Hastings, that “greenest spot on memory’s waste”!
With crowds of idlers willing and unwilling2
To be bedipped — be noticed — or be braced3,
And all things rose a penny in a shilling.
Meanwhile, from window, and from door, in haste
“Accommodation bills” kept coming down,
Gladding “the world of-letters” in that town.
Each day poured in new coachfuls of new cits,
Flying from London smoke and dust annoying,
Unmarried Misses hoping to make hits,
And new-wed4 couples fresh from Tunbridge toying,
Lacemen and placemen, ministers and wits,
And Quakers of both sexes, much enjoying
A morning’s reading by the ocean’s rim5,
That sect6 delighting in the sea’s broad brim.
And lo! amongst all these appeared a creature,
So small, he almost might a twin have been
With Miss Crachami — dwarfish7 quite in stature8,
Yet well proportioned — neither fat nor lean,
His face of marvellously pleasant feature,
So short and sweet a man was never seen —
All thought him charming at the first beginning —
Alas9, ere long they found him far too winning!
He seemed in love with chance — and chance repaid
His ardent10 passion with her fondest smile,
The sunshine of good luck, without a shade,
He staked and won — and won and staked — the bile
It stirred of many a man and many a maid,
To see at every venture how that vile11
Small gambler snatched — and how he won them too —
A living Pam, omnipotent12 at loo!
Miss Wiggins set her heart upon a box,
’Twas handsome rosewood, and inlaid with brass13,
And dreamt three times she garnished14 it with stocks
Of needles, silks, and cottons — but, alas!
She lost it wide awake. We thought Miss Cox
Was lucky — but she saw three caddies pass
To that small imp15; — no living luck could loo him!
Sir Stamford would have lost his Raffles16 to him!
And so he climbed — and rode — and won — and walked,
The wondrous17 topic of the curious swarm18
That haunted the Parade. Many were balked19
Of notoriety by that small form
Pacing it up and down: some even talked
Of ducking him — when lo! a dismal20 storm
Stopped in — one Friday, at the close of day —
And every head was turned another way —
Watching the grander guest. It seemed to rise
Bulky and slow upon the southern brink21
Of the horizon — fanned by sultry sighs —
So black and threatening, I cannot think
Of any simile22, except the skies
Miss Wiggins sometimes shades in Indian ink —
Mis-shapen blotches23 of such heavy vapor24,
They seem a deal more solid than her paper.
As for the sea, it did not fret25, and rave26,
And tear its waves to tatters, and so dash on
The stony-hearted beach; — some bards27 would have
It always rampant28, in that idle fashion —
Whereas the waves rolled in, subdued29 and grave,
Like schoolboys, when the master’s in a passion,
Who meekly30 settle in and take their places,
With a very quiet awe31 on all their faces.
Some love to draw the ocean with a head,
Like troubled table-beer — and make it bounce,
And froth, and roar, and fling — but this, I’ve said,
Surged in scarce rougher than a lady’s flounce:
But then, a grander contrast thus it bred
With the wild welkin, seeming to pronounce
Something more awful in the serious ear,
As one would whisper that a lion’s near —
Who just begins to roar: so the hoarse32 thunder
Growled33 long — but low — a prelude34 note of death,
As if the stifling35 clouds yet kept it under,
But still it muttered to the sea beneath
Such a continued peal36, as made us wonder
It did not pause more oft to take its breath,
Whilst we were panting with the sultry weather,
And hardly cared to wed two words together,
But watched the surly advent37 of the storm,
Much as the brown-cheeked planters of Barbadoes
Must watch a rising of the Negro swarm:
Meantime it steered38, like Odin’s old Armadas,
Right on our coast; — a dismal, coal-black form;
Many proud gaits were quelled39 — and all bravadoes
Of folly40 ceased — and sundry41 idle jokers
Went home to cover up their tongs42 and pokers43.
So fierce the lightning flashed. In all their days
The oldest smugglers had not seen such flashing,
And they are used to many a pretty blaze,
To keep their Hollands from an awkward clashing
With hostile cutters in our creeks45 and bays:
And truly one could think, without much lashing44
The fancy, that those coasting clouds, so awful
And black, were fraught46 with spirits as unlawful.
The gay Parade grew thin — all the fair crowd
Vanished — as if they knew their own attractions —
For now the lightning through a near-hand cloud
Began to make some very crooked47 fractions —
Only some few remained that were not cowed,
A few rough sailors, who had been in actions,
And sundry boatmen, that with quick yeo’s,
Lest it should blow — were pulling up the Rose:
(No flower, but a boat)— some more were hauling
The Regent by the head:— another crew
With that same cry peculiar48 to their calling—
Were heaving up the Hope:— and as they knew
The very gods themselves oft get a mauling
In their own realms, the seamen49 wisely drew
The Neptune50 rather higher on the beach,
That he might lie beyond his billows’ reach.
And now the storm, with its despotic power,
Had all usurped51 the azure52 of the skies,
Making our daylight darker by an hour,
And some few drops — of an unusual size —
Few and distinct — scarce twenty to the shower,
Fell like huge teardrops from a giant’s eyes —
But then this sprinkle thickened in a trice
And rained much harder— in good solid ice.
Oh for a very storm of words to show
How this fierce crash of hail came rushing o’er us!
Handel would make the gusty53 organs blow
Grandly, and a rich storm in music score us:—
But ev’n his music seemed composed and low,
When we were handled by this Hailstone Chorus;
Whilst thunder rumbled54, with its awful sound,
And frozen comfits rolled along the ground —
As big as bullets:— Lord! how they did batter55
Our crazy tiles:— and now the lightning flashed
Alternate with the dark, until the latter
Was rarest of the two! — the gust1 too dashed
So terribly, I thought the hail must shatter
Some panes56 — and so it did — and first it smashed
The very square where I had chose my station
To watch the general illumination.
Another, and another, still came in,
And fell in jingling57 ruin at my feet,
Making transparent58 holes that let me win
Some samples of the storm:— Oh! it was sweet
To think I had a shelter for my skin,
Culling59 them through these “loopholes of retreat”—
Which in a little we began to glaze60 —
Chiefly with a jacktowel and some baize!
But which, the cloud had passed o’erhead, but played
Its crooked fires in constant flashes still,
Just in our rear, as though it had arrayed
Its heavy batteries at Fairlight Mill,
So that it lit the town, and grandly made
The rugged61 features of the Castle Hill
Leap, like a birth, from chaos62 into light,
And then relapse into the gloomy night —
As parcel of the cloud; — the clouds themselves,
Like monstrous63 crags and summits everlasting64,
Piled each on each in most gigantic shelves,
That Milton’s devils were engaged in blasting.
We could e’en fancy Satan and his elves
Busy upon those crags, and ever casting
Huge fragments loose — and that we felt the sound
They made in falling to the startled ground.
And so the tempest scowled65 away — and soon
Timidly shining through its skirts of jet,
We saw the rim of the pacific moon,
Like a bright fish entangled66 in a net,
Flashing its silver sides — how sweet a boon67
Seemed her sweet light, as though it would beget68,
With that fair smile, a calm upon the seas —
Peace in the sky — and coolness in the breeze!
Meantime the hail had ceased:— and all the brood
Of glaziers stole abroad to count their gains;
At every window there were maids who stood
Lamenting69 o’er the glass’s small remains70 —
Or with coarse linens71 made the fractions good,
Stanching72 the wind in all the wounded panes —
Or, holding candles to the panes, in doubt
The wind resolved — blowing the candles out.
No house was whole that had a southern front —
No greenhouse but the same mishap73 befell;
Bow-windows and bell-glasses bore the brunt —
No sex in glass was spared! — For those who dwell
On each hill-side, you might have swum a punt
In any of their parlors74; — Mrs. Snell
Was slopped out of her seat — and Mr. Hitchin
Had a flower-garden washed into a Kitchen.
But still the sea was mild, and quite disclaimed75
The recent violence. — Each after each
The gentle waves a gentle murmur76 framed,
Tapping, like woodpeckers, the hollow beach.
Howbeit his weather eye the seaman77 aimed
Across the calm, and hinted by his speech
A gale78 next morning — and when morning broke,
There was a gale —“quite equal to bespoke79.”
Before high water —(it were better far
To christen it not water then, but waiter,
For then the tide is serving at the bar)
Rose such a swell80 — I never saw one greater!
Black, jagged billows rearing up in war
Like ragged81 roaring bears against the baiter,
With lots of froth upon the shingle82 shed,
Like stout83 poured out with a fine beachy head.
No open boat was open to a fare,
Or launched that morn on seven-shilling trips;
No bathing woman waded84 — none would dare
A dipping in the wave — but waived85 their dips;
No seagull ventured on the stormy air,
And all the dreary86 coast was clear of ships;
For two lea shores upon the River Lea
Are not so perilous87 as one at sea.
Awe-struck we sat, and gazed upon the scene
Before us in such horrid88 hurly-burly —
A boiling ocean of mixed black and green,
A sky of copper89 color, grim and surly —
When lo, in that vast hollow scooped90 between
Two rolling Alps of water — white and curly!
We saw a pair of little arms a-skimming,
Much like a first or last attempt at swimming!
Sometimes a hand — sometimes a little shoe —
Sometime a skirt — sometimes a hank of hair
Just like a dabbled91 seaweed rose to view,
Sometimes a knee — sometimes a back was bare —
At last a frightful92 summerset he threw
Right on the shingles93. Any one could swear
The lad was dead — without a chance of perjury94,
And battered95 by the surge beyond all surgery!
However, we snatched up the corse thus thrown,
Intending, Christian-like, to sod and turf it,
And after venting96 Pity’s sigh and groan97,
Then curiosity began with her fit;
And lo! the features of the Small Unknown!
’Twas he that of the surf had had this surfeit98!
And in his fob, the cause of late monopolies,
We found a contract signed with Mephistopheles!
A bond of blood, whereby the sinner gave
His forfeit99 soul to Satan in reversion,
Providing in this world he was to have
A lordship over luck, by whose exertion100
He might control the course of cards and brave
All throws of dice101 — but on a sea excursion
The juggling102 demon103, in his usual vein104,
Seized the last cast — and Nicked him in the main!
点击收听单词发音
1 gust | |
n.阵风,突然一阵(雨、烟等),(感情的)迸发 | |
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2 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
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3 braced | |
adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 );撑牢;使自己站稳;振作起来 | |
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4 wed | |
v.娶,嫁,与…结婚 | |
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5 rim | |
n.(圆物的)边,轮缘;边界 | |
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6 sect | |
n.派别,宗教,学派,派系 | |
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7 dwarfish | |
a.像侏儒的,矮小的 | |
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8 stature | |
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材 | |
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9 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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10 ardent | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
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11 vile | |
adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的 | |
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12 omnipotent | |
adj.全能的,万能的 | |
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13 brass | |
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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14 garnished | |
v.给(上餐桌的食物)加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15 imp | |
n.顽童 | |
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16 raffles | |
n.抽彩售物( raffle的名词复数 )v.以抽彩方式售(物)( raffle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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17 wondrous | |
adj.令人惊奇的,奇妙的;adv.惊人地;异乎寻常地;令人惊叹地 | |
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18 swarm | |
n.(昆虫)等一大群;vi.成群飞舞;蜂拥而入 | |
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19 balked | |
v.畏缩不前,犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 );(指马)不肯跑 | |
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20 dismal | |
adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的 | |
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21 brink | |
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘,边沿 | |
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22 simile | |
n.直喻,明喻 | |
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23 blotches | |
n.(皮肤上的)红斑,疹块( blotch的名词复数 );大滴 [大片](墨水或颜色的)污渍 | |
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24 vapor | |
n.蒸汽,雾气 | |
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25 fret | |
v.(使)烦恼;(使)焦急;(使)腐蚀,(使)磨损 | |
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26 rave | |
vi.胡言乱语;热衷谈论;n.热情赞扬 | |
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27 bards | |
n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
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28 rampant | |
adj.(植物)蔓生的;狂暴的,无约束的 | |
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29 subdued | |
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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30 meekly | |
adv.温顺地,逆来顺受地 | |
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31 awe | |
n.敬畏,惊惧;vt.使敬畏,使惊惧 | |
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32 hoarse | |
adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的 | |
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33 growled | |
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说 | |
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34 prelude | |
n.序言,前兆,序曲 | |
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35 stifling | |
a.令人窒息的 | |
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36 peal | |
n.钟声;v.鸣响 | |
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37 advent | |
n.(重要事件等的)到来,来临 | |
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38 steered | |
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导 | |
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39 quelled | |
v.(用武力)制止,结束,镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 folly | |
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 | |
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41 sundry | |
adj.各式各样的,种种的 | |
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42 tongs | |
n.钳;夹子 | |
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43 pokers | |
n.拨火铁棒( poker的名词复数 );纸牌;扑克;(通常指人)(坐或站得)直挺挺的 | |
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44 lashing | |
n.鞭打;痛斥;大量;许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 | |
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45 creeks | |
n.小湾( creek的名词复数 );小港;小河;小溪 | |
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46 fraught | |
adj.充满…的,伴有(危险等)的;忧虑的 | |
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47 crooked | |
adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的 | |
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48 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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49 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
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50 Neptune | |
n.海王星 | |
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51 usurped | |
篡夺,霸占( usurp的过去式和过去分词 ); 盗用; 篡夺,篡权 | |
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52 azure | |
adj.天蓝色的,蔚蓝色的 | |
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53 gusty | |
adj.起大风的 | |
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54 rumbled | |
发出隆隆声,发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 轰鸣着缓慢行进; 发现…的真相; 看穿(阴谋) | |
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55 batter | |
v.接连重击;磨损;n.牛奶面糊;击球员 | |
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56 panes | |
窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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57 jingling | |
叮当声 | |
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58 transparent | |
adj.明显的,无疑的;透明的 | |
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59 culling | |
n.选择,大批物品中剔出劣质货v.挑选,剔除( cull的现在分词 ) | |
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60 glaze | |
v.因疲倦、疲劳等指眼睛变得呆滞,毫无表情 | |
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61 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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62 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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63 monstrous | |
adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 | |
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64 everlasting | |
adj.永恒的,持久的,无止境的 | |
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65 scowled | |
怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66 entangled | |
adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67 boon | |
n.恩赐,恩物,恩惠 | |
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68 beget | |
v.引起;产生 | |
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69 lamenting | |
adj.悲伤的,悲哀的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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70 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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71 linens | |
n.亚麻布( linen的名词复数 );家庭日用织品 | |
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72 stanching | |
v.使(伤口)止血( stanch的现在分词 );止(血);使不漏;使不流失 | |
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73 mishap | |
n.不幸的事,不幸;灾祸 | |
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74 parlors | |
客厅( parlor的名词复数 ); 起居室; (旅馆中的)休息室; (通常用来构成合成词)店 | |
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75 disclaimed | |
v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76 murmur | |
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言 | |
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77 seaman | |
n.海员,水手,水兵 | |
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78 gale | |
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
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79 bespoke | |
adj.(产品)订做的;专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 );订(货);证明;预先请求 | |
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80 swell | |
vi.膨胀,肿胀;增长,增强 | |
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81 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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82 shingle | |
n.木瓦板;小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌);v.用木瓦板盖(屋顶);把(女子头发)剪短 | |
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84 waded | |
(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85 waived | |
v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 );搁置;推迟;放弃(权利、要求等) | |
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86 dreary | |
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 | |
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87 perilous | |
adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
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88 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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89 copper | |
n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的 | |
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90 scooped | |
v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等) | |
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91 dabbled | |
v.涉猎( dabble的过去式和过去分词 );涉足;浅尝;少量投资 | |
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92 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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93 shingles | |
n.带状疱疹;(布满海边的)小圆石( shingle的名词复数 );屋顶板;木瓦(板);墙面板 | |
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94 perjury | |
n.伪证;伪证罪 | |
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95 battered | |
adj.磨损的;v.连续猛击;磨损 | |
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96 venting | |
消除; 泄去; 排去; 通风 | |
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97 groan | |
vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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98 surfeit | |
v.使饮食过度;n.(食物)过量,过度 | |
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99 forfeit | |
vt.丧失;n.罚金,罚款,没收物 | |
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100 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
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101 dice | |
n.骰子;vt.把(食物)切成小方块,冒险 | |
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102 juggling | |
n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词 | |
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103 demon | |
n.魔鬼,恶魔 | |
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104 vein | |
n.血管,静脉;叶脉,纹理;情绪;vt.使成脉络 | |
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