Chapter 13 At Antoine’s
Jane presented herself at Antoine's on the morning after the inquest with some
trepidation1 of spirit.
The person who was usually regarded as M. Antoine himself, and whose real name was Andrew
Leech2, greeted her with an
ominous3 frown.
It was by now second nature to him to speak in broken English once within the portals of Bruton Street.
He
upbraided4 Jane as a complete imbecile. Why did she wish to travel by air, anyway? What an idea! Her escapade would do his establishment infinite harm. Having
vented5 his spleen to the full, Jane was permitted to escape, receiving as she did so a large-sized
wink6 from her friend, Gladys.
Gladys was an ethereal blonde with a
haughty7 demeanor8 and a faint, far-away professional voice. In private, her voice was
hoarse9 and jocular.
"Don't you worry, dear," she said to Jane. "The old brute's sitting on the fence watching which way the cat will jump. And it's my belief it isn't going to jump the way he thinks it is. Ta-ta, dearie, here's my old devil coming in, damn her eyes. I suppose she'll be in seventeen tantrums, as usual. I hope she hasn't brought that lap dog with her."
A moment later Gladys' voice could be heard with its faint far-away notes:
"Good morning, madam. Not brought your sweet little Pekingese with you? Shall we get on with the shampoo, and then we'll be all ready for M. Henri."
Jane had just entered the adjoining
cubicle10, where a henna-haired woman was sitting waiting, examining her face in the glass and saying to a friend:
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收听单词发音
1
trepidation
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n.惊恐,惶恐 |
参考例句: |
- The men set off in fear and trepidation.这群人惊慌失措地出发了。
- The threat of an epidemic caused great alarm and trepidation.流行病猖獗因而人心惶惶。
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2
leech
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n.水蛭,吸血鬼,榨取他人利益的人;vt.以水蛭吸血;vi.依附于别人 |
参考例句: |
- A leech is a small blood-sucking worm and usually lives in water.水蛭是一种小型吸血虫,通常生活在水中。
- One-side love like a greedy leech absorbed my time and my mirth.单相思如同一只贪婪的水蛭,吸走了我的时间和欢笑。
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3
ominous
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adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 |
参考例句: |
- Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
- There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。
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4
upbraided
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v.责备,申斥,谴责( upbraid的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The captain upbraided his men for falling asleep. 上尉因他的部下睡着了而斥责他们。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- My wife upbraided me for not earning more money. 我的太太为了我没有赚更多的钱而责备我。 来自辞典例句
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5
vented
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表达,发泄(感情,尤指愤怒)( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He vented his frustration on his wife. 他受到挫折却把气发泄到妻子身上。
- He vented his anger on his secretary. 他朝秘书发泄怒气。
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6
wink
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n.眨眼,使眼色,瞬间;v.眨眼,使眼色,闪烁 |
参考例句: |
- He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
- The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间,那颗卫星就消失了。
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7
haughty
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adj.傲慢的,高傲的 |
参考例句: |
- He gave me a haughty look and walked away.他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。
- They were displeased with her haughty airs.他们讨厌她高傲的派头。
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8
demeanor
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n.行为;风度 |
参考例句: |
- She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
- The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。
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9
hoarse
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adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的 |
参考例句: |
- He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
- He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动,嗓子都喊哑了。
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10
cubicle
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n.大房间中隔出的小室 |
参考例句: |
- She studies in a cubicle in the school library.她在学校图书馆的小自习室里学习。
- A technical sergeant hunches in a cubicle.一位技术军士在一间小屋里弯腰坐着。
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11
frightful
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adj.可怕的;讨厌的 |
参考例句: |
- How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊!
- We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。
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12
sketch
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n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述 |
参考例句: |
- My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
- I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。
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13
whatsoever
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adv.(用于否定句中以加强语气)任何;pron.无论什么 |
参考例句: |
- There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
- All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样,你就怎样对人。
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14
tint
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n.淡色,浅色;染发剂;vt.着以淡淡的颜色 |
参考例句: |
- You can't get up that naturalness and artless rosy tint in after days.你今后不再会有这种自然和朴实无华的红润脸色。
- She gave me instructions on how to apply the tint.她告诉我如何使用染发剂。
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15
scrutiny
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n.详细检查,仔细观察 |
参考例句: |
- His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好,但是经不起仔细检查。
- Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。
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16
attentively
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adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神 |
参考例句: |
- She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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17
plunged
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v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 |
参考例句: |
- The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
- She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳,从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。
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18
narration
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n.讲述,叙述;故事;记叙体 |
参考例句: |
- The richness of his novel comes from his narration of it.他小说的丰富多采得益于他的叙述。
- Narration should become a basic approach to preschool education.叙事应是幼儿教育的基本途径。
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19
ordeal
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n.苦难经历,(尤指对品格、耐力的)严峻考验 |
参考例句: |
- She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
- Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。
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20
forerunner
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n.前身,先驱(者),预兆,祖先 |
参考例句: |
- She is a forerunner of the modern women's movement.她是现代妇女运动的先驱。
- Penicillin was the forerunner of modern antibiotics.青霉素是现代抗生素的先导。
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21
positively
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adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 |
参考例句: |
- She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
- The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
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22
recital
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n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会 |
参考例句: |
- She is going to give a piano recital.她即将举行钢琴独奏会。
- I had their total attention during the thirty-five minutes that my recital took.在我叙述的35分钟内,他们完全被我吸引了。
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23
dryer
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n.干衣机,干燥剂 |
参考例句: |
- He bought a dryer yesterday.他昨天买了一台干燥机。
- There is a washer and a dryer in the basement.地下室里有洗衣机和烘干机。
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24
impudence
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n.厚颜无耻;冒失;无礼 |
参考例句: |
- His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。
- What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。
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25
publicity
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n.众所周知,闻名;宣传,广告 |
参考例句: |
- The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
- He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事,只当它是一种宣传手法。
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heartily
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adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 |
参考例句: |
- He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
- The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
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28
fend
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v.照料(自己),(自己)谋生,挡开,避开 |
参考例句: |
- I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
- He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。
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grit
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n.沙粒,决心,勇气;v.下定决心,咬紧牙关 |
参考例句: |
- The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
- I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。
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meekness
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n.温顺,柔和 |
参考例句: |
- Amy sewed with outward meekness and inward rebellion till dusk. 阿密阳奉阴违地一直缝到黄昏。 来自辞典例句
- 'I am pretty well, I thank you,' answered Mr. Lorry, with meekness; 'how are you?' “很好,谢谢,”罗瑞先生回答,态度温驯,“你好么?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
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narrative
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n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的 |
参考例句: |
- He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
- Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。
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gale
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n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) |
参考例句: |
- We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
- According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报,明天有大风。
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34
enchanting
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a.讨人喜欢的 |
参考例句: |
- His smile, at once enchanting and melancholy, is just his father's. 他那种既迷人又有些忧郁的微笑,活脱儿象他父亲。
- Its interior was an enchanting place that both lured and frightened me. 它的里头是个吸引人的地方,我又向往又害怕。
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35
oysters
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牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- We don't have oysters tonight, but the crayfish are very good. 我们今晚没有牡蛎供应。但小龙虾是非常好。
- She carried a piping hot grill of oysters and bacon. 她端出一盘滚烫的烤牡蛎和咸肉。
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36
salmon
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n.鲑,大马哈鱼,橙红色的 |
参考例句: |
- We saw a salmon jumping in the waterfall there.我们看见一条大马哈鱼在那边瀑布中跳跃。
- Do you have any fresh salmon in at the moment?现在有新鲜大马哈鱼卖吗?
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37
miraculous
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adj.像奇迹一样的,不可思议的 |
参考例句: |
- The wounded man made a miraculous recovery.伤员奇迹般地痊愈了。
- They won a miraculous victory over much stronger enemy.他们战胜了远比自己强大的敌人,赢得了非凡的胜利。
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38
pounced
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v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 );猛扑;一眼看出;抓住机会(进行抨击) |
参考例句: |
- As soon as I opened my mouth, the teacher pounced on me. 我一张嘴就被老师抓住呵斥了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The police pounced upon the thief. 警察向小偷扑了过去。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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39
touchy
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adj.易怒的;棘手的 |
参考例句: |
- Be careful what you say because he's touchy.你说话小心,因为他容易生气。
- He's a little touchy about his weight.他对自己的体重感到有点儿苦恼。
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40
almighty
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adj.全能的,万能的;很大的,很强的 |
参考例句: |
- Those rebels did not really challenge Gods almighty power.这些叛徒没有对上帝的全能力量表示怀疑。
- It's almighty cold outside.外面冷得要命。
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41
Augmented
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adj.增音的
动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 |
参考例句: |
- 'scientists won't be replaced," he claims, "but they will be augmented." 他宣称:“科学家不会被取代;相反,他们会被拓展。” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
- The impact of the report was augmented by its timing. 由于发表的时间选得好,这篇报导的影响更大了。
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42
exuberance
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n.丰富;繁荣 |
参考例句: |
- Her burst of exuberance and her brightness overwhelmed me.她勃发的热情和阳光的性格征服了我。
- The sheer exuberance of the sculpture was exhilarating.那尊雕塑表现出的勃勃生机让人振奋。
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43
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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44
extravagant
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adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的 |
参考例句: |
- They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
- He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。
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45
middle-aged
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adj.中年的 |
参考例句: |
- I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
- The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。
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46
vaguely
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adv.含糊地,暖昧地 |
参考例句: |
- He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
- He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
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47
mobility
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n.可动性,变动性,情感不定 |
参考例句: |
- The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
- Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。
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48
undue
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adj.过分的;不适当的;未到期的 |
参考例句: |
- Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
- It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。
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49
delicacy
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n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 |
参考例句: |
- We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
- He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。
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50
austere
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adj.艰苦的;朴素的,朴实无华的;严峻的 |
参考例句: |
- His way of life is rather austere.他的生活方式相当简朴。
- The room was furnished in austere style.这间屋子的陈设都很简单朴素。
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51
disappearance
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n.消失,消散,失踪 |
参考例句: |
- He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
- Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。
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52
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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53
misgiving
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n.疑虑,担忧,害怕 |
参考例句: |
- She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.她对自己即将要做的事情存有一些顾虑。
- The first words of the text filled us with misgiving.正文开头的文字让我们颇为担心。
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54
inanity
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n.无意义,无聊 |
参考例句: |
- Their statement was a downright inanity.他们的声明是彻头彻尾的废话。
- I laugh all alone at my complete inanity.十分无聊时,我就独自大笑。
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55
expressive
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adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 |
参考例句: |
- Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
- He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的,富于表情的,生动活泼的脸。
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56
shrugged
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vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) |
参考例句: |
- Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
- She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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57
jealousy
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n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 |
参考例句: |
- Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
- I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。
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58
barbarian
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n.野蛮人;adj.野蛮(人)的;未开化的 |
参考例句: |
- There is a barbarian tribe living in this forest.有一个原始部落居住在这个林区。
- The walled city was attacked by barbarian hordes.那座有城墙的城市遭到野蛮部落的袭击。
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conceited
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adj.自负的,骄傲自满的 |
参考例句: |
- He could not bear that they should be so conceited.他们这样自高自大他受不了。
- I'm not as conceited as so many people seem to think.我不像很多人认为的那么自负。
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60
mimicry
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n.(生物)拟态,模仿 |
参考例句: |
- One of his few strengths was his skill at mimicry.他为数不多的强项之一就是善于模仿。
- Language learning usually necessitates conscious mimicry.一般地说,学习语言就要进行有意识的摹仿。
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61
embarrassment
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n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫 |
参考例句: |
- She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
- Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
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