Swiftly passed the happy days in the beautiful villa1 home to which Arthur Barrington had taken his bride. But at length remorseful2 thoughts of his father's loneliness would intrude4 themselves upon Arthur's happiest hours, until he could bear it no longer; so he told Louisa the unkind way in which he had left his father, and how unhappy he was on that account, proposing that they should proceed to Barrington Park without delay. To this she readily agreed, but unfortunately their route lay through a district where a malignant5 fever was very prevalent, and while traversing a lone3 and dreary6 portion of this district, Arthur was attacked with this terrible disease. He strove bravely against it, and endeavored to push on to the nearest town, but that was yet forty miles distant, when Arthur became so alarmingly ill that they were forced to stop at a little hamlet and put up with the best accommodation its miserable7 inn afforded, which was poor indeed. There was no doctor to be had nearer than Z----, but the driver promised to procure8 one from there if possible. With this they were obliged to be content; but day after day passed and none came, while Arthur hourly became worse, and Louisa grew half wild with grief and fear.
"If we could only get a doctor, I believe he would soon be well; but, ah! it is so dreadful to see him die for want of proper advice," murmured Louisa, glancing toward the bed where Arthur lay tossing in the terrible
malaria9 fever, so fatal to
temperaments10 such as his; "but he will not die, O no I cannot believe that my happiness will be of such short duration that I shall again be left in such icy desolation. Oh! Arthur, Arthur, do not leave me she
sobbed11, covering her face with her hands, but Arthur does not
heed12 her, racked with burning fever he cannot even recognize her, as with patient gentleness she endeavors to
alleviate13 his sufferings with cooling drinks, or bathes his burning brow. In vain were all the remedies that the simple people of the inn could suggest, or that Louisa's love could devise. Day by day his life
ebbed14 away consumed by the disease, the
prostration15 and langour following the fever being too much for his strength, thus Louisa saw that he who alone in the wide world loved or cared for her, was fast passing away; still though she could not but see it was so, she would not believe the terrible truth, but clung to the hope that a doctor might yet arrive before it was too late, and so her great
bereavement16 came upon her with overwhelming force, when after a day of more than usual langour, during her midnight vigil, he ceased to breathe. Louisa had not known why he had clasped her hand so tightly all that night as she sat beside his couch, he was dead, and with a cry of
anguish17 Louisa fell insensible beside the lifeless body of her husband.
The moonbeams fell alike upon the inanimate forms of the living and the dead, and the morning sun rose brightly and she still lay there, none heard the midnight cry of anguish, or if heard it was unheeded, and the noisy lamentations of the girl who brought in the morning meal, greeted her as consciousness returned. The master of the inn said the funeral must take place at sunset, and Louisa shed bitter tears in the little room which was given her, while the
corpse18 was being prepared for interment, for these
precipitate19 funeral arrangements added greatly to Louisa's grief. Composed but deadly pale she followed Arthur's
remains20 to the grave--his only mourner; there was no minister to be had, but Louisa could not see him buried thus, so read herself a portion of the beautiful burial service of the Episcopal Church, then amid tears and
sobs21 she watched them pile and smooth the earth above him, and when they had finished, with a
wail22 of agony she threw herself in a burst of
passionate23 grief upon the damp earth, and there she lay until darkness
enveloped24 all around, heedless of danger, of time, of everything but her deep deep grief, her
misery25, and her irreparable loss. And there she would have remained but for Francesca, the girl who had waited on them; Francesca had some pity for the poor lady, and with a great effort
stifled26 her
superstitious27 fears, and went down to the grave and led her away, whispering you will get the fever here. So Louisa returned
desolate28 indeed to the miserable inn, not for a moment because of the fear of fever, only dreamily, scarcely knowing where she was going.
Those long hours with the dead had but too surely done their work, Louisa was attacked with the same fever of which her husband died, but carelessly tended and neglected as she was, she did not die.
When she was able to go out again, she would sit
pensively29 for hours by Arthur's grave, or in passionate grief throw herself upon it and wish that she too might die. It was after one of these paroxysms of despair that Louisa remembered her promise to Arthur, that she would take his letter to his father at Barrington Park. Faithful to her word she reluctantly prepared to depart, when to her dismay she found that a cheque for a large amount had been abstracted from Arthur's desk, and further search discovered that nearly every article of value had been perloined during her illness. Their charges were so
exorbitant30, that it took nearly all the money she had to satisfy their demands, and when she mentioned the cheque, &c., they held up their hands in horror at the idea, that after all their kindness she should suspect them of such villiany.
Weary and broken-hearted, Louisa set out on her lonely journey, and at length arrived sad and dejected at Barrington Park, having had to part with nearly all she
possessed31 in order to
prosecute32 her journey. After some difficulty she succeeded in gaining Lord Barrington's presence.
"Well, what is it you want?" asked his lordship impatiently, but Louisa could not speak, she could only hold out Arthur's letter with a mute gesture of
entreaty33.
"I don't want to read any of that nonsense; just tell me what you want, and be quick, as I am busy."
Tell him what she wanted!--tell him that she wanted him to love and receive her as a daughter--tell him that the love he bore his son was henceforth to be transferred to the unhappy being before him--how could she tell him this? how could she tell him what she wanted?
"Speak, girl, I say!" he cried, angrily.
"Read this," she
faltered34, "it will tell you all."
"I will not," he answered; "tell me, or begone!"
Falling on her knees before him, she held out the letter, crying: "I am Arthur's wife. He is dead, and this is his letter, and I am here according to his wish--to his dying injuction. Take it--read it--it will tell you all."
"Good gracious, the girl is mad!" he exclaimed, "mad as a March hare. Come, come! get up and go about your business, or I shall have you put in the
asylum35."
Louisa felt choking, she could not speak; she could only stretch out her arms
imploringly36, still holding the letter.
"There is some great mistake; my son is not dead, nor is he married, so do not think to impose upon me."
"There is no mistake; Arthur is dead, and you see his widow before you," she managed to articulate.
"No, no, Arthur is not dead, poor crazy girl; get up and go away," and he threw her half a sovereign, saying, as he did so, "now go away quickly, or I shall have you turned out; and mind, don't go about with your tale about being my son's wife, or I shall send the police after you. Now go."
Crushed and
humbled37 as she was by sorrow and suffering, this was more than Louisa's
fiery38 nature could endure passively. Springing to her feet, her lips quivering with anger, while her large eyes flashed with passion, she cried, as she threw the
proffered39 alms upon the table, in proud
defiance40, "Keep your alms for the first beggar you see, but do not insult me. I ask but what is right--that, as your son's wife, I should receive a home and the necessaries of life from you, his father, as he promised me. This you refuse me; but, were I to starve, I would not take your alms, thrown to me as a crazy beggar--never, never!"
"Go, go!" he cried, she by her burst of passionate indignation still more confirming the idea that she was mad.
"I will go," she answered, "and will never again trouble you; but know that I am no impostor--no insane person."
John, who answered his master's summons, stood wonderingly at the door, and, as Louisa passed out, he opened the hall door, looking terribly mystified. "Take this," she said to him, "and if you loved your young master, give this to his father when he will receive it." Then with a full heart Louisa hastened from the park.
A short distance from the gate was a small copse wood, which Louisa entered, and, throwing herself down on the
grassy41 bank beside a stream, gave way to a storm of passionate grief. "Oh, Arthur, Arthur!" she sobbed, "how desolate is Louisa in this cold, cruel world." The storm of grief would have its way, nor did she strive to check it, but continued
sobbing42 convulsively, and shivered with cold, though it was a balmy autumn day; the icy chill at her heart seemed to affect her body also. When at length she became more calm, she began to consider what course she should next pursue. She turned out her
scanty43 store of money--fifteen and sixpence was the whole amount. She
determined44 to return to the inn, where she had left the small bag (the sole remnant of the numerous trunks, etc., with which they had left ----), and remain there that night, and start next day for Brierley, the present
abode45 of her grandfather, and try her luck in that quarter, but with small hope of success. Not for herself would she have done this, for she trembled at the thought of meeting him, but circumstances made it
imperative46.
点击
收听单词发音
1
villa
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n.别墅,城郊小屋 |
参考例句: |
- We rented a villa in France for the summer holidays.我们在法国租了一幢别墅消夏。
- We are quartered in a beautiful villa.我们住在一栋漂亮的别墅里。
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2
remorseful
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adj.悔恨的 |
参考例句: |
- He represented to the court that the accused was very remorseful.他代被告向法庭陈情说被告十分懊悔。
- The minister well knew--subtle,but remorseful hypocrite that he was!牧师深知这一切——他是一个多么难以捉摸又懊悔不迭的伪君子啊!
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3
lone
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adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的 |
参考例句: |
- A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
- She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。
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4
intrude
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vi.闯入;侵入;打扰,侵扰 |
参考例句: |
- I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。
- I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。
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5
malignant
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adj.恶性的,致命的;恶意的,恶毒的 |
参考例句: |
- Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
- He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来,不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。
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6
dreary
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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。
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7
miserable
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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。
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8
procure
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vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 |
参考例句: |
- Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗?
- I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。
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9
malaria
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n.疟疾 |
参考例句: |
- He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
- Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。
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10
temperaments
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性格( temperament的名词复数 ); (人或动物的)气质; 易冲动; (性情)暴躁 |
参考例句: |
- The two brothers have exactly opposite temperaments: one likes to be active while the other tends to be quiet and keep to himself. 他们弟兄两个脾气正好相反, 一个爱动,一个好静。
- For some temperaments work is a remedy for all afflictions. 对于某些人来说,工作是医治悲伤的良药。
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11
sobbed
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哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说 |
参考例句: |
- She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
- She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。
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12
heed
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v.注意,留意;n.注意,留心 |
参考例句: |
- You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
- For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。
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13
alleviate
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v.减轻,缓和,缓解(痛苦等) |
参考例句: |
- The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
- Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
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14
ebbed
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(指潮水)退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 ); 落; 减少; 衰落 |
参考例句: |
- But the pain had ebbed away and the trembling had stopped. 不过这次痛已减退,寒战也停止了。
- But gradually his interest in good causes ebbed away. 不过后来他对这类事业兴趣也逐渐淡薄了。
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15
prostration
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n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 |
参考例句: |
- a state of prostration brought on by the heat 暑热导致的虚脱状态
- A long period of worrying led to her nervous prostration. 长期的焦虑导致她的神经衰弱。
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16
bereavement
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n.亲人丧亡,丧失亲人,丧亲之痛 |
参考例句: |
- the pain of an emotional crisis such as divorce or bereavement 诸如离婚或痛失亲人等情感危机的痛苦
- I sympathize with you in your bereavement. 我对你痛失亲人表示同情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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17
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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18
corpse
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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。
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19
precipitate
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adj.突如其来的;vt.使突然发生;n.沉淀物 |
参考例句: |
- I don't think we should make precipitate decisions.我认为我们不应该贸然作出决定。
- The king was too precipitate in declaring war.国王在宣战一事上过于轻率。
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20
remains
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n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 |
参考例句: |
- He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
- The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
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21
sobs
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啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- She was struggling to suppress her sobs. 她拼命不让自己哭出来。
- She burst into a convulsive sobs. 她突然抽泣起来。
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22
wail
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vt./vi.大声哀号,恸哭;呼啸,尖啸 |
参考例句: |
- Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里,一位老太太伤心地哭起来。
- One of the small children began to wail with terror.小孩中的一个吓得大哭起来。
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23
passionate
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adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 |
参考例句: |
- He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
- He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。
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24
enveloped
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v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She was enveloped in a huge white towel. 她裹在一条白色大毛巾里。
- Smoke from the burning house enveloped the whole street. 燃烧着的房子冒出的浓烟笼罩了整条街。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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25
misery
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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。
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26
stifled
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(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵 |
参考例句: |
- The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。
- The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。
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27
superstitious
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adj.迷信的 |
参考例句: |
- They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。
- These superstitious practices should be abolished as soon as possible.这些迷信做法应尽早取消。
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28
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 |
参考例句: |
- The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
- We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后,我们都觉得万分孤寂。
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29
pensively
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adv.沉思地,焦虑地 |
参考例句: |
- Garton pensively stirred the hotchpotch of his hair. 加顿沉思着搅动自己的乱发。 来自辞典例句
- "Oh, me,'said Carrie, pensively. "I wish I could live in such a place." “唉,真的,"嘉莉幽幽地说,"我真想住在那种房子里。” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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30
exorbitant
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adj.过分的;过度的 |
参考例句: |
- More competition should help to drive down exorbitant phone charges.更多的竞争有助于降低目前畸高的电话收费。
- The price of food here is exorbitant. 这儿的食物价格太高。
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31
possessed
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adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 |
参考例句: |
- He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
- He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
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32
prosecute
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vt.告发;进行;vi.告发,起诉,作检察官 |
参考例句: |
- I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
- Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据?
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33
entreaty
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n.恳求,哀求 |
参考例句: |
- Mrs. Quilp durst only make a gesture of entreaty.奎尔普太太仅做出一种哀求的姿势。
- Her gaze clung to him in entreaty.她的眼光带着恳求的神色停留在他身上。
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34
faltered
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(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃 |
参考例句: |
- He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
- "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着:“这孩子脑袋真长。”
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35
asylum
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n.避难所,庇护所,避难 |
参考例句: |
- The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
- Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。
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36
imploringly
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adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 |
参考例句: |
- He moved his lips and looked at her imploringly. 他嘴唇动着,哀求地看着她。
- He broke in imploringly. 他用恳求的口吻插了话。
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37
humbled
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adj. 卑下的,谦逊的,粗陋的
vt. 使 ... 卑下,贬低 |
参考例句: |
- The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
- I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。
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38
fiery
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adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 |
参考例句: |
- She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
- His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。
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39
proffered
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v.提供,贡献,提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She proffered her cheek to kiss. 她伸过自己的面颊让人亲吻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes. 他站起身,伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 来自辞典例句
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40
defiance
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n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 |
参考例句: |
- He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
- He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。
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41
grassy
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adj.盖满草的;长满草的 |
参考例句: |
- They sat and had their lunch on a grassy hillside.他们坐在长满草的山坡上吃午饭。
- Cattle move freely across the grassy plain.牛群自由自在地走过草原。
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42
sobbing
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<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 |
参考例句: |
- I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
- Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。
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43
scanty
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adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 |
参考例句: |
- There is scanty evidence to support their accusations.他们的指控证据不足。
- The rainfall was rather scanty this month.这个月的雨量不足。
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44
determined
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adj.坚定的;有决心的 |
参考例句: |
- I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
- He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
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45
abode
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n.住处,住所 |
参考例句: |
- It was ten months before my father discovered his abode.父亲花了十个月的功夫,才好不容易打听到他的住处。
- Welcome to our humble abode!欢迎光临寒舍!
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46
imperative
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n.命令,需要;规则;祈使语气;adj.强制的;紧急的 |
参考例句: |
- He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
- The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。
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