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The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray

Chapter I · The Portrait in Basil’s Studio

Read and study this complete chapter with synchronized narration, pronunciation, and vocabulary support.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chapter 1 — chapter-context illustration for reading 55
Context Illustration Reading 55/78 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.
But in some curious wayI wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.
I see things differently, I think of them differently.
I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.
A dream of form in days of thought’—who is it who says that?
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Chapter I · The Portrait in Basil’s Studio

Study this chapter through synchronized reading, listening, pronunciation, and contextual vocabulary.

Reading 55/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 271–275

Line 1
There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.
Line 2
But in some curious wayI wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.
Line 3
I see things differently, I think of them differently.
/aɪ siː θɪŋz ˈdɪfrəntli aɪ θɪŋk ʌv ðem ˈdɪfrəntli/
Line 4
I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.
/aɪ kæn naʊ ˈrekrieɪt laɪf ɪn ə weɪ ðæt wɑːz ˈhɪdən frʌm miː bɪˈfɔːr/
Line 5
A dream of form in days of thought’—who is it who says that?

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.

differently adverb US /ˈdɪfrəntli/

in another and different manner

From this reading “I see things differently, I think of them differently.”

Dorian noun US /ˈdɔːriən/

a member of one of four linguistic divisions of the prehistoric Greeks

From this reading “There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.”

express verb US /ɪkˈspres/

give expression to

From this reading “There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.”

hidden adjective US /ˈhɪdən/

not accessible to view

From this reading “I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.”

mode noun US /moʊd/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading “But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.”

personality noun US /ˌpɜːrsəˈnælɪti/

the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual

From this reading “But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.”

recreate verb US /ˈrekrieɪt/

give new life or energy to

From this reading “I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.”

style noun US /staɪl/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading “But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.”

All words in this reading · 64

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.

cannot

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

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading ‘A dream of form in days of thought’—who is it who says that?

differentlyadverbUS /ˈdɪfrəntli/

in another and different manner

From this reading I see things differently, I think of them differently.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

DoriannounUS /ˈdɔːriən/

a member of one of four linguistic divisions of the prehistoric Greeks

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading ‘A dream of form in days of thought’—who is it who says that?

entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

give expression to

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading ‘A dream of form in days of thought’—who is it who says that?

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

GraynounUS /ɡreɪ/

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

hiddenadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdən/

not accessible to view

From this reading I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ‘A dream of form in days of thought’—who is it who says that?

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

metverbUS /met/

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

modenounUS /moʊd/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

personalitynounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈnælɪti/

the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

recreateverbUS /ˈrekrieɪt/

give new life or energy to

From this reading I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.

saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading ‘A dream of form in days of thought’—who is it who says that?

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I see things differently, I think of them differently.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

stylenounUS /staɪl/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

suggestedverbUS /səˈdʒestɪd/

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I see things differently, I think of them differently.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading I see things differently, I think of them differently.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I see things differently, I think of them differently.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading ‘A dream of form in days of thought’—who is it who says that?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading ‘A dream of form in days of thought’—who is it who says that?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

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

From this reading There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading But in some curious way—I wonder will you understand me?—his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style.