At Easter--just when the heavens and earth were looking their dreariest2, for Easter fell very early this year--Mr. Corbet came down. Mr. Wilkins was too busy to see much of him; they were together even less than usual, although not less friendly when they did meet. But to Ellinor the visit was one of unmixed happiness. Hitherto she had always had a little fear mingled3 up with her love of Mr. Corbet; but his manners were softened4, his opinions less decided5 and abrupt6, and his whole treatment of her showed such tenderness, that the young girl basked7 and revelled8 in it. One or two of their conversations had reference to their future married life in London; and she then perceived, although it did not jar against her, that her lover had not forgotten his ambition in his love. He tried to inoculate9 her with something of his own craving10 for success in life; but it was all in vain: she nestled to him, and told him she did not care to be the Lord Chancellor's wife--wigs and wool-sacks were not in her line; only if he wished it, she would wish it.
The last two days of his stay the weather changed. Sudden heat burst
forth11, as it does occasionally for a few hours even in our
chilly12 English spring. The grey-brown bushes and trees started almost with visible progress into the tender green shade which is the
forerunner13 of the bursting leaves. The sky was of full cloudless blue. Mr. Wilkins was to come home pretty early from the office to ride out with his daughter and her lover; but, after waiting some time for him, it grew too late, and they were obliged to give up the project. Nothing would serve Ellinor, then, but that she must carry out a table and have tea in the garden, on the sunny side of the tree, among the roots of which she used to play when a child. Miss Monro objected a little to this caprice of Ellinor's, saying that it was too early for out-of-door meals; but Mr. Corbet overruled all objections, and helped her in her gay preparations. She always kept to the early hours of her childhood, although she, as then, regularly sat with her father at his late dinner; and this meal _al fresco_ was to be a reality to her and Miss Monro. There was a place arranged for her father, and she seized upon him as he was coming from the stable-yard, by the shrubbery path, to his study, and with merry playfulness made him a prisoner, accusing him of disappointing them of their ride, and drawing him more than half
unwilling14, to his chair by the table. But he was silent, and almost sad: his presence damped them all; they could hardly tell why, for he did not object to anything, though he seemed to enjoy nothing, and only to force a smile at Ellinor's occasional sallies. These became more and more rare as she perceived her father's depression. She watched him anxiously. He perceived it, and said--shivering in that strange unaccountable manner which is popularly explained by the expression that some one is passing over the earth that will one day form your grave--"Ellinor! this is not a day for out-of-door tea. I never felt so chilly a spot in my life. I cannot keep from shaking where I sit. I must leave this place, my dear, in spite of all your good tea."
"Oh, papa! I am so sorry. But look how full that hot sun's rays come on this turf. I thought I had chosen such a capital spot!"
But he got up and persisted in leaving the table, although he was evidently sorry to spoil the little party. He walked up and down the
gravel15 walk, close by them, talking to them as he kept passing by and trying to cheer them up.
"Are you warmer now, papa?" asked Ellinor.
"Oh, yes! All right. It's only that place that seems so chilly and damp. I'm as warm as a toast now."
The next morning Mr. Corbet left them. The unseasonably fine weather passed away too, and all things went back to their rather grey and
dreary16 aspect; but Ellinor was too happy to feel this much, knowing what absent love existed for her alone, and from this knowledge unconsciously trusting in the sun behind the clouds.
I have said that few or none in the
immediate17 neighbourhood of Hamley, beside their own household and Mr. Ness, knew of Ellinor's engagement. At one of the rare dinner-parties to which she accompanied her father--it was at the old lady's house who chaperoned her to the assemblies--she was taken in to dinner by a young clergyman staying in the neighbourhood. He had just had a small living given to him in his own county, and he felt as if this was a great step in his life. He was good, innocent, and rather boyish in appearance. Ellinor was happy and at her ease, and chatted away to this Mr. Livingstone on many little points of interest which they found they had in common: church music, and the difficulty they had in getting people to sing in parts; Salisbury Cathedral, which they had both seen; styles of church architecture, Ruskin's works, and parish schools, in which Mr. Livingstone was somewhat shocked to find that Ellinor took no great interest. When the gentleman came in from the dining-room, it struck Ellinor, for the first time in her life, that her father had taken more wine than was good for him. Indeed, this had rather become a habit with him of late; but as he always tried to go quietly off to his own room when such had been the case, his daughter had never been aware of it before, and the perception of it now made her cheeks hot with shame. She thought that everyone must be as conscious of his altered manner and way of speaking as she was, and after a pause of sick silence, during which she could not say a word, she set to and talked to Mr. Livingstone about parish schools, anything, with redoubled
vigour18 and apparent interest, in order to keep one or two of the company, at least, from noticing what was to her so painfully obvious.
The effect of her behaviour was far more than she had intended. She kept Mr. Livingstone, it is true, from observing her father, but she also
riveted19 his attention on herself. He had thought her very pretty and agreeable during dinner: but after dinner he considered her bewitching,
irresistible20. He dreamed of her all night, and wakened up the next morning to a calculation of how far his income would allow him to furnish his pretty new parsonage with that crowning
blessing21, a wife. For a day or two he did up little sums, and sighed, and thought of Ellinor, her face listening with admiring interest to his sermons, her arm passed into his as they went together round the parish; her sweet voice instructing classes in his schools--turn where he would, in his imagination Ellinor's presence rose up before him.
The consequence was that he wrote an offer, which he found a far more perplexing piece of composition than a sermon; a real
hearty22 expression of love, going on, over all obstacles, to a
straightforward23 explanation of his present
prospects24 and future hopes, and
winding25 up with the information that on the succeeding morning he would call to know whether he might speak to Mr. Wilkins on the subject of this letter. It was given to Ellinor in the evening, as she was sitting with Miss Monro in the library. Mr. Wilkins was dining out, she hardly knew where, as it was a sudden engagement, of which he had sent word from the office--a gentleman's dinner-party, she supposed, as he had dressed in Hamley without coming home. Ellinor turned over the letter when it was brought to her, as some people do when they cannot recognise the handwriting, as if to discover from paper or seal what two moments would assure them of, if they opened the letter and looked at the signature. Ellinor could not guess who had written it by any outward sign; but the moment she saw the name "Herbert Livingstone," the meaning of the letter flashed upon her and she coloured all over. She put the letter away, unread, for a few minutes, and then made some excuse for leaving the room and going upstairs. When safe in her bed-chamber, she read the young man's eager words with a sense of self-reproach. How must she, engaged to one man, have been behaving to another, if this was the result of a single evening's interview? The self-reproach was unjustly
bestowed26; but with that we have nothing to do. She made herself very
miserable27; and at last went down with a heavy heart to go on with Dante, and
rummage28 up words in the dictionary. All the time she seemed to Miss Monro to be
plodding29 on with her Italian more
diligently30 and
sedately31 than usual, she was planning in her own mind to speak to her father as soon as he returned (and he had said that he should not be late), and beg him to
undo32 the
mischief33 she had done by seeing Mr. Livingstone the next morning, and
frankly34 explaining the real state of affairs to him. But she wanted to read her letter again, and think it all over in peace; and so, at an early hour, she wished Miss Monro good-night, and went up into her own room above the drawing-room, and overlooking the flower-garden and shrubbery-path to the stable-yard, by which her father was sure to return. She went upstairs and studied her letter well, and tried to recall all her speeches and conduct on that miserable evening--as she thought it then--not knowing what true
misery35 was. Her head ached, and she put out the candle, and went and sat on the window-seat, looking out into the moonlit garden, watching for her father. She opened the window; partly to cool her forehead, partly to enable her to call down softly when she should see him coming along. By-and-by the door from the stable- yard into the shrubbery clicked and opened, and in a moment she saw Mr. Wilkins moving through the bushes; but not alone, Mr. Dunster was with him, and the two were talking together in rather excited tones, immediately lost to hearing, however, as they entered Mr. Wilkins's study by the outer door.
"They have been dining together somewhere. Probably at Mr. Hanbury's" (the Hamley brewer), thought Ellinor. "But how provoking that he should have come home with papa this night of all nights!"
Two or three times before Mr. Dunster had called on Mr. Wilkins in the evening, as Ellinor knew; but she was not quite aware of the reason for such late visits, and had never put together the two facts--(as cause and consequence)--that on such occasions her father had been absent from the office all day, and that there might be necessary business for him to
transact36, the urgency of which was the
motive37 for Mr. Dunster's visits. Mr. Wilkins always seemed to be annoyed by his coming at so late an hour, and
spoke38 of it, resenting the intrusion upon his leisure; and Ellinor, without consideration, adopted her father's mode of speaking and thinking on the subject, and was rather more angry than he was whenever the
obnoxious39 partner came on business in the evening. This night was, of all nights, the most ill-purposed time (so Ellinor thought) for a _tete-a- tete_ with her father! However, there was no doubt in her mind as to what she had to do. So late as it was, the unwelcome visitor could not stop long; and then she would go down and have her little confidence with her father, and beg him to see Mr. Livingstone when he came next morning, and dismiss him as gently as might be.
She sat on in the window-seat; dreaming waking dreams of future happiness. She kept losing herself in such thoughts, and became almost afraid of forgetting why she sat there. Presently she felt cold, and got up to fetch a shawl, in which she
muffled40 herself and resumed her place. It seemed to her growing very late; the moonlight was coming fuller and fuller into the garden and the blackness of the shadow was more concentrated and stronger. Surely Mr. Dunster could not have gone away along the dark shrubbery-path so noiselessly but what she must have heard him? No! there was the
swell41 of voices coming up through the window from her father's study: angry voices they were; and her anger rose sympathetically, as she knew that her father was being irritated. There was a sudden movement, as of chairs pushed hastily aside, and then a mysterious unaccountable noise--heavy, sudden; and then a slight movement as of chairs again; and then a profound stillness. Ellinor leaned her head against the side of the window to listen more intently, for some mysterious instinct made her sick and faint. No sound--no noise. Only by-and-by she heard, what we have all heard at such times of intent listening, the beating of the pulses of her heart, and then the whirling rush of blood through her head. How long did this last? She never knew. By-and-by she heard her father's hurried footstep in his bedroom, next to hers; but when she ran
thither42 to speak to him, and ask him what was amiss--if anything had been--if she might come to him now about Mr. Livingstone's letter, she found that he had gone down again to his study, and almost at the same moment she heard the little private outer door of that room open; some one went out, and then there were hurried footsteps along the shrubbery-path. She thought, of course, that it was Mr. Dunster leaving the house; and went back for Mr. Livingstone's letter. Having found it, she passed through her father's room to the private staircase, thinking that if she went by the more regular way, she would have run the risk of disturbing Miss Monro, and perhaps of being questioned in the morning. Even in passing down this remote staircase, she trod softly for fear of being overheard. When she entered the room, the full light of the candles dazzled her for an instant, coming out of the darkness. They were
flaring43 wildly in the
draught44 that came in through the open door, by which the outer air was admitted; for a moment there seemed no one in the room, and then she saw, with strange sick horror, the legs of some one lying on the carpet behind the table. As if compelled, even while she shrank from doing it, she went round to see who it was that lay there, so still and motionless as never to stir at her sudden coming. It was Mr. Dunster; his head
propped45 on chair-cushions, his eyes open, staring,
distended46. There was a strong smell of brandy and hartshorn in the room; a smell so powerful as not to be
neutralized47 by the free current of night air that blew through the two open doors. Ellinor could not have told whether it was reason or instinct that made her act as she did during this awful night. In thinking of it afterwards, with
shuddering48 avoidance of the haunting memory that would come and overshadow her during many, many years of her life, she grew to believe that the powerful smell of the spilt brandy absolutely
intoxicated49 her--an unconscious Rechabite in practice. But something gave her a presence of mind and a courage not her own. And though she learnt to think afterwards that she had acted unwisely, if not wrongly and wickedly, yet she
marvelled50, in recalling that time, how she could have then behaved as she did. First of all she lifted herself up from her fascinated gaze at the dead man, and went to the staircase door, by which she had entered the study, and shut it softly. Then she went back--looked again; took the brandy-bottle, and knelt down, and tried to pour some into the mouth; but this she found she could not do. Then she wetted her handkerchief with the spirit, and moistened the lips; all to no purpose; for, as I have said before, the man was dead--killed by
rupture51 of a
vessel52 of the brain; how occasioned I must tell by-and-by. Of course, all Ellinor's little cares and efforts produced no effect; her father had tried them before--vain endeavours all, to bring back the precious breath of life! The poor girl could not bear the look of those open eyes, and softly, tenderly, tried to close them, although unconscious that in so doing she was
rendering53 the
pious54 offices of some beloved hand to a dead man. She was sitting by the body on the floor when she heard steps coming with rushing and yet cautious tread, through the shrubbery; she had no fear, although it might be the tread of robbers and murderers. The awfulness of the hour raised her above common fears; though she did not go through the usual process of reasoning, and by it feel assured that the feet which were coming so softly and swiftly along were the same which she had heard leaving the room in like manner only a quarter of an hour before.
Her father entered, and started back, almost upsetting some one behind him by his
recoil55, on seeing his daughter in her motionless attitude by the dead man.
"My God, Ellinor! what has brought you here?" he said, almost fiercely.
But she answered as one stupefied, "I don't know. Is he dead?"
"
Hush56, hush, child; it cannot be helped."
She raised her eyes to the solemn, pitying, awe-stricken face behind her father's--the
countenance57 of Dixon.
"Is he dead?" she asked of him.
The man stepped forwards, respectfully pushing his master on one side as he did so. He
bent58 down over the
corpse59, and looked, and listened and then reaching a candle off the table, he signed Mr. Wilkins to close the door. And Mr. Wilkins obeyed, and looked with an
intensity60 of eagerness almost amounting to faintness on the experiment, and yet he could not hope. The flame was steady--steady and pitilessly unstirred, even when it was adjusted close to mouth and
nostril61; the head was raised up by one of Dixon's stalwart arms, while he held the candle in the other hand. Ellinor fancied that there was some trembling on Dixon's part, and grasped his wrist tightly in order to give it the
requisite62 motionless firmness.
All in vain. The head was placed again on the cushions, the servant rose and stood by his master, looked sadly on the dead man, whom, living, none of them had liked or cared for, and Ellinor sat on, quiet and tearless, as one in a trance.
"How was it, father?" at length she asked.
He would fain have had her ignorant of all, but so questioned by her lips, so
adjured63 by her eyes in the very presence of death, he could not choose but speak the truth; he spoke it in convulsive
gasps64, each sentence an effort:
"He
taunted65 me--he was
insolent66, beyond my patience--I could not bear it. I struck him--I can't tell how it was. He must have hit his head in falling. Oh, my God! one little hour a go I was innocent of this man's blood!" He covered his face with his hands.
Ellinor took the candle again; kneeling behind Mr. Dunster's head, she tried the
futile67 experiment once more.
"Could not a doctor do some good?" she asked of Dixon, in a hopeless voice.
"No!" said he, shaking his head, and looking with a sidelong glance at his master, who seemed to shrivel up and to shrink away at the bare suggestion. "Doctors can do
nought68, I'm afeard. All that a doctor could do, I take it, would be to open a
vein69, and that I could do along with the best of them, if I had but my fleam here." He
fumbled70 in his pockets as he spoke, and, as chance would it, the "fleam" (or cattle lancet) was somewhere about his dress. He drew it out, smoothed and tried it on his finger. Ellinor tried to bare the arm, but turned sick as she did so. Her father started eagerly forwards, and did what was necessary with hurried trembling hands. If they had cared less about the result, they might have been more afraid of the consequences of the operation in the hands of one so ignorant as Dixon. But, vein or
artery71, it signified little; no living blood
gushed72 out; only a little
watery73 moisture followed the cut of the fleam. They laid him back on his strange sad death-couch. Dixon spoke next.
"Master Ned!" said he--for he had known Mr. Wilkins in his days of bright careless boyhood, and almost was carried back to them by the sense of charge and protection which the servant's presence of mind and sharpened senses gave him over his master on this dreary night--"Master Ned! we must do summut."
No one spoke. What was to be done?
"Did any folk see him come here?" Dixon asked, after a time. Ellinor looked up to hear her father's answer, a wild hope coming into her mind that all might be
concealed74 somehow; she did not know how, nor did she think of any consequences except saving her father from the vague
dread76, trouble, and punishment that she was aware would await him if all were known.
Mr. Wilkins did not seem to hear; in fact, he did not hear anything but the unspoken echo of his own last words, that went booming through his heart: "An hour ago I was innocent of this man's blood! Only an hour ago!"
Dixon got up and poured out half a tumblerful of raw spirit from the brandy-bottle that stood on the table.
"Drink this, Master Ned!" putting it to his master's lips. "Nay"--to Ellinor--"it will do him no harm; only bring back his senses, which, poor gentleman, are scared away. We shall need all our wits. Now, sir, please answer my question. Did anyone see Measter Dunster come here?"
"I don't know," said Mr. Wilkins, recovering his speech. "It all seems in a mist. He offered to walk home with me; I did not want him. I was almost rude to him to keep him off. I did not want to talk of business; I had taken too much wine to be very clear and some things at the office were not quite in order, and he had found it out. If anyone heard our conversation, they must know I did not want him to come with me. Oh! why would he come? He was as obstinate--he would come--and here it has been his death!"
"Well, sir, what's done can't be
undone77, and I'm sure we'd any of us bring him back to life if we could, even by cutting off our hands, though he was a
mighty78 plaguey chap while he'd breath in him. But what I'm thinking is this: it'll maybe go awkward with you, sir, if he's found here. One can't say. But don't you think, miss, as he's neither kith nor
kin1 to miss him, we might just bury him away before morning, somewhere? There's better nor four hours of dark. I wish we could put him i' the churchyard, but that can't be; but, to my mind, the sooner we set about digging a place for him to lie in, poor fellow, the better it'll be for us all in the end. I can pare a piece of turf up where it'll never be missed, and if master'll take one spade, and I another, why we'll lay him softly down, and cover him up, and no one'll be the wiser."
There was no reply from either for a minute or so. Then Mr. Wilkins said:
"If my father could have known of my living to this! Why, they will try me as a criminal; and you, Ellinor? Dixon, you are right. We must
conceal75 it, or I must cut my throat, for I never could live through it. One minute of passion, and my life blasted!"
"Come along, sir," said Dixon; "there's no time to lose." And they went out in search of tools; Ellinor following them, shivering all over, but begging that she might be with them, and not have to remain in the study with--
She would not be bidden into her own room; she
dreaded79 inaction and
solitude80. She made herself busy with carrying heavy baskets of turf, and straining her strength to the utmost; fetching all that was wanted, with soft swift steps.
Once, as she passed near the open study door, she thought that she heard a
rustling81, and a flash of hope came across her. Could he be reviving? She entered, but a moment was enough to undeceive her; it had only been a night
rustle82 among the trees. Of hope, life, there was none.
They dug the hole deep and well; working with fierce energy to
quench83 thought and
remorse84. Once or twice her father asked for brandy, which Ellinor,
reassured85 by the
apparently86 good effect of the first dose, brought to him without a word; and once at her father's suggestion she brought food, such as she could find in the dining-room without disturbing the household, for Dixon.
When all was ready for the reception of the body in its unblessed grave, Mr. Wilkins bade Ellinor go up to her own room--she had done all she could to help them; the rest must be done by them alone. She felt that it must; and indeed both her nerves and her bodily strength were giving way. She would have kissed her father, as he sat wearily at the head of the grave--Dixon had gone in to make some arrangement for carrying the corpse--but he pushed her away quietly, but resolutely--
"No, Nelly, you must never kiss me again; I am a murderer."
"But I will, my own darling papa," said she, throwing her arms
passionately87 round his neck, and covering his face with kisses. "I love you, and I don't care what you are, if you were twenty times a murderer, which you are not; I am sure it was only an accident."
"Go in, my child, go in, and try to get some rest. But go in, for we must finish as fast as we can. The moon is down; it will soon be daylight. What a blessing there are no rooms on one side of the house. Go, Nelly." And she went; straining herself up to move noiselessly, with eyes
averted88, through the room which she
shuddered89 at as the place of hasty and unhallowed death.
Once in her own room she bolted the door on the inside, and then stole to the window, as if some
fascination90 impelled91 her to watch all the
proceedings92 to the end. But her aching eyes could hardly
penetrate93 through the thick darkness, which, at the time of the year of which I am speaking, so closely precedes the dawn. She could discern the tops of the trees against the sky, and could single out the well-known one, at a little distance from the stem of which the grave was made, in the very piece of turf over which so lately she and Ralph had had their merry little tea-making; and where her father, as she now remembered, had shuddered and shivered, as if the ground on which his seat had then been placed was fateful and
ominous94 to him.
Those below moved softly and quietly in all they did; but every sound had a significant and terrible
interpretation95 to Ellinor's ears. Before they had ended, the little birds had begun to pipe out their gay _reveillee_ to the dawn. Then doors closed, and all was profoundly still.
Ellinor threw herself, in her clothes, on the bed; and was thankful for the intense weary physical pain which took off something of the
anguish96 of thought--anguish that she fancied from time to time was leading to
insanity97.
By-and-by the morning cold made her
instinctively98 creep between the blankets; and, once there, she fell into a dead heavy sleep.
点击
收听单词发音
1
kin
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n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的 |
参考例句: |
- He comes of good kin.他出身好。
- She has gone to live with her husband's kin.她住到丈夫的亲戚家里去了。
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2
dreariest
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使人闷闷不乐或沮丧的( dreary的最高级 ); 阴沉的; 令人厌烦的; 单调的 |
参考例句: |
- It was the dreariest job I had ever done. 那是我所做过的最沉闷的工作。
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3
mingled
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混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] |
参考例句: |
- The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
- The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候,这一男一女就开始交往了。
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4
softened
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(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 |
参考例句: |
- His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
- The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
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5
decided
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adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 |
参考例句: |
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
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6
abrupt
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adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的 |
参考例句: |
- The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
- His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。
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7
basked
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v.晒太阳,取暖( bask的过去式和过去分词 );对…感到乐趣;因他人的功绩而出名;仰仗…的余泽 |
参考例句: |
- She basked in the reflected glory of her daughter's success. 她尽情地享受她女儿的成功带给她的荣耀。
- She basked in the reflected glory of her daughter's success. 她享受着女儿的成功所带给她的荣耀。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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8
revelled
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v.作乐( revel的过去式和过去分词 );狂欢;着迷;陶醉 |
参考例句: |
- The foreign guests revelled in the scenery of the lake. 外宾们十分喜爱湖上的景色。 来自辞典例句
- He revelled in those moments of idleness stolen from his work. 他喜爱学习之余的闲暇时刻。 来自辞典例句
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9
inoculate
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v.给...接种,给...注射疫苗 |
参考例句: |
- A corps of doctors arrived to inoculate the recruits.一队医生来给新兵打防疫针。
- I was just meant to come out here and inoculate some wee babies.我是过来这边给小孩子们接种疫苗的。
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10
craving
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n.渴望,热望 |
参考例句: |
- a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
- She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐,以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。
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11
forth
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adv.向前;向外,往外 |
参考例句: |
- The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
- He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
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12
chilly
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adj.凉快的,寒冷的 |
参考例句: |
- I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
- I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后,寒气逼人。
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13
forerunner
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n.前身,先驱(者),预兆,祖先 |
参考例句: |
- She is a forerunner of the modern women's movement.她是现代妇女运动的先驱。
- Penicillin was the forerunner of modern antibiotics.青霉素是现代抗生素的先导。
|
14
unwilling
|
|
adj.不情愿的 |
参考例句: |
- The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
- His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。
|
15
gravel
|
|
n.砂跞;砂砾层;结石 |
参考例句: |
- We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
- More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。
|
16
dreary
|
|
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 |
参考例句: |
- They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
- She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。
|
17
immediate
|
|
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 |
参考例句: |
- His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
- We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
|
18
vigour
|
|
(=vigor)n.智力,体力,精力 |
参考例句: |
- She is full of vigour and enthusiasm.她有热情,有朝气。
- At 40,he was in his prime and full of vigour.他40岁时正年富力强。
|
19
riveted
|
|
铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 ); 把…固定住; 吸引; 引起某人的注意 |
参考例句: |
- I was absolutely riveted by her story. 我完全被她的故事吸引住了。
- My attention was riveted by a slight movement in the bushes. 我的注意力被灌木丛中的轻微晃动吸引住了。
|
20
irresistible
|
|
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 |
参考例句: |
- The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前,势不可挡。
- She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。
|
21
blessing
|
|
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 |
参考例句: |
- The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
- A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
|
22
hearty
|
|
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 |
参考例句: |
- After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
- We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
|
23
straightforward
|
|
adj.正直的,坦率的;易懂的,简单的 |
参考例句: |
- A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
- I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。
|
24
prospects
|
|
n.希望,前途(恒为复数) |
参考例句: |
- There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
- They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
|
25
winding
|
|
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 |
参考例句: |
- A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
- The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
|
26
bestowed
|
|
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
- He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。
|
27
miserable
|
|
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 |
参考例句: |
- It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
- Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
|
28
rummage
|
|
v./n.翻寻,仔细检查 |
参考例句: |
- He had a good rummage inside the sofa.他把沙发内部彻底搜寻了一翻。
- The old lady began to rummage in her pocket for her spectacles.老太太开始在口袋里摸索,找她的眼镜。
|
29
plodding
|
|
a.proceeding in a slow or dull way |
参考例句: |
- They're still plodding along with their investigation. 他们仍然在不厌其烦地进行调查。
- He is plodding on with negotiations. 他正缓慢艰难地进行着谈判。
|
30
diligently
|
|
ad.industriously;carefully |
参考例句: |
- He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。
- He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。
|
31
sedately
|
|
adv.镇静地,安详地 |
参考例句: |
- Life in the country's south-west glides along rather sedately. 中国西南部的生活就相对比较平静。 来自互联网
- She conducts herself sedately. 她举止端庄。 来自互联网
|
32
undo
|
|
vt.解开,松开;取消,撤销 |
参考例句: |
- His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
- I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。
|
33
mischief
|
|
n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 |
参考例句: |
- Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
- He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。
|
34
frankly
|
|
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 |
参考例句: |
- To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
- Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
|
35
misery
|
|
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 |
参考例句: |
- Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
- He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
|
36
transact
|
|
v.处理;做交易;谈判 |
参考例句: |
- I will transact my business by letter.我会写信去洽谈业务。
- I have been obliged to see him;there was business to transact.我不得不见他,有些事物要处理。
|
37
motive
|
|
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 |
参考例句: |
- The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
- He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
|
38
spoke
|
|
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 |
参考例句: |
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
|
39
obnoxious
|
|
adj.极恼人的,讨人厌的,可憎的 |
参考例句: |
- These fires produce really obnoxious fumes and smoke.这些火炉冒出来的烟气确实很难闻。
- He is the most obnoxious man I know.他是我认识的最可憎的人。
|
40
muffled
|
|
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) |
参考例句: |
- muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
- There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
41
swell
|
|
vi.膨胀,肿胀;增长,增强 |
参考例句: |
- The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
- His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。
|
42
thither
|
|
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 |
参考例句: |
- He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
- He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。
|
43
flaring
|
|
a.火焰摇曳的,过份艳丽的 |
参考例句: |
- A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls. 墙壁上装饰着廉价的花纸。
- Goebbels was flaring up at me. 戈塔尔当时已对我面呈愠色。
|
44
draught
|
|
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 |
参考例句: |
- He emptied his glass at one draught.他将杯中物一饮而尽。
- It's a pity the room has no north window and you don't get a draught.可惜这房间没北窗,没有过堂风。
|
45
propped
|
|
支撑,支持,维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。
- This fence should be propped up. 这栅栏该用东西支一支。
|
46
distended
|
|
v.(使)膨胀,肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- starving children with huge distended bellies 鼓着浮肿肚子的挨饿儿童
- The balloon was distended. 气球已膨胀。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
|
47
neutralized
|
|
v.使失效( neutralize的过去式和过去分词 );抵消;中和;使(一个国家)中立化 |
参考例句: |
- Acidity in soil can be neutralized by spreading lime on it. 土壤的酸性可以通过在它上面撒石灰来中和。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- This strategy effectively neutralized what the Conservatives had hoped would be a vote-winner. 这一策略有效地冲淡了保守党希望在选举中获胜的心态。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
48
shuddering
|
|
v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动 |
参考例句: |
- 'I am afraid of it,'she answered, shuddering. “我害怕,”她发着抖,说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
- She drew a deep shuddering breath. 她不由得打了个寒噤,深深吸了口气。 来自飘(部分)
|
49
intoxicated
|
|
喝醉的,极其兴奋的 |
参考例句: |
- She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。
- They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉,东南西北全然不辨。
|
50
marvelled
|
|
v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- I marvelled that he suddenly left college. 我对他突然离开大学感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I marvelled at your boldness. 我对你的大胆感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
51
rupture
|
|
n.破裂;(关系的)决裂;v.(使)破裂 |
参考例句: |
- I can rupture a rule for a friend.我可以为朋友破一次例。
- The rupture of a blood vessel usually cause the mark of a bruise.血管的突然破裂往往会造成外伤的痕迹。
|
52
vessel
|
|
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 |
参考例句: |
- The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
- You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。
|
53
rendering
|
|
n.表现,描写 |
参考例句: |
- She gave a splendid rendering of Beethoven's piano sonata.她精彩地演奏了贝多芬的钢琴奏鸣曲。
- His narrative is a super rendering of dialect speech and idiom.他的叙述是方言和土语最成功的运用。
|
54
pious
|
|
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 |
参考例句: |
- Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
- Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。
|
55
recoil
|
|
vi.退却,退缩,畏缩 |
参考例句: |
- Most people would recoil at the sight of the snake.许多人看见蛇都会向后退缩。
- Revenge may recoil upon the person who takes it.报复者常会受到报应。
|
56
hush
|
|
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静 |
参考例句: |
- A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
- Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去!
|
57
countenance
|
|
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 |
参考例句: |
- At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
- I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
|
58
bent
|
|
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 |
参考例句: |
- He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
- We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
|
59
corpse
|
|
n.尸体,死尸 |
参考例句: |
- What she saw was just an unfeeling corpse.她见到的只是一具全无感觉的尸体。
- The corpse was preserved from decay by embalming.尸体用香料涂抹以防腐烂。
|
60
intensity
|
|
n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度 |
参考例句: |
- I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
- The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。
|
61
nostril
|
|
n.鼻孔 |
参考例句: |
- The Indian princess wore a diamond in her right nostril.印弟安公主在右鼻孔中戴了一颗钻石。
- All South American monkeys have flat noses with widely spaced nostril.所有南美洲的猴子都有平鼻子和宽大的鼻孔。
|
62
requisite
|
|
adj.需要的,必不可少的;n.必需品 |
参考例句: |
- He hasn't got the requisite qualifications for the job.他不具备这工作所需的资格。
- Food and air are requisite for life.食物和空气是生命的必需品。
|
63
adjured
|
|
v.(以起誓或诅咒等形式)命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 );祈求;恳求 |
参考例句: |
- He adjured them to tell the truth. 他要求他们讲真话。
- The guides now adjured us to keep the strictest silence. 这时向导恳求我们保持绝对寂静。 来自辞典例句
|
64
gasps
|
|
v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 |
参考例句: |
- He leant against the railing, his breath coming in short gasps. 他倚着栏杆,急促地喘气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- My breaths were coming in gasps. 我急促地喘起气来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
65
taunted
|
|
嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 ); 嘲弄; 辱骂; 奚落 |
参考例句: |
- The other kids continually taunted him about his size. 其他孩子不断地耻笑他的个头儿。
- Some of the girls taunted her about her weight. 有些女孩子笑她胖。
|
66
insolent
|
|
adj.傲慢的,无理的 |
参考例句: |
- His insolent manner really got my blood up.他那傲慢的态度把我的肺都气炸了。
- It was insolent of them to demand special treatment.他们要求给予特殊待遇,脸皮真厚。
|
67
futile
|
|
adj.无效的,无用的,无希望的 |
参考例句: |
- They were killed,to the last man,in a futile attack.因为进攻失败,他们全部被杀,无一幸免。
- Their efforts to revive him were futile.他们对他抢救无效。
|
68
nought
|
|
n./adj.无,零 |
参考例句: |
- We must bring their schemes to nought.我们必须使他们的阴谋彻底破产。
- One minus one leaves nought.一减一等于零。
|
69
vein
|
|
n.血管,静脉;叶脉,纹理;情绪;vt.使成脉络 |
参考例句: |
- The girl is not in the vein for singing today.那女孩今天没有心情唱歌。
- The doctor injects glucose into the patient's vein.医生把葡萄糖注射入病人的静脉。
|
70
fumbled
|
|
(笨拙地)摸索或处理(某事物)( fumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 乱摸,笨拙地弄; 使落下 |
参考例句: |
- She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. 她在她口袋里胡乱摸找手帕。
- He fumbled about in his pockets for the ticket. 他(瞎)摸着衣兜找票。
|
71
artery
|
|
n.干线,要道;动脉 |
参考例句: |
- We couldn't feel the changes in the blood pressure within the artery.我们无法感觉到动脉血管内血压的变化。
- The aorta is the largest artery in the body.主动脉是人体中的最大动脉。
|
72
gushed
|
|
v.喷,涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 );滔滔不绝地说话 |
参考例句: |
- Oil gushed from the well. 石油从井口喷了出来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Clear water gushed into the irrigational channel. 清澈的水涌进了灌溉渠道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
|
73
watery
|
|
adj.有水的,水汪汪的;湿的,湿润的 |
参考例句: |
- In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
- Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏,她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。
|
74
concealed
|
|
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 |
参考例句: |
- The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
- I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
|
75
conceal
|
|
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 |
参考例句: |
- He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
- He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
|
76
dread
|
|
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 |
参考例句: |
- We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
- Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。
|
77
undone
|
|
a.未做完的,未完成的 |
参考例句: |
- He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。
|
78
mighty
|
|
adj.强有力的;巨大的 |
参考例句: |
- A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
- The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
|
79
dreaded
|
|
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) |
参考例句: |
- The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
- He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》
|
80
solitude
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n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 |
参考例句: |
- People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
- They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。
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81
rustling
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n. 瑟瑟声,沙沙声
adj. 发沙沙声的 |
参考例句: |
- the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
- the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声
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82
rustle
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v.沙沙作响;偷盗(牛、马等);n.沙沙声声 |
参考例句: |
- She heard a rustle in the bushes.她听到灌木丛中一阵沙沙声。
- He heard a rustle of leaves in the breeze.他听到树叶在微风中发出的沙沙声。
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83
quench
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vt.熄灭,扑灭;压制 |
参考例句: |
- The firemen were unable to quench the fire.消防人员无法扑灭这场大火。
- Having a bottle of soft drink is not enough to quench my thirst.喝一瓶汽水不够解渴。
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84
remorse
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n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 |
参考例句: |
- She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
- He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。
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85
reassured
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adj.使消除疑虑的;使放心的v.再保证,恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) |
参考例句: |
- The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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86
apparently
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adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 |
参考例句: |
- An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
- He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
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87
passionately
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ad.热烈地,激烈地 |
参考例句: |
- She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿,也能爱得一往情深。
- He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。
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88
averted
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防止,避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 ); 转移 |
参考例句: |
- A disaster was narrowly averted. 及时防止了一场灾难。
- Thanks to her skilful handling of the affair, the problem was averted. 多亏她对事情处理得巧妙,才避免了麻烦。
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89
shuddered
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v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动 |
参考例句: |
- He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车,车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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90
fascination
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n.令人着迷的事物,魅力,迷恋 |
参考例句: |
- He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
- His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。
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91
impelled
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v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
- I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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92
proceedings
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n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 |
参考例句: |
- He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
- to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼
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93
penetrate
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v.透(渗)入;刺入,刺穿;洞察,了解 |
参考例句: |
- Western ideas penetrate slowly through the East.西方观念逐渐传入东方。
- The sunshine could not penetrate where the trees were thickest.阳光不能透入树木最浓密的地方。
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94
ominous
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adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 |
参考例句: |
- Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
- There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。
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95
interpretation
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n.解释,说明,描述;艺术处理 |
参考例句: |
- His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
- Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。
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96
anguish
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n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 |
参考例句: |
- She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时,她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
- The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。
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97
insanity
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n.疯狂,精神错乱;极端的愚蠢,荒唐 |
参考例句: |
- In his defense he alleged temporary insanity.他伪称一时精神错乱,为自己辩解。
- He remained in his cell,and this visit only increased the belief in his insanity.他依旧还是住在他的地牢里,这次视察只是更加使人相信他是个疯子了。
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98
instinctively
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adv.本能地 |
参考例句: |
- As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近,她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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