"What art thou?" exclaimed Don Quixote on his potent8 steed. "Who art thou? Speak! or, by the eternal vengeance9 of mine arm, thy whole machinery10 shall perish at sound of this my trumpet11!"
Astonished at so rude a salutation, the great Sphinx stopped short, and bridling12 up herself, drew in her head, like a snail13 when it touches something that it does not like: the bulls set up a horrid14 bellowing15, the crickets sounded an alarm, and Gog and Magog advanced before the rest. One of these powerful brothers had in his hand a great pole, to the extremity16 of which was fastened a cord of about two feet in length, and to the end of the cord was fastened a ball of iron, with spikes17 shooting from it like the rays of a star; with this weapon he prepared to encounter, and advancing thus he spoke18:—
"Audacious wight! that thus, in complete steel arrayed, doth dare to venture cross my way, to stop the great Munchausen. Know then, proud knight20, that thou shalt instant perish 'neath my potent arm."
When Quixote, Mancha's knight, responded firm:—
"Gigantic monster! leader of witches, crickets, and chimeras21 dire22! know thou, that here before yon azure23 heaven the cause of truth, of valour, and of faith right pure shall ordeal24 counter try it!"
Thus he spoke, and brandishing25 his mighty26 spear, would instant prodigies27 sublime28 perform, had not some wight placed 'neath the tail of dark Rosinante furze all thorny29 base; at which, quadrupedanting, plunged30 the steed, and instant on the earth the knight roared credo for his life.
At that same moment ten thousand frogs started from the morions of Gog and Magog, and furiously assailed31 the knight on every side. In vain he roared, and invoked32 fair Dulcinea del Toboso: for frogs' wild croaking33 seemed more loud, more sonorous34 than all his invocations. And thus in battle vile35 the knight was overcome, and spawn36 all swarmed37 upon his glittering helmet.
"Detested38 miscreants39!" roared the knight; "avaunt! Enchanters dire and goblins could alone this arduous40 task perform; to rout41 the knight of Mancha, foul42 defeat, and war, even such as ne'er was known before. Then hear, O del Toboso! hear my vows43, that thus in anguish44 of my soul I urge, midst frogs, Gridalbin, Hecaton, Kai, Talon46, and the Rove! [for such the names and definitions of their qualities, their separate powers.] For Merlin plumed47 their airy flight, and then in watery48 moonbeam dyed his rod eccentric. At the touch ten thousand frogs, strange metamorphosed, croaked49 even thus: And here they come, on high behest, to vilify50 the knight that erst defended famed virginity, and matrons all bewronged, and pilgrims hoar, and courteous51 guise52 of all! But the age of chivalry53 is gone, and the glory of Europe is extinguished for ever?"
He spake, and sudden good Lord Whittington, at head of all his raree-show, came forth54, armour55 antique of chivalry, and helmets old, and troops, all streamers, flags and banners glittering gay, red, gold, and purple; and in every hand a square of gingerbread, all gilded56 nice, was brandished57 awful. At a word, ten thousand thousand Naples biscuits, crackers58, buns, and flannel-cakes, and hats of gingerbread encountered in mid45 air in glorious exaltation, like some huge storm of mill-stones, or when it rains whole clouds of dogs and cats.
The frogs, astonished, thunderstruck, forgot their notes and music, that before had seemed so terrible, and drowned the cries of knight renown59, and mute in wonder heard the words of Whittington, pronouncing solemn:—"Goblins, chimeras dire, or frogs, or whatsoe'er enchantment60 thus presents in antique shape, attend and hear the words of peace; and thou, good herald61, read aloud the Riot Act!"
He ceased, and dismal62 was the tone that softly breathed from all the frogs in chorus, who quick had petrified63 with fright, unless redoubted Gog and Magog, both with poles, high topped with airy bladders by a string dependent, had not stormed against his lordship. Ever and anon the bladders, loud resounding64 on his chaps, proclaimed their fury against all potent law, coercive mayoralty; when he, submissive, thus in cunning guile65 addressed the knights66 assailant:—"Gog, Magog, renowned67 and famous! what, my sons, shall you assail your father, friend, and chief confessed? Shall you, thus armed with bladders vile, attack my title, eminence68, and pomp sublime? Subside69, vile discord70, and again return to your true 'legiance. Think, my friends, how oft your gorgeous pouch71 I've crammed72, all calapash, green fat, and calapee. Remember how you've feasted, stood inert73 for ages, until size immense you've gained. And think, how different is the service of Munchausen, where you o'er seas, cold, briny74, float along the tide, eternal toiling75 like to slaves of Algiers and Tripoli. And ev'n on high, balloon like, through the heavens have journeyed late, upon a rainbow or some awful bridge stretched eminent76, as if on earth he had not work sufficient to distress77 your potent servitudes, but he should also seek in heaven dire cause of labour! Recollect78, my friends, even why or wherefore should you thus assail your lawful79 magistrate80, or why desert his livery? or for what or wherefore serve this German Lord Munchausen, who for all your labour shall alone bestow81 some fudge and heroic blows in war? Then cease, and thus in amity82 return to friendship aldermanic, bungy, brown, and sober."
Ceased he then, right worshipful, when both the warring champions instant stemmed their battle, and in sign of peace and unity83 returning, 'neath their feet reclined their weapons. Sudden at a signal either stamped his foot sinistrine, and the loud report of bursten bladder stunned84 each ear surrounding, like the roar of thunder from on high convulsing heaven and earth.
'Twas now upon the saddle once again the knight of Mancha rose, and in his hand far balancing his lance, full tilt85 against the troops of bulls opposing run. And thou, shrill86 Crillitrilkril, than whom no cricket e'er on hob of rural cottage, or chimney black, more gladsome turned his merry note, e'en thou didst perish, shrieking87 gave the ghost in empty air, the sport of every wind; for e'en that heart so jocund88 and so gay was pierced, harsh spitted by the lance of Mancha, while undaunted thou didst sit between the horns that crowned Mowmowsky. And now Whittington advanced, 'midst armour antique and the powers Magog and Gog, and with his rod enchanting89 touched the head of every frog, long mute and thunderstruck, at which, in universal chorus and salute90, they sung blithe91 jocund, and amain advanced rebellious92 'gainst my troop.
While Sphinx, though great, gigantic, seemed instinctive93 base and cowardly, and at the sight of storming gingerbread, and powers, Magog and Gog, and Quixote, all against her, started fierce, o'erturning boat, balloons, and all; loud roared the bulls, hideous94, and the crash of wheels, and chaos95 of confusion drear, resounded96 far from earth to heaven. And still more fierce in charge the great Lord Whittington, from poke19 of ermine his famed Grimalkin took. She screamed, and harsh attacked my bulls confounded; lightning-like she darted98, and from half the troop their eyes devouring99 tore. Nor could the riders, crickets throned sublime, escape from rage, from fury less averse100 than cannons101 murder o'er the stormy sea. The great Mowmowsky roared amain and plunged in anguish, shunning102 every dart97 of fire-eyed fierce Grimalkin. Dire the rage of warfare103 and contending crickets, Quixote and great Magog; when Whittington advancing—"Good, my friends and warriors104, headlong on the foe105 bear down impetuous." He spoke, and waving high the mighty rod, tipped wonderful each bull, at which more fierce the creatures bellowed106, while enchantment drear devoured107 their vitals. And all had gone to wreck108 in more than mortal strife109, unless, like Neptune110 orient from the stormy deep, I rose, e'en towering o'er the ruins of my fighting troops. Serene111 and calm I stood, and gazed around undaunted; nor did aught oppose against my foes112 impetuous. But sudden from chariot purses plentiful113 of fudge poured forth, and scattered115 it amain o'er all the crowd contending. As when old Catherine or the careful Joan doth scatter114 to the chickens bits of bread and crumbs116 fragmented, while rejoiced they gobble fast the proffered117 scraps118 in general plenty and fraternal peace, and "hush119," she cries, "hush! hush!"
点击收听单词发音
1 baron | |
n.男爵;(商业界等)巨头,大王 | |
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2 retinue | |
n.侍从;随员 | |
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3 assail | |
v.猛烈攻击,抨击,痛斥 | |
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4 deludes | |
v.欺骗,哄骗( delude的第三人称单数 ) | |
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5 uproar | |
n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸 | |
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6 appeases | |
安抚,抚慰( appease的第三人称单数 ); 绥靖(满足另一国的要求以避免战争) | |
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7 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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8 potent | |
adj.强有力的,有权势的;有效力的 | |
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9 vengeance | |
n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
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10 machinery | |
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构 | |
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11 trumpet | |
n.喇叭,喇叭声;v.吹喇叭,吹嘘 | |
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12 bridling | |
给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 ); 控制; 昂首表示轻蔑(或怨忿等); 动怒,生气 | |
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13 snail | |
n.蜗牛 | |
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14 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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15 bellowing | |
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的现在分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫 | |
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16 extremity | |
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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17 spikes | |
n.穗( spike的名词复数 );跑鞋;(防滑)鞋钉;尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 );偷偷地给某人的饮料加入(更多)酒精( 或药物);把尖状物钉入;打乱某人的计划 | |
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18 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 | |
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19 poke | |
n.刺,戳,袋;vt.拨开,刺,戳;vi.戳,刺,捅,搜索,伸出,行动散慢 | |
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20 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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21 chimeras | |
n.(由几种动物的各部分构成的)假想的怪兽( chimera的名词复数 );不可能实现的想法;幻想;妄想 | |
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22 dire | |
adj.可怕的,悲惨的,阴惨的,极端的 | |
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23 azure | |
adj.天蓝色的,蔚蓝色的 | |
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24 ordeal | |
n.苦难经历,(尤指对品格、耐力的)严峻考验 | |
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25 brandishing | |
v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 );炫耀 | |
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26 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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27 prodigies | |
n.奇才,天才(尤指神童)( prodigy的名词复数 ) | |
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28 sublime | |
adj.崇高的,伟大的;极度的,不顾后果的 | |
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29 thorny | |
adj.多刺的,棘手的 | |
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30 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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31 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
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32 invoked | |
v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 );行使(权利等);祈求救助;恳求 | |
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33 croaking | |
v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 );用粗的声音说 | |
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34 sonorous | |
adj.响亮的,回响的;adv.圆润低沉地;感人地;n.感人,堂皇 | |
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35 vile | |
adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的 | |
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36 spawn | |
n.卵,产物,后代,结果;vt.产卵,种菌丝于,产生,造成;vi.产卵,大量生产 | |
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37 swarmed | |
密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 ); 云集; 成群地移动; 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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38 detested | |
v.憎恶,嫌恶,痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39 miscreants | |
n.恶棍,歹徒( miscreant的名词复数 ) | |
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40 arduous | |
adj.艰苦的,费力的,陡峭的 | |
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41 rout | |
n.溃退,溃败;v.击溃,打垮 | |
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42 foul | |
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规 | |
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43 vows | |
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿 | |
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44 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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45 mid | |
adj.中央的,中间的 | |
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46 talon | |
n.爪;(如爪般的)手指;爪状物 | |
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47 plumed | |
饰有羽毛的 | |
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48 watery | |
adj.有水的,水汪汪的;湿的,湿润的 | |
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49 croaked | |
v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 );用粗的声音说 | |
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50 vilify | |
v.诽谤,中伤 | |
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51 courteous | |
adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 | |
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52 guise | |
n.外表,伪装的姿态 | |
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53 chivalry | |
n.骑士气概,侠义;(男人)对女人彬彬有礼,献殷勤 | |
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54 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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55 armour | |
(=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队 | |
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56 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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57 brandished | |
v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 );炫耀 | |
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58 crackers | |
adj.精神错乱的,癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 );薄脆饼干;(认为)十分愉快的事;迷人的姑娘 | |
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59 renown | |
n.声誉,名望 | |
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60 enchantment | |
n.迷惑,妖术,魅力 | |
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61 herald | |
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎 | |
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62 dismal | |
adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的 | |
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63 petrified | |
adj.惊呆的;目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆,使惊呆;变僵硬;使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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64 resounding | |
adj. 响亮的 | |
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65 guile | |
n.诈术 | |
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66 knights | |
骑士; (中古时代的)武士( knight的名词复数 ); 骑士; 爵士; (国际象棋中)马 | |
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67 renowned | |
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的 | |
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68 eminence | |
n.卓越,显赫;高地,高处;名家 | |
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69 subside | |
vi.平静,平息;下沉,塌陷,沉降 | |
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70 discord | |
n.不和,意见不合,争论,(音乐)不和谐 | |
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71 pouch | |
n.小袋,小包,囊状袋;vt.装...入袋中,用袋运输;vi.用袋送信件 | |
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72 crammed | |
adj.塞满的,挤满的;大口地吃;快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满;填入;临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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73 inert | |
adj.无活动能力的,惰性的;迟钝的 | |
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74 briny | |
adj.盐水的;很咸的;n.海洋 | |
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75 toiling | |
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 | |
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76 eminent | |
adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的 | |
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77 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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78 recollect | |
v.回忆,想起,记起,忆起,记得 | |
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79 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
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80 magistrate | |
n.地方行政官,地方法官,治安官 | |
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81 bestow | |
v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 | |
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82 amity | |
n.友好关系 | |
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83 unity | |
n.团结,联合,统一;和睦,协调 | |
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84 stunned | |
adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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85 tilt | |
v.(使)倾侧;(使)倾斜;n.倾侧;倾斜 | |
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86 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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87 shrieking | |
v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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88 jocund | |
adj.快乐的,高兴的 | |
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89 enchanting | |
a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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90 salute | |
vi.行礼,致意,问候,放礼炮;vt.向…致意,迎接,赞扬;n.招呼,敬礼,礼炮 | |
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91 blithe | |
adj.快乐的,无忧无虑的 | |
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92 rebellious | |
adj.造反的,反抗的,难控制的 | |
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93 instinctive | |
adj.(出于)本能的;直觉的;(出于)天性的 | |
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94 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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95 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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96 resounded | |
v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音 | |
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97 dart | |
v.猛冲,投掷;n.飞镖,猛冲 | |
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98 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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99 devouring | |
吞没( devour的现在分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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100 averse | |
adj.厌恶的;反对的,不乐意的 | |
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101 cannons | |
n.加农炮,大炮,火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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102 shunning | |
v.避开,回避,避免( shun的现在分词 ) | |
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103 warfare | |
n.战争(状态);斗争;冲突 | |
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104 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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105 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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106 bellowed | |
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的过去式和过去分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫 | |
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107 devoured | |
吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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108 wreck | |
n.失事,遇难;沉船;vt.(船等)失事,遇难 | |
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109 strife | |
n.争吵,冲突,倾轧,竞争 | |
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110 Neptune | |
n.海王星 | |
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111 serene | |
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的 | |
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112 foes | |
敌人,仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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113 plentiful | |
adj.富裕的,丰富的 | |
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114 scatter | |
vt.撒,驱散,散开;散布/播;vi.分散,消散 | |
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115 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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116 crumbs | |
int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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117 proffered | |
v.提供,贡献,提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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118 scraps | |
油渣 | |
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119 hush | |
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静 | |
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