It tells one what a thing is, that a thing is determined by the definition, form, pattern, essence, whole, synthesis or archetype.
ɪt tˈɛlz wˈʌn wʌt ɐ θˈɪŋ ɪz, ðˌæɾə θˈɪŋ ɪz dɪtˈɜːmɪnd baɪ ðə dˌɛfɪnˈɪʃən, fˈɔːɹm, pˈætɚn, ˈɛsəns, hˈoʊl, sˈɪnθəsˌɪs ɔːɹ ˈɑːɹkɪtˌaɪp.