Peregrine reconciles himself to the Lieutenant1, and renews his Connection with Society — Divers2 Plans are projected in his behalf, and he has occasion to exhibit a remarkable3 Proof of Self-denial.
The captain, with reluctance4, yielded the preference in this particular to Jack5, who was immediately invited to a conference, by a note subscribed7 with Pickle8’s own hand. He was found at the prison-gate waiting for Gauntlet, to know the issue of his negotiation9. He no sooner received this summons, than he set all his sails, and made the best of his way to his friend’s apartment; being admitted by the turnkey, in consequence of Peregrine’s request, communicated by the messenger who, carried the billet. Pipes followed close in the wake of his shipmate; and, in a few minutes after the note had been despatched, Peregrine and Gauntlet heard the sound of the stump10, ascending11 the wooden staircase with such velocity12, that they at first mistook it for the application of drumsticks to the head of an empty barrel. This uncommon13 speed, however, was attended with a misfortune; he chanced to overlook a small defect in one of the steps, and his prop14 plunging15 into a hole, he fell backwards16, to the imminent17 danger of his life. Tom was luckily at his back, and sustained him in his arms, so as that he escaped without any other damage than the loss of his wooden leg, which was snapped in the middle, by the weight of his body in falling; and such was his impatience18, that he would not give himself the trouble to disengage the fractured member. Unbuckling the whole equipage in a trice, he left it sticking in the crevice19, saying, a rotten cable was not worth heaving up, and, in this natural state of mutilation, hopped20 into the room with infinite expedition.
Peregrine, taking him cordially by the hand, seated him upon one side of his bed; and, after having made an apology for that reserve of which he had so justly complained, asked if he could conveniently accommodate him with the loan of twenty guineas. The lieutenant, without opening his mouth, pulled out his purse; and Pipes, who overheard the demand, applying the whistle to his lips, performed a loud overture21, in token of his joy. Matters being thus brought to an accommodation, our hero told the captain, that he should be glad of his company at dinner, with their common friend Hatchway, if he would in the meantime leave him to the ministry22 of Pipes; and the soldier went away for the present, in order to pay a short visit to his uncle, who at that time languished23 in a declining state of health, promising24 to return at the appointed hour.
The lieutenant, having surveyed the dismal25 appearance of his friend, could not help being moved at the spectacle, and began to upbraid26 him with his obstinate27 pride, which, he swore, was no better than self-murder. But the young gentleman interrupted him in the course of his moralizing, by telling him he had reasons for his conduct, which, perhaps, he would impart in due season; but, at present, his design was to alter that plan of behaviour, and make himself some amends28 for the misery29 he had undergone. He accordingly sent Pipes to redeem30 his clothes from the pawnbroker’s wardrobe, and bespeak31 something comfortable for dinner. When Godfrey came back, he was very agreeably surprised to see such a favourable32 alteration33 in his externals; for, by the assistance of his valet, he had purified himself from the dregs of his distress34, and now appeared in a decent suit, with clean linen35, while his face was disencumbered of the hair that overshadowed it, and his apartment prepared for the reception of company.
They enjoyed their meal with great satisfaction, entertaining one another with a recapitulation of their former adventures at the garrison36. In the afternoon, Gauntlet taking his leave, in order to write a letter to his sister, at the desire of his uncle who, finding his end approaching, wanted to see her without loss of time, Peregrine made his appearance on the Bare, and was complimented on his coming abroad again, not only by his old messmates, who had not seen him for many weeks, but by a number of those objects whom his liberality had fed, before his funds were exhausted37. Hatchway was, by his interest with the warden38, put in possession of his former quarters, and Pipes despatched to make inquiry39 about Crabtree at his former lodging40, where he learned that the misanthrope41, after a very severe fit of illness, was removed to Kensington Gravel-pits, for the convenience of breathing a purer air than that of London.
In consequence of this information, Peregrine, who knew the narrowness of the old gentleman’s fortune, next day desired his friend Gauntlet to take the trouble of visiting him, in his name, with a letter, in which he expressed great concern for his indisposition, gave him notice of the fortunate intelligence he had received from the Downs, and conjured43 him to make use of his purse, if he was in the least hampered44 in his circumstances. The captain took coach immediately, and set out for the place, according to the direction which Pipes had procured45.
Cadwallader, having seen him at Bath, knew him again at first sight; and, though reduced to a skeleton, believed himself in such a fair way of doing well, that he would have accompanied him to the Fleet immediately, had he not been restrained by his nurse, who was, by his physician, invested with full authority to dispute and oppose his will in everything that she should think prejudicial to his health; for he was considered, by those who had the care of him, as an old humourist, not a little distempered in his brain. He inquired particularly about the sailors, who, he said, had deterred47 him from carrying on his usual correspondence with Pickle, and been the immediate6 cause of his indisposition, by terrifying him into a fever. Understanding that the breach48 between Pickle and Hatchway was happily cemented, and that he was no longer in any danger from the lieutenant’s resentment49, he promised to be at the Fleet with the first convenient opportunity; and, in the meantime, wrote an answer to Peregrine’s letter, importing, that he was obliged to him for his offer, but had not the least occasion for his assistance.
In a few days, our adventurer recovered his vigour50, complexion51, and vivacity52; he mingled53 again in the diversions and parties of the place; and he received, in a little time, the money he had lent upon bottomry, which, together with the interest, amounted to upwards54 of eleven hundred pounds. The possession of this sum, while it buoyed55 up his spirits, involved him in perplexity. Sometimes he thought it was incumbent56 on him, as a man of honour, to employ the greatest part of it in diminishing the debt for which he suffered; on the other hand, he considered that obligation effaced57, by the treacherous58 behaviour of his creditor59, who had injured him to ten times the value of the sum; and, in these sentiments, entertained thoughts of attempting his escape from prison, with a view of conveying himself, with the shipwreck60 of his fortune, to another country, in which he might use it to better advantage.
Both suggestions were attended with such doubts and difficulties, that he hesitated between them, and for the present laid out a thousand pounds in stock, the interest of which, together with the fruits of his own industry, he hoped, would support him above want in his confinement61, until something should occur that would point out the expediency62 of some other determination. Gauntlet still insisted upon having the honour of obtaining his liberty, at the expense of taking up his notes to Gleanum, and exhorted63 him to purchase a commission with part of the money which he had retrieved64. The lieutenant affirmed, that it was his privilege to procure46 the release of his cousin Pickle, because he enjoyed a very handsome sum by his aunt, which of right belonged to the young gentleman, to whom he was, moreover, indebted for the use of his furniture, and for the very house that stood over his head; and that, although he had already made a will in his favour, he should never be satisfied, nor easy in his mind, so long as he remained deprived of his liberty, and wanted any of the conveniences of life.
Cadwallader, who by this time assisted at their councils, and was best acquainted with the peculiarity65 and unbending disposition42 of the youth, proposed, that, seeing he was so averse66 to obligations, Mr. Hatchway should purchase of him the garrison with its appendages67, which, at a moderate price, would sell for more money than would be sufficient to discharge his debts; that, if the servile subordination of the army did not suit his inclinations68, he might, with his reversion, buy a comfortable annuity69, and retire with him to the country, where he might live absolutely independent, and entertain himself, as usual, with the ridiculous characters of mankind.
This plan was to Pickle less disagreeable than any other project which as yet had been suggested; and the lieutenant declared himself ready to execute his part of it without delay; but the soldier was mortified70 at the thoughts of seeing his assistance unnecessary, and eagerly objected to the retirement71, as a scheme that would blast the fairest promises of fame and fortune, and bury his youth and talents in solitude72 and obscurity. This earnest opposition73 on the part of Gauntlet hindered our adventurer from forming any immediate resolution, which was also retarded74 by his unwillingness75 to part with the garrison upon any terms, because he looked upon it as a part of his inheritance, which he could not dispose of without committing an insult upon the memory of the deceased commodore.


1
lieutenant
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n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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2
divers
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adj.不同的;种种的 | |
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remarkable
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adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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reluctance
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n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿 | |
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jack
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n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
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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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subscribed
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v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 );签署,题词;订阅;同意 | |
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pickle
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n.腌汁,泡菜;v.腌,泡 | |
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negotiation
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n.谈判,协商 | |
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stump
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n.残株,烟蒂,讲演台;v.砍断,蹒跚而走 | |
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ascending
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adj.上升的,向上的 | |
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velocity
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n.速度,速率 | |
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uncommon
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adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的 | |
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prop
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vt.支撑;n.支柱,支撑物;支持者,靠山 | |
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plunging
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adj.跳进的,突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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backwards
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adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地 | |
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17
imminent
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adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的 | |
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impatience
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n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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crevice
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n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝;缺口 | |
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hopped
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跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花 | |
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21
overture
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n.前奏曲、序曲,提议,提案,初步交涉 | |
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22
ministry
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n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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languished
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长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 ); 受折磨; 变得(越来越)衰弱; 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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24
promising
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adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
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dismal
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adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的 | |
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upbraid
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v.斥责,责骂,责备 | |
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obstinate
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adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的 | |
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amends
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n. 赔偿 | |
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misery
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n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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30
redeem
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v.买回,赎回,挽回,恢复,履行(诺言等) | |
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31
bespeak
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v.预定;预先请求 | |
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32
favourable
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adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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33
alteration
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n.变更,改变;蚀变 | |
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34
distress
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n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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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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36
garrison
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n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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exhausted
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adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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38
warden
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n.监察员,监狱长,看守人,监护人 | |
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inquiry
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n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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40
lodging
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n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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41
misanthrope
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n.恨人类的人;厌世者 | |
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42
disposition
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n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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43
conjured
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用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 ); 祈求,恳求; 变戏法; (变魔术般地) 使…出现 | |
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44
hampered
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妨碍,束缚,限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
procured
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v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
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46
procure
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vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 | |
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deterred
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v.阻止,制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
breach
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n.违反,不履行;破裂;vt.冲破,攻破 | |
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resentment
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n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
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50
vigour
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(=vigor)n.智力,体力,精力 | |
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complexion
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n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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52
vivacity
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n.快活,活泼,精神充沛 | |
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53
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] | |
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54
upwards
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adv.向上,在更高处...以上 | |
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55
buoyed
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v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 );支持;为…设浮标;振奋…的精神 | |
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56
incumbent
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adj.成为责任的,有义务的;现任的,在职的 | |
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57
effaced
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v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 );抹去;超越;使黯然失色 | |
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58
treacherous
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adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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59
creditor
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n.债仅人,债主,贷方 | |
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60
shipwreck
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n.船舶失事,海难 | |
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61
confinement
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n.幽禁,拘留,监禁;分娩;限制,局限 | |
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62
expediency
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n.适宜;方便;合算;利己 | |
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63
exhorted
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v.劝告,劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
retrieved
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v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 );恢复;寻回;检索(储存的信息) | |
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65
peculiarity
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n.独特性,特色;特殊的东西;怪癖 | |
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66
averse
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adj.厌恶的;反对的,不乐意的 | |
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67
appendages
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n.附属物( appendage的名词复数 );依附的人;附属器官;附属肢体(如臂、腿、尾等) | |
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68
inclinations
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倾向( inclination的名词复数 ); 倾斜; 爱好; 斜坡 | |
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69
annuity
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n.年金;养老金 | |
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70
mortified
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v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 );伤害(人的感情);克制;抑制(肉体、情感等) | |
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71
retirement
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n.退休,退职 | |
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72
solitude
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n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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73
opposition
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n.反对,敌对 | |
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74
retarded
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a.智力迟钝的,智力发育迟缓的 | |
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75
unwillingness
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n. 不愿意,不情愿 | |
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