Z

V

Vista


noun

a pleasing view: sweeping lawns and landscaped vistas

a long, narrow view as between rows of trees or buildings, especially one closed by a building or other structure.

a mental view of a succession of remembered or anticipated events: vistas of freedom seemed to open ahead of him

Origin:

mid 17th century: from Italian, literally 'view', from visto 'seen', past participle of vedere 'see', from Latin videre

“On one side of the edge the vista beyond is hidden, and on the other side it is revealed”           Edward S. Casey Keeping Art To Its Edge

Y

X

W

R

Representation

noun

[mass noun]

1. the action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being so represented: you may qualify for free legal representation

2. the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way: the representation of women in newspapers

the depiction of someone or something in a work of art: Picasso is striving for some absolute representation of reality

[count noun] a picture, model, or other depiction of someone or something: a striking representation of a vase of flowers

(in some theories of perception) a mental state or concept regarded as corresponding to a thing perceived.

3. (representations) formal statements made to an authority, especially so as to communicate an opinion or register a protest: the Law Society will make representations to the Lord Chancellor

[count noun] a statement or allegation: any buyer was relying on a representation that the tapes were genuine

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'image, likeness'): from Old French representation or Latin repraesentatio(n-), from repraesentare 'bring before, exhibit' (see represent)

Restriction

noun

(often restrictions)

a limiting condition or measure, especially a legal one: planning restrictions on commercial development

[mass noun] the limitation or control of someone or something, or the state of being restricted: the restriction of local government power

Derivatives

Restrictionism

noun

Restrictionist

adjective & noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin restrictio(n-), from restringere 'bind fast, confine' (see restrict)

 I have been exploring the idea of restriction in my work.

P

Postmodernism

noun

[mass noun]

a late 20th-century style and concept in the arts, architecture, and criticism, which represents a departure from modernism and is characterized by the self-conscious use of earlier styles and conventions, a mixing of different artistic styles and media, and a general distrust of theories.

Derivatives

postmodernist

noun & adjective

postmodernity

noun

Practice (prac|tice)

noun

[mass noun]

1. the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it: the principles and practice of teaching the recommendations proved too expensive to put into practice

the carrying out or exercise of a profession, especially that of a doctor or lawyer: he abandoned medical practice for the Church

[count noun] the business or premises of a doctor or lawyer: Dr Apps has a practice in Neasham Road

2. the customary, habitual, or expected procedure or way of doing of something: product placement is common practice in American movies [count noun]: modern child-rearing practices

an established method of legal procedure.

3. repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it: it must have taken a lot of practice to become so fluent

[count noun] a period of time spent practising an activity or skill: daily choir practices

verb

US spelling of practise.

Phrases

in practice

1. in reality (used to refer to what actually happens as opposed to what is meant or believed to happen): in theory this method is ideal—in practice it is unrealistic

2. currently proficient in a particular activity or skill as a result of repeated exercise or performance of it.

out of practice

not currently proficient in a particular activity or skill through not having exercised or performed it for some time: he was out of practice at interrogation

practice makes perfect

regular exercise of an activity or skill is the way to become proficient in it.

Origin:

late Middle English: from practise, on the pattern of pairs such as advise, advice

My practice is something that I am constantly trying to define and refine.

Here are some examples of my practice.

Precedent (pre¦ce|dent)

noun

an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances: there are substantial precedents for using interactive media in training

Law a previous case or legal decision that may be or ( binding precedent) must be followed in subsequent similar cases: we hope to set a legal precedent to protect hundreds of miles of green lanes

adjective
Pronunciation
preceding in time, order, or importance: a precedent case
Origin: late Middle English: from Old French, literally 'preceding'

I have been looking at different precedents that relate to my practice.

Prolegomenon

noun (plural prolegomena)

a critical or discursive introduction to a book: a prolegomenon to the second part the prolegomena to the enquiry

Derivatives

prolegomenous

adjective

Origin:

mid 17th century: via Latin from Greek, passive present participle (neuter) of prolegein 'say beforehand', from pro 'before' + legein 'say'
"Having done the historical prolegomenon, let us dwell for a moment on a coincidence" Representations of Representations, Dagen, Philippe; Penwarden, Charles                                         Art Press June 2008, issue 346

T

Topology

noun (plural topologies)

1. [mass noun] Mathematics the study of geometrical properties and spatial relations unaffected by the continuous change of shape or size of figures.

[count noun] a family of open subsets of an abstract space such that the union and the intersection of any two of them are members of the family, and which includes the space itself and the empty set.

2. the way in which constituent parts are interrelated or arranged: the topology of a computer network

Derivatives

topological
adjective

topologically
adverb

topologist
noun

Origin:

late 19th century: via German from Greek topos 'place' + -logy

S

Scale

noun

1. each of the small, thin horny or bony plates protecting the skin of fish and reptiles, typically overlapping one another.

2. something resembling a fish scale in appearance or function, in particular:

a thick dry flake of skin

a rudimentary leaf, feather, or bract

each of numerous microscopic tile-like structures covering the wings of butterflies and moths

3. [mass noun] a flaky deposit, in particular:

a white deposit formed in a kettle, boiler, etc. by the evaporation of water containing lime: banging sounds emanating from the boiler may be caused by a build-up of scale

tartar formed on teeth

a coating of oxide formed on heated metal: a spray-on chemical for removing welding scale and heat discoloration from stainless steel

verb

1. [with object] remove scale or scales from: he scales the fish and removes the innards

remove tartar from (teeth) by scraping them: dental hygienists give treatment such as scaling and polishing teeth

2. [no object] (often as noun scaling) (especially of the skin) form scales: moisturizers can ease off drying and scaling

come off in scales or thin pieces; flake off: the paint was scaling from the brick walls

Phrases

the scales fall from someone's eyes

someone is no longer deceived: the scales had fallen from her eyes and she saw clearly what perhaps she should have been aware of earlier
[with biblical reference to Acts 9:18]

Derivatives

scaled

adjective

[often in combination]: a rough-scaled fish

scaleless

Pronunciation: /ˈskeɪllɪs/

adjective

scaler

noun

Origin:

Middle English: shortening of Old French escale, from the Germanic base of scale²

Sculpture

noun

[mass noun]

the art of making two- or three-dimensional representative or abstract forms, especially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster: the boundary between painting and sculpture is displaced

[count noun] a work of art made by sculpture: a bronze sculpture [mass noun]: a collection of sculpture

Zoology & Botany raised or sunken patterns or texture on the surface of a shell, pollen grain, cuticle, or other biological specimen: ammonite shells with external sculpture near the aperture
verb

[with object]

make or represent (a form) by carving, casting, or other shaping techniques: the choir stalls were each carefully sculptured

form or shape as if by sculpture, especially with strong, smooth curves: (as adjective sculptured) he had an aquiline nose and sculptured lips

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin sculptura, from sculpere 'carve'

O

Object

noun

1. a material thing that can be seen and touched: he was dragging a large object small objects such as shells

Philosophy a thing external to the thinking mind or subject.

2. a person or thing to which a specified action or feeling is directed: disease became the object of investigation he hated being the object of public attention

a goal or purpose: the Institute was opened with the object of promoting scientific study

3. Grammar a noun or noun phrase governed by an active transitive verb or by a preposition: in Gaelic the word order is verb, subject, object

4. Computing a data construct that provides a description of anything known to a computer (such as a processor or a piece of code) and defines its method of operation: the interface treats most items, including cells, graphs, and buttons, as objects

verb

 [reporting verb]

say something to express one’s disapproval of or disagreement with something: [no object]: residents object to the volume of traffic [with clause]: the boy’s father objected that the police had arrested him unlawfully [with direct speech]: ‘It doesn’t seem natural,’ she objected

[with object] archaic cite as a reason against something: Bryant objects this very circumstance to the authenticity of the Iliad

Phrases

no object

not influencing or restricting choices or decisions: a tycoon for whom money is no object

the object of the exercise

the main purpose of an activity: the object of the exercise was to recover stolen property

object of virtu

see virtu.

Derivatives

objectless

adjective

objector

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from medieval Latin objectum 'thing presented to the mind', neuter past participle (used as a noun) of Latin obicere, from ob-'in the way of' + jacere 'to throw'; the verb may also partly represent the Latin frequentative objectare

Grammar

In a statement the object: normally comes after the verb is governed by the verb refers to a person, place, thing, or idea that is different from the subject often refers to a person, place, thing, or idea that is acted on or affected by the subject can be a noun, a pronoun, a noun phrase, or a noun clause:See also indirect object.