I WAS more than pleased to make the acquaintance of Giovonni as I wandered about Apia. This newfound comrade was a clever artist on the guitar, and our kindred tastes and mutual2 cashlessness was the direct cause of our forming a trio for troubadour purposes. To our great satisfaction, we came across another who was in a hard-up state: he was a derelict Yankee sailorman, and he told us he had been an operatic singer in his youth. Whether he strayed from the truth in swearing that he had charmed select audiences by his vocal3 accomplishments4, I cannot say. I do know that, when he sang, his peculiar5 twang and extraordinary facial contortions6 at our wandering concerts amply made up for the disinteresting drone of his wheezy voice. He accompanied Giovanni and myself on our wanderings for many miles, as we visited Savaii Isle7 and the old townships, Palaulae, Asaua, Matautu, Safune, Monono, also Sufatea, and all the important native villages. Our Yankee comrade’s swashbuckling deportment at our numerous engagements at the high-class native fale-po-ula (court dance houses) caused Giovanni and myself a good deal of embarrassment9. The fact is that his facial contortions and voice seemed to appeal especially to the seasoned shellbacks and traders who congregated10 outside 239the grog-shanties as we stood beneath the palms and sang and played on our instruments. And if it is a complimentary11 sign to have had a large bouquet12 in the shape of a putrid13 crab14 put into the collecting calabash-dish at our great mixed concert-festival down at Apia, then, all I can say is that the mêlée that followed the aforesaid donation was a decided15 success. Anyhow, Billy-goat whiskers, for so we called him, was not to blame. He was the natural child of a vast Republic that has no historical, dynastic background such as the Samoans and most of the South Sea races can claim in their history. Consequently Billy-goat whiskers had based all his ideas and ideals on the tinker-president-everyman-as-good-as-another creed17, and he was a fine specimen18 of the Yankee swanker. The American is unborn who could imitate the splendid bearing that distinguishes a Fijian or Samoan chief. Most of the savage19 races have a splendid historical and legendary20 background that has influenced their actions from earliest childhood, much the same as French boys are influenced by the elegant bearing and gallant21 manners of the characters in their country’s historical novels, such as Dumas’ works, etc. And so our Yankee’s apparently22 vulgar ways were only the perfectly23 natural expression of a great democracy that has grown out of the soul of the people. But our pal8 was a brave, right down good fellow. His one fault was rum and gin. He carried his rum-flask, beard-comb, and pack of cards in a large handkerchief that was emblazoned with the stars and stripes. He had short, supple24 legs, and could suck his big toe like a baby. I can swear to that peculiarity25 of his, for when he had a touch of the D.T.’s he sat up in bed the whole night long and made a most irritating noise while using his big toe as a dummy26 in lieu of whisky. But, withal, it is not my intention to write about our Yankee comrade. I will 240just finish him off by saying that it was he who introduced us to Rajah Barab the Mohammedan. Rajah Barab was a Malayo-Indian. He had once lived in German New Guinea, but for sound reasons had hastily migrated to Samoa. He lived just outside Apia.
Though this Mohammedan’s dwelling28 looked like some three-roomed cow-shed, it was really the deserted29 ancestral hall of the great chief O Le Sula Motavia, a heathen divine who had had his skull30 blown off in the tribal31 war of 1885. This dwelling was situated32 about two miles south-west, on the slopes of Vaea and not so far from Robert Louis Stevenson’s old home, Vailima. And while O Le Sula Motavia slept on in his cold bed within eight yards of his ancestral front door, with the large orange tree spread above, and the blue jungle flowers blowing over him, Rajah Barab, the sinful Mohammedan, sat in Motavia’s old halls drinking deeply, as warm-eyed native girls danced and sang before him. Now this old heathen’s homestead had not been turned exactly into a tambu-house after the New Guinea style, for Barab had no idols33 within. But, to make up for those wooden images that were usually carved so as to express a heathen’s ideas of Venus and jovial35 Bacchus, Barab himself would stand erect36 so that the native maidens37 could worship the light of his living eyes and kneel in complete obeisance38 at his sandalled feet. He made a fine idol34. He was a tall, broad-shouldered sinner. He wore a richly-coloured turban and waist-swathing which he well knew pleased the eyes of romantic Samoan girls. Perhaps his chief adornment39 was his long iron-grey beard. He swore by it and pulled it thoughtfully when he appeared to meditate40 over his infinite wisdom. And when he squatted41 half-erect on his fibre mat before the admiring, awestruck maids, his eyes had a far-away 241gaze in them that seemed to have kinship with the vers libre and the poetic42 grin that enshrined his ugly mug. I say “mug” because it resembled the rim43 of a mug, and did not look like a human mouth at all. And I should know, because I was a witness of his far-away-looking gaze and poetic grin, for I dined with him. Truth to tell, Rajah Barab had plenty of cash, and so Giovanni and myself, both in a cashless state, were compelled to accept the liberal fee which he offered us should we perform on our instruments at one of his special Mohammedan festivals. Our Yankee friend was down with the delirium44 tremens at Apia at the time. It was unfortunate, because I know that he would have been a great help to us that night.
When Giovanni and I arrived at the festival in question there were several young Indian bloods present amongst the visitors. It was a select gathering45, inasmuch as Barab had invited only those whose sensual desires were akin46 to his own. The moon was well up, and not only were the palms visible around his tambu-temple, but also the native maids who danced beneath them. Ava and gin were plentiful47. Barab stood under the large palm tree, pulling his revered48 beard and swearing by his Malayan gods and Allah as he watched the scene. As Giovanni rippled49 pizzicatos from his guitar and I played my violin, we watched the scene with intense interest. There was something phantom-like about the whole business as the girls danced amongst the gnarled pillars of that primitive50 forest-hall of giant trees. The native girls, who had stolen away from the solicitude51 of the missionaries52, gave muffled53 screams of delight and did such high kicks that the coco-nut-oil lamps swayed violently. I might say that these lamps hung from the palm branches that were immediately over the dancers’ heads. One maid was decidedly 242attractive. Her name was Barbarossa. She was tastefully arrayed in some diaphanous55 material that reached down to her ankles. Flowers bedecked her thick, wavy56 hair that rolled loose over her neck and shoulders. Moonlight somehow intensified57 the musical rhythm and charm of her form, as she swerved58 in many semi-barbarian59 postures60. While all this was going on, Barab squatted on his old coco-nut-fibre mat, his body erect. His pose was that of an Indian seer, and the chant that he mumbled61 added to the peculiar weirdness62 of the scene. Even the low-caste Samoans, who stood aside watching the performance, called out, “Talofa! Talofa!” demanding an encore when Barbarossa finished her dance. As soon as the dance was over, someone banged a drum, and that barbarian thump64 seemed to echo in my heart and made me drop my fiddle65, so startled was I. For though my kind ancestors handed down to me a pair of rose-coloured spectacles so that I might see life as they saw it, they also presented me with a nervous temperament66; consequently anything of a sudden surprise is peculiarly hateful to me. This inherited nerve of mine was possibly the cause of my accepting the drink of gin and lime-juice that Barab so artfully offered to Giovanni and myself as we sat that night at the festival board of his tambu-harem. Giovanni sat beside Barbarossa, and I sat right opposite them. I was wedged in by Barab on one side of me and a Malay Chinaman on the other side. I confess here that I felt the degradation67 of my position, and can assume from that fact that I must have been perfectly sober. It was a low, long table lit up by a host of small hanging-lamps that were suspended from the wooden ceiling by threads from sennit string. I remember that the girls, who sat along each side, were all more or less in a maudlin68 condition as the fumes69 of the gin and “ava” rose to their weak, feminine brains. My memory 243is a brilliant one! I distinctly recall the wonder and feverish70 look that shone in their dark eyes as the glasses clinked, when Barab and the few remaining young bloods of his kidney roared forth71 toasts to their beauty. I even remember the smell of the Chinaman who sat next to me. You can always smell a Chinaman; it is a peculiar odour that suggests something between orange-pekoe and chloroform, and is not absolutely offensive unless you happen to be chewing delicate food when he is by. As the maids drank on, Barab grew extremely excited, and banged his fists on the low table in some wild delight of anticipation72. Poor Giovanni had fallen madly in love with Barbarossa. The fact was only too evident by all that he did. True enough, Barbarossa was the queen of the evening. As she sat there at the table, her eyes ashine and her loosened tresses stirred by the scented73 winds that blew through the open doorway74, she looked out of place amongst the other thick-lipped, sensual-looking girls. It was very evident, by the look in Barab’s eyes, that he regarded her as the pièce de résistance of that festival meeting. However, Giovanni was handsome and Barab’s chances were small. Giovanni was evidently not letting the grass grow under his feet. I shall simply state that he behaved like the true Italian cavalier that he was, and that I more than once lifted my glass and drank secretly to my pal’s success in his romantic courtship. I felt a bit muddled75, it was all so unexpected and sudden. At that time I was not aware that Barab’s festival programme was to get the girls quite drunk and then close and tightly bolt the door of his tambu-house. I really thought that he had taken a violent fancy to Barbarossa and intended to offer her his swarthy hand in marriage according to the Malay Mohammedan rites76. I must admit that I was not at all aware of the Malay Mohammedan marriage rite27 244procedure when one of the sect77 took a fancy to a certain maid. I know that Barbarossa was an innocent girl. I discovered afterwards that she had been enticed78 to attend that festival by a dissolute native missionary79 who had accepted a large bribe80 from Barab. Just as there are dissolute houses in European cities, where men indulge in the white-slave traffic, so were there establishments for trafficking purposes in Samoa, and Barab’s house was one of them. When Giovanni and I saw through the drift of the whole vile81 business, we determined82 that pretty Barbarossa should not fall into Barab’s clutches if we could help her. We both knew that Barab had a bad reputation; and, though he was our host and had paid us well, our self-respect should have prevented us from accepting his money. But it must be confessed here that Giovanni and I were not to be numbered amongst those virtuous83 folk who would rather die than sell their honour. Alas84, many and many a time I would much rather have sold my honour than nearly died! The best of men have their weaknesses. I know that even that dear old tattooed85 clergyman, O Le Langi, had often fallen before the lure86 of a few half-crowns when victuals87 were scarce.
As soon as the festival itself was finished, Giovanni and I stole outside the tambu-house and talked the matter over. In a very little time we had decided to secure Barbarossa’s person by force sooner than she should fall into Barab’s hands.
“Ah, comrado, he cursed una vipera!” said my Italian chum. Then he looked at me sadly and said: “Will you stick to me, and mine friend be?”
“I will!” I responded most emphatically. Giovanni was a big lump of a fellow and had courage written in the light of his magnificent eyes; also, the idea of rescuing Barbarossa from her peril88 suited my temperament 245exactly. We counted out the cash that Barab had given us directly the feast was over, then we looked significantly at each other, for he had paid us several marks more than were due to us. “He wants to get rid of us at once, no doubt of that,” was my reflection, as I looked at Giovanni’s handsome face and then on the moonlit solitude89 of the mountain slopes around dead Motavia’s old homestead. Then we walked back, treading very softly through the jungle as we approached the tambu shed. Already the small lamp-lights on the palms and within those wooden walls were burning low. We listened, and heard the low wail90 of some Malayan chanty; then the drunken song ceased.
“What’s that?” whispered Giovanni. The door had suddenly opened, and we saw two of the young bloods departing. Off they went, with three drunken native girls staggering between them. So brilliant was the light of the moon that we distinctly observed the girls’ faces as they tossed their legs and shook the brass91 arm-lets, and kissed the shoulders of the men who were leading them away. As soon as the men were out of sight we listened again. All was quiet; it was evident that most of the girls who remained within the tambu had fallen off into drunken slumber92. Barbarossa had sung her swan-song (so thought Rajah Barab). We heard a click; the Rajah had closed the door and bolted it! That much we discovered as we crept around the walls of that den16 and endeavoured to see what was going on within.
“Wait a bit!” said Giovanni, as we suddenly heard someone commence to drone out a weird63 heathen melody. It was a girl’s voice. Then all was silent again. We both knew that Barab would soon be drunk and in a suitable condition for our immediate54 desires, and so we strolled up and down under the palms. Then 246we heard the O Le mao commence to sing somewhere up in the lime trees.
“It’s pretty silent now; that bird wouldn’t sing if there were any suspicious noises about,” said I.
“Yes, comrade, ’tis so,” whispered Giovanni, pushing his curls off his forehead and puffing93 his cigarette. I noticed that his lips were tightly set as he swung his huge, knotted stick to and fro and gave swift glances towards the dark-walled homestead before us. Then we slowly crept towards the den again. The brilliant moonlight lit up the thatched roof and sent a ghostly glimmering95 all along the front of the bamboo verandah. I was standing96 just over old chief Motavia’s grave; the moonbeams were softly falling through the branches of the orange tree and had spread a silver radiance on my feet, which stood close to the wooden cross that said: “Here lies the brave chief, O Le Sula Motavia.” I felt sad to think how soundly dead men slept. I knew how handy that chief would have been to us that night, how gladly he would have jumped from his slumber to help us to repel97 the base intruder from his old homestead.
“Come on!” I whispered to Giovanni, as we brushed the ferns aside and stole softly towards the single window of the den. In a moment we were both eagerly peering through the lattice-work of the wide, low window-hole. It was a true South Sea magic casement that opened on the feathery foam98 of palms, leafy tamanu, and masa’ oi trees which grew right up to the mountain slopes. There was something fairy-like but tragic99 in the silent moonlit scene outside that window. But the most wonderful sight to be seen through the casement was the scene before our eyes as we both stared between the twisted wicker-work and saw behind the shutter100 into the gloom of that room. There sat Rajah Barab, quite visible by the dim light of the hanging roof oil-lamp. He was so 247drunk that he could hardly stoop forward to pull off his sandals. Two of the young bloods still remained, but, to our relief, we noticed that they were prone101, quite drunk. Pretty Barbarossa, Maroa, Niue, Singa Saloo, Fae moa Oi, and Winga, the native missionary’s daughter—and who was not a day older than fourteen years—lay on the mats in deep slumber. I know that my heart echoed the sigh that Giovanni gave, as, with eyes glued to the casement, we gazed in mute astonishment102. There lay the victims of the Mohammedan’s gold, vers libres, and hyprocrisy. No sign of vice103 was expressed on the girls’ faces as they lay there, their bodies half-couched in the flood of moonlight that fell across the corner of the room. The sham104 jewellery that had evidently tempted105 them was distinctly visible—bangles on their legs, arm-lets on their arms. Two or three had silk handkerchiefs of brilliant colours about their throats, the ends tied bow-wise, native-fashion, in the folds of their much-disordered hair. The heat was terrific. A few fireflies had entered the room. We distinctly saw them gleam and flash as they danced like miniature starry106 constellations107 over the prone forms of the girls. In the helpless abandonment of their drink-enforced slumber, their limbs were thrown about in the various attitudes of restless sleep. Three of the girls lay with their arms half-entwined, as though in some swift realization108 and fright over their position they had clung to each other ere they fell and lost consciousness. “Cara, bellissima!” Giovanni breathed forth as he gazed on Barbarossa’s slumbering109 abandonment. Her pretty blue robe was disarranged, revealing the curves of one tiny ankle; her olive-hued heel was visible too, for the ribbon had become loose, the tiny sandal had fallen half off.
“Mia bella! mia bellissima!” whispered Giovanni, as he gazed in romantic rapture110 on her form. “Yes, she 248must be saved,” I said, as Giovanni murmured on in his musical, impassioned language, saying things that needed no translation for my sympathetic ears and eyes! No shame have I in writing down these things for the eyes of whoever may wish to read. I think, if anything, that my thoughts were less creditable than Giovanni’s. My Italian comrade was in love, but where was the excuse for my own impassioned glance? Why should the curves of an ankle haunt my dreams for days? But let it pass. There are many who may understand and forgive. A maiden’s ankle, a tress of hair, a side glance from lustrous111 eyes, a ribbon round a throat, have turned the good thoughts of many a man from the immediate matter in hand. Just beside the large calabash and overturned pickle112 barrel lay Barbarossa’s boon113 friend, Mademoiselle Singa Saloo; and the helpless abandonment of her sensuous114 beauty expressed a fascinating twinship with all that Barbarossa’s enforced recumbency revealed. It seemed that even the moon would abet115 the inquisitiveness116 of our curious eyes, for its light streamed through the chinks of the bolted door and so revealed the dusky beauty of the girls’ faces. The cool night winds swept down the mountain slopes, stirred the palms that silently threw their shadows over the wooden walls and along the floor where Barab’s huddled117 victims lay. Lying there, victims of Barab’s peculiar desires, they looked like big sleeping babies. One had her arm outstretched as though she knew the limpness of death, while the other hand pillowed her head. Only the faint flutter of her delicate blue throat-kerchief, following the regular intervals118 of her breathing, told that life existed.
Barab had risen to his feet. His eyes shone with some terrible light as he gazed on the helpless girls. “By the gods of Olympus!” blurted119 out Giovanni as a puff94 249of wind blew his hat off. The Mohammedan had lifted a goblet120 of liquor to his lips. We saw him sway violently as he drank. “He’s half-seas-over!” was my joyful121 comment. He had drawn122 himself erect and had passed his hand across his brow as though he would muster123 up his drowsy124 senses. Suddenly one of the girls in the farther corner lifted her head and looked about her with vacant eyes. She lifted one hand and swayed it as though she were dreaming that she conducted some musical chant in her native village. She staggered to her feet. Giovanni and I watched, breathless, in our excitement and intense curiosity. What was she going to do? Had she in that moment realized the degradation of her position, and would she attempt to escape? Our very breath frightened us as it stirred the slender vine leaves that clustered there by our open mouths and eyes as we stared through the casement. The girl was staggering across the room, making for Barab. He stood erect, his turban askew125, one swarthy hand holding his beard as if he had the impertinence to pose for the occasion. We saw the girl’s bare feet slip on the wooden floor as she lurched to his side and gave him a drunken leer! “Well now!” was our only comment, as she tossed her left leg till the brass bangles that encircled her limbs jingled126!
“Phew!” was our simultaneous ejaculation, when she lifted her face and kissed Barab’s shoulder! Such a look in a man’s eyes I had never seen before. The girl had embraced him, her head was nursed in the folds of his beard. She had commenced to sing some weird heathen melody or chant, the chorus of the strain she had doubtless been singing ere she lost consciousness. There was something indescribably weird in the sounds of her muffled voice as she still sang on, her mouth buried 250deep in the bushy growth of that Islamic beard! Barab seized her and was about to lead her from the room into the inner chamber128 wherein Giovanni and I had not been invited to enter.
“Now’s the time! Come on!” said I, as Giovanni nudged me in the ribs129 to intimate that he had successfully placed his arm through the window-hole and pulled the door-bolt back! Crash! The door opened and swung violently to and fro, so fierce had been my thrust as I threw my whole weight against it. In a moment Barab let the girl drop to the ground and turned towards us. The muscles stood out on his swelling130 throat like whipcord. He had whipped his kris from beneath his jerkin. “I?u tidak baik T?an!” (this is not friendly of you), he roared, as we stood before him. Then he noticed the look in our eyes, and yelled “T?tong!” (help) at the top of his voice. Fast asleep in the corner of the room lay two young bloods, Malays. In a moment they had leapt to their feet. The immediate outlook was pretty dark for Giovanni and me. We possessed131 no firearms at all. In a moment I placed my rose-coloured spectacles on, so to speak, then, bang! it went. And the reader can rest assured that that Islamic cranium received such a thump that its scheming interior was out of action for some time. My violin case was broken, cracked down the whole length. I cared not. I carefully laid it down by the door in readiness for my coming hasty exit. Giovanni, who was taking no risks, lifted the wooden table and let it drop most artistically132 on to Barab’s prostrate133 form. “Allow me!” said I, then I lifted the large calabash of pickle oil and dashed the whole thing in the face of the young blood who had come to tackle me. Then the left cheek of the other one received an Olympic punch from Giovanni. And then, as carefully as possible, I, according to the Scriptures134, smote135 251him on the right cheek as he turned towards me. By this time the native girls had staggered to their feet and were staring about them, rubbing their eyes as though they had risen in astonishment to the trump136 of the resurrection.
“Quick! out with her!” I said.
In a moment Giovanni and I had grabbed Barbarossa by the arm.
But still we dragged her on by the arms. As I rushed back into the den to seize my violin, the large table was already being lifted towards the roof as the stricken Barab heaved his back up! He was roaring forth terrible oaths in Malayan lingo138 as I once more made a hurried exit. Barbarossa’s dishevelled tresses were streaming to the caress139 of the night wind when I got outside. In a moment I had once more gripped her arm. Arriving at the top of the slope Giovanni shook her rather roughly.
“Barbarossa, remember!” he whispered.
For a moment she stared vacantly at us, and then cried, “Aue! Aue!” and to my intense relief voluntarily gripped our arms as we ran down the slopes. Barbarossa became our eager guide after that. And though it is years ago now, I can still hear the sounds of her feet pattering like falling rain over the dead leaves of the forest ferns as we follow her across the wild country to Mootuoa. Again Giovanni and I lift the coco-nut-shell goblets140 and drink a toast with the big tattooed chief who is Barbarossa’s father. For Barbarossa took us safely into her village that night. And when the old chiefs and their womenkind heard about Barab’s sinful ways and of our blessed missionary work, they swore to club Barab, and cheered us exceedingly. 252But alas! I lost my dear chum Giovanni. For I composed and performed a special betrothal141 chant, playing it at the festival that made Giovanni Barbarossa’s legitimate142 tribal fiancé. And was he faithful to the Samoan maid? I know not. But, still, I do know that Giovanni was young and romantic. And I would not be surprised if, as the years rolled by Barbarossa was happy, and little children who could speak both Italian and Samoan romped143 about her knees. Fine children too, I should think, from such a splendid combination from the two romantic lands of the Sunny South.
Such was my personal experience of the Samoan Brown-Slave Traffic. And I might say, it is an experience that I have considerably144 toned down in the aforesaid narrative145. As I have already intimated, I have included this experience here only that my readers may have a view of both sides of native life, and realize that native girls and women are subject to the temptations of sensualists much the same as their sisters in the large cities of the civilized146 world. And I would say that it is a pleasure for me to be able to record here that Barab’s dwelling was razed147 to the ground by the wrathful chiefs of Barbarossa’s village. True enough, it was really the last homestead of that brave old chief O Le Matavia; but he was a good and holy heathen. And so one might well imagine that the flames of his corrupted148 ancestral halls gave cheerful warmth to his ghost and cold bones as he slept on under the orange-tree, just outside.
And what became of Barab the Mohammedan? All I can say is, the good work that Giovanni and I began was finished off by the missionaries. Barab was expelled from Samoa, and hastened seaward, doubtless to seek fresh converts for his creed in other lands.
253After losing Giovanni’s welcome companionship, I felt very lonely, and so decided to go seaward again. Though I was not a sailor by profession, it was always an easy matter for me to get a ship. I think I had an ingratiating way with me when I approached the mates and skippers. And when I came across a skipper or mate with a face like cast-iron and eyes like a shark’s, which I often did, I changed my tactics. For I approached him with my violin in one hand and a bottle of the best Hollands in the other hand. I invariably found that, if music does not soothe149 the savage breast, Hollands gin comes pretty near the mark. Anyway, I got a berth150 and sailed before the mast outbound for old Tai-o-hae, Nuka Hiva. I had been to the Marquesas many times, but in the next chapter I shall tell a few incidents that I have not recorded before.
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casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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isle
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pal
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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congregated
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complimentary
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bouquet
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putrid
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| adj.腐臭的；有毒的；已腐烂的；卑劣的 | |
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crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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den
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creed
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specimen
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savage
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legendary
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gallant
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apparently
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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25
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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dummy
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| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
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rite
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| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
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28
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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29
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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30
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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31
tribal
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| adj.部族的，种族的 | |
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32
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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33
idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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34
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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35
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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36
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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37
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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38
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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39
adornment
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| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
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40
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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41
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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42
poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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43
rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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44
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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45
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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46
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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47
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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48
revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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50
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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51
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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52
missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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53
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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54
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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55
diaphanous
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| adj.(布)精致的，半透明的 | |
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56
wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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57
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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60
postures
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| 姿势( posture的名词复数 )； 看法； 态度； 立场 | |
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61
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
weirdness
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| n.古怪，离奇，不可思议 | |
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63
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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64
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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65
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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66
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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67
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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68
maudlin
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| adj.感情脆弱的，爱哭的 | |
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69
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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70
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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71
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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72
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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73
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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74
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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75
muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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76
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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77
sect
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| n.派别，宗教，学派，派系 | |
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78
enticed
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| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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80
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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81
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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82
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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83
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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84
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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85
tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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86
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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87
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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88
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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89
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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90
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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91
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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92
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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93
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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94
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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95
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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96
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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97
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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98
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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99
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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100
shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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101
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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102
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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103
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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104
sham
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| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
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105
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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106
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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107
constellations
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| n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人） | |
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108
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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109
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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110
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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111
lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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112
pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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113
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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114
sensuous
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| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
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115
abet
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| v.教唆，鼓励帮助 | |
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116
inquisitiveness
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| 好奇，求知欲 | |
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117
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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118
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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119
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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120
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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121
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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122
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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123
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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124
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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125
askew
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| adv.斜地；adj.歪斜的 | |
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126
jingled
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| 喝醉的 | |
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127
babbled
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| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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128
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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129
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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130
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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131
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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132
artistically
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| adv.艺术性地 | |
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133
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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134
scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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135
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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136
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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137
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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138
lingo
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| n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语 | |
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139
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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140
goblets
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| n.高脚酒杯( goblet的名词复数 ) | |
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141
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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142
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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143
romped
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| v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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144
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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145
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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146
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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147
razed
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| v.彻底摧毁，将…夷为平地( raze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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148
corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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149
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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