选择字号:【大】【中】【小】 | 关灯
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CHAPTER V ARDUOUS YEARS IN THE CENTRAL WEST
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IN 1903, when accepting the position of honorary electrician to the International Exposition held in St. Louis in 1904, to commemorate1 the centenary of the Louisiana Purchase, Mr. Edison spoke2 in his letter of the Central West as a "region where as a young telegraph operator I spent many arduous3 years before moving East." The term of probation5 thus referred to did not end until 1868, and while it lasted Edison's wanderings carried him from Detroit to New Orleans, and took him, among other cities, to Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Memphis, some of which he visited twice in his peregrinations to secure work. From Canada, after the episodes noted6 in the last chapter, he went to Adrian, Michigan, and of what happened there Edison tells a story typical of his wanderings for several years to come. "After leaving my first job at Stratford Junction7, I got a position as operator on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern at Adrian, Michigan, in the division superintendent8's office. As usual, I took the 'night trick,' which most operators disliked, but which I preferred, as it gave me more leisure to experiment. I had obtained from the station agent a small room, and had established a little shop of my own. One day the day operator wanted to get off, and I was on duty. About 9 o'clock the superintendent handed me a despatch9 which he said was very important, and which I must get off at once. The wire at the time was very busy, and I asked if I should break in. I got orders to do so, and acting10 under those orders of the superintendent, I broke in and tried to send the despatch; but the other operator would not permit it, and the struggle continued for ten minutes. Finally I got possession of the wire and sent the message. The superintendent of telegraph, who then lived in Adrian and went to his office in Toledo every day, happened that day to be in the Western union office up-town—and it was the superintendent I was really struggling with! In about twenty minutes he arrived livid with rage, and I was discharged on the spot. I informed him that the general superintendent had told me to break in and send the despatch, but the general superintendent then and there
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commemorate
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vt.纪念,庆祝 | |
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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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arduous
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adj.艰苦的,费力的,陡峭的 | |
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fore
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adv.在前面;adj.先前的;在前部的;n.前部 | |
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probation
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n.缓刑(期),(以观后效的)察看;试用(期) | |
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noted
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adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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junction
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n.连接,接合;交叉点,接合处,枢纽站 | |
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superintendent
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n.监督人,主管,总监;(英国)警务长 | |
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despatch
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n./v.(dispatch)派遣;发送;n.急件;新闻报道 | |
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acting
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n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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repudiated
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v.(正式地)否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 );拒绝接受;拒绝与…往来;拒不履行(法律义务) | |
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destined
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adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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apparatus
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n.装置,器械;器具,设备 | |
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depot
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n.仓库,储藏处;公共汽车站;火车站 | |
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proceeding
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n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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embodying
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v.表现( embody的现在分词 );象征;包括;包含 | |
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leisurely
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adj.悠闲的;从容的,慢慢的 | |
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marvel
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vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异;n.令人惊异的事 | |
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hind
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adj.后面的,后部的 | |
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congestion
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n.阻塞,消化不良 | |
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perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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investigation
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n.调查,调查研究 | |
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afterward
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adv.后来;以后 | |
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applied
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adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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simultaneously
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adv.同时发生地,同时进行地 | |
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interval
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n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息 | |
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sociable
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adj.好交际的,友好的,合群的 | |
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uncouth
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adj.无教养的,粗鲁的 | |
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infested
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adj.为患的,大批滋生的(常与with搭配)v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 );遍布于 | |
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premises
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n.建筑物,房屋 | |
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assassination
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n.暗杀;暗杀事件 | |
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mule
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n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人 | |
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anecdote
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n.轶事,趣闻,短故事 | |
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gathering
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n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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instinctively
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adv.本能地 | |
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suspense
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n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
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seclusion
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n.隐遁,隔离 | |
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eminent
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adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的 | |
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conspicuous
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adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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versatility
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n.多才多艺,多样性,多功能 | |
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weir
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n.堰堤,拦河坝 | |
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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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solidarity
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n.团结;休戚相关 | |
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delegation
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n.代表团;派遣 | |
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conviviality
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n.欢宴,高兴,欢乐 | |
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clamorous
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adj.吵闹的,喧哗的 | |
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devoted
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adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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previously
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adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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eked
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v.(靠节省用量)使…的供应持久( eke的过去式和过去分词 );节约使用;竭力维持生计;勉强度日 | |
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determined
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adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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ordeal
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n.苦难经历,(尤指对品格、耐力的)严峻考验 | |
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inspection
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n.检查,审查,检阅 | |
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illegible
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adj.难以辨认的,字迹模糊的 | |
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consecutive
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adj.连续的,联贯的,始终一贯的 | |
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austere
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adj.艰苦的;朴素的,朴实无华的;严峻的 | |
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promotion
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n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传 | |
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terse
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adj.(说话,文笔)精炼的,简明的 | |
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auto
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n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
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avalanche
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n.雪崩,大量涌来 | |
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gutters
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(路边)排水沟( gutter的名词复数 ); 阴沟; (屋顶的)天沟; 贫贱的境地 | |
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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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salvation
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n.(尤指基督)救世,超度,拯救,解困 | |
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stranded
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a.搁浅的,进退两难的 | |
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cartridges
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子弹( cartridge的名词复数 ); (打印机的)墨盒; 录音带盒; (唱机的)唱头 | |
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stationery
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n.文具;(配套的)信笺信封 | |
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crumpling
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压皱,弄皱( crumple的现在分词 ); 变皱 | |
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reigned
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vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式) | |
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supreme
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adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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incarcerated
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钳闭的 | |
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strictly
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adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地 | |
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hood
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n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖 | |
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rumor
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n.谣言,谣传,传说 | |
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bribe
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n.贿赂;v.向…行贿,买通 | |
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steadfastly
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adv.踏实地,不变地;岿然;坚定不渝 | |
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secrecy
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n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
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lenient
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adj.宽大的,仁慈的 | |
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cipher
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n.零;无影响力的人;密码 | |
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narrates
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v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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nomadic
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adj.流浪的;游牧的 | |
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peculiar
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adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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vertical
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adj.垂直的,顶点的,纵向的;n.垂直物,垂直的位置 | |
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fad
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n.时尚;一时流行的狂热;一时的爱好 | |
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fluctuations
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波动,涨落,起伏( fluctuation的名词复数 ) | |
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obviated
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v.避免,消除(贫困、不方便等)( obviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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clatter
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v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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appreciable
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adj.明显的,可见的,可估量的,可觉察的 | |
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tortuous
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adj.弯弯曲曲的,蜿蜒的 | |
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brass
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n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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dingy
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adj.昏暗的,肮脏的 | |
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pitcher
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n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐;(棒球)投手 | |
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copper
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n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的 | |
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doorway
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n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
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disposition
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n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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intoxicated
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喝醉的,极其兴奋的 | |
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joint
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adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
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soot
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n.煤烟,烟尘;vt.熏以煤烟 | |
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momentary
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adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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respite
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n.休息,中止,暂缓 | |
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labors
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v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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sufficiently
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adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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journalism
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n.新闻工作,报业 | |
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celebrated
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adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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poetic
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adj.富有诗意的,有诗人气质的,善于抒情的 | |
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enunciation
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n.清晰的发音;表明,宣言;口齿 | |
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immortal
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adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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immortality
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n.不死,不朽 | |
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crackers
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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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teaspoonful
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n.一茶匙的量;一茶匙容量 | |
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lull
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v.使安静,使入睡,缓和,哄骗;n.暂停,间歇 | |
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scrap
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n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废 | |
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omnivorous
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adj.杂食的 | |
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auctions
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n.拍卖,拍卖方式( auction的名词复数 ) | |
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second-hand
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adj.用过的,旧的,二手的 | |
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sneaking
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a.秘密的,不公开的 | |
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alley
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n.小巷,胡同;小径,小路 | |
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curiously
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adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地 | |
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scant
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adj.不充分的,不足的;v.减缩,限制,忽略 | |
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savings
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n.存款,储蓄 | |
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ponderous
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adj.沉重的,笨重的,(文章)冗长的 | |
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enticing
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adj.迷人的;诱人的 | |
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jersey
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n.运动衫 | |
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thither
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adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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reconstruction
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n.重建,再现,复原 | |
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onerous
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adj.繁重的 | |
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inflamed
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adj.发炎的,红肿的v.(使)变红,发怒,过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sanguine
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adj.充满希望的,乐观的,血红色的 | |
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specially
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adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地 | |
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inquiries
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n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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vessels
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n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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emphatic
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adj.强调的,着重的;无可置疑的,明显的 | |
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forsook
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forsake的过去式 | |
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disdained
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鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 ); 不屑于做,不愿意做 | |
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speculation
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n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机 | |
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plunge
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v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲 | |
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enervating
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v.使衰弱,使失去活力( enervate的现在分词 ) | |
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forsaking
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放弃( forsake的现在分词 ); 弃绝; 抛弃; 摒弃 | |
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137
gauger
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n.收税官 | |
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138
incandescent
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adj.遇热发光的, 白炽的,感情强烈的 | |
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139
luxurious
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adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的 | |
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140
allotted
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分配,拨给,摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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141
expeditiously
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adv.迅速地,敏捷地 | |
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142
gratitude
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adj.感激,感谢 | |
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143
treasurer
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n.司库,财务主管 | |
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144
bibulous
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adj.高度吸收的,酗酒的 | |
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145
umbrage
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n.不快;树荫 | |
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146
parsimony
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n.过度节俭,吝啬 | |
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147
kindly
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adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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148
alcoholic
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adj.(含)酒精的,由酒精引起的;n.酗酒者 | |
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149
inditing
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v.写(文章,信等)创作,赋诗,创作( indite的现在分词 ) | |
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150
treatise
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n.专著;(专题)论文 | |
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151
undoing
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n.毁灭的原因,祸根;破坏,毁灭 | |
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152
prohibition
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n.禁止;禁令,禁律 | |
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153
specialty
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n.(speciality)特性,特质;专业,专长 | |
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154
minor
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adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修 | |
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155
adjourned
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(使)休会, (使)休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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156
verge
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n.边,边缘;v.接近,濒临 | |
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157
holders
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支持物( holder的名词复数 ); 持有者; (支票等)持有人; 支托(或握持)…之物 | |
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158
rambling
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adj.[建]凌乱的,杂乱的 | |
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159
rattling
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adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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160
lathe
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n.车床,陶器,镟床 | |
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161
witty
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adj.机智的,风趣的 | |
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162
induction
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n.感应,感应现象 | |
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163
surmised
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v.臆测,推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 );揣测;猜想 | |
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164
broached
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v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 );打开并开始用;用凿子扩大(或修光);(在桶上)钻孔取液体 | |
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165
offhand
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adj.临时,无准备的;随便,马虎的 | |
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166
mischief
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n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 | |
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167
possessed
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adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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168
peculiarities
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n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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169
apparently
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adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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170
obnoxious
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adj.极恼人的,讨人厌的,可憎的 | |
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171
accomplished
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adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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172
lessee
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n.(房地产的)租户 | |
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173
isolation
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n.隔离,孤立,分解,分离 | |
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174
promptly
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adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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175
blizzard
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n.暴风雪 | |
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176
hibernate
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v.冬眠,蛰伏 | |
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177
metallic
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adj.金属的;金属制的;含金属的;产金属的;像金属的 | |
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178
impecuniosity
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n.(经常)没有钱,身无分文,贫穷 | |
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179
undue
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adj.过分的;不适当的;未到期的 | |
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180
citation
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n.引用,引证,引用文;传票 | |
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181
corps
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n.(通信等兵种的)部队;(同类作的)一组 | |
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182
memoirs
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n.回忆录;回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数) | |
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183
detailed
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adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的 | |
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184
revolve
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vi.(使)旋转;循环出现 | |
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185
wagon
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n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车 | |
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186
wagons
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n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 );铁路货车;小手推车 | |
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187
spike
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n.长钉,钉鞋;v.以大钉钉牢,使...失效 | |
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