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On the third morning after the young man’s departure Lady Constantine opened the post-bag anxiously. Though she had risen before four o’clock, and crossed to the tower through the gray half-light when every blade and
twig1 were furred with
rime2, she felt no
languor3. Expectation could
banish4 at cock-crow the eye-heaviness which
apathy5 had been unable to
disperse6 all the day long.
There was, as she had hoped, a letter from Swithin St. Cleeve.
‘DEAR LADY CONSTANTINE — I have quite succeeded in my mission, and shall return tomorrow at 10 p.m. I hope you have not failed in the observations. Watching the star through an opera-glass Sunday night, I fancied some change had taken place, but I could not make myself sure. Your
memoranda7 for that night I await with
impatience8. Please don’t neglect to write down AT THE MOMENT, all
remarkable9 appearances both as to colour and
intensity10; and be very exact as to time, which correct in the way I showed you. — I am, dear Lady Constantine, yours most faithfully,
SWITHIN ST. CLEEVE.’
Not another word in the letter about his errand; his mind ran on nothing but this
astronomical12 subject. He had succeeded in his mission, and yet he did not even say yes or no to the great question — whether or not her husband was masquerading in London at the address she had given.
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收听单词发音
1
twig
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n.小树枝,嫩枝;v.理解 |
参考例句: |
- He heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。
- The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。
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2
rime
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n.白霜;v.使蒙霜 |
参考例句: |
- The field was covered with rime in the early morning.清晨地里覆盖着一层白霜。
- Coleridge contributed the famous Rime of the Ancient Mariner.柯勒律治贡献了著名的《老水手之歌》。
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3
languor
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n.无精力,倦怠 |
参考例句: |
- It was hot,yet with a sweet languor about it.天气是炎热的,然而却有一种惬意的懒洋洋的感觉。
- She,in her languor,had not troubled to eat much.她懒懒的,没吃多少东西。
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4
banish
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vt.放逐,驱逐;消除,排除 |
参考例句: |
- The doctor advised her to banish fear and anxiety.医生劝她消除恐惧和忧虑。
- He tried to banish gloom from his thought.他试图驱除心中的忧愁。
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5
apathy
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n.漠不关心,无动于衷;冷淡 |
参考例句: |
- He was sunk in apathy after his failure.他失败后心恢意冷。
- She heard the story with apathy.她听了这个故事无动于衷。
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6
disperse
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vi.使分散;使消失;vt.分散;驱散 |
参考例句: |
- The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
- The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。
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7
memoranda
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n. 备忘录, 便条
名词memorandum的复数形式 |
参考例句: |
- There were memoranda, minutes of meetings, officialflies, notes of verbal di scussions. 有备忘录,会议记录,官方档案,口头讨论的手记。
- Now it was difficult to get him to address memoranda. 而现在,要他批阅备忘录都很困难。
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8
impatience
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n.不耐烦,急躁 |
参考例句: |
- He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
- He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
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9
remarkable
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adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 |
参考例句: |
- She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
- These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
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10
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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11
fully
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adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 |
参考例句: |
- The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
- They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
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12
astronomical
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adj.天文学的,(数字)极大的 |
参考例句: |
- He was an expert on ancient Chinese astronomical literature.他是研究中国古代天文学文献的专家。
- Houses in the village are selling for astronomical prices.乡村的房价正在飙升。
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13
intercept
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vt.拦截,截住,截击 |
参考例句: |
- His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
- Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。
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14
slit
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n.狭长的切口;裂缝;vt.切开,撕裂 |
参考例句: |
- The coat has been slit in two places.这件外衣有两处裂开了。
- He began to slit open each envelope.他开始裁开每个信封。
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16
imploringly
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adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 |
参考例句: |
- He moved his lips and looked at her imploringly. 他嘴唇动着,哀求地看着她。
- He broke in imploringly. 他用恳求的口吻插了话。
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17
briefly
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adv.简单地,简短地 |
参考例句: |
- I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
- He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
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18
anonymously
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ad.用匿名的方式 |
参考例句: |
- The manuscripts were submitted anonymously. 原稿是匿名送交的。
- Methods A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey 536 teachers anonymously. 方法采用自编“中小学教师职业压力问卷”对536名中小学教师进行无记名调查。
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19
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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20
exultation
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n.狂喜,得意 |
参考例句: |
- It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字,他屏住呼吸,乐得脸上放光。
- He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。
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21
proceeding
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n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 |
参考例句: |
- This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
- The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。
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22
anguish
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n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 |
参考例句: |
- She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时,她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
- The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。
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23
annuity
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n.年金;养老金 |
参考例句: |
- The personal contribution ratio is voluntary in the annuity program.企业年金中个人缴费比例是自愿的。
- He lives on his annuity after retirement.他退休后靠退休金维生。
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24
smote
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v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) |
参考例句: |
- Figuratively, he could not kiss the hand that smote him. 打个比方说,他是不能认敌为友。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
- \"Whom Pearl smote down and uprooted, most unmercifully.\" 珠儿会毫不留情地将这些\"儿童\"踩倒,再连根拔起。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
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25
clinching
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v.(尤指两人)互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的现在分词 );解决(争端、交易),达成(协议) |
参考例句: |
- Joe gets clinching evidence of the brains role when he dreams. 乔做梦时得到了大脑发生作用的决定性依据。 来自辞典例句
- Clinching, wrestling, pushing, or seizing, without attempting a throw or other technique. 抱,扭摔,推或抓而没有摔或其它的技术。 来自互联网
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26
astronomer
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n.天文学家 |
参考例句: |
- A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
- He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。
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27
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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28
adverse
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adj.不利的;有害的;敌对的,不友好的 |
参考例句: |
- He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
- The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。
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29
mishap
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n.不幸的事,不幸;灾祸 |
参考例句: |
- I'm afraid your son had a slight mishap in the playground.不好了,你儿子在操场上出了点小意外。
- We reached home without mishap.我们平安地回到了家。
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30
peculiar
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adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 |
参考例句: |
- He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
- He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
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31
mantle
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n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 |
参考例句: |
- The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
- The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。
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32
swerved
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v.(使)改变方向,改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She swerved sharply to avoid a cyclist. 她猛地急转弯,以躲开一个骑自行车的人。
- The driver has swerved on a sudden to avoid a file of geese. 为了躲避一队鹅,司机突然来个急转弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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33
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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34
bent
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n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 |
参考例句: |
- He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
- We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
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35
ascertained
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v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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36
ascend
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vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上 |
参考例句: |
- We watched the airplane ascend higher and higher.我们看着飞机逐渐升高。
- We ascend in the order of time and of development.我们按时间和发展顺序向上溯。
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37
ascended
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v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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38
abacus
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n.算盘 |
参考例句: |
- They also learned to use the abacus.他们还学习珠算。
- The abacus is the ancestor of the modern computer.算盘是现代电脑的原型。
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39
inclination
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n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 |
参考例句: |
- She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。
- I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。
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40
rustle
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v.沙沙作响;偷盗(牛、马等);n.沙沙声声 |
参考例句: |
- She heard a rustle in the bushes.她听到灌木丛中一阵沙沙声。
- He heard a rustle of leaves in the breeze.他听到树叶在微风中发出的沙沙声。
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41
solitary
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adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 |
参考例句: |
- I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
- The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际,显得十分壮美。
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42
ascent
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n.(声望或地位)提高;上升,升高;登高 |
参考例句: |
- His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
- Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮,电梯开始缓慢上升。
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43
beheld
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v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 |
参考例句: |
- His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
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44
receded
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v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 );向后倾斜;自原处后退或避开别人的注视;尤指问题 |
参考例句: |
- The floodwaters have now receded. 洪水现已消退。
- The sound of the truck receded into the distance. 卡车的声音渐渐在远处消失了。
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45
lessen
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vt.减少,减轻;缩小 |
参考例句: |
- Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
- They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。
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46
sentimentally
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adv.富情感地 |
参考例句: |
- I miss the good old days, ' she added sentimentally. ‘我怀念过去那些美好的日子,’她动情地补充道。 来自互联网
- I have an emotional heart, it is sentimentally attached to you unforgettable. 我心中有一份情感,那是对你刻骨铭心的眷恋。 来自互联网
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47
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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48
gallant
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adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 |
参考例句: |
- Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
- These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。
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49
habitually
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ad.习惯地,通常地 |
参考例句: |
- The pain of the disease caused him habitually to furrow his brow. 病痛使他习惯性地紧皱眉头。
- Habitually obedient to John, I came up to his chair. 我已经习惯于服从约翰,我来到他的椅子跟前。
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50
configuration
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n.结构,布局,形态,(计算机)配置 |
参考例句: |
- Geographers study the configuration of the mountains.地理学家研究山脉的地形轮廓。
- Prices range from $119 to $199,depending on the particular configuration.价格因具体配置而异,从119美元至199美元不等。
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51
constellations
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n.星座( constellation的名词复数 );一群杰出人物;一系列(相关的想法、事物);一群(相关的人) |
参考例句: |
- The map of the heavens showed all the northern constellations. 这份天体图标明了北半部所有的星座。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- His time was coming, he would move in the constellations of power. 他时来运转,要进入权力中心了。 来自教父部分
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52
inaccessibility
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n. 难接近, 难达到, 难达成 |
参考例句: |
- Her tone and her look still enveloped her in a soft inaccessibility. 她的语调和神态依旧把她禁锢在一种不可接近的状态中。
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53
speculative
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adj.思索性的,暝想性的,推理的 |
参考例句: |
- Much of our information is speculative.我们的许多信息是带推测性的。
- The report is highly speculative and should be ignored.那个报道推测的成分很大,不应理会。
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54
obtuseness
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感觉迟钝 |
参考例句: |
- Much of the contentment of that time was based on moral obtuseness. 对那个年代的满意是基于道德上的一种惰性。 来自互联网
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55
hurl
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vt.猛投,力掷,声叫骂 |
参考例句: |
- The best cure for unhappiness is to hurl yourself into your work.医治愁苦的最好办法就是全身心地投入工作。
- To hurl abuse is no way to fight.谩骂决不是战斗。
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56
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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57
limbo
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n.地狱的边缘;监狱 |
参考例句: |
- His life seemed stuck in limbo and he could not go forward and he could not go back.他的生活好像陷入了不知所措的境地,进退两难。
- I didn't know whether my family was alive or dead.I felt as if I was in limbo.我不知道家人是生是死,感觉自己茫然无措。
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58
implements
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n.工具( implement的名词复数 );家具;手段;[法律]履行(契约等)v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 );执行;贯彻;使生效 |
参考例句: |
- Primitive man hunted wild animals with crude stone implements. 原始社会的人用粗糙的石器猎取野兽。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- They ordered quantities of farm implements. 他们订购了大量农具。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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59
shreds
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v.撕碎,切碎( shred的第三人称单数 );用撕毁机撕毁(文件) |
参考例句: |
- Peel the carrots and cut them into shreds. 将胡罗卜削皮,切成丝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I want to take this diary and rip it into shreds. 我真想一赌气扯了这日记。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
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60
whim
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n.一时的兴致,突然的念头;奇想,幻想 |
参考例句: |
- I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
- He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。
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61
agitation
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n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 |
参考例句: |
- Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
- These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
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62
crooks
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n.骗子( crook的名词复数 );罪犯;弯曲部分;(牧羊人或主教用的)弯拐杖v.弯成钩形( crook的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The police are getting after the crooks in the city. 警察在城里追捕小偷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The cops got the crooks. 警察捉到了那些罪犯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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63
descended
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a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 |
参考例句: |
- A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
- The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
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