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In the summer of that year the occurrence of a white rash of posters on hoardings and on certain houses and shops, was symptomatic of organic change in the town. The posters were iterations of a mysterious announcement and summons, which began with the august words: "By Order of the Trustees of the late William Clews Mericarp, Esq." Mericarp had been a considerable owner of property in Bursley. After a prolonged residence at Southport, he had died, at the age of eighty-two, leaving his property behind. For sixty years he had been a name, not a figure; and the news of his death, which was assuredly an event, incited1 the burgesses to gossip, for they had come to regard him as one of the invisible immortals2. Constance was shocked, though she had never seen Mericarp. ("Everybody dies nowadays!" she thought.) He owned the Baines-Povey shop, and also Mr. Critchlow's shop. Constance knew not how often her father and, later, her husband, had renewed the lease of those premises3 that were now hers; but from her earliest recollections rose a vague memory of her father talking to her mother about 'Mericarp's rent,' which was and always had been a hundred a year. Mericarp had earned the reputation of being 'a good landlord.' Constance said sadly: "We shall never have another as good!" When a lawyer's clerk called and asked her to permit the exhibition of a poster in each of her shop-windows, she had misgivings4 for the future; she was worried; she decided5 that she would determine the lease next year, so as to be on the safe side; but immediately afterwards she decided that she could decide nothing.
The posters continued: "To be sold by auction6, at the Tiger Hotel at six-thirty for seven o'clock precisely7." What six-thirty had to do with seven o'clock precisely no one knew. Then, after stating the name and credentials
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收听单词发音
1
incited
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刺激,激励,煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He incited people to rise up against the government. 他煽动人们起来反对政府。
- The captain's example incited the men to bravery. 船长的榜样激发了水手们的勇敢精神。
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2
immortals
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不朽的人物( immortal的名词复数 ); 永生不朽者 |
参考例句: |
- Nobody believes in the myth about human beings becoming immortals. 谁也不相信人能成仙的神话。
- Shakespeare is one of the immortals. 莎士比亚是不朽的人物之一。
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3
premises
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n.建筑物,房屋 |
参考例句: |
- According to the rules,no alcohol can be consumed on the premises.按照规定,场内不准饮酒。
- All repairs are done on the premises and not put out.全部修缮都在家里进行,不用送到外面去做。
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4
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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5
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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6
auction
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n.拍卖;拍卖会;vt.拍卖 |
参考例句: |
- They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
- They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。
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7
precisely
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adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 |
参考例句: |
- It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
- The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
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8
credentials
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n.证明,资格,证明书,证件 |
参考例句: |
- He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
- Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。
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9
tenements
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n.房屋,住户,租房子( tenement的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Here were crumbling tenements, squalid courtyards and stinking alleys. 随处可见破烂的住房、肮脏的庭院和臭气熏天的小胡同。 来自辞典例句
- The tenements are in a poor section of the city. 共同住宅是在城中较贫苦的区域里。 来自辞典例句
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10
commodious
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adj.宽敞的;使用方便的 |
参考例句: |
- It was a commodious and a diverting life.这是一种自由自在,令人赏心悦目的生活。
- Their habitation was not merely respectable and commodious,but even dignified and imposing.他们的居所既宽敞舒适又尊严气派。
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11
explicit
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adj.详述的,明确的;坦率的;显然的 |
参考例句: |
- She was quite explicit about why she left.她对自己离去的原因直言不讳。
- He avoids the explicit answer to us.他避免给我们明确的回答。
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12
solicitors
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初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Most solicitors in England and Wales are in private practice . 英格兰和威尔士的大多数律师都是私人执业者。
- The family has instructed solicitors to sue Thomson for compensation. 那家人已经指示律师起诉汤姆森,要求赔偿。
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13
solicitor
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n.初级律师,事务律师 |
参考例句: |
- The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
- The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。
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14
abruptly
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adv.突然地,出其不意地 |
参考例句: |
- He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
- I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
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15
sneered
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讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
- It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。
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16
sneer
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v.轻蔑;嘲笑;n.嘲笑,讥讽的言语 |
参考例句: |
- He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
- You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻,但很多人喜欢这种音乐。
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17
bankruptcy
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n.破产;无偿付能力 |
参考例句: |
- You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产,就必须节省开支。
- His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。
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18
swollen
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adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀 |
参考例句: |
- Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着,她的双腿已经肿了。
- A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她,她的手臂肿起来了。
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19
supremacy
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n.至上;至高权力 |
参考例句: |
- No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员,无人能胜过她。
- Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说,她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。
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20
celebrated
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adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 |
参考例句: |
- He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
- The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
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21
prodigious
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adj.惊人的,奇妙的;异常的;巨大的;庞大的 |
参考例句: |
- This business generates cash in prodigious amounts.这种业务收益丰厚。
- He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory.他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。
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22
athletic
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adj.擅长运动的,强健的;活跃的,体格健壮的 |
参考例句: |
- This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
- He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。
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23
civically
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爱嘲笑地,冷笑地 |
参考例句: |
- "Holding down the receiver,'said Daisy cynically. “挂上话筒在讲。”黛西冷嘲热讽地说。
- The Democrats sensibly (if cynically) set about closing the God gap. 民主党在明智(有些讽刺)的减少宗教引起的问题。
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24
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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25
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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26
gambling
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n.赌博;投机 |
参考例句: |
- They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
- The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。
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27
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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28
instigating
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v.使(某事物)开始或发生,鼓动( instigate的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Distant but clear Longyin instigating the eardrums of every person. 遥远却清晰的龙吟鼓动着每一个人的耳膜。 来自互联网
- The leader was charged with instigating the workers to put down tools. 那位领导人被指控煽动工人罢工。 来自互联网
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29
scrunching
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v.发出喀嚓声( scrunch的现在分词 );蜷缩;压;挤压 |
参考例句: |
- Her mother was sitting bolt upright, scrunching her white cotton gloves into a ball. 她母亲坐得笔直,把她的白手套揉成了球状。 来自柯林斯例句
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30
desecrated
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毁坏或亵渎( desecrate的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The invading army desecrated this holy place when they camped here. 侵略军在这块圣地上扎营就是对这块圣地的亵渎。
- She shouldn't have desecrated the picture of a religious leader. 她不该亵渎宗教领袖的画像。
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31
apparently
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adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 |
参考例句: |
- An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
- He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
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32
negligence
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n.疏忽,玩忽,粗心大意 |
参考例句: |
- They charged him with negligence of duty.他们指责他玩忽职守。
- The traffic accident was allegedly due to negligence.这次车祸据说是由于疏忽造成的。
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34
touching
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adj.动人的,使人感伤的 |
参考例句: |
- It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
- His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
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35
commiseration
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n.怜悯,同情 |
参考例句: |
- I offered him my commiseration. 我对他表示同情。
- Self- commiseration brewed in her heart. 她在心里开始自叹命苦。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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36
fussy
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adj.为琐事担忧的,过分装饰的,爱挑剔的 |
参考例句: |
- He is fussy about the way his food's cooked.他过分计较食物的烹调。
- The little girl dislikes her fussy parents.小女孩讨厌她那过分操心的父母。
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37
bustling
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adj.喧闹的 |
参考例句: |
- The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
- This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。
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38
intensified
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v.(使)增强, (使)加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
- The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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39
hymn
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n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌 |
参考例句: |
- They sang a hymn of praise to God.他们唱着圣歌,赞美上帝。
- The choir has sung only two verses of the last hymn.合唱团只唱了最后一首赞美诗的两个段落。
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40
apparition
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n.幽灵,神奇的现象 |
参考例句: |
- He saw the apparition of his dead wife.他看见了他亡妻的幽灵。
- But the terror of this new apparition brought me to a stand.这新出现的幽灵吓得我站在那里一动也不敢动。
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41
enjoined
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v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The embezzler was severely punished and enjoined to kick back a portion of the stolen money each month. 贪污犯受到了严厉惩罚,并被责令每月退还部分赃款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She enjoined me strictly not to tell anyone else. 她严令我不准告诉其他任何人。 来自辞典例句
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42
scarlet
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n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 |
参考例句: |
- The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
- The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了,深红的颜色变成了绯红,绯红又变为浅红。
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43
mumbled
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含糊地说某事,叽咕,咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话,可我没太听清楚。
- George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
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44
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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45
smacked
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拍,打,掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He smacked his lips but did not utter a word. 他吧嗒两下嘴,一声也不言语。
- She smacked a child's bottom. 她打孩子的屁股。
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46
tenants
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n.房客( tenant的名词复数 );佃户;占用者;占有者 |
参考例句: |
- A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
- Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
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47
dispensing
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v.分配( dispense的现在分词 );施与;配(药) |
参考例句: |
- A dispensing optician supplies glasses, but doesn't test your eyes. 配镜师为你提供眼镜,但不检查眼睛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The firm has been dispensing ointments. 本公司配制药膏。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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48
pious
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adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 |
参考例句: |
- Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
- Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。
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49
accomplished
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adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 |
参考例句: |
- Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
- Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
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50
distressing
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a.使人痛苦的 |
参考例句: |
- All who saw the distressing scene revolted against it. 所有看到这种悲惨景象的人都对此感到难过。
- It is distressing to see food being wasted like this. 这样浪费粮食令人痛心。
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51
lengthy
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adj.漫长的,冗长的 |
参考例句: |
- We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
- The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。
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52
pretence
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n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰 |
参考例句: |
- The government abandoned any pretence of reform. 政府不再装模作样地进行改革。
- He made a pretence of being happy at the party.晚会上他假装很高兴。
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53
delinquent
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adj.犯法的,有过失的;n.违法者 |
参考例句: |
- Most delinquent children have deprived backgrounds.多数少年犯都有未受教育的背景。
- He is delinquent in paying his rent.他拖欠房租。
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54
iniquity
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n.邪恶;不公正 |
参考例句: |
- Research has revealed that he is a monster of iniquity.调查结果显示他是一个不法之徒。
- The iniquity of the transaction aroused general indignation.这笔交易的不公引起了普遍的愤怒。
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55
interval
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n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息 |
参考例句: |
- The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
- There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。
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56
tightened
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收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧 |
参考例句: |
- The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
- His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机,然后又松开了。
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57
adjured
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v.(以起誓或诅咒等形式)命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 );祈求;恳求 |
参考例句: |
- He adjured them to tell the truth. 他要求他们讲真话。
- The guides now adjured us to keep the strictest silence. 这时向导恳求我们保持绝对寂静。 来自辞典例句
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58
standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 |
参考例句: |
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
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59
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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60
wrath
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n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 |
参考例句: |
- His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
- The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。
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61
hissed
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发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 ); 发嘘声表示反对 |
参考例句: |
- Have you ever been hissed at in the middle of a speech? 你在演讲中有没有被嘘过?
- The iron hissed as it pressed the wet cloth. 熨斗压在湿布上时发出了嘶嘶声。
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62
conqueror
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n.征服者,胜利者 |
参考例句: |
- We shall never yield to a conqueror.我们永远不会向征服者低头。
- They abandoned the city to the conqueror.他们把那个城市丢弃给征服者。
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63
courteous
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adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 |
参考例句: |
- Although she often disagreed with me,she was always courteous.尽管她常常和我意见不一,但她总是很谦恭有礼。
- He was a kind and courteous man.他为人友善,而且彬彬有礼。
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64
electrifying
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v.使电气化( electrify的现在分词 );使兴奋 |
参考例句: |
- The dancers gave an electrifying performance. 舞蹈演员们的表演激动人心。
- The national orchestra gave an electrifying performance of classic music. 国家交响乐团举行了一次古典音乐的震撼性演出。 来自辞典例句
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65
feigned
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a.假装的,不真诚的 |
参考例句: |
- He feigned indifference to criticism of his work. 他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。
- He accepted the invitation with feigned enthusiasm. 他假装热情地接受了邀请。
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66
unnatural
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adj.不自然的;反常的 |
参考例句: |
- Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗?
- She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。
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67
regained
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复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 |
参考例句: |
- The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
- She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻,但很快恢复了镇静。
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68
prospect
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n.前景,前途;景色,视野 |
参考例句: |
- This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
- The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
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69
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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70
withdrawn
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vt.收回;使退出;vi.撤退,退出 |
参考例句: |
- Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
- All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。
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