From Marcellus Cockerel in Washington to Mrs. Cooler, née Cockerel, at Oakland, California
October 1880.
I ought to have written you long before this, for I’ve had your last excellent letter these four months in my hands. The first half of that time I was still in Europe, the last I’ve spent on my native soil. I think accordingly my silence is owing to the fact that over there I was too
miserable1 to write and that here I’ve been too happy. I got back the 1st of September — you’ll have seen it in the papers.
Delightful2 country where one sees everything in the papers — the big familiar vulgar good-natured delightful papers, none of which has any reputation to keep up for anything but getting the news! I really think that has had as much to do as anything else with my satisfaction at getting home — the difference in what they call the “tone of the press.” In Europe it’s too
dreary3 — the
sapience4, the solemnity, the false respectability, the
verbosity5, the long disquisitions on
superannuated6 subjects. Here the newspapers are like the railroad-trains which carry everything that comes to the station and have only the religion of punctuality. As a woman, however, you probably
detest7 them; you think they’re (the great word) vulgar. I admitted it just now, and I’m very happy to have an early opportunity to announce to you that that idea has quite ceased to have any terrors for me. There are some conceptions to which the female mind can never rise. Vulgarity’s a stupid superficial question-begging
accusation8, which has become today the easiest refuge of mediocrity. Better than anything else it saves people the trouble of thinking, and anything which does that succeeds. You must know that in these last three years in Europe I’ve become terribly vulgar myself; that’s one service my travels have rendered me. By three years in Europe I mean three years in foreign parts altogether, for I spent several months of that time in Japan, India and the rest of the East. Do you remember when you bade me good-bye in San Francisco the night before I
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收听单词发音
1
miserable
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adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 |
参考例句: |
- It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
- Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
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2
delightful
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adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 |
参考例句: |
- We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
- Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。
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3
dreary
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adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 |
参考例句: |
- They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
- She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。
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4
sapience
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n.贤明,睿智 |
参考例句: |
- A man is a kind of power and passion,a sort of courage,a kind of sapience.男人是一种力量,一份激情,一股勇气,一种智慧。
- You should forget the vexation,make lotus in your heart,and that's the best sapience.放下烦恼,成就莲花开放,才是最高智慧。
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5
verbosity
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n.冗长,赘言 |
参考例句: |
- We became bored with his verbosity. 他说话啰唆,叫我们烦厌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Slightly increased verbosity of GDFS access initialization error handling code. 稍微增加了GDFS初始化错误操作码的冗长度。 来自互联网
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6
superannuated
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adj.老朽的,退休的;v.因落后于时代而废除,勒令退学 |
参考例句: |
- Are you still riding that superannuated old bike?你还骑那辆老掉牙的自行车吗?
- No one supports these superannuated policies.没人支持这些过时的政策。
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7
detest
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vt.痛恨,憎恶 |
参考例句: |
- I detest people who tell lies.我恨说谎的人。
- The workers detest his overbearing manner.工人们很讨厌他那盛气凌人的态度。
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8
accusation
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n.控告,指责,谴责 |
参考例句: |
- I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
- She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。
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embarked
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乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 ); 装载; 从事 |
参考例句: |
- We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
- She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。
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foretold
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v.预言,预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She foretold that the man would die soon. 她预言那人快要死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Must lose one joy, by his life's star foretold. 这样注定:他,为了信守一个盟誓/就非得拿牺牲一个喜悦作代价。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
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rendezvous
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n.约会,约会地点,汇合点;vi.汇合,集合;vt.使汇合,使在汇合地点相遇 |
参考例句: |
- She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.她还差几分钟时才来赴约。
- I have a rendezvous with Peter at a restaurant on the harbour.我和彼得在海港的一个餐馆有个约会。
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humbug
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n.花招,谎话,欺骗 |
参考例句: |
- I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道,我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
- All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。
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13
discomfort
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n.不舒服,不安,难过,困难,不方便 |
参考例句: |
- One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
- She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。
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irritable
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adj.急躁的;过敏的;易怒的 |
参考例句: |
- He gets irritable when he's got toothache.他牙一疼就很容易发脾气。
- Our teacher is an irritable old lady.She gets angry easily.我们的老师是位脾气急躁的老太太。她很容易生气。
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devoutly
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adv.虔诚地,虔敬地,衷心地 |
参考例句: |
- She was a devoutly Catholic. 她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- This was not a boast, but a hope, at once bold and devoutly humble. 这不是夸夸其谈,而是一个即大胆而又诚心、谦虚的希望。 来自辞典例句
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tiresome
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adj.令人疲劳的,令人厌倦的 |
参考例句: |
- His doubts and hesitations were tiresome.他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。
- He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors.他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜,令人生厌。
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reptile
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n.爬行动物;两栖动物 |
参考例句: |
- The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
- So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以,你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。
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stuffy
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adj.不透气的,闷热的 |
参考例句: |
- It's really hot and stuffy in here.这里实在太热太闷了。
- It was so stuffy in the tent that we could sense the air was heavy with moisture.帐篷里很闷热,我们感到空气都是潮的。
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suffocating
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a.使人窒息的 |
参考例句: |
- After a few weeks with her parents, she felt she was suffocating.和父母呆了几个星期后,她感到自己毫无自由。
- That's better. I was suffocating in that cell of a room.这样好些了,我刚才在那个小房间里快闷死了。
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bullying
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v.恐吓,威逼( bully的现在分词 );豪;跋扈 |
参考例句: |
- Many cases of bullying go unreported . 很多恐吓案件都没有人告发。
- All cases of bullying will be severely dealt with. 所有以大欺小的情况都将受到严肃处理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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rapacity
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n.贪婪,贪心,劫掠的欲望 |
参考例句: |
- Here was neither guile nor rapacity. 在她身上没有狡诈和贪婪。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
- During the whole process of construction, the operational safty and rapacity of track must be guaranteed. 改建施工期内不影响正线运营安全,也不降低通过能力。 来自互联网
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22
watery
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adj.有水的,水汪汪的;湿的,湿润的 |
参考例句: |
- In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
- Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏,她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。
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23
grimace
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v.做鬼脸,面部歪扭 |
参考例句: |
- The boy stole a look at his father with grimace.那男孩扮着鬼脸偷看了他父亲一眼。
- Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine.托马斯尝了那葡萄酒后做了个鬼脸。
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24
wilderness
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n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 |
参考例句: |
- She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
- Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。
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conscientious
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adj.审慎正直的,认真的,本着良心的 |
参考例句: |
- He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责,也很懂行。
- He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。
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abominably
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adv. 可恶地,可恨地,恶劣地 |
参考例句: |
- From her own point of view Barbara had behaved abominably. 在她看来,芭芭拉的表现是恶劣的。
- He wanted to know how abominably they could behave towards him. 他希望能知道他们能用什么样的卑鄙手段来对付他。
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eternity
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n.不朽,来世;永恒,无穷 |
参考例句: |
- The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
- Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞,永世相随。
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superstition
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n.迷信,迷信行为 |
参考例句: |
- It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。
- Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。
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salvation
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n.(尤指基督)救世,超度,拯救,解困 |
参考例句: |
- Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
- Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。
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patriot
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n.爱国者,爱国主义者 |
参考例句: |
- He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
- He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。
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bullied
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adj.被欺负了v.恐吓,威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- My son is being bullied at school. 我儿子在学校里受欺负。
- The boy bullied the small girl into giving him all her money. 那男孩威逼那个小女孩把所有的钱都给他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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revile
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v.辱骂,谩骂 |
参考例句: |
- No man should reproach,revile,or slander another man.人们不应羞辱,辱骂或诽谤他人。|||Some Muslim communities in East Africa revile dogs because they believe that canines ate the body of the Prophet Muhammad.一些东非的穆斯林团体会辱骂狗,因为他们相信是它们吃了先知穆罕默德的尸体。
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jealousies
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n.妒忌( jealousy的名词复数 );妒羡 |
参考例句: |
- They were divided by mutual suspicion and jealousies. 他们因为相互猜疑嫉妒而不和。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- I am tired of all these jealousies and quarrels. 我厌恶这些妒忌和吵架的语言。 来自辞典例句
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rivalries
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n.敌对,竞争,对抗( rivalry的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The new government was torn by rivalries. 新政府由于各派对立而四分五裂。 来自辞典例句
- Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. 竞争会带来痛苦、仇恨,或者引起争斗。 来自互联网
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mutual
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adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 |
参考例句: |
- We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
- Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
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intensity
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n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度 |
参考例句: |
- I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
- The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。
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37
pompous
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adj.傲慢的,自大的;夸大的;豪华的 |
参考例句: |
- He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities.他有点自大,自视甚高。
- He is a good man underneath his pompous appearance. 他的外表虽傲慢,其实是个好人。
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38
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 |
参考例句: |
- All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
- Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
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salaams
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(穆斯林的)额手礼,问安,敬礼( salaam的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
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hierarchies
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等级制度( hierarchy的名词复数 ); 统治集团; 领导层; 层次体系 |
参考例句: |
- That's a trip of two hierarchies. 那是两个领导层之间的互访。
- Hierarchies of authority, spans of control, long-range plans, and budgets. 等级森严的权力机构,控制范围,长期计划,预算。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦
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41
supercilious
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adj.目中无人的,高傲的;adv.高傲地;n.高傲 |
参考例句: |
- The shop assistant was very supercilious towards me when I asked for some help.我要买东西招呼售货员时,那个售货员对我不屑一顾。
- His manner is supercilious and arrogant.他非常傲慢自大。
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42
potentates
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n.君主,统治者( potentate的名词复数 );有权势的人 |
参考例句: |
- Among high-fashion potentates, Arnault has taken an early lead on the Internet. 在高级时装大亨中,阿诺尔特在互联网方面同样走在了前面。 来自互联网
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bristling
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a.竖立的 |
参考例句: |
- "Don't you question Miz Wilkes' word,'said Archie, his beard bristling. "威尔克斯太太的话,你就不必怀疑了。 "阿尔奇说。他的胡子也翘了起来。
- You were bristling just now. 你刚才在发毛。
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grotesque
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adj.怪诞的,丑陋的;n.怪诞的图案,怪人(物) |
参考例句: |
- His face has a grotesque appearance.他的面部表情十分怪。
- Her account of the incident was a grotesque distortion of the truth.她对这件事的陈述是荒诞地歪曲了事实。
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abominable
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adj.可厌的,令人憎恶的 |
参考例句: |
- Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶。
- The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。
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46
mighty
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adj.强有力的;巨大的 |
参考例句: |
- A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
- The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
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sweeping
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adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 |
参考例句: |
- The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
- Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗?
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enacted
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制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
- Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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propound
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v.提出 |
参考例句: |
- Zoologist Eugene Morton has propounded a general theory of the vocal sounds that animals make.动物学家尤金·莫顿提出了一个有关动物发声的概括性理论。
- we propound the proposal for building up the financial safety area.我们提出了创建金融安全区的构想。
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embarrassments
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n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 );难堪;局促不安;令人难堪或耻辱的事 |
参考例句: |
- But there have been many embarrassments along the way. 但是一路走来已经是窘境不断。 来自互联网
- The embarrassments don't stop there. 让人难受的事情还没完。 来自互联网
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51
franchise
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n.特许,特权,专营权,特许权 |
参考例句: |
- Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
- The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。
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abolition
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n.废除,取消 |
参考例句: |
- They declared for the abolition of slavery.他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。
- The abolition of the monarchy was part of their price.废除君主制是他们的其中一部分条件。
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provincial
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adj.省的,地方的;n.外省人,乡下人 |
参考例句: |
- City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
- Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。
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dowdy
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adj.不整洁的;过旧的 |
参考例句: |
- She was in a dowdy blue frock.她穿了件不大洁净的蓝上衣。
- She looked very plain and dowdy.她长得非常普通,衣也过时。
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civilisation
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n.文明,文化,开化,教化 |
参考例句: |
- Energy and ideas are the twin bases of our civilisation.能源和思想是我们文明的两大基石。
- This opera is one of the cultural totems of Western civilisation.这部歌剧是西方文明的文化标志物之一。
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bishops
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(基督教某些教派管辖大教区的)主教( bishop的名词复数 ); (国际象棋的)象 |
参考例句: |
- Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时,每名棋手有两只象。
- "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫,抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。
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propriety
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n.正当行为;正当;适当 |
参考例句: |
- We hesitated at the propriety of the method.我们对这种办法是否适用拿不定主意。
- The sensitive matter was handled with great propriety.这件机密的事处理得极为适当。
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gasped
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v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 |
参考例句: |
- She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
- People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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blessing
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n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 |
参考例句: |
- The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
- A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
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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 |
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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exasperate
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v.激怒,使(疾病)加剧,使恶化 |
参考例句: |
- He shouted in an exasperate voice.他以愤怒的声音嚷着。
- The sheer futility of it all exasperates her.它毫无用处,这让她很生气。
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63
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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64
analytic
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adj.分析的,用分析方法的 |
参考例句: |
- The boy has an analytic mind. 这男孩有分析的头脑。
- Latin is a synthetic language,while English is analytic.拉丁文是一种综合性语言,而英语是一种分析性语言。
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65
discriminating
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a.有辨别能力的 |
参考例句: |
- Due caution should be exercised in discriminating between the two. 在区别这两者时应该相当谨慎。
- Many businesses are accused of discriminating against women. 许多企业被控有歧视妇女的做法。
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66
gilt
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adj.镀金的;n.金边证券 |
参考例句: |
- The plates have a gilt edge.这些盘子的边是镀金的。
- The rest of the money is invested in gilt.其余的钱投资于金边证券。
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67
misery
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n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 |
参考例句: |
- Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
- He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
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68
degradation
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n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变 |
参考例句: |
- There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
- Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。
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69
stultified
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v.使成为徒劳,使变得无用( stultify的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Their unhelpfulness has stultified our efforts to improve things. 他们不管事,我们为改进工作的用心也就白费了。 来自辞典例句
- He was stultified, shocked, paralyzed. 他当时一听,吓傻了,气坏了,瘫痪了。 来自辞典例句
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70
precedent
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n.先例,前例;惯例;adj.在前的,在先的 |
参考例句: |
- Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗?
- This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。
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71
gaping
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adj.口的;张口的;敞口的;多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 );张开,张大 |
参考例句: |
- Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。
- The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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72
majestic
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adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的 |
参考例句: |
- In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
- He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。
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73
symbolic
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adj.象征性的,符号的,象征主义的 |
参考例句: |
- It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
- The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。
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