WHY did Mr Philip Chaser neigh as well as employ ordinary human speech? It was a matter for speculation¹ among his large circle of friends and acquaintances. Was he born neighing, did he learn to neigh, or was neighing thrust upon him? Even his dear Millie had no exact knowledge in the matter. When she met and married him, it had already become an essential part of his personality.

There may have been an early stammer² and a cure for stammering³. Hold your breath for a time, inhale⁴ and then speak; the stammer went, and the neigh remained in its place. Observers found it was not an invariable feature of his discourse⁵. He could forget to do it in moments of lively interest. He used it to capture attention. At social gatherings⁶, used loudly, it was as good as the toast-master’s “Pray silence for — so and so.” And it gave him a rallying pause. It arrested interruption while he recovered a train of thought and it warned that something good was coming. He just did it; he never said anything about it. He had a profoundly secretive side to him.

We imagine a number of things about language and most of them are absurd. We imagine we are speaking plainly and clearly and we never do anything of the sort. We do not hear the sounds we make. We think we think and express ourselves. It is 6ur universal delusion⁷. The speech of Homo Tewler, Homo sub-sapiens is still incapable⁸ of expressing reality, and his thought at its clearest is a net of misfitting symbols, analogies and metaphors⁹, by which he hopes to ensnare the truth to his desires. If you will listen attentively

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1 speculation
n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机
参考例句：
Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。 There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

2 stammer
n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说
参考例句：
He's got a bad stammer.他口吃非常严重。 We must not try to play off the boy troubled with a stammer.我们不可以取笑这个有口吃病的男孩。

3 stammering
v.结巴地说出( stammer的现在分词 )
参考例句：
He betrayed nervousness by stammering. 他说话结结巴巴说明他胆子小。 来自《简明英汉词典》 \"Why,\" he said, actually stammering, \"how do you do?\" “哎呀，\"他说，真的有些结结巴巴，\"你好啊？” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 inhale
v.吸入(气体等)，吸(烟)
参考例句：
Don't inhale dust into your lung.别把灰尘吸进肺里。 They are pleased to not inhale second hand smoke.他们很高兴他们再也不会吸到二手烟了。

5 discourse
n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述
参考例句：
We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。 He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。

6 gatherings
聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集
参考例句：
His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。 During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

7 delusion
n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑
参考例句：
He is under the delusion that he is Napoleon.他患了妄想症，认为自己是拿破仑。 I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me.我误认为他要娶我。

8 incapable
adj.无能力的，不能做某事的
参考例句：
He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。 Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。

9 metaphors
隐喻( metaphor的名词复数 )
参考例句：
I can only represent it to you by metaphors. 我只能用隐喻来向你描述它。 Thus, She's an angel and He's a lion in battle are metaphors. 因此她是天使，他是雄狮都是比喻说法。

10 attentively
adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神
参考例句：
She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》 She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 habitual
adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的
参考例句：
He is a habitual criminal.他是一个惯犯。 They are habitual visitors to our house.他们是我家的常客。

12 lapses
n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失
参考例句：
He sometimes lapses from good behavior. 他有时行为失检。 来自辞典例句 He could forgive attacks of nerves, panic, bad unexplainable actions, all sorts of lapses. 他可以宽恕突然发作的歇斯底里，惊慌失措，恶劣的莫名其妙的动作，各种各样的失误。 来自辞典例句

13 apparently
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。

14 impersonal
adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的
参考例句：
Even his children found him strangely distant and impersonal.他的孩子们也认为他跟其他人很疏远，没有人情味。 His manner seemed rather stiff and impersonal.他的态度似乎很生硬冷淡。

15 specimen
n.样本，标本
参考例句：
You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。 This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。

16 starkly
adj. 变硬了的,完全的 adv. 完全,实在,简直
参考例句：
The city of Befast remains starkly divided between Catholics and Protestants. 贝尔法斯特市完全被处在天主教徒和新教徒的纷争之中。 The black rocks stood out starkly against the sky. 那些黑色的岩石在天空衬托下十分显眼。

17 peculiar
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。

18 rehearsal
n.排练，排演；练习
参考例句：
I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。 You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

19 delightful
adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的
参考例句：
We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。 Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

20 detailed
adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的
参考例句：
He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。 A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

21 albeit
conj.即使；纵使；虽然
参考例句：
Albeit fictional,she seemed to have resolved the problem.虽然是虚构的，但是在她看来好象是解决了问题。 Albeit he has failed twice,he is not discouraged.虽然失败了两次，但他并没有气馁。

22 spun
v.纺，杜撰，急转身
参考例句：
His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。 Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。

23 orphan
n.孤儿；adj.无父母的
参考例句：
He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大，并且把自己的医术传给了他。 The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。

24 touching
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。

25 revered
v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

26 cork
n.软木，软木塞
参考例句：
We heard the pop of a cork.我们听见瓶塞砰的一声打开。 Cork is a very buoyant material.软木是极易浮起的材料。

27 spout
v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱
参考例句：
Implication in folk wealth creativity and undertaking vigor spout.蕴藏于民间的财富创造力和创业活力喷涌而出。 This acts as a spout to drain off water during a rainstorm.在暴风雨季，这东西被用作喷管来排水。

28 premises
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。

29 transcends
超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的第三人称单数 )； 优于或胜过…
参考例句：
The chemical dilution technique transcends most of the difficulties. 化学稀释法能克服大部分困难。 The genius of Shakespeare transcends that of all other English poets. 莎士比亚的才华胜过所有的其他英国诗人。

30 dressing
n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料
参考例句：
Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。 The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

31 bin
n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件
参考例句：
He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。 He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

32 exhaustion
n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述
参考例句：
She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。 His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了，显然是太累了。

33 cringing
adj.谄媚，奉承
参考例句：
He had a cringing manner but a very harsh voice.他有卑屈谄媚的神情，但是声音却十分粗沙。 She stepped towards him with a movement that was horribly cringing.她冲他走了一步，做出一个低三下四，令人作呕的动作。

34 snob
n.势利小人，自以为高雅、有学问的人
参考例句：
Going to a private school had made her a snob.上私立学校后，她变得很势利。 If you think that way, you are a snob already.如果你那样想的话，你已经是势利小人了。

35 raving
adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地
参考例句：
The man's a raving lunatic. 那个男子是个语无伦次的疯子。 When I told her I'd crashed her car, she went stark raving bonkers. 我告诉她我把她的车撞坏了时，她暴跳如雷。

36 invincible
adj.不可征服的，难以制服的
参考例句：
This football team was once reputed to be invincible.这支足球队曾被誉为无敌的劲旅。 The workers are invincible as long as they hold together.只要工人团结一致，他们就是不可战胜的。

37 gardenia
n.栀子花
参考例句：
On muggy summer night,Gardenia brought about memories in the South.闷热的夏夜，栀子花带来关于南方的回忆。 A gardenia stands for pure,noble.栀子花是纯洁高尚的象征。

38 pyjamas
n.（宽大的）睡衣裤
参考例句：
This pyjamas has many repairs.这件睡衣有许多修补过的地方。 Martin was in his pyjamas.马丁穿着睡衣。

39 swollen
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。

40 scuttled
v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走
参考例句：
She scuttled off when she heard the sound of his voice. 听到他的说话声，她赶紧跑开了。 The thief scuttled off when he saw the policeman. 小偷看见警察来了便急忙跑掉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

41 wheezed
v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The old organ wheezed out a tune. 那架老风琴呜呜地奏出曲子。 来自辞典例句 He wheezed out a curse. 他喘着气诅咒。 来自辞典例句

42 hoarsely
adv.嘶哑地
参考例句：
"Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。 Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

43 frightful
adj.可怕的；讨厌的
参考例句：
How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！ We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。

44 larks
n.百灵科鸟（尤指云雀）( lark的名词复数 )；一大早就起床；鸡鸣即起；（因太费力而不想干时说）算了v.百灵科鸟（尤指云雀）( lark的第三人称单数 )；一大早就起床；鸡鸣即起；（因太费力而不想干时说）算了
参考例句：
Maybe if she heard the larks sing she'd write. 玛丽听到云雀的歌声也许会写信的。 来自名作英译部分 But sure there are no larks in big cities. 可大城市里哪有云雀呢。” 来自名作英译部分

45 soda
n.苏打水；汽水
参考例句：
She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。 I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

46 toad
n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆
参考例句：
Both the toad and frog are amphibian.蟾蜍和青蛙都是两栖动物。 Many kinds of toad hibernate in winter.许多种蟾蜍在冬天都会冬眠。

47 inspector
n.检查员，监察员，视察员
参考例句：
The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。 The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

48 reverberate
v.使回响，使反响
参考例句：
The decision will reverberate and will jar the country.这项决定将引起反响并震撼这个国家。 Echoes of cries of pain reverberate in my hear.痛苦呼喊的一遍遍的在我的心中回响。

49 vertical
adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置
参考例句：
The northern side of the mountain is almost vertical.这座山的北坡几乎是垂直的。 Vertical air motions are not measured by this system.垂直气流的运动不用这种系统来测量。

50 cocoon
n.茧
参考例句：
A cocoon is a kind of silk covering made by an insect.蚕茧是由昆虫制造的一种由丝组成的外包层。 The beautiful butterfly emerged from the cocoon.美丽的蝴蝶自茧中出现。

51 surmounted
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上
参考例句：
She was well aware of the difficulties that had to be surmounted. 她很清楚必须克服哪些困难。 I think most of these obstacles can be surmounted. 我认为这些障碍大多数都是可以克服的。

52 disorder
n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调
参考例句：
When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。 It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。