Difference between depict and describe

[Pilar]

Test No. errors/advan-10 "Late at the Office", question 9

Then there happened what can only be depicted as a miracle because she arrived at the office at nine.

(a) Then
(b) what
(c) depicted
(d) at

Test No. errors/advan-10 "Late at the Office", answer 9

Then there happened what can only be described as a miracle because she arrived at the office at nine.

Correct entry: described
The error was: (c) depicted

You have not found the error.
suddenly there happened what can only be depicted as a miracle because she arrived at the office at nine.
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depict and describe aren't the same? http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=depict&x=23&y=15
What is the difference here?

[Alan]

As your dictionary says both words are generally the same in meaning but not in use. Depict is used to give an exact description rather like a picture but describe is far more general in the idea it gives as in this sentence. The sentence can only be described as a miracle has the same general meaning as you can only say it was like a miracle.
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English as a Second Language
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