until
ənˈtɪl
The word that builds a wall where things stop
The picture Something runs along and stops dead at a wall built at one point. UNTIL keeps running up to that point, BY just gets it finished once before that point.
Where the picture shows up in until
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open up to that time
The store is open until nine.
ðə stɔːr ɪz ˈoʊpən ənˈtɪl naɪn
The shop stays open till nine.
the shop lights burn right up to a wall standing on the nine o'clock mark
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staying put till called
Please wait here until I call you.
pliːz weɪt hɪr ənˈtɪl aɪ kɔːl juː
Stay here till your name is called.
the seated body does not move until the instant the name is called
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until it reaches a state
Keep stirring until the sugar melts.
kiːp ˈstɜːrɪŋ ənˈtɪl ðə ˈʃʊɡər melts
Keep stirring till the sugar is gone.
the wrist draws the same circle until the last sugar grain disappears
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not so before that time
I didn't know until yesterday.
aɪ ˈdɪdənt noʊ ənˈtɪl ˈjestərdeɪ
I had no idea before yesterday.
pitch dark up to the line marked yesterday, then the lights come on past it
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cannot begin before then
We can't start until everyone arrives.
wiː kænt stɑːrt ənˈtɪl ˈevriwʌn əˈraɪvz
We cannot begin before everyone is here.
feet will not leave the start line until the last person walks through the door
All of it in one picture
until builds a wall somewhere and keeps going up to it. Lights stay on up to the nine o'clock wall and you get open till nine; a body stays still up to the wall of your name being called and you get waiting till then; a wrist keeps circling up to the wall where sugar vanishes and you get stirring till then. Darkness up to the wall gives not knowing till then, and feet stuck in front of the wall give cannot start till then.