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I did not allow my resolution, with respect to the Parliamentary Debates, to cool. It was one of the irons I began to heat immediately, and one of the irons I kept hot, and hammered at, with a perseverance2 I may honestly admire. I bought an approved scheme of the noble art and mystery of stenography3 (which cost me ten and sixpence); and plunged4 into a sea of perplexity that brought me, in a few weeks, to the confines of distraction5. The changes that were rung upon dots, which in such a position meant such a thing, and in such another position something else, entirely6 different; the wonderful vagaries7 that were played by circles; the unaccountable consequences that resulted from marks like flies' legs; the tremendous effects of a curve in a wrong place; not only troubled my waking hours, but reappeared before me in my sleep. When I had groped my way, blindly, through these difficulties, and had mastered the alphabet, which was an Egyptian Temple in itself, there then appeared a procession of new horrors, called arbitrary characters; the most despotic characters I have ever known; who insisted, for instance, that a thing like the beginning of a cobweb, meant expectation, and that a pen-and-ink sky-rocket, stood for disadvantageous. When I had fixed8 these wretches9 in my mind, I found that they had driven everything else out of it; then, beginning again, I forgot them; while I was picking them up, I dropped the other fragments of the system; in short, it was almost heart-breaking.
It might have been quite heart-breaking, but for Dora, who was the stay and anchor of my tempest-driven bark. Every scratch in the scheme was a gnarled oak in the forest of difficulty, and I went on cutting them down, one after another, with such vigour
1
mere
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过
2
perseverance
n.坚持不懈,不屈不挠
3
stenography
n.速记,速记法
4
plunged
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降
5
distraction
n.精神涣散,精神不集中,消遣,娱乐
6
entirely
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
7
vagaries
n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 );异想天开;异常行为;难以预测的情况
8
fixed
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
9
wretches
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 );可怜的人;恶棍;坏蛋
10
vigour
(=vigor)n.智力,体力,精力
11
dictate
v.口授;(使)听写;指令,指示,命令
12
opposition
n.反对,敌对
13
orations
n.(正式仪式中的)演说,演讲( oration的名词复数 )
14
standing
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
15
withering
使人畏缩的,使人害羞的,使人难堪的
16
profligacy
n.放荡,不检点,肆意挥霍
17
corruption
n.腐败,堕落,贪污
18
denomination
n.命名,取名,(度量衡、货币等的)单位
19
chancellor
n.(英)大臣;法官;(德、奥)总理;大学校长
20
exchequer
n.财政部;国库
21
pointed
adj.尖的,直截了当的
22
triumphant
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的
23
inscriptions
(作者)题词( inscription的名词复数 ); 献词; 碑文; 证劵持有人的登记
24
laboriously
adv.艰苦地;费力地;辛勤地;(文体等)佶屈聱牙地
25
plod
v.沉重缓慢地走,孜孜地工作
26
speck
n.微粒,小污点,小斑点
27
elusive
adj.难以表达(捉摸)的;令人困惑的;逃避的
28
doorway
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
29
apprehensions
疑惧
30
misgave
v.使(某人的情绪、精神等)疑虑,担忧,害怕( misgive的过去式 )
31
inverted
adj.反向的,倒转的v.使倒置,使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 )
32
obsolete
adj.已废弃的,过时的
33
chilly
adj.凉快的,寒冷的
34
severely
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
35
rigid
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的
36
teeming
adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 );到处都是;(指水、雨等)暴降;倾注
37
devoted
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
38
desolate
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂
39
proceeding
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报
40
corroboration
n.进一步的证实,进一步的证据
41
disposition
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署
42
conscientious
adj.审慎正直的,认真的,本着良心的
43
concurrence
n.同意;并发
44
interfere
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰
45
allude
v.提及,暗指
46
assent
v.批准,认可;n.批准,认可
47
growling
n.吠声, 咆哮声
v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼
48
miserable
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
49
bribe
n.贿赂;v.向…行贿,买通
50
imminent
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的
51
pertinaciously
adv.坚持地;固执地;坚决地;执拗地
52
perusing
v.读(某篇文字)( peruse的现在分词 );(尤指)细阅;审阅;匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览(某篇文字)
53
bent
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
54
sobbing
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的
55
distress
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛
56
impaired
adj.受损的;出毛病的;有(身体或智力)缺陷的v.损害,削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )
57
muster
v.集合,收集,鼓起,激起;n.集合,检阅,集合人员,点名册
58
majestically
雄伟地; 庄重地; 威严地; 崇高地
59
concealment
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒
60
cravat
n.领巾,领结;v.使穿有领结的服装,使结领结
61
spine
n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊
62
humility
n.谦逊,谦恭
63
subsist
vi.生存,存在,供养
64
contemplate
vt.盘算,计议;周密考虑;注视,凝视
65
advancement
n.前进,促进,提升
66
syllable
n.音节;vt.分音节
67
intercourse
n.性交;交流,交往,交际
68
softened
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰
69
resolute
adj.坚决的,果敢的
70
expressive
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的
71
drawn
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
72
respiration
n.呼吸作用;一次呼吸;植物光合作用
73
pious
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的
74
destitute
adj.缺乏的;穷困的
75
discreet
adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的
76
negligent
adj.疏忽的;玩忽的;粗心大意的
77
proceedings
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报
78
acquiescence
n.默许;顺从
79
poised
a.摆好姿势不动的
80
folly
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话
81
lighter
n.打火机,点火器;驳船;v.用驳船运送;light的比较级
82
relinquished
交出,让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 ); 放弃
83
serenity
n.宁静,沉着,晴朗
84
tranquillity
n. 平静, 安静
85
affected
adj.不自然的,假装的
86
systematically
adv.有系统地
87
countenance
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
88
eyebrows
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
89
torment
n.折磨;令人痛苦的东西(人);vt.折磨;纠缠
90
impelled
v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )
91
beseeching
adj.恳求似的v.恳求,乞求(某事物)( beseech的现在分词 )
92
implored
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 )
93
solicitude
n.焦虑
94
obstinate
adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的
95
alluded
提及,暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 )
96
sarcasm
n.讥讽,讽刺,嘲弄,反话 (adj.sarcastic)
97
entreated
恳求,乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 )
98
besought
v.恳求,乞求(某事物)( beseech的过去式和过去分词 );(beseech的过去式与过去分词)
99
clandestine
adj.秘密的,暗中从事的
100
mangle
vt.乱砍,撕裂,破坏,毁损,损坏,轧布
101
tottering
adj.蹒跚的,动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 );踉跄;蹒跚;摇摇欲坠
102
deposed
v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 );(在法庭上)宣誓作证
103
raved
v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 );愤怒地说;咆哮;痴心地说
104
benighted
adj.蒙昧的
105
mingled
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系]
106
gulf
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂
107
avenged
v.为…复仇,报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 );为…报复
108
consolation
n.安慰,慰问
109
misery
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
110
confided
v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的过去式和过去分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等)
111
calamity
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件
112
untied
松开,解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 ); 解除,使自由; 解决
113
groom
vt.给(马、狗等)梳毛,照料,使...整洁
114
reins
感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带
115
spoke
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
116
variance
n.矛盾,不同
117
appalling
adj.骇人听闻的,令人震惊的,可怕的
118
vacancy
n.(旅馆的)空位,空房,(职务的)空缺
119
hush
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静
120
relish
n.滋味,享受,爱好,调味品;vt.加调味料,享受,品味;vi.有滋味
121
gorged
v.(用食物把自己)塞饱,填饱( gorge的过去式和过去分词 );作呕
122
intelligible
adj.可理解的,明白易懂的,清楚的
123
recesses
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭
124
lurking
潜在
125
jealousy
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌
126
grudging
adj.勉强的,吝啬的
127
envious
adj.嫉妒的,羡慕的
128
avaricious
adj.贪婪的,贪心的
129
inquiries
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听
130
deplored
v.悲叹,痛惜,强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 )
131
beckoned
v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )
132
guardianship
n. 监护, 保护, 守护
133
forth
adv.向前;向外,往外
134
applied
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用
135
persistently
ad.坚持地;固执地
136
sketch
n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述
137
memorandum
n.备忘录,便笺
138
possessed
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
139
ebb
vi.衰退,减退;n.处于低潮,处于衰退状态
140
deducting
v.扣除,减去( deduct的现在分词 )
141
expiration
n.终结,期满,呼气,呼出物
142
maiden
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的
143
retirement
n.退休,退职
144
contrived
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的
145
depressed
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
146
sleek
adj.光滑的,井然有序的;v.使光滑,梳拢
147
awakened
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到
148
soothing
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的
149
tinge
vt.(较淡)着色于,染色;使带有…气息;n.淡淡色彩,些微的气息
150
soothed
v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦
151
caressed
爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 )
152
verge
n.边,边缘;v.接近,濒临
153
affinity
n.亲和力,密切关系
154
alas
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
155
emboldened
v.鼓励,使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )
156
sobs
啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 )
157
pinions
v.抓住[捆住](双臂)( pinion的第三人称单数 )