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Chapter IV
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I am now approaching the culminating catastrophe1 to which my whole story is leading up. But before I can continue I must give a preliminary explanation of things of which I knew nothing at the time when I was taking part in them, but which I only understood and fully2 realized long afterwards, that is when everything was over. I don’t know how else to be clear, as otherwise I should have to write the whole story in riddles3. And so I will give a simple and direct explanation, sacrificing so-called artistic4 effect, and presenting it without any personal feelings, as though I were not writing it myself, something after the style of an entrefilet in the newspaper.
The fact is that my old schoolfellow, Lambert, might well, and indeed with certainty, be said to belong to one of those disreputable gangs of petty scoundrels who form associations for the sake of what is now called chantage, an offence nowadays defined and punished by our legal code. The gang to which Lambert belonged had been formed in Moscow and had already succeeded in a good many enterprises there (it was to some extent exposed later on). I heard afterwards that they had in Moscow an extremely experienced and clever leader, a man no longer young. They embarked5 upon enterprises, sometimes acting6 individually and sometimes in concert. While they were responsible for some filthy7 and indecent scandals (accounts of which have, however, already been published in the newspapers) they also carried out some subtle and elaborate intrigues8 under the leadership of their chief. I found out about some of them later on, but I will not repeat the details. I will only mention that it was their characteristic method to discover some secret, often in the life of people of the greatest respectability and good position. Then they would go to these persons and threaten to make public documentary evidence (which they often did not possess) and would demand a sum of money as the price of silence. There are things neither sinful nor criminal which even
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收听单词发音

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catastrophe
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n.大灾难,大祸 | |
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fully
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adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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riddles
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n.谜(语)( riddle的名词复数 );猜不透的难题,难解之谜 | |
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artistic
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adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的 | |
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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 | |
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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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filthy
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adj.卑劣的;恶劣的,肮脏的 | |
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intrigues
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n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 );神秘气氛;引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 );激起…的好奇心 | |
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intrigue
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vt.激起兴趣,迷住;vi.耍阴谋;n.阴谋,密谋 | |
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honourable
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adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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dread
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vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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adroit
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adj.熟练的,灵巧的 | |
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proceedings
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n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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scent
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n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉 | |
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scented
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adj.有香味的;洒香水的;有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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conceal
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v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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ingenuity
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n.别出心裁;善于发明创造 | |
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longing
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n.(for)渴望 | |
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secrecy
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n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
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naive
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adj.幼稚的,轻信的;天真的 | |
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axiomatic
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adj.不需证明的,不言自明的 | |
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scrap
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n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废 | |
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wretch
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n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人 | |
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behold
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v.看,注视,看到 | |
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thaw
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v.(使)融化,(使)变得友善;n.融化,缓和 | |
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thawed
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解冻 | |
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lodgings
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n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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lodging
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n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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delirious
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adj.不省人事的,神智昏迷的 | |
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affronts
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n.(当众)侮辱,(故意)冒犯( affront的名词复数 )v.勇敢地面对( affront的第三人称单数 );相遇 | |
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momentous
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adj.重要的,重大的 | |
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rankled
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v.(使)痛苦不已,(使)怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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delirium
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n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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raved
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v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 );愤怒地说;咆哮;痴心地说 | |
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ecstasy
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n.狂喜,心醉神怡,入迷 | |
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babbled
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v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 );作潺潺声(如流水);含糊不清地说话;泄漏秘密 | |
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gnawing
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a.痛苦的,折磨人的 | |
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articulation
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n.(清楚的)发音;清晰度,咬合 | |
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secondly
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adv.第二,其次 | |
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blackmailer
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敲诈者,勒索者 | |
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promptly
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adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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inquiries
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n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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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 | |
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precisely
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adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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guardianship
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n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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supervision
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n.监督,管理 | |
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backbiting
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背后诽谤 | |
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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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asylum
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n.避难所,庇护所,避难 | |
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tempt
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vt.引诱,勾引,吸引,引起…的兴趣 | |
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subterfuges
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n.(用说谎或欺骗以逃脱责备、困难等的)花招,遁词( subterfuge的名词复数 ) | |
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blurted
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v.突然说出,脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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positively
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adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 | |
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simplicity
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n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
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innocence
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n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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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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dignified
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a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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abduct
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vt.诱拐,拐带,绑架 | |
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applied
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adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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physically
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adj.物质上,体格上,身体上,按自然规律 | |
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impatience
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n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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apprehension
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n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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eluded
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v.(尤指机敏地)避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 );逃避;躲避;使达不到 | |
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frankly
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adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
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contemplated
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adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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rascally
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adj. 无赖的,恶棍的 adv. 无赖地,卑鄙地 | |
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enticed
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诱惑,怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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insolent
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adj.傲慢的,无理的 | |
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presentiment
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n.预感,预觉 | |
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throbbing
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a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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agitation
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n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
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humiliated
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感到羞愧的 | |
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resolute
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adj.坚决的,果敢的 | |
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paradoxes
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n.似非而是的隽语,看似矛盾而实际却可能正确的说法( paradox的名词复数 );用于语言文学中的上述隽语;有矛盾特点的人[事物,情况] | |
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everlasting
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adj.永恒的,持久的,无止境的 | |
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apparently
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adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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conceitedly
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自满地 | |
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conceit
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n.自负,自高自大 | |
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goodwill
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n.善意,亲善,信誉,声誉 | |
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literally
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adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
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indifference
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n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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disapproval
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n.反对,不赞成 | |
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irony
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n.反语,冷嘲;具有讽刺意味的事,嘲弄 | |
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incensed
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盛怒的 | |
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logic
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n.逻辑(学);逻辑性 | |
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perverse
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adj.刚愎的;坚持错误的,行为反常的 | |
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prodigious
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adj.惊人的,奇妙的;异常的;巨大的;庞大的 | |
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jealousy
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n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
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frantic
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adj.狂乱的,错乱的,激昂的 | |
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outrageously
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凶残地; 肆无忌惮地; 令人不能容忍地; 不寻常地 | |
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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 | |
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attentively
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adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神 | |
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apropos
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adv.恰好地;adj.恰当的;关于 | |
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totter
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v.蹒跚, 摇摇欲坠;n.蹒跚的步子 | |
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crimson
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n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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consolation
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n.安慰,慰问 | |
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mingled
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混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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exquisite
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adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的 | |
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zealous
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adj.狂热的,热心的 | |
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cowardice
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n.胆小,怯懦 | |
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steadily
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adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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accustom
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vt.使适应,使习惯 | |
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fret
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v.(使)烦恼;(使)焦急;(使)腐蚀,(使)磨损 | |
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judgment
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n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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agitated
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adj.被鼓动的,不安的 | |
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confirmation
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n.证实,确认,批准 | |
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anguish
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n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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condemned
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adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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hesitation
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n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
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mortification
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n.耻辱,屈辱 | |
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deterring
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v.阻止,制止( deter的现在分词 ) | |
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rascals
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流氓( rascal的名词复数 ); 无赖; (开玩笑说法)淘气的人(尤指小孩); 恶作剧的人 | |
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beseech
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v.祈求,恳求 | |
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shudder
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v.战粟,震动,剧烈地摇晃;n.战粟,抖动 | |
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shuddered
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v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动 | |
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utterly
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adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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retrieved
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v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 );恢复;寻回;检索(储存的信息) | |
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superintendent
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n.监督人,主管,总监;(英国)警务长 | |
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courteously
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adv.有礼貌地,亲切地 | |
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standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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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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linen
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n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 | |
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amazement
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n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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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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formulate
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v.用公式表示;规划;设计;系统地阐述 | |
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expound
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v.详述;解释;阐述 | |
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conclusive
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adj.最后的,结论的;确凿的,消除怀疑的 | |
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astonishment
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n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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stupor
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v.昏迷;不省人事 | |
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maniac
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n.精神癫狂的人;疯子 | |
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pettishly
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horrified
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a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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regiment
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n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
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lengthy
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adj.漫长的,冗长的 | |
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prosecutor
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n.起诉人;检察官,公诉人 | |
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colonist
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n.殖民者,移民 | |
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137
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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138
inquiry
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n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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139
nominal
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adj.名义上的;(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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140
bent
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n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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141
impulsively
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adv.冲动地 | |
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142
motive
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n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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143
entrusted
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v.委托,托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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144
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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145
irresistible
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adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 | |
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146
intensity
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n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度 | |
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147
misery
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n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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148
shrouded
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v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 );保密 | |
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149
wilful
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adj.任性的,故意的 | |
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150
compassion
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n.同情,怜悯 | |
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151
bustle
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v.喧扰地忙乱,匆忙,奔忙;n.忙碌;喧闹 | |
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152
deferentially
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adv.表示敬意地,谦恭地 | |
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153
softened
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(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 | |
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154
inquisitive
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adj.求知欲强的,好奇的,好寻根究底的 | |
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155
pretence
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n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰 | |
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156
rummaging
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翻找,搜寻( rummage的现在分词 ); 海关检查 | |
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157
incumbent
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adj.成为责任的,有义务的;现任的,在职的 | |
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158
caressingly
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爱抚地,亲切地 | |
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159
pretext
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n.借口,托词 | |
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160
perplexed
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adj.不知所措的 | |
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161
marvels
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n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 );令人惊奇的事物(或事例);不平凡的成果;成就v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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162
machinery
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n.(总称)机械,机器;机构 | |
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163
irritable
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adj.急躁的;过敏的;易怒的 | |
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164
haughty
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adj.傲慢的,高傲的 | |
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165
gist
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n.要旨;梗概 | |
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166
propped
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支撑,支持,维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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167
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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168
effaced
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v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 );抹去;超越;使黯然失色 | |
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Chapter III
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Chapter V
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