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It is years since the incidents of which I speak took place, and yet it is with diffidence that I allude1 to them. For a long time, even with the utmost discretion2 and reticence3, it would have been impossible to make the facts public, but now the principal person concerned is beyond the reach of human law, and with due suppression the story may be told in such fashion as to injure no one. It records an absolutely unique experience in the career both of Mr. Sherlock Holmes and of myself. The reader will excuse me if I conceal4 the date or any other fact by which he might trace the actual occurrence.
We had been out for one of our evening rambles5, Holmes and I, and had returned about six o'clock on a cold, frosty winter's evening. As Holmes turned up the lamp the light fell upon a card on the table. He glanced at it, and then, with an ejaculation of disgust, threw it on the floor. I picked it up and read:
CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON, Appledore Towers, Hampstead. Agent.
"Who is he?" I asked.
"The worst man in London," Holmes answered, as he sat down and stretched his legs before the fire. "Is anything on the back of the card?"
I turned it over.
"Will call at 6:30—C.A.M.," I read.
"Hum! He's about due. Do you feel a creeping, shrinking sensation, Watson, when you stand before the serpents in the Zoo, and see the slithery, gliding8, venomous creatures, with their deadly eyes and wicked, flattened9 faces? Well, that's how Milverton impresses me. I've had to do with fifty murderers in my career, but the worst of them never gave me the repulsion which I have for this fellow. And yet I can't get out of doing business with him—indeed, he is here at my invitation."
"But who is he?"
"I'll tell you, Watson. He is the king of all the blackmailers. Heaven help the man, and still more the woman, whose secret and reputation come into the power of Milverton! With a smiling face and a heart of marble, he will squeeze and squeeze until he has drained them dry. The fellow is a genius in his way, and would have made his mark in some more savoury trade. His method is as follows: He allows it to be known that he is prepared to pay very high sums for letters which compromise people of wealth and position. He receives these

1
allude
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v.提及,暗指 | |
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2
discretion
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n.谨慎;随意处理 | |
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3
reticence
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n.沉默,含蓄 | |
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4
conceal
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v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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5
rambles
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(无目的地)漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 ); (喻)漫谈; 扯淡; 长篇大论 | |
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6
slit
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n.狭长的切口;裂缝;vt.切开,撕裂 | |
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lithe
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adj.(指人、身体)柔软的,易弯的 | |
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gliding
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v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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9
flattened
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[医](水)平扁的,弄平的 | |
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10
wares
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n. 货物, 商品 | |
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treacherous
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adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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12
confide
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v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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wrings
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绞( wring的第三人称单数 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水) | |
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14
wring
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n.扭绞;v.拧,绞出,扭 | |
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swollen
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adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀 | |
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intensity
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n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度 | |
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technically
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adv.专门地,技术上地 | |
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imprisonment
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n.关押,监禁,坐牢 | |
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immediate
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adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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blackmailed
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胁迫,尤指以透露他人不体面行为相威胁以勒索钱财( blackmail的过去式 ) | |
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21
debutante
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n.初入社交界的少女 | |
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impecunious
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adj.不名一文的,贫穷的 | |
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squire
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n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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clatter
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v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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rattle
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v.飞奔,碰响;激怒;n.碰撞声;拨浪鼓 | |
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glossy
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adj.平滑的;有光泽的 | |
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chestnuts
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n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 );栗色;栗树;栗色马 | |
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29
descended
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a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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30
benevolence
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n.慈悲,捐助 | |
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marred
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adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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fixed
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adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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33
penetrating
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adj.(声音)响亮的,尖锐的adj.(气味)刺激的adj.(思想)敏锐的,有洞察力的 | |
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suave
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adj.温和的;柔和的;文雅的 | |
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countenance
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n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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murmur
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n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言 | |
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granite
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adj.花岗岩,花岗石 | |
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shrugged
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vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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discreet
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adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的 | |
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acting
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n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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complacent
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adj.自满的;自鸣得意的 | |
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generosity
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n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为 | |
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chuckled
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轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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purely
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adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
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regain
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vt.重新获得,收复,恢复 | |
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mortification
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n.耻辱,屈辱 | |
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utterly
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adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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butt
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n.笑柄;烟蒂;枪托;臀部;v.用头撞或顶 | |
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honourable
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adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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indirectly
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adv.间接地,不直接了当地 | |
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glided
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v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔 | |
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perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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entirely
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ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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descending
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n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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destined
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adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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attire
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v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装 | |
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tempestuous
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adj.狂暴的 | |
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rattled
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慌乱的,恼火的 | |
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heartily
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adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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plumber
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n.(装修水管的)管子工 | |
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catching
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adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 | |
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odious
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adj.可憎的,讨厌的 | |
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precipitate
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adj.突如其来的;vt.使突然发生;n.沉淀物 | |
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justifiable
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adj.有理由的,无可非议的 | |
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regaining
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复得( regain的现在分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
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villain
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n.反派演员,反面人物;恶棍;问题的起因 | |
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67
duel
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n./v.决斗;(双方的)斗争 | |
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kit
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n.用具包,成套工具;随身携带物 | |
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adaptable
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adj.能适应的,适应性强的,可改编的 | |
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sleeper
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n.睡眠者,卧车,卧铺 | |
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Oxford
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n.牛津(英国城市) | |
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plethoric
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adj.过多的,多血症的 | |
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devoted
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adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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budges
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v.(使)稍微移动( budge的第三人称单数 );(使)改变主意,(使)让步 | |
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75
brute
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n.野兽,兽性 | |
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laurels
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n.桂冠,荣誉 | |
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glimmer
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v.发出闪烁的微光;n.微光,微弱的闪光 | |
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truculent
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adj.野蛮的,粗野的 | |
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veranda
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n.走廊;阳台 | |
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felons
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n.重罪犯( felon的名词复数 );瘭疽;甲沟炎;指头脓炎 | |
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81
conservatory
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n.温室,音乐学院;adj.保存性的,有保存力的 | |
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fragrance
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n.芬芳,香味,香气 | |
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shrubs
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灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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remarkable
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adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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vaguely
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adv.含糊地,暖昧地 | |
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illuminated
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adj.被照明的;受启迪的 | |
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bust
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vt.打破;vi.爆裂;n.半身像;胸部 | |
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brass
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n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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slanting
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倾斜的,歪斜的 | |
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amazement
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n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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zest
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n.乐趣;滋味,风味;兴趣 | |
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92
defenders
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n.防御者( defender的名词复数 );守卫者;保护者;辩护者 | |
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93
chivalrous
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adj.武士精神的;对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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exulted
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狂喜,欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
admiration
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n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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96
cuffs
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n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打,拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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97
delicacy
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n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
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98
inscribed
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v.写,刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 );内接 | |
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99
flickering
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adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的 | |
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100
darted
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v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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101
pungent
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adj.(气味、味道)刺激性的,辛辣的;尖锐的 | |
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102
reek
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v.发出臭气;n.恶臭 | |
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103
nostrils
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鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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104
rustle
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v.沙沙作响;偷盗(牛、马等);n.沙沙声声 | |
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105
velvet
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n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 | |
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106
reassuring
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a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的,使人放心的 | |
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107
determined
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adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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108
rigid
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adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 | |
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109
rigidity
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adj.钢性,坚硬 | |
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110
pinion
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v.束缚;n.小齿轮 | |
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111
impatience
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n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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112
curtly
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adv.简短地 | |
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113
insolent
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adj.傲慢的,无理的 | |
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114
mantle
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n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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115
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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116
remains
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n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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117
eyebrows
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眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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118
extremities
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n.端点( extremity的名词复数 );尽头;手和足;极窘迫的境地 | |
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119
worthy
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adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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120
gallant
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adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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121
twitching
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n.颤搐 | |
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122
bully
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n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮 | |
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123
bosom
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n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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124
wrung
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绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水) | |
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125
muzzle
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n.鼻口部;口套;枪(炮)口;vt.使缄默 | |
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126
avenger
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n. 复仇者 | |
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127
plantation
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n.种植园,大农场 | |
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128
scrambled
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v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞 | |
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129
ushered
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v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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130
sitting-room
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n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 | |
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131
blackmailing
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胁迫,尤指以透露他人不体面行为相威胁以勒索钱财( blackmail的现在分词 ) | |
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132
plural
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n.复数;复数形式;adj.复数的 | |
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133
jaw
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n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
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134
inspector
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n.检查员,监察员,视察员 | |
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135
justify
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vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护 | |
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136
baker
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n.面包师 | |
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137
celebrities
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n.(尤指娱乐界的)名人( celebrity的名词复数 );名流;名声;名誉 | |
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