɑːt dɪˈpendənt ɑːn ðə ˈvɪzəbəl ənd ðə ˈtændʒəbəl/
Line 3
He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.
/hiː hæz hɪz ˈvɪʒənz ənd hɪz driːmz tuː fiːd ɑːn/
Line 4
But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.
Line 5
And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

dependent adjective US /dɪˈpendənt/

relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed

From this reading “The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.”

designs noun US /dɪˈzaɪnz/

plural of “design” — the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading “And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.”

purposeless adjective US /ˈpɜːrpəsləs/

not evidencing any purpose or goal

From this reading “And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.”

returns noun US /rɪˈtɜːrnz/

plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability

From this reading “But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.”

surroundings noun US /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/

the environmental condition

From this reading “Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.”

tangible adjective US /ˈtændʒəbəl/

perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch

From this reading “The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.”

visions noun US /ˈvɪʒənz/

plural of “vision” — a vivid mental image

From this reading “He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.”

workman noun US /ˈwɜːrkmən/

an employee who performs manual or industrial labor

From this reading “Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.”

All words in this reading · 56

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

artistnounUS /ˈɑːrtəst/

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

assureverbUS /əˈʃʊr/

make certain of

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

connectionnounUS /kəˈnekʃən/

a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

day-dreaming

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

dependentadjectiveUS /dɪˈpendənt/

relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed

From this reading The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.

designsnounUS /dɪˈzaɪnz/

plural of “design” — the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

dreamsnounUS /driːmz/

plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep

From this reading He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.

eventidenoun

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/

something many people believe that is false

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

feedverbUS /fiːd/

provide as food

From this reading He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.

formsnounUS /fɔːrmz/

plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.

Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

idleadjectiveUS /ˈaɪdəl/

not in action or at work

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.

lovelyadjectiveUS /ˈlʌvli/

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

midstnounUS /mɪdst/

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/

impressive in appearance

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

purposelessadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrpəsləs/

not evidencing any purpose or goal

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

resultnounUS /rɪˈzʌlt/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

returnsnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/

plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/

the environmental condition

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

tangibleadjectiveUS /ˈtændʒəbəl/

perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch

From this reading The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.

visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading The artist is not dependent on the visible and the tangible.

visionsnounUS /ˈvɪʒənz/

plural of “vision” — a vivid mental image

From this reading He has his visions and his dreams to feed on.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And, in connection with this, I want to assure you that noble and beautiful designs are never the result of idle fancy or purposeless day-dreaming.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading But the workman must see lovely forms as he goes to his work in the morning and returns at eventide.

workmannounUS /ˈwɜːrkmən/

an employee who performs manual or industrial labor

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Having done this, you must place your workman in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

Chapter 8 of Essays and Lectures by Oscar Wilde holds 130 sentences, grouped into 26 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 8 of Essays and Lectures contain?

Chapter 8 holds 130 sentences of Essays and Lectures, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Essays and Lectures by Oscar Wilde exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 130 sentences, grouped into 26 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 8 of Essays and Lectures?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Essays and Lectures

Common questions about reading Essays and Lectures by Oscar Wilde on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Essays and Lectures?

Yes. All 1630 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #774 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Essays and Lectures is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #774, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Essays and Lectures take to read?

About 135 minutes of reading across 326 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Essays and Lectures section by section

How to work through Essays and Lectures section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of Essays and Lectures to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Essays and Lectures

Words and structures a reader meets early in Essays and Lectures, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays and Lectures; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Published
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays and Lectures; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Limited
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays and Lectures; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Edition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Essays and Lectures; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.