HOW WILLIAM W. KOLDERUP, OF SAN FRANCISCO, WAS AT LOGGERHEADS WITH J. R. TASKINAR, OF STOCKTON.
A man
extraordinarily1 rich, who counted dollars by the million as other men do by the thousand; such was William W. Kolderup.
People said he was richer than the Duke of Westminster, whose income is some $4,000,000 a year, and who can spend his $10,000 a day, or seven dollars every minute; richer than Senator Jones, of Nevada, who has $35,000,000 in the funds; richer than Mr. Mackay himself, whose annual $13,750,000 give him $1560 per hour, or half-a-dollar to spend every second of his life.
I do not mention such
minor2 millionaires as the Rothschilds, the Vanderbilts, the Dukes of Northumberland, or the Stewarts, nor the directors of the powerful bank of California, and other opulent personages of the old and new worlds whom William W. Kolderup would have been able to comfortably pension. He could, without [Pg 12]inconvenience, have given away a million just as you and I might give away a shilling.
It was in developing the early placer-mining enterprises in California that our
worthy3 speculator had laid the solid foundations of his incalculable fortune. He was the principal associate of Captain Sutter, the Swiss, in the localities, where, in 1848, the first traces were discovered. Since then, luck and shrewdness combined had helped him on, and he had interested himself in all the great enterprises of both worlds. He threw himself boldly into commercial and industrial
speculations4. His inexhaustible funds were the life of hundreds of factories, his ships were on every sea. His wealth increased not in arithmetical but in geometrical progression. People
spoke6 of him as one of those few "milliardaires" who never know how much they are worth. In reality he knew almost to a dollar, but he never boasted of it.
At this very moment when we introduce him to our readers with all the consideration such a many-sided man merits, William W. Kolderup had 2000 branch offices
scattered7 over the globe, 80,000 employés in America, Europe, and Australia, 300,000 correspondents, a fleet of 500 ships which continually ploughed the ocean for his profit, and he was spending not less than a million a year in bill-stamps and postages. In short, he was[Pg 13] the honour and glory of opulent Frisco—the nickname familiarly given by the Americans to the Californian capital.
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收听单词发音
1
extraordinarily
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adv.格外地;极端地 |
参考例句: |
- She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。
- The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨,大海出奇地宁静。
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2
minor
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adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修 |
参考例句: |
- The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
- I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。
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3
worthy
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adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 |
参考例句: |
- I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
- There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
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4
speculations
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n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 );思考;投机活动;推断 |
参考例句: |
- Your speculations were all quite close to the truth. 你的揣测都很接近于事实。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- This possibility gives rise to interesting speculations. 这种可能性引起了有趣的推测。 来自《用法词典》
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5
hip
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n.臀部,髋;屋脊 |
参考例句: |
- The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
- The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。
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6
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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7
scattered
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adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 |
参考例句: |
- Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
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8
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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9
irresistible
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adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 |
参考例句: |
- The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前,势不可挡。
- She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。
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10
admiration
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n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 |
参考例句: |
- He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
- We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
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11
resounded
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v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音 |
参考例句: |
- Laughter resounded through the house. 笑声在屋里回荡。
- The echo resounded back to us. 回声传回到我们的耳中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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12
hubbub
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n.嘈杂;骚乱 |
参考例句: |
- The hubbub of voices drowned out the host's voice.嘈杂的声音淹没了主人的声音。
- He concentrated on the work in hand,and the hubbub outside the room simply flowed over him.他埋头于手头的工作,室外的吵闹声他简直象没有听见一般。
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13
resolute
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adj.坚决的,果敢的 |
参考例句: |
- He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
- The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。
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14
downwards
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adj./adv.向下的(地),下行的(地) |
参考例句: |
- He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
- As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。
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15
bidder
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n.(拍卖时的)出价人,报价人,投标人 |
参考例句: |
- TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder.电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。
- The bidder withdrew his bid after submission of his bid.投标者在投标之后撤销了投标书。
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16
bidders
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n.出价者,投标人( bidder的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Bidders should proceed only if they intend on using a PayPal account to complete payment. Bidders的唯一形式,应继续只当他们在使用贝宝帐户,以完成付款打算。 来自互联网
- The other bidders for the contract complained that it had not been a fair contest. 其他竞标人抱怨说该合同的竞标不公平。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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17
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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18
vocation
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n.职业,行业 |
参考例句: |
- She struggled for years to find her true vocation.她多年来苦苦寻找真正适合自己的职业。
- She felt it was her vocation to minister to the sick.她觉得照料病人是她的天职。
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19
hush
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int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静 |
参考例句: |
- A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
- Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去!
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20
withdrawal
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n.取回,提款;撤退,撤军;收回,撤销 |
参考例句: |
- The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
- They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。
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21
hovered
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鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 |
参考例句: |
- A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
- A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。
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22
cleaves
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v.劈开,剁开,割开( cleave的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- This wood cleaves easily. 这木材好劈。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The water cleaves the banks away like a knife. 河水象一把刀似的,把两岸削掉。 来自辞典例句
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23
utterance
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n.用言语表达,话语,言语 |
参考例句: |
- This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。
- My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽,泣不成声。
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24
embark
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vi.乘船,着手,从事,上飞机 |
参考例句: |
- He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
- Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。
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25
petroleum
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n.原油,石油 |
参考例句: |
- The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
- The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。
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26
treasury
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n.宝库;国库,金库;文库 |
参考例句: |
- The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
- This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。
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27
poker
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n.扑克;vt.烙制 |
参考例句: |
- He was cleared out in the poker game.他打扑克牌,把钱都输光了。
- I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it.我打扑克是老手了,可以玩些花样。
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28
prodigal
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adj.浪费的,挥霍的,放荡的 |
参考例句: |
- He has been prodigal of the money left by his parents.他已挥霍掉他父母留下的钱。
- The country has been prodigal of its forests.这个国家的森林正受过度的采伐。
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rascal
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n.流氓;不诚实的人 |
参考例句: |
- If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做,我就认为他是个恶棍。
- The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。
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30
Vogue
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n.时髦,时尚;adj.流行的 |
参考例句: |
- Flowery carpets became the vogue.花卉地毯变成了时髦货。
- Short hair came back into vogue about ten years ago.大约十年前短发又开始流行起来了。
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31
detested
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v.憎恶,嫌恶,痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- They detested each other on sight. 他们互相看着就不顺眼。
- The freethinker hated the formalist; the lover of liberty detested the disciplinarian. 自由思想者总是不喜欢拘泥形式者,爱好自由者总是憎恶清规戒律者。 来自辞典例句
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32
rivalry
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n.竞争,竞赛,对抗 |
参考例句: |
- The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
- He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。
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33
thoroughly
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adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 |
参考例句: |
- The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
- The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
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34
distraction
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n.精神涣散,精神不集中,消遣,娱乐 |
参考例句: |
- Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注,不能有丝毫分神。
- Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。
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35
squandered
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v.(指钱,财产等)浪费,乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He squandered all his money on gambling. 他把自己所有的钱都糟蹋在赌博上了。
- She felt as indignant as if her own money had been squandered. 她心里十分生气,好像是她自己的钱给浪费掉了似的。 来自飘(部分)
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36
legislative
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n.立法机构,立法权;adj.立法的,有立法权的 |
参考例句: |
- Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
- Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。
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37
stentorian
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adj.大声的,响亮的 |
参考例句: |
- Now all joined in solemn stentorian accord.现在,在这庄严的响彻云霄的和声中大家都联合在一起了。
- The stentorian tones of auctioneer,calling out to clear,now announced that the sale to commence.拍卖人用洪亮的声音招呼大家闪开一点,然后宣布拍卖即将开始。
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38
mathematician
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n.数学家 |
参考例句: |
- The man with his back to the camera is a mathematician.背对着照相机的人是位数学家。
- The mathematician analyzed his figures again.这位数学家再次分析研究了他的这些数字。
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39
appreciable
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adj.明显的,可见的,可估量的,可觉察的 |
参考例句: |
- There is no appreciable distinction between the twins.在这对孪生子之间看不出有什么明显的差别。
- We bought an appreciable piece of property.我们买下的资产有增值的潜力。
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40
versus
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prep.以…为对手,对;与…相比之下 |
参考例句: |
- The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
- The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。
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41
adversaries
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n.对手,敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
- Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的,始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句
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42
behold
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v.看,注视,看到 |
参考例句: |
- The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
- The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。
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43
catastrophe
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n.大灾难,大祸 |
参考例句: |
- I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
- This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。
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44
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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45
jargon
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n.术语,行话 |
参考例句: |
- They will not hear critics with their horrible jargon.他们不愿意听到评论家们那些可怕的行话。
- It is important not to be overawed by the mathematical jargon.要紧的是不要被数学的术语所吓倒.
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47
wriggled
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v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等) |
参考例句: |
- He wriggled uncomfortably on the chair. 他坐在椅子上不舒服地扭动着身体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- A snake wriggled across the road. 一条蛇蜿蜒爬过道路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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48
chronometer
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n.精密的计时器 |
参考例句: |
- Murchison followed with his eye the hand of his chronometer.莫奇生的眼睛追随着他的时计的秒针。
- My watch is more expensive because it's a chronometer.我的手表是精密型的,所以要比你的贵。
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49
adversary
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adj.敌手,对手 |
参考例句: |
- He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。
- They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。
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50
rout
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n.溃退,溃败;v.击溃,打垮 |
参考例句: |
- The enemy was put to rout all along the line.敌人已全线崩溃。
- The people's army put all to rout wherever they went.人民军队所向披靡。
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51
surfeited
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v.吃得过多( surfeit的过去式和过去分词 );由于过量而厌腻 |
参考例句: |
- They were surfeited with entertainment. 他们对玩乐生厌了;他们玩腻了。 来自辞典例句
- They had cloyed him with obedience, and surfeited him with sweet respect and submission. 她们在他面前百依百顺,甜言蜜语,卑躬屈膝。 来自辞典例句
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52
sufficiently
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adv.足够地,充分地 |
参考例句: |
- It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
- The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
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53
succumbed
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不再抵抗(诱惑、疾病、攻击等)( succumb的过去式和过去分词 ); 屈从; 被压垮; 死 |
参考例句: |
- The town succumbed after a short siege. 该城被围困不久即告失守。
- After an artillery bombardment lasting several days the town finally succumbed. 在持续炮轰数日后,该城终于屈服了。
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54
avenged
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v.为…复仇,报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 );为…报复 |
参考例句: |
- She avenged her mother's death upon the Nazi soldiers. 她惩处了纳粹士兵以报杀母之仇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The Indians avenged the burning of their village on〔upon〕 the settlers. 印第安人因为村庄被焚毁向拓居者们进行报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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55
hatred
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n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 |
参考例句: |
- He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
- The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。
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56
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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57
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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58
delirious
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adj.不省人事的,神智昏迷的 |
参考例句: |
- He was delirious,murmuring about that matter.他精神恍惚,低声叨念着那件事。
- She knew that he had become delirious,and tried to pacify him.她知道他已经神志昏迷起来了,极力想使他镇静下来。
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