12
Sir Charles and Mr. Satterthwaite arrived back in London the following evening.
The interview with Colonel Johnson had had to be very tactfully conducted.
Superintendent1 Crossfield had not been too pleased that
mere2 “gentlemen” should have found what he and his assistants had missed. He was at some pains to save his face.
“Very creditable, indeed, sir. I confess I never thought of looking under the gas fire. As a matter of fact, it beats me what set you looking there.”
The two men had not gone into a
detailed3 account of how theorising from an ink-blot had led to the discovery. “Just nosing around,” was how Sir Charles had put it.
“Still, look you did,” continued the Superintendent, “and were
justified4. Not that what you’ve found is much surprise to me. You see, it stands to reason that if Ellis wasn’t the murderer, he must have disappeared for some reason or other, and it’s been in the back of my mind all along that
blackmail5 might have been his line of business.”
One thing did arise from their discovery. Colonel Johnson was going to communicate with the Loomouth police. The death of Stephen Babbington ought certainly to be investigated.
“And if they find he died from
nicotine6 poisoning, even Crossfield will admit the two deaths are connected,” said Sir Charles when they were speeding towards London.
He was still a little disgruntled at having had to hand over his discovery to the police.
Mr. Satterthwaite had
soothed7 him by pointing out that the information was not to be made public or given to the press.
“The guilty person will have no
misgivings8. The search for Ellis will still be continued.”
Sir Charles admitted that that was true.
点击
收听单词发音
1
superintendent
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n.监督人,主管,总监;(英国)警务长 |
参考例句: |
- He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
- He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。
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2
mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 |
参考例句: |
- That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
- It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
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3
detailed
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adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的 |
参考例句: |
- He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
- A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
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4
justified
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a.正当的,有理的 |
参考例句: |
- She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
- The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。
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5
blackmail
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n.讹诈,敲诈,勒索,胁迫,恫吓 |
参考例句: |
- She demanded $1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
- The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。
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6
nicotine
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n.(化)尼古丁,烟碱 |
参考例句: |
- Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
- Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
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7
soothed
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v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦 |
参考例句: |
- The music soothed her for a while. 音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿。
- The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
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8
misgivings
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n.疑虑,担忧,害怕;疑虑,担心,恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 );疑惧 |
参考例句: |
- I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
- Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后, 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧! 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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9
gore
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n.凝血,血污;v.(动物)用角撞伤,用牙刺破;缝以补裆;顶 |
参考例句: |
- The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
- Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。
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10
luxurious
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adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的 |
参考例句: |
- This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
- The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。
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11
cramps
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n. 抽筋, 腹部绞痛, 铁箍
adj. 狭窄的, 难解的
v. 使...抽筋, 以铁箍扣紧, 束缚 |
参考例句: |
- If he cramps again let the line cut him off. 要是它再抽筋,就让这钓索把它勒断吧。
- "I have no cramps." he said. “我没抽筋,"他说。
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12
adjourn
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v.(使)休会,(使)休庭 |
参考例句: |
- The motion to adjourn was carried.休会的提议通过了。
- I am afraid the court may not adjourn until three or even later.我担心法庭要到3点或更晚时才会休庭。
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13
feverish
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adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 |
参考例句: |
- He is too feverish to rest.他兴奋得安静不下来。
- They worked with feverish haste to finish the job.为了完成此事他们以狂热的速度工作着。
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14
decided
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adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 |
参考例句: |
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
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15
tenterhooks
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n.坐立不安 |
参考例句: |
- The students are on tenterhooks to hear the result of the examination.学生们烦躁不安地听考试结果。
- The mother was on tenterhooks until her little Laura came back.当小珞拉回来后,她母亲才放下心来。
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16
fretting
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n. 微振磨损
adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 |
参考例句: |
- Fretting about it won't help. 苦恼于事无补。
- The old lady is always fretting over something unimportant. 那位老妇人总是为一些小事焦虑不安。
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17
porcelain
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n.瓷;adj.瓷的,瓷制的 |
参考例句: |
- These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
- The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。
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18
prehistoric
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adj.(有记载的)历史以前的,史前的,古老的 |
参考例句: |
- They have found prehistoric remains.他们发现了史前遗迹。
- It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。
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19
pottery
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n.陶器,陶器场 |
参考例句: |
- My sister likes to learn art pottery in her spare time.我妹妹喜欢在空余时间学习陶艺。
- The pottery was left to bake in the hot sun.陶器放在外面让炎热的太阳烘晒焙干。
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20
mellowness
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成熟; 芳醇; 肥沃; 怡然 |
参考例句: |
- I love these colours because they symbolize mellowness, abundance, strength and happiness. 我喜欢这秋色,因为它表示着成熟、昌盛和繁荣,也意味着愉快、欢乐和富强。 来自汉英文学 - 现代散文
- The mellowness of the cuckoo report the come of spring. 杜鹃甜美的叫声报告了春天的来临。
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21
narrated
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v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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22
blackmailing
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胁迫,尤指以透露他人不体面行为相威胁以勒索钱财( blackmail的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The policemen kept blackmailing him, because they had sth. on him. 那些警察之所以经常去敲他的竹杠是因为抓住把柄了。
- Democratic paper "nailed" an aggravated case of blackmailing to me. 民主党最主要的报纸把一桩极为严重的讹诈案件“栽”在我的头上。
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23
reiterated
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反复地说,重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯,我一定要知道你的休假日期,"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
- Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后,波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。
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24
entirely
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ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 |
参考例句: |
- The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
- His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
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25
attic
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n.顶楼,屋顶室 |
参考例句: |
- Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
- What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理?
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26
attics
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n. 阁楼 |
参考例句: |
- They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics. 他们把暂时不需要的东西放在抽屉里、壁橱中和搁楼上。
- He rummaged busily in the attics of European literature, bringing to light much of interest. 他在欧洲文学的阁楼里忙着翻箱倒笼,找到了不少有趣的东西。
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27
evade
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vt.逃避,回避;避开,躲避 |
参考例句: |
- He tried to evade the embarrassing question.他企图回避这令人难堪的问题。
- You are in charge of the job.How could you evade the issue?你是负责人,你怎么能对这个问题不置可否?
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28
feat
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n.功绩;武艺,技艺;adj.灵巧的,漂亮的,合适的 |
参考例句: |
- Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
- He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。
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29
dealing
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n.经商方法,待人态度 |
参考例句: |
- This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
- His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
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30
spine
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n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊 |
参考例句: |
- He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
- His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。
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31
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 |
参考例句: |
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
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32
crimson
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n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 |
参考例句: |
- She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
- Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。
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33
vitality
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n.活力,生命力,效力 |
参考例句: |
- He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后,身强体壮,充满活力。
- He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。
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34
eddy
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n.漩涡,涡流 |
参考例句: |
- The motor car disappeared in eddy of dust.汽车在一片扬尘的涡流中不见了。
- In Taylor's picture,the eddy is the basic element of turbulence.在泰勒的描述里,旋涡是湍流的基本要素。
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35
covertly
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adv.偷偷摸摸地 |
参考例句: |
- Naval organizations were covertly incorporated into civil ministries. 各种海军组织秘密地混合在各民政机关之中。 来自辞典例句
- Modern terrorism is noteworthy today in that it is being done covertly. 现代的恐怖活动在今天是值得注意的,由于它是秘密进行的。 来自互联网
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36
unison
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n.步调一致,行动一致 |
参考例句: |
- The governments acted in unison to combat terrorism.这些国家的政府一致行动对付恐怖主义。
- My feelings are in unison with yours.我的感情与你的感情是一致的。
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37
motive
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n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 |
参考例句: |
- The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
- He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
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38
killing
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n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财 |
参考例句: |
- Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
- Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
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39
mania
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n.疯狂;躁狂症,狂热,癖好 |
参考例句: |
- Football mania is sweeping the country.足球热正风靡全国。
- Collecting small items can easily become a mania.收藏零星物品往往容易变成一种癖好。
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40
scribbling
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n.乱涂[写]胡[乱]写的文章[作品]v.潦草的书写( scribble的现在分词 );乱画;草草地写;匆匆记下 |
参考例句: |
- Once the money got into the book, all that remained were some scribbling. 折子上的钱只是几个字! 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
- McMug loves scribbling. Mama then sent him to the Kindergarten. 麦唛很喜欢写字,妈妈看在眼里,就替他报读了幼稚园。 来自互联网
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41
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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42
frankly
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adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 |
参考例句: |
- To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
- Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
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43
concocted
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v.将(尤指通常不相配合的)成分混合成某物( concoct的过去式和过去分词 );调制;编造;捏造 |
参考例句: |
- The soup was concocted from up to a dozen different kinds of fish. 这种汤是用多达十几种不同的鱼熬制而成的。
- Between them they concocted a letter. 他们共同策划写了一封信。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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44
alibi
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n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明;借口 |
参考例句: |
- Do you have any proof to substantiate your alibi? 你有证据表明你当时不在犯罪现场吗?
- The police are suspicious of his alibi because he already has a record.警方对他不在场的辩解表示怀疑,因为他已有前科。
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45
wilted
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(使)凋谢,枯萎( wilt的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The flowers wilted in the hot sun. 花在烈日下枯萎了。
- The romance blossomed for six or seven months, and then wilted. 那罗曼史持续六七个月之后就告吹了。
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47
defiantly
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adv.挑战地,大胆对抗地 |
参考例句: |
- Braving snow and frost, the plum trees blossomed defiantly. 红梅傲雪凌霜开。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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48
refreshment
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n.恢复,精神爽快,提神之事物;(复数)refreshments:点心,茶点 |
参考例句: |
- He needs to stop fairly often for refreshment.他须时不时地停下来喘口气。
- A hot bath is a great refreshment after a day's work.在一天工作之后洗个热水澡真是舒畅。
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49
moodily
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adv.喜怒无常地;情绪多变地;心情不稳地;易生气地 |
参考例句: |
- Pork slipped from the room as she remained staring moodily into the distance. 阿宝从房间里溜了出来,留她独个人站在那里瞪着眼睛忧郁地望着远处。 来自辞典例句
- He climbed moodily into the cab, relieved and distressed. 他忧郁地上了马车,既松了一口气,又忧心忡忡。 来自互联网
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50
sipped
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v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He sipped his coffee pleasurably. 他怡然地品味着咖啡。
- I sipped the hot chocolate she had made. 我小口喝着她调制的巧克力热饮。 来自辞典例句
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51
fixed
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adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 |
参考例句: |
- Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
- Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
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