History of Ideas - Art Flashcards
flock
A group of people, animal or birds:
- Art has a very high status in modern societies. People flock to museums and art works fetch record prices.
- Flocks of people were lining up to see Nelson Mandela.
reluctance
A feeling of being unwilling to do something or of wishing that you did not have to do it (неохота, вынужденность):
- But our age is also oddly reluctant to say in clear terms what art might actually be for.
- It is with great reluctance that I submit this letter of resignation.
- Reluctance to do something: Julia’s reluctance to join the party was a mystery.
the epitome of
The best possible example of a particular type of person or thing:
- An odd mystique surrounds it, epitomized by the puzzlement many of us feel.
- She was the epitome of fashionable elegance.
puzzlement
A feeling of being confused because you cannot understand something:
- An odd mystique surrounds it, epitomized by the puzzlement many of us feel.
- She was frowning in puzzlement.
abundance
Existing or available in large quantities:
- For most of history, this kind of question didn’t arise, because it was abundantly clear what art was for.
- The country has an abundant supply of fossil fuels.
- Rainfall is abundant in the region.
fruitful
Producing good results (especially a lot of crops or fruit):
- The question mark over the purpose of art is really is a modern one, so let’s go back in time and find out about a wider range of options that we might be able to draw on fruitfully today.
- We have had a friendly and very fruitful discussion.
infant
A baby, or a very young child; involving or relating to an infant:
- Christianity, thought still in its infancy and ruthlessly persecuted by the Roman authorities, is rapidly gaining ground.
- Infants and elderly people are particularly at risk.
ruthless
Willing to make other people suffer so that you can achieve your aims:
- Christianity, thought still in its infancy and ruthlessly persecuted by the Roman authorities, is rapidly gaining ground.
- She showed a ruthless determination to succeed in her career.
persecute
To treat someone extremely badly, or to refuse them equal rights, especially because of their race, religion, or political beliefs:
- Christianity, thought still in its infancy and ruthlessly persecuted by the Roman authorities, is rapidly gaining ground.
- They have denied persecuting or killing political dissidents.
To frequently annoy or threaten someone:
- Why are you persecuting me like this?
testament
A will, especially one that relates to the disposition of one’s personal property (завещание, завет):
- Our history is testament to this truth.
Either of the two major portions of the Bible:
- Here, an unnamed and not especially talented artist represents Jesus healing of a bleeding woman, an incident recorded in a New Testament.
resonant
Резонирующий, резонансный:
- You have created a highly resonant system.
- To give forth a clear resonant sound.
- Like all relegions, Christianity is using art for a clear and understandable purpose: to make its message more resonant, emotionally attractive, and popularly appealing.
appealing
Attractive and interesting (привлекательный):
- The building has an appealing old-fashioned charm.
- Appealing to: We’ve tried to make the design more appealing to young people.
- Like all relegions, Christianity is using art for a clear and understandable purpose: to make its message more resonant, emotionally attractive, and popularly appealing.
An appealing look, voice etc shows that you want help, approval, or agreement:
- She cast an appealing glance in my direction.
contemplation
The process of thinking about something or looking at something for a long time:
- They sat in quiet contemplation.
The religious activity of thinking about God:
- You’re meant to look at the Buddha and take inspiration, becoming a little more as he is. The sculpture is an invitation to calm and contemplation.
evident
Easy to see, notice, or understand:
- Her lack of interest in the job was becoming increasingly evident.
- It is evident (that): It is evident that there will be some job losses.
- In the East as in the West arts function is evident: to support the truth set down by religions, to make ideas more easily digestible.
digest
When your stomach digests food, it changes it into the substances that your body needs:
- Cheese can be difficult to digest.
To understand information when there is a lot of it or it is difficult or unexpected:
- In the East as in the West arts function is evident: to support the truth set down by religions, to make ideas more easily digestible.
- There was a pause while she digested this piece of news.
motto
A short statement that expresses something such as a principle or an aim, often used as a statement of belief by an organization or individual:
- This doctrine of art for art’s sake becomes the motto of the new generation of romantic artists.
- Never give up! That’s my motto!
set apart
(set someone/something apart) to make someone or something different and special:
- set someone apart from someone/something: Graf’s natural athleticism set her apart from other tennis players.
- Artists set themselves apart from the bourgeois commercial society growing up all around, which is always trying to sell people things.
OFTEN PASSIVE. To keep something separate in order to use it for a particular purpose:
- set apart for: Several acres of public land have been set apart for recreation.
loft
A space under the roof of a building, often used for storing things:
- A choir loft is found above the main entrance.
- I’ve put all the baby equipment up in the loft.
A structure in which pigeons are kept.
lofty
Lofty aims or principles deserve to be admired because they are based on high moral standards:
- Art should try to inhabit a loftier, more abstract realm.
- Few people can meet his lofty standards.
- This lofty goal is within your grasp.
A lofty building or structure is very tall:
- The town hall’s lofty tower dates from the fourteenth century.
- This lofty apartment is 85 feel long, and 45 broad.
Someone who has a lofty manner or attitude behaves in a way that shows they think they are better than other people:
- It was too clear that its lofty proposals had political implications.
profess
To claim something, especially when it is not true:
- Many wildlife smugglers profess to have an interest in conservation.
To admit publicly that you have a particular feeling or belief (открыто заявлять):
- The nearby Marco Polo airport is filled with the private jets of the world’s billionaires, many of whom profess to love art.
- He professes great admiration for the New Zealand players.
To believe in a particular religion (исповедовать):
- In the Philippines, about 85% of the people profess Catholicism.
weary
Very tired, especially because of hard work or activity:
- They collapsed on to their beds, too weary to get changed.
- Art has become a playground for super rich, as well as an obligatory tourist destination for weary travelers.
Tired and impatient about something:
- There was a note of weary irritation in his voice.
- Weary of: She was weary of the constant arguments between them.
- Weary of doing something: He was weary of repeating things again and again.
revere
To have a lot of respect and admiration for someone or something (чтить):
- Art is both hugely revered and yet somehow still in question.
- A colleague he once revered but ultimately came to despise
swerve
If something such as a vehicle swerves, or if you swerve it, it changes direction suddenly in order to avoid someone or something:
- Modern art is a result of a swerve away from these agendas for extremely understandable reasons.
- He swerved suddenly, narrowly missing a cyclist.
