Mrs. Marshall, the Colonel's sister, on a visit from Baltimore, fled athis approach.
"Excuse me, Mary," she cried to Mrs. Lee. "I just can't stand theseranting fire-eating politicians. They make me ill. I'll go to my room."She hurried up the stairway and left the frail1 mistress of the house tomeet her formidable guest.
Ruffin was the product of the fierce Abolition2 Crusade. Hot-tempered,impulsive, intemperate3 in his emotions and their expression, he was theperfect counterpart of the men who were working night and day in theNorth to create a condition of mob feeling out of which a civil conflictmight grow. _Uncle Tom's Cabin_ had set him on fire with new hatreds4.
His vocabulary of profanity had been enlarged by the addition of everyname in the novel. He had been compelled to invent new expressions tofit these characters. He damned them individually and collectively. Hecursed each trait of each character, good and bad. He cursed the goodpoints with equal unction and equal emphasis. In fact the good traits inMrs. Stowe's people seemed to carry him to greater heights of wrath5 andprofanity than the bad ones. He dissected6 each part of each character'sanatomy, damned each part, put the parts together and damned thecollection. And then he damned the whole story, characters, plot andscenes to the lowest pit and cursed the devil for not building a lowerone to which he might consign7 it. And in a final burst of passion healways ended by damning himself for his utter inability to express_anything_ which he really felt.
With all his ugly language, which he reserved for conversation with men,he was the soul of consideration for a woman. Mrs. Lee had no fear ofany rude expression from his lips. She didn't like him because she feltin his personality the touch of mob insanity8 which the Slavery questionhad kindled9. She dreaded10 this appeal to blind instinct and belief. Witha woman's intuition she felt the tragic11 possibility of such leadershipNorth and South.
She saw his leonine head and shaggy hair silhouetted12 against the redglow of the west with a shiver at its symbolism, but met him with thecordial greeting which every Southern woman gave instinctively13 to thefriend of her husband.
"Come in, Mr. Ruffin," she welcomed.
He bowed over her hand and spoke14 in the soft drawl of the Southernplanter.
"Thank you, Madame. I'm greatly honored in having you greet me at thedoor.""Colonel Lee is expecting you."The planter drew himself up with a touch of pride and importance.
"Yes'm. I sent him word I would be here at three. I was detained inWashington. But I succeeded in convincing the editor of _The DailyGlobe_ that my mission was one of grave importance. I not only desire towish Colonel Lee God-speed on his journey to West Point and congratulatehim on the honor conferred on Virginia by his appointment to the commandof our Cadets--but--"He paused, smiled and glanced toward the portico16, as if he were holdingback an important secret.
Mrs. Lee hastened to put him at his ease.
"You can trust my discretion17 in any little surprise you may have for theColonel."Ruffin bowed.
"I'm sure I can, Madame. I'm sure I can."He dropped his voice.
"You know perhaps that I sent him a few days ago a scurrilous18 attack onthe South by a Yankee woman--a new novel?""He received it.""Has he read it?""Carefully. He has read it twice.""Good!"The planter breathed deeply, squared his shoulders and paced the floorwith a single quick turn. He stopped before Mrs. Lee and spoke in sharpemphasis.
"I'm going to spring a little surprise on the public, Madame! Asensation that will startle the country, and God knows we need a littleshaking just now--"He paused and whispered.
"I'm so sure of what the Colonel will say that I've brought a reporterfrom the Washington _Daily Globe_ with me--"Mrs. Lee lifted her hand in dismay.
"He is here?""He is seated on the lawn just outside, Madame," Ruffin hastened toreassure her. "I thought at the last moment I'd better have him waituntil I received Colonel Lee's consent to the interview.""I'm glad you did.""Oh, it will be all right, I assure you!""He might not wish to see a reporter--""So I told the young man.""I'm afraid--""I'll pave the way, Madame. I'll pave the way. Colonel Lee and I arelife-long friends. Will you kindly19 announce me?""The Colonel has just ridden up to the stables to give some orders abouthis horses. He'll be here in a moment."Lee stepped briskly into the room and extended his hand.
"It's you, Ruffin. My apologies. I was called out to see a neighbor. Ishould have been here to receive you.""No apologies, Colonel, Mrs. Lee has been most gracious."The mistress of the house smiled.
"Make yourself at home, Mr. Ruffin. I shall hope to see you at dinner."Ruffin stood respectfully until Mrs. Lee had disappeared.
"Pray be seated," Lee invited.
Ruffin seated himself on the couch and watched his host keenly.
Lee took a cigar from the mantel and offered it.
"A cigar, Ruffin?""Thanks.""Now make yourself entirely20 at home, my good friend."The planter lighted the cigar, blew a long cloud of smoke and settled inhis seat.
"I'm glad to learn from Mrs. Lee that you have read the book I sentyou--the Abolitionist firebrand.""Yes."Lee quietly walked to the mantel and got the volume.
"I have it here."He turned the leaves thoughtfully.
Ruffin laughed.
"And, what do you think of it?"The Colonel was silent a moment.
"Well, for those who like that kind of book--it's the kind of book theywill like.""Exactly!" Ruffin cried, slapping his knee with a blow that bruised21 it.
"And you're the man in all the South to tell the fool who likes thatsort of book just how big a fool he is!"Lee opened the volume again and turned the pages slowly.
"Ruffin, I don't read many novels--"He paused as if in deep study.
"But this one I have read twice.""I'm glad you did, sir," the planter snapped.
"And I must confess it stunned22 me.""Stunned you?""Yes.""How?""When I finished reading it, I felt like the overgrown boy who stubbedhis toe. It hurt too bad to laugh. And I'm too big to cry.""You amaze me, sir.""That's the way I feel, my friend."He paused, walked to the window, and gazed out at the first lights thatbegan to flicker23 in the windows of the Capitol across the river.
"That book," he went on evenly, "is an appeal to the heart of the worldagainst Slavery. It is purely24 an appeal to sentiment, to the emotions,to passion, if you will--the passions of the mob and the men who leadmobs. And it's terrible. As terrible as an army with banners. I heardthe throb25 of drums through its pages. It will work the South into afrenzy. It will make millions of Abolitionists in the North who couldnot be reached by the coarser methods of abuse. It will prepare the soilfor a revolution. If the right man appears at the right moment with alighted torch--""That's just why, sir, as the foremost citizen of Virginia, you mustanswer this slander26. I have brought a reporter from the _Globe_ with mefor that purpose. Shall I call him,""A reporter from a daily paper with a circulation of fifteen thousand?""Your word, Colonel Lee, will be heard at this moment to the ends of theearth, sir!""In a newspaper interview?""Yes, sir.""Nonsense.""It's your character that will count.""Such an answer would be a straw pitched against a hurricane. I am toldthat this book has already reached a circulation of half a millioncopies and it has only begun. That means already three million readers.
To answer this book my pen should be better trained than my sword--""It is, sir, if you'll only use it.""The South has only trained swords. And not so many of them as we think.
We have no writers. We have no literature. We have no champions in theforum of the world's thought. We are being arraigned27 at the judgment28 barof mankind and we are dumb. It's appalling29.""That's why you must speak for us. Speak in our defense30. Speak with atongue of flame--""I am not trained for speech, Ruffin. And the pen is mightier31 than thesword. I've never realized it before. The South will soon have thecivilized world arraigned against her. The North with a thousand pens isstirring the faiths, the prejudices and the sentiments of the millions.
This appeal is made in the face of History, Reason and Law. But itsforce will be as the gravitation of the earth, beyond the power ofresistance, unless we can check it in time.""When it comes to resistance," Ruffin snapped, "that's another question.
The Yankees are a race of damned cowards and poltroons, sir. They won'tfight."Lee shook his head gravely.
"I've been in the service more than a quarter of a century, my friend.
I've seen a lot of Yankees under fire. I've seen a lot of them die. AndI know better. Your idea of a Yankee is about as correct as the Northernnotion of Southern fighters. A notion they're beginning to exploit incartoons which show an effeminate lady killer32 with an umbrella stuck inthe end of his musket33 and a negro mixing mint juleps for him.""We've got to denounce those slanders34. I'm a man of cool judgment and Inever lose my temper--"He leaped to his feet purple with rage.
"But, by God, sir, we can't sit quietly under the assault of thesenarrow-minded bigots. You must give the lie to this infamous35 book!""How can I, my friend?""Doesn't she make heroes of law breakers?""Surely.""Is there no reverence36 for law left in this country?""In Courts of Justice, yes. But not in the courts of passion, prejudice,beliefs, sentiment. The writers of sentiment sing the praises of lawbreakers--""But there can be no question of the right or wrong of this book. It isan infamous slander. I deny and impeach37 it!""I'm afraid that's all we can do, Ruffin--deny and impeach it. When wecome down to brass38 tacks39 we can't answer it. From their standpoint theNorth is right. From our standpoint we are right, because our rights areclear under the Constitution. Slavery is not a Southern institution; itis a national inheritance. It is a national calamity40. It was writteninto the Constitution by all the States, North and South. And if theNorth is ignorant of our rights under the laws of our fathers, we havefailed to enlighten them--""We won't be dictated41 to, sir, by a lot of fanatics42 and hypocrites.""Exactly, we stand on our dignity. We deny and we are ready to fight.
But we will not argue. As an abstract proposition in ethics44 oreconomics, Slavery does not admit of argument. It is a curse. It's onus45 and we can't throw it off at once. My quarrel with the North isthat they do not give us their sympathy and their help in our dilemma46.
Instead they rave15 and denounce and insult us. They are even moreresponsible than we for the existence of Slavery, since their ships, notours, brought the negro to our shores. Slavery is an outgrown47 economicfolly, a bar to progress, a political and social curse to the whiterace. It must die of its own weakness, South, as it died of its ownweakness, North. It is now in the process of dying. The South has freedover three hundred thousand slaves by the voluntary act of the master.
If these appeals of the mob leader to the spirit of the mob can bestopped, a solution will be found.""It will never be found in the ravings of Abolitionists.""Nor in the hot tempers of our Southern partisans48, Ruffin. Look inthe mirror, my good friend. Chattel49 Slavery is doomed50 because of thesuperior efficiency of the wage system. Morals have nothing to do withit. The Captain of Industry abolished Chattel Slavery in the North, notthe preacher or the agitator51. He established the wage system in itsplace because it is a mightier weapon in his hand. It is subject to butone law. The iron law of supply and demand. Labor52 is a commodity to bebought and sold to the highest bidder53. And the highest bidder is atliberty to bid lower than the price of bread, clothes, fuel and shelter,if he chooses. This system is now moving Southward like a glacier54 fromthe frozen heart of the Northern mountains, eating all in its path. Itis creeping over Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri. It will slowly engulfVirginia, North Carolina and Tennessee and the end is sure. Itspropelling force is not moral. It is soulless. It is purely economic.
The wage earner, driven by hunger and cold, by the fear of the loss oflife itself--is more efficient in his toil55 than the care-free negroslave of the South, who is assured of bread, of clothes, of fuel andshelter, with or without work. Slavery does not admit of argument, myfriend. To argue about it is to destroy it.""I disagree with you, sir!" Ruffin thundered.
"I know you do. But you can't answer this book.""It can be answered, sir."Lee paced the floor, his arms folded behind his back, paused and watchedRuffin's flushed face. He shook his head again.
"The book is unanswerable, because it is an appeal to emotion based on astudy of Slavery in the abstract. If no allowance be made for the tenderand humane56 character of the Southern people or the modification57 ofstatutory law by the growth of public sentiment, its imaginary scenesare within the bounds of the probable. The story is crude, but it istold with singular power without a trace of bitterness. The blindferocity of Garrison58, who sees in every slaveholder a fiend, nowhereappears in its pages. On the other hand, Mrs. Stowe has painted oneslaveholder as gentle and generous. Simon Legree, her villain59, is aYankee who has moved South and taken advantage of the power of a masterto work evil. Such men have come South. Such things might be done. Itis precisely60 this possibility that makes Slavery indefensible. You knowthis. And I know it.""You astound61 me, Colonel.""Yes, I'm afraid I do. I'd like to speak a message to the South aboutthis book. I've a great deal more to say to my own people than to ourcritics."Ruffin rose, thrust his hands in his pockets, walked to the window,turned suddenly and faced his host.
"But look here, Colonel Lee, I'm damned if I can agree with you, sir!
Suppose Slavery _is_ wrong--an economic fallacy and a social evil--Idon't say it is, mind you. Just suppose for the sake of argument that itis. We don't propose to be lectured on this subject by our inferiors inthe North. The children of the men who stole these slaves from Africaand sold them to us at a profit!"Lee laughed softly.
"The sins of an inferior cannot excuse the mistakes of a superior. Theman of superior culture and breeding should lead the world in progress.
What has come over us in the South, Ruffin? Your father and mine neverdefended Slavery. They knew it was to them, their children and thisland, a curse. It was a blessing62 only to the savage63 who was being taughtthe rudiments64 of civilization at a tremendous cost to his teacher. Thefirst Abolition Societies were organized in the South. Washington,Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, all the great leaders of theold South, the men whose genius created this republic--all denouncedSlavery. They told us that it is a poison, breeding pride and tyrannyof character, that it corrupts65 the mind of the child, that it degradeslabor, wears out our land, destroys invention, and saps our ideal ofliberty. And yet we have begun to defend it.""Because we are being hounded, traduced66 and insulted by the North,yes--""Yes, but also because we must have more land.""We've as much right in the West as the North.""That's not the real reason we demand the right of entry. We areexhausting the soil of the South by our slipshod farming on greatplantations where we use old-fashioned tools and slave labor. We refuseto study history. Ancient empires tried this system and died. TheCarthagenians developed it to perfection and fell before the Romans. TheRomans borrowed it from Carthage. It destroyed the small farms and droveout the individual land owners. It destroyed respect for trades andcrafts. It strangled the development of industrial art. And when thetest came Roman civilization passed. You hot-heads under the goading67 ofAbolition crusaders now blindly propose to build the whole structure ofSouthern Society on this system.""We've no choice, sir.""Then we must find one. Slowly but surely the clouds gather for thestorm. We catch only the first rumblings now but it's coming."Ruffin flared68.
"Now listen to me, Colonel. I'm a man of cool judgment and I never losemy temper, sir--"He choked with passion, recovered and rushed on.
"If they ever dare attack us, we won't need _writers_. We'll draw ourswords and thrash them! The South is growing rich and powerful."Lee lifted his hand in a quick gesture of protest.
"A popular delusion69, my friend. Under Slave labor the South is growingpoorer daily. While the Northern States, under the wage system, tentimes more efficient, are draining the blood and treasure of Europe andgrowing richer by leaps and bounds. Norfolk, Richmond and Charlestonshould have been the great cities of the Eastern Seaboard. They are asyet unimportant towns in the world commerce. Boston, Philadelphia andNew York have become the centers of our business life, of our trade, ourculture, our national power. While slavery is scratching the surface ofour soil with old-fashioned plows70, while we quit work at twelve o'clockevery Saturday, spend our Sundays at church, and set two negroes tohelp one do nothing Monday morning, the North is sweeping71 onward72 in thescience of agriculture. While they invent machines which double theircrops, cut their labor down a hundred per cent, we are fighting for newlands in the West to exhaust by our primitive73 methods. The treasures ofthe earth yet lie in our mines untouched by pick or spade. Our forestsstand unbroken--vast reaches of wilderness74. The slave is slow andwasteful. Wage labor, quick, efficient. Our chief industry is thebreeding of a race of feverish75 politicians.""You know, Colonel Lee, as well as I do that Slavery in the South hasbeen a blessing to the negro."Lee moved his head in quick assent76.
"I admit that Slavery took the negro from the jungle, from a slavery themost cruel known to human history, that it has taught him the use oftools, the science of agriculture, the worship of God, the first lessonsin the alphabet of humanity. But unless we can now close this school, myfriend, somebody is going to try to divide this union some day--"Ruffin struck his hands together savagely77.
"The quicker the better, I say! If the children of the men who createdthis republic are denied equal rights under its laws and in itsTerritories, then I say, to your tents, oh, Israel!""And do you know what that may mean?""A Southern and a Northern Nation. Let them come!""The States have been knit together slowly, but inevitably78 by steam andelectricity. I can conceive of no greater tragedy than an attempt to-dayto divide them.""I can conceive of no greater blessing!" Ruffin fairly shouted.
"So William Lloyd Garrison, the leader of Abolition, is saying in hispaper _The Liberator_. And, Ruffin, unless we can lock up some hot-headsin the South and such fanatics as Garrison in the North, the mob, notthe statesman, is going to determine the laws and the policy of thiscountry. Somebody will try to divide the union. And then comes thedeluge! When I think of it, the words of Thomas Jefferson ring throughmy soul like an alarm bell in the night. 'I tremble for my country whenI reflect that God is just and that His justice cannot sleep forever.
Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than these blackpeople shall be free--'"Ruffin lifted his hand in a commanding gesture.
"Don't omit his next sentence, sir--'nor is it less certain, that thetwo races, equally free, cannot live under the same government--'""Exactly," Lee answered solemnly. "And that is the only reason why Ihave ever allowed myself to own a slave for a moment--the insolubleproblem of what to do with him when freed. The one excuse for Slaverywhich the South can plead without fear before the judgment bar of God isthe blacker problem which their emancipation79 will create. Unless it canbe brought about in a miracle of patience, wisdom and prayer."He paused and smiled at Ruffin's forlorn expression.
"Will you call your reporter now to take my views?""No, sir," the planter growled80. "I've changed my mind."The Colonel laughed softly.
"I thought you might."Ruffin gazed in silence through the window at the blinking lights inWashington, turned and looked moodily81 at his calm host. He spoke in aslow, dreamy monotone, his eyes on space seeing nothing:
"Colonel Lee, this country is hell bent82 and hell bound. I can see nohope for it."Lee lifted his head with firm faith.
"Ruffin, this country is in God's hands--and He will do what's right--""That's just what I'm afraid, sir!" Ruffin mused83. "Oh, no--I--don't meanthat exactly. I mean that we must anticipate--""The wisdom of God?""That we must prepare to meet our enemies, sir.""I agree with you. And I'm going to do it. I've been doing a lot ofthinking and _soul_ searching since you gave me this troublesome book toread--"He stopped short, rose and drew the old-fashioned bell cord.
Ben appeared in full blue cloth and brass buttons, on duty again asbutler.
"Yassah--""I'm glad to see you, Ben. You're feeling yourself again?""Yassah. Praise God, I'se back at my place once mo', sah."The master lifted his hand in warning.
"Take care of yourself now. No more risks. You're not as young as youonce were.""Thankee, sah.""Ask Mrs. Lee to bring me the document on my desk. Find Sam and fetchhim here."Ben bowed.
"Yassah. Right away, sah."Lee turned to his guest genially84.
"I'm going to ask you to witness what I'm about to do, Ruffin. Andyou mustn't take offense85. We differ about Slavery and politics in theabstract, but whatever our differences on the surface, you are an oldVirginia planter and I trust we shall always be friends."The two men clasped hands and Ruffin spoke with deep emotion.
"I am honored in your friendship, Colonel Lee. However I may differ withyou about the union, we agree on one thing, that the old Dominion86 is thenoblest state on which the sun has ever shown!"Lee closed his eyes as if in prayer.
"On that we are one. Old Virginia, the mother of Presidents and ofstates, as I leave her soil I humbly87 pray that God's blessings88 may everrest upon her!""So say I, sir," Ruffin responded heartily89. "And I'll try to do thecussin' for her while you do the praying."Mrs. Lee entered and handed to her husband a folded document, as Bencame from the kitchen with Sam, who bowed and grinned to every one inthe room.
Lee spoke in low tones to his wife.
"Ask the young people to come in for a moment, my dear."Mrs. Lee crossed quickly to the library door and called:
"Come in, children, Colonel Lee wishes to see you all."Mary, Stuart, Custis, Phil, Robbie and Sid pressed into the hall incurious, expectant mood. Mrs. Marshall knew that Ruffin was still there,but her curiosity got the better of her aversion. She followed thechildren, only to run squarely into Ruffin.
He was about to speak in his politest manner when she stiffened90 andpassed him.
Ruffin's eye twinkled. He knew that she saw him. She hated him forhis political views. She also knew that he hated her husband, JudgeMarshall, with equal cordiality. His pride was too great to feel theslightest hurt at her attempt to ignore him. She was a fanatic43 on thesubject of the union. All right, he was a fanatic on the idea of anindependent South. They were even. Let it be so.
With a toss of his head, he turned toward Lee who had seated himself atthe table behind the couch.
The children were chatting and laughing as they entered. A sudden hushfell on them as they caught the serious look on the Colonel's face. Hewas writing rapidly. He stopped and fixed91 a seal on the paper which heheld in his hand. He read it carefully, lifted his eyes to the groupthat had drawn92 near and said:
"Children, my good friend, Mr. Ruffin, has called to-day to bid usGod-speed on our journey North. And he has asked me to answer _UncleTom's Cabin_. I've called you to witness the only answer I know how tomake at this moment."He paused and turned toward Sam.
"Come here, Sam."The young negro rolled his eyes in excited wonder about the room andlaughed softly at nothing as he approached the table.
"Yassah, Marse Robert.""How old are you, Sam?""Des twenty, sah.""I had meant to wait until you were twenty-one for this, but I havedecided to act to-day. You will arrange to leave here and go with us asfar as New York."The negro bowed gratefully.
"Yassah, thankee sah, I sho did want ter go norf wid you, sah, but Ihated to axe93 ye."Lee handed Sam the document.
"You will go with me a free man, my boy. You are the only slave I yethold in my own right. I have just given you your deed of emancipation.
From this hour you are your own master. May God bless you and keep youin health and strength and give you long life and much happiness."Sam stared at the paper and then at the kindly eyes of his old master. Asob caught his voice as he stammered94:
"May God bless you, Marse Robert--"Ben lifted his hands in benediction95 and his voice rang in the solemncadence of the prophet and seer:
"And let the glory of His face shine upon him forever!"Mrs. Marshall stooped and kissed her brother.
"You're a true son of Virginia, Robert, in this beautiful answer youmake to-day to all our enemies."She rose and faced Ruffin with square antagonism96.
Lee turned to the old butler.
"And Ben, tell all our servants of the estate that, under the will ofMrs. Lee's father I will in due time set them free. I would do so to-dayif the will had not fixed the date."Ben bowed gravely.
"I'se proud to be your servant, Marse Robert and Missis, and whenmy freedom comes frum yo' hands, I'll be prouder still to serve youalways."With head erect97 Ben proudly led the dazed young freedman from the hallto the kitchen where his reception was one of mixed wonder and pity.
There fell a moment's awkward silence, broken at last by Stuart's clear,boyish voice. He saw Ruffin's embarrassment98. He knew the man's fierytemper and wondered at his restraint.
"Well, Mr. Ruffin," Stuart began, "we may not see as clearly as ColonelLee to-day, but he's my commander, sir, and I'll say he's right."Ruffin faced Lee with a look of uncompromising antagonism and fairlyshot his words.
"And for the millions of the South, I say he's wrong. There's a timefor all things. And this is not the time for such an act. From theappearance of this book you can rest assured the emancipation of slavesin the South will cease. We will never be bullied99 into freeing ourslaves by slander and insult. Colonel Lee's example will not befollowed. The fanatics of the North have begun to spit on our faces.
There's but one answer to an insult--and that's a blow!"Lee stepped close to the planter, laid one hand gently on his shoulder,searched his angry eyes for a moment and slowly said:
"And thrice is he armed, my friend, who hath his quarrel just. I set myhouse in order before the first blow falls."Ruffin smiled and threw off the ugly strain.
"I'm sorry, sir," he said with friendly indifference100, "that my missionhas been a failure.""And I'm sorry we can't agree.""I won't be able to stay to dinner, Mrs. Lee, and I bid you all goodevening."With a wave of his hand in a gesture behind which lurked101 the tingling102 oftaut nerves, he turned and left.
The beat of his horse's hoof103 echoed down the road with a sharp, angrycrack.
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frail
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adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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abolition
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n.废除,取消 | |
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intemperate
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adj.无节制的,放纵的 | |
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hatreds
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n.仇恨,憎恶( hatred的名词复数 );厌恶的事 | |
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wrath
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n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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dissected
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adj.切开的,分割的,(叶子)多裂的v.解剖(动物等)( dissect的过去式和过去分词 );仔细分析或研究 | |
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consign
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vt.寄售(货品),托运,交托,委托 | |
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insanity
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n.疯狂,精神错乱;极端的愚蠢,荒唐 | |
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kindled
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(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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dreaded
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adj.令人畏惧的;害怕的v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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tragic
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adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的 | |
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silhouetted
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显出轮廓的,显示影像的 | |
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instinctively
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adv.本能地 | |
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spoke
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n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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rave
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vi.胡言乱语;热衷谈论;n.热情赞扬 | |
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portico
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n.柱廊,门廊 | |
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discretion
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n.谨慎;随意处理 | |
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scurrilous
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adj.下流的,恶意诽谤的 | |
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kindly
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adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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entirely
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ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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21
bruised
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[医]青肿的,瘀紫的 | |
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stunned
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adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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23
flicker
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vi./n.闪烁,摇曳,闪现 | |
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24
purely
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adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
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25
throb
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v.震颤,颤动;(急速强烈地)跳动,搏动 | |
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26
slander
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n./v.诽谤,污蔑 | |
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27
arraigned
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v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 );控告;传讯;指责 | |
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judgment
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n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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29
appalling
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adj.骇人听闻的,令人震惊的,可怕的 | |
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30
defense
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n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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31
mightier
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adj. 强有力的,强大的,巨大的 adv. 很,极其 | |
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32
killer
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n.杀人者,杀人犯,杀手,屠杀者 | |
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33
musket
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n.滑膛枪 | |
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34
slanders
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诽谤,诋毁( slander的名词复数 ) | |
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35
infamous
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adj.声名狼藉的,臭名昭著的,邪恶的 | |
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36
reverence
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n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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37
impeach
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v.弹劾;检举 | |
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38
brass
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n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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39
tacks
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大头钉( tack的名词复数 ); 平头钉; 航向; 方法 | |
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40
calamity
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n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
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41
dictated
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v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 );口授;支配;摆布 | |
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42
fanatics
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狂热者,入迷者( fanatic的名词复数 ) | |
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43
fanatic
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n.狂热者,入迷者;adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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44
ethics
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n.伦理学;伦理观,道德标准 | |
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45
onus
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n.负担;责任 | |
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46
dilemma
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n.困境,进退两难的局面 | |
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47
outgrown
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长[发展] 得超过(某物)的范围( outgrow的过去分词 ); 长[发展]得不能再要(某物); 长得比…快; 生长速度超过 | |
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48
partisans
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游击队员( partisan的名词复数 ); 党人; 党羽; 帮伙 | |
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49
chattel
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n.动产;奴隶 | |
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50
doomed
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命定的 | |
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51
agitator
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n.鼓动者;搅拌器 | |
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52
labor
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n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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53
bidder
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n.(拍卖时的)出价人,报价人,投标人 | |
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54
glacier
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n.冰川,冰河 | |
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55
toil
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vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
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56
humane
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adj.人道的,富有同情心的 | |
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57
modification
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n.修改,改进,缓和,减轻 | |
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58
garrison
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n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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59
villain
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n.反派演员,反面人物;恶棍;问题的起因 | |
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60
precisely
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adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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61
astound
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v.使震惊,使大吃一惊 | |
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62
blessing
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n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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63
savage
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adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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64
rudiments
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n.基础知识,入门 | |
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corrupts
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(使)败坏( corrupt的第三人称单数 ); (使)腐化; 引起(计算机文件等的)错误; 破坏 | |
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66
traduced
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v.诋毁( traduce的过去式和过去分词 );诽谤;违反;背叛 | |
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goading
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v.刺激( goad的现在分词 );激励;(用尖棒)驱赶;驱使(或怂恿、刺激)某人 | |
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68
Flared
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adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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69
delusion
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n.谬见,欺骗,幻觉,迷惑 | |
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70
plows
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n.犁( plow的名词复数 );犁型铲雪机v.耕( plow的第三人称单数 );犁耕;费力穿过 | |
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71
sweeping
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adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 | |
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72
onward
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adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先 | |
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73
primitive
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adj.原始的;简单的;n.原(始)人,原始事物 | |
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74
wilderness
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n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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75
feverish
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adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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76
assent
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v.批准,认可;n.批准,认可 | |
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77
savagely
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adv. 野蛮地,残酷地 | |
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78
inevitably
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adv.不可避免地;必然发生地 | |
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79
emancipation
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n.(从束缚、支配下)解放 | |
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80
growled
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v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说 | |
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81
moodily
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adv.喜怒无常地;情绪多变地;心情不稳地;易生气地 | |
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82
bent
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n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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83
mused
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v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事) | |
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84
genially
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adv.亲切地,和蔼地;快活地 | |
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85
offense
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n.犯规,违法行为;冒犯,得罪 | |
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86
dominion
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n.统治,管辖,支配权;领土,版图 | |
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87
humbly
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adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地 | |
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88
blessings
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n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福 | |
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89
heartily
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adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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90
stiffened
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加强的 | |
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91
fixed
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adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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92
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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93
axe
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n.斧子;v.用斧头砍,削减 | |
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94
stammered
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v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
benediction
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n.祝福;恩赐 | |
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96
antagonism
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n.对抗,敌对,对立 | |
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97
erect
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n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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98
embarrassment
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n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫 | |
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99
bullied
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adj.被欺负了v.恐吓,威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
indifference
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n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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101
lurked
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vi.潜伏,埋伏(lurk的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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102
tingling
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v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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103
hoof
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n.(马,牛等的)蹄 | |
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