So far we had found the Antarctic, like the Arctic Ocean, peculiarly free from violent storms or immoderately rough water, but our canoe was, at best, of frail structure, although large, and we set busily to work with a view of rendering7 her as safe as the limited means in our possession would admit. The body of the boat was of no better material than bark — the bark of a tree unknown. The ribs8 were of a tough osier, well adapted to the purpose for which it was used. We had fifty feet room from stern to stern, from four to six in breadth, and in depth throughout four feet and a half — the boats thus differing vastly in shape from those of any other inhabitants of the Southern Ocean with whom civilized9 nations are acquainted. We never did believe them the workmanship of the ignorant islanders who owned them; and some days after this period discovered, by questioning our captive, that they were in fact made by the natives of a group to the southwest of the country where we found them, having fallen accidentally into the hands of our barbarians10. What we could do for the security of our boat was very little indeed. Several wide rents were discovered near both ends, and these we contrived11 to patch up with pieces of woollen jacket. With the help of the superfluous12 paddles, of which there were a great many, we erected13 a kind of framework about the bow, so as to break the force of any seas which might threaten to fill us in that quarter. We also set up two paddle blades for masts, placing them opposite each other, one by each gunwale, thus saving the necessity of a yard. To these masts we attached a sail made of our shirts — doing this with some difficulty, as here we could get no assistance from our prisoner whatever, although he had been willing enough to labour in all the other operations. The sight of the linen14 seemed to affect him in a very singular manner. He could not be prevailed upon to touch it or go near it, shuddering15 when we attempted to force him, and shrieking16 out, “Tekeli-li!”
Having completed our arrangements in regard to the security of the canoe, we now set sail to the south southeast for the present, with the view of weathering the most southerly of the group in sight. This being done, we turned the bow full to the southward. The weather could by no means be considered disagreeable. We had a prevailing17 and very gentle wind from the northward, a smooth sea, and continual daylight. No ice whatever was to be seen; nor did I ever see one particle of this after leaving the parallel of Bennet’s Islet. Indeed, the temperature of the water was here far too warm for its existence in any quantity. Having killed the largest of our tortoises, and obtained from him not only food but a copious18 supply of water, we continued on our course, without any incident of moment, for perhaps seven or eight days, during which period we must have proceeded a vast distance to the southward, as the wind blew constantly with us, and a very strong current set continually in the direction we were pursuing.
March 1.7 — Many unusual phenomena19 now indicated that we were entering upon a region of novelty and wonder. A high range of light gray vapour appeared constantly in the southern horizon, flaring20 up occasionally in lofty streaks21, now darting22 from east to west, now from west to east, and again presenting a level and uniform summit — in short, having all the wild variations of the Aurora23 Borealis. The average height of this vapour, as apparent from our station, was about twenty-five degrees. The temperature of the sea seemed to be increasing momentarily, and there was a very perceptible alteration24 in its colour.
7 For obvious reasons I cannot pretend to strict accuracy in these dates. They are given principally with a view to perspicuity25 of narration26, and as set down in my pencil memorandum27.
March 2. — To-day by repeated questioning of our captive, we came to the knowledge of many particulars in regard to the island of the massacre28, its inhabitants, and customs — but with these how can I now detain the reader? I may say, however, that we learned there were eight islands in the group — that they were governed by a common king, named Tsalemon or Psalemoun, who resided in one of the smallest of the islands; that the black skins forming the dress of the warriors29 came from an animal of huge size to be found only in a valley near the court of the king — that the inhabitants of the group fabricated no other boats than the flat-bottomed rafts; the four canoes being all of the kind in their possession, and these having been obtained, by mere30 accident, from some large island in the southwest — that his own name was Nu-Nu — that he had no knowledge of Bennet’s Islet — and that the appellation31 of the island he had left was Tsalal. The commencement of the words Tsalemon and Tsalal was given with a prolonged hissing32 sound, which we found it impossible to imitate, even after repeated endeavours, and which was precisely33 the same with the note of the black bittern we had eaten up on the summit of the hill.
March 3. — The heat of the water was now truly remarkable34, and in colour was undergoing a rapid change, being no longer transparent35, but of a milky36 consistency37 and hue38. In our immediate39 vicinity it was usually smooth, never so rough as to endanger the canoe — but we were frequently surprised at perceiving, to our right and left, at different distances, sudden and extensive agitations40 of the surface — these, we at length noticed, were always preceded by wild flickerings in the region of vapour to the southward.
March 4. — To-day, with the view of widening our sail, the breeze from the northward dying away perceptibly, I took from my coat-pocket a white handkerchief. Nu-Nu was seated at my elbow, and the linen accidentally flaring in his face, he became violently affected43 with convulsions. These were succeeded by drowsiness44 and stupor45, and low murmurings of “Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!”
March 5. — The wind had entirely46 ceased, but it was evident that we were still hurrying on to the southward, under the influence of a powerful current. And now, indeed, it would seem reasonable that we should experience some alarm at the turn events were taking — but we felt none. The countenance47 of Peters indicated nothing of this nature, although it wore at times an expression I could not fathom48. The polar winter appeared to be coming on — but coming without its terrors. I felt a numbness49 of body and mind — a dreaminess of sensation — but this was all.
March 6. — The gray vapour had now arisen many more degrees above the horizon, and was gradually losing its grayness of tint50. The heat of the water was extreme, even unpleasant to the touch, and its milky hue was more evident than ever. To-day a violent agitation41 of the water occurred very close to the canoe. It was attended, as usual, with a wild flaring up of the vapour at its summit, and a momentary51 division at its base. A fine white powder, resembling ashes — but certainly not such — fell over the canoe and over a large surface of the water, as the flickering42 died away among the vapour and the commotion52 subsided53 in the sea. Nu-Nu now threw himself on his face in the bottom of the boat, and no persuasions54 could induce him to arise.
March 7. — This day we questioned Nu-Nu concerning the motives56 of his countrymen in destroying our companions; but he appeared to be too utterly57 overcome by terror to afford us any rational reply. He still obstinately58 lay in the bottom of the boat; and, upon reiterating59 the questions as to the motive55, made use only of idiotic60 gesticulations, such as raising with his forefinger61 the upper lip, and displaying the teeth which lay beneath it. These were black. We had never before seen the teeth of an inhabitant of Tsalal.
March 8. — To-day there floated by us one of the white animals whose appearance upon the beach at Tsalal had occasioned so wild a commotion among the savages62. I would have picked it up, but there came over me a sudden listlessness, and I forbore. The heat of the water still increased, and the hand could no longer be endured within it. Peters spoke63 little, and I knew not what to think of his apathy64. Nu-Nu breathed, and no more.
March 9. — The whole ashy material fell now continually around us, and in vast quantities. The range of vapour to the southward had arisen prodigiously65 in the horizon, and began to assume more distinctness of form. I can liken it to nothing but a limitless cataract66, rolling silently into the sea from some immense and far-distant rampart in the heaven, The gigantic curtain ranged along the whole extent of the southern horizon. It emitted no sound.
March 21. — A sullen67 darkness now hovered68 above us — but from out the milky depths of the ocean a luminous69 glare arose, and stole up along the bulwarks70 of the boat. We were nearly overwhelmed by the white ashy shower which settled upon us and upon the canoe, but melted into the water as it fell. The summit of the cataract was utterly lost in the dimness and the distance. Yet we were evidently approaching it with a hideous71 velocity72. At intervals73 there were visible in it wide, yawning, but momentary rents, and from out these rents, within which was a chaos74 of flitting and indistinct images, there came rushing and mighty75, but soundless winds, tearing up the enkindled ocean in their course.
March 22. — The darkness had materially increased, relieved only by the glare of the water thrown back from the white curtain before us. Many gigantic and pallidly76 white birds flew continuously now from beyond the veil, and their scream was the eternal Tekeli-li! as they retreated from our vision. Hereupon Nu-Nu stirred in the bottom of the boat; but upon touching77 him, we found his spirit departed. And now we rushed into the embraces of the cataract, where a chasm78 threw itself open to receive us. But there arose in our pathway a shrouded79 human figure, very far larger in its proportions than any dweller80 among men. And the hue of the skin of the figure was of the perfect whiteness of the snow.

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收听单词发音

1
desolate
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adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
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2
latitude
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n.纬度,行动或言论的自由(范围),(pl.)地区 | |
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3
frail
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adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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northward
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adv.向北;n.北方的地区 | |
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5
folly
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n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 | |
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6
steer
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vt.驾驶,为…操舵;引导;vi.驾驶 | |
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7
rendering
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n.表现,描写 | |
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8
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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9
civilized
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a.有教养的,文雅的 | |
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10
barbarians
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n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 );外国人;粗野的人;无教养的人 | |
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11
contrived
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adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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superfluous
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adj.过多的,过剩的,多余的 | |
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13
ERECTED
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adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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14
linen
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n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 | |
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15
shuddering
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v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动 | |
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16
shrieking
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v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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17
prevailing
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adj.盛行的;占优势的;主要的 | |
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18
copious
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adj.丰富的,大量的 | |
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19
phenomena
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n.现象 | |
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20
flaring
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a.火焰摇曳的,过份艳丽的 | |
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21
streaks
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n.(与周围有所不同的)条纹( streak的名词复数 );(通常指不好的)特征(倾向);(不断经历成功或失败的)一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 );使布满条纹 | |
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22
darting
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v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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23
aurora
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n.极光 | |
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24
alteration
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n.变更,改变;蚀变 | |
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perspicuity
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n.(文体的)明晰 | |
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narration
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n.讲述,叙述;故事;记叙体 | |
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memorandum
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n.备忘录,便笺 | |
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28
massacre
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n.残杀,大屠杀;v.残杀,集体屠杀 | |
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29
warriors
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武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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30
mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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31
appellation
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n.名称,称呼 | |
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32
hissing
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n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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33
precisely
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adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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34
remarkable
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adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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transparent
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adj.明显的,无疑的;透明的 | |
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milky
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adj.牛奶的,多奶的;乳白色的 | |
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37
consistency
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n.一贯性,前后一致,稳定性;(液体的)浓度 | |
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hue
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n.色度;色调;样子 | |
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immediate
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adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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40
agitations
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(液体等的)摇动( agitation的名词复数 ); 鼓动; 激烈争论; (情绪等的)纷乱 | |
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41
agitation
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n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
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42
flickering
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adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的 | |
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43
affected
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adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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44
drowsiness
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n.睡意;嗜睡 | |
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45
stupor
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v.昏迷;不省人事 | |
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46
entirely
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ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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47
countenance
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n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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48
fathom
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v.领悟,彻底了解 | |
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49
numbness
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n.无感觉,麻木,惊呆 | |
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50
tint
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n.淡色,浅色;染发剂;vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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51
momentary
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adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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52
commotion
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n.骚动,动乱 | |
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53
subsided
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v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的过去式和过去分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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54
persuasions
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n.劝说,说服(力)( persuasion的名词复数 );信仰 | |
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55
motive
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n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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56
motives
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n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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57
utterly
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adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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58
obstinately
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ad.固执地,顽固地 | |
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59
reiterating
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反复地说,重申( reiterate的现在分词 ) | |
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60
idiotic
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adj.白痴的 | |
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61
forefinger
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n.食指 | |
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62
savages
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未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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63
spoke
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n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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64
apathy
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n.漠不关心,无动于衷;冷淡 | |
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65
prodigiously
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adv.异常地,惊人地,巨大地 | |
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66
cataract
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n.大瀑布,奔流,洪水,白内障 | |
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67
sullen
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adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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68
hovered
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鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 | |
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69
luminous
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adj.发光的,发亮的;光明的;明白易懂的;有启发的 | |
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70
bulwarks
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n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 );保障;支柱;舷墙 | |
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71
hideous
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adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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72
velocity
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n.速度,速率 | |
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73
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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74
chaos
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n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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75
mighty
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adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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76
pallidly
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adv.无光泽地,苍白无血色地 | |
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77
touching
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adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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78
chasm
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n.深坑,断层,裂口,大分岐,利害冲突 | |
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79
shrouded
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v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 );保密 | |
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80
dweller
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n.居住者,住客 | |
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