Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
265 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
|
girth
|
distance around something; circumference; 方；周围环境; N.
|
It took an extra-large cummerbund to fit around Andrew Carnegie's considerable girth.
|
|
|
accost
|
approach and speak first to a person; 搭讪，邂逅; V.
|
When the two young men accosted me, I was frightened because I thought they were going to attack me.
|
|
|
junta
|
group of men joined in political intrigue; cabal; 小集团；政治团伙; N.
|
As soon as he learned of its existence, the dictator ordered the execution of all of the members of the junta.
|
|
|
browbeat
|
bully; intimidate; 吓唬; V.
|
Billy resisted Ted's attempts browbeat him into handing over his lunch money.
|
|
|
drivel
|
nonsense; foolishness; 胡言乱语；愚蠢; N.
|
Why do I have to spend my days listening to such idiotic drivel? Drivel is related to dribble: think of a dribbling, driveling idiot.
|
|
|
allege
|
state without proof; 断言; V.
|
Although it is alleged that she has worked for the enemy, she denies the allegation and, legally, we can take no action against her without proof. allegation, N.
|
|
|
forebears
|
ancestors; 前人；祖先; N.
|
Reverence for one's forebears (sometimes referred to as ancestor worship) plays an important part in many Oriental cultures.
|
|
|
clime
|
region; climate; 地域；气候; N.
|
His doctor advised him to move to a milder clime.
|
|
|
aphasia
|
loss of speech due to injury or illness; 失声; N.
|
After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently.
|
|
|
incarcerate
|
imprison; 囚禁; V.
|
The civil rights workers were willing to be arrested and even incarcerated if by their imprisonment they could serve the cause.
|
|
|
palpable
|
tangible; easily perceptible; unmistakable; 易于领会的；明的; ADJ.
|
The patient's enlarged spleen was palpable: even the first year medical student could feel it.
|
|
|
quell
|
extinguish; put down; quiet; 扑灭；镇压；平息; V.
|
Miss Minchin's demeanor was so stern and forbidding that she could quell any unrest among her students with one intimidating glance.
|
|
|
bait
|
harass; tease; 欺负，玩弄，折磨; V.
|
The school bully baited the smaller children, terrorizing them.
|
|
|
unprepossessing
|
unattractive; 不吸引人的; ADJ.
|
During adolescence many attractive young people somehow acquire the false notion that their appearance is unprepossessing.
|
|
|
plethora
|
excess; overabundance; 过剩；过多; N.
|
She offered a plethora of excuses for her shortcomings.
|
|
|
chaff
|
worthless products of an endeavor; 废物；糠；假货；开玩笑；打趣; N.
|
When you separate the wheat from the chaff, be sure you throw out the chaff.
|
|
|
deft
|
neat; skillful; 灵巧的，敏锐地; ADJ.
|
The deft waiter uncorked the champagne without spilling a drop.
|
|
|
cloister
|
monastery or convent; 修道院; N.
|
The nuns lived a secluded life in the cloister.
|
|
|
mendacious
|
lying; habitually dishonest; 撒谎成性的；撒谎的，假的; ADJ.
|
Distrusting Huck from the start, Miss Watson assumed he was mendacious and refused to believe a word he said.
|
|
|
fanfare
|
call by bugles or trumpets; 号角声; N.
|
The exposition was opened with a fanfare of trumpets and the firing of cannon.
|
|
|
surfeit
|
satiate; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; 饮食过度；恶心; V.
|
Every Thanksgiving we are surfeited with an overabundance of holiday treats. also N. .
|
|
|
effigy
|
dummy; 假人（被人憎恨的，如秦桧）; N.
|
The mob showed its irritation by hanging the judge in effigy.
|
|
|
quibble
|
minor objection or complaint; 遁词；狡辩；支吾；吹毛求疵; N.
|
Aside from a few hundred teensy-weensy quibbles about the set, the script, the actors, the director, the costumes, the lighting, and the props, the hypercritical critic loved the play. also V.
|
|
|
charisma
|
divine gift; great popular charm or appeal of a political leader; 魅力; N.
|
Political commentators have deplored the importance of a candidate's charisma in these days of television campaigning.
|
|
|
flag
|
droop; grow feeble; 萎缩；衰退; V.
|
When the opposing hockey team scored its third goal only minutes into the first quarter, the home team's spirits flagged. flagging, ADJ.
|
|
|
muted
|
silent; muffled; toned down; 静默的；静音的; ADJ.
|
Thanks to the thick, sound-absorbing walls of the cathedral, only muted traffic noise reached the worshippers within.
|
|
|
podium
|
pedestal; raised platform; 指挥台；检阅台; N.
|
The audience applauded as the conductor made his way to the podium.
|
|
|
vagabond
|
wanderer; tramp; 流浪者; N.
|
In summer, college students wander the roads of Europe like carefree vagabonds. also ADJ.
|
|
|
arsenal
|
storage place for military equipment; 军火库; N.
|
People are forbidden to smoke in the arsenal for fear that a stray spark might setoff the munitions stored there.
|
|
|
paean
|
song of praise or joy; 欢乐歌；赞美歌; N.
|
Paeans celebrating the victory filled the air.
|
|
|
droll
|
queer and amusing; 滑稽可笑；奇古怪，怪里怪气; ADJ.
|
He was a popular guest because his droll anecdotes were always entertaining.
|
|
|
saga
|
Scandinavian myth; any legend; 斯堪的纳维的传说；传奇; N.
|
This is a saga of the sea and the men who risk their lives on it.
|
|
|
enthrall
|
capture; enslave; 俘获; V.
|
From the moment he saw her picture, he was enthralled by her beauty.
|
|
|
platitude
|
trite remark; commonplace statement; 陈词滥调; N.
|
In giving advice to his son, old Polonius expressed himself only in platitudes; every word out of his mouth was a commonplace.
|
|
|
iridescent
|
exhibiting rainbowlike colors; 虹彩的; ADJ.
|
She admired the iridescent hues of the oil that floated on the surface of the water.
|
|
|
gustatory
|
affecting the sense of taste; 味觉的; ADJ.
|
The Thai restaurant offered an unusual gustatory experience for those used to a bland cuisine.
|
|
|
whimsical
|
capricious; fanciful; 无常的；古怪的; ADJ.
|
In Mrs. Doubtfire, the hero is a playful, whimsical man who takes a notion to dress up as a woman so that he can look after his children, who are in the custody of his ex-wife. whimsy, N.
|
|
|
incur
|
bring upon oneself; 招致; V.
|
His parents refused to pay any future debts he might incur.
|
|
|
rancid
|
having the odor of stale fat; 油脂一样腐臭的; ADJ.
|
A rancid odor filled the ship's galley and nauseated the crew.
|
|
|
nemesis
|
someone seeking revenge; 复仇的人；寻衅者; N.
|
Abandoned at sea in a small boat, the vengeful Captain Bligh vowed to be the nemesis of Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers.
|
|
|
revoke
|
cancel; retract; 撤回；取消; V.
|
Repeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol face having their driver's licenses permanently revoked.
|
|
|
surly
|
rude; cross; 粗暴的；阴沉的；板着脸的；无礼的; ADJ.
|
Because of his surly attitude, many people avoided his company.
|
|
|
decollete
|
having a low-necked dress; 低肩露颈的服装; ADJ.
|
Current fashion decrees that evening gowns be decollete this season; bare shoulders are again the vogue.
|
|
|
vogue
|
popular fashion; 时尚; N.
|
Jeans became the vogue on many college campuses.
|
|
|
emaciated
|
thin and wasted; 瘦弱的，脆弱的; ADJ.
|
His long period of starvation had left him emaciated.
|
|
|
hoary
|
white with age; 灰白的; ADJ.
|
The man was hoary and wrinkled when he was 70.
|
|
|
sultry
|
sweltering; 闷热的，酷热的；放荡的；粗暴的; ADJ.
|
He could not adjust himself to the sultryclimate of the tropics.
|
|
|
spry
|
vigorously active; nimble; 充满生气的；活泼的；敏捷的; ADJ.
|
She was eighty years old, yet still spry and alert.
|
|
|
lap
|
take in food or drink with one's tongue; splash gently; 舔食，泼溅; V.
|
The kitten neatly lapped up her milk. The waves softly lapped against the pier.
|
|
|
endemic
|
prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country; 地方的；小范围内流行; ADJ.
|
This disease is endemic in this part of the world; more than 80 percent of the population are at one time or another affected by it.
|
|
|
litany
|
supplicatory prayer; 连续虔诚的祈祷; N.
|
On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity.
|
|
|
incessant
|
uninterrupted; unceasing; 不停的; ADJ.
|
In a famous TV commercial, the frogs' incessant croaking goes on and on until eventually it turns into a single word: "Bud-weis-er.
|
|
|
quadruped
|
four-footed animal; 四足动物; N.
|
Most mammals are quadrupeds.
|
|
|
contravene
|
contradict; oppose; infringe on or trans- gress; 抵触，与…不相容; 违反，违背; 否定，反驳;; V.
|
Mr. Barrett did not expect his frail daughter Elizabeth to contravene his will by eloping with Robert Browning.
|
|
|
ensconce
|
settle comfortably; 安排妥当; V.
|
Now that their children were ensconced safely in the private school, the jet-setting parents decided to leave for Europe.
|
|
|
wince
|
shrink back; flinch; 退缩; V.
|
The screech of the chalk on the blackboard made her wince.
|
|
|
asinine
|
stupid; 愚蠢; ADJ.
|
Your asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration.
|
|
|
malingerer
|
one who feigns illness to escape duty; 装病的人；假病号; N.
|
The captain ordered the sergeant to punish all malingerers and force them to work. malinger, V.
|
|
|
thwart
|
baffle; frustrate; 阻碍；挫败; V.
|
He felt that everyone was trying to thwart his plans and prevent his success.
|
|
|
perdition
|
damnation; complete ruin; 毁灭; N.
|
Praying for salvation, young Steven Daedalus feared he was damned to eternal perdition.
|
|
|
enamored
|
in love; 爱情的；坠入爱河的; ADJ.
|
Narcissus became enamored of his own beauty.
|
|
|
gaffe
|
social blunder; 失态；出丑; N.
|
According to Miss Manners, to call your husband by your lover's name is worse than a mere gaffe; it is a tactical mistake.
|
|
|
vicarious
|
acting as a substitute; done by a deputy; 代理的；代理人的; ADJ.
|
Many people get a vicarious thrill at the movies by imagining they are the characters on the screen.
|
|
|
emendation
|
correction of errors; improvement; 改进；修订; N.
|
Please initial all the emendations you have made in this contract.
|
|
|
promontory
|
headland; 岬；海角; N.
|
They erected a lighthouse on the promontory to warn approaching ships of their nearness to the shore.
|
|
|
harbinger
|
forerunner; 先驱; N.
|
The crocus is an early harbinger of spring.
|
|
|
supplicate
|
petition humbly; pray to grant a favor; 恳求；祈祷; V.
|
We supplicate Your Majesty to grant him amnesty.
|
|
|
insolvent
|
bankrupt; unable to repay one's debts; 破产; ADJ.
|
Although young Lord Widgeon was insolvent, he had no fear of being thrown into debtors' prison, for he was sure that if his creditors pressed him for payment his wealthy parents would repay what he owed. insolvency, N.
|
|
|
odium
|
detestation; hatefulness; disrepute; 讨厌；憎恶; N.
|
Prince Charming could not express the odium he felt toward Cinderella's stepsisters because of their mistreatment of poor Cinderella.
|
|
|
grouse
|
complain; fuss; 发牢骚; V.
|
Students traditionally grouse about the abysmal quality of "mystery meat" and similar dormitory food.
|
|
|
decorum
|
propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; 礼貌；温文雅; N.
|
Even the best-mannered students have trouble behaving with decorum on the last day of school. decorous, ADJ.
|
|
|
traumatic
|
pertaining to an injury caused by violence; 外伤的; ADJ.
|
In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle.
|
|
|
irreproachable
|
blameless; impeccable; 无可指责的；没有缺点的; ADJ.
|
Homer's conduct at the office party was irreproachable; even Marge didn't have anything bad to say about how he behaved.
|
|
|
bode
|
foreshadow; portend; 预兆; V.
|
The gloomy skies and the sulphurous odors from the mineral springs seemed to bode evil to those who settled in the area.
|
|
|
malefactor
|
evildoer; criminal; 犯罪分子; N.
|
Mighty Mouse will save the day, hunting down malefactors and rescuing innocent mice from peril.
|
|
|
vestige
|
trace; remains; 遗迹；痕迹；残留物; N.
|
We discovered vestiges of early Indian life in the cave. vestigial, ADJ.
|
|
|
solvent
|
able to pay all debts; 有偿付能力的; ADJ.
|
By dint of very frugal living, he was finally able to become solvent and avoid bankruptcy proceedings.
|
|
|
hoax
|
trick; practical joke; 伎俩；小聪明; N.
|
Embarrassed by the hoax, he reddened and left the room. also V.
|
|
|
swill
|
drink greedily; 痛饮; V.
|
Singing "Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum," Long John Silver and his fellow pirates swilled their grog.
|
|
|
tightwad
|
excessively frugal person; miser; 吝啬鬼; N.
|
Jill called Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the check.
|
|
|
insurgent
|
rebellious; 造反的，起义的; ADJ.
|
Because the insurgent forces had occupied the capital and had gained control of the railway lines, several of the war correspondents covering the uprising predicted a rebel victory.
|
|
|
gall
|
annoy; chafe; 惹恼；侮辱; V.
|
Their taunts galled him.
|
|
|
miasma
|
swamp gas; heavy, vaporous atmosphere, often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; 沼气；瘴气，毒气；天然气; N.
|
The smog hung over Victorian London like a dark cloud; noisome, reeking of decay, it was a visible miasma.
|
|
|
paleontology
|
study of prehistoric life; 古生物学; N.
|
The paleontology instructor had a superb collection of fossils.
|
|
|
contusion
|
bruise; 擦伤；撞伤; N.
|
Black and blue after her fall, Sue was treated for contusions and abrasions.
|
|
|
deprecate
|
express disapproval of; protest against; belittle; 抗议；蔑视; V.
|
A firm believer in old-fashioned courtesy, Miss Post deprecated the modern tendency to address new acquaintances by their first names. deprecatory, ADJ.
|
|
|
specious
|
seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally); 似是而非的; ADJ.
|
To claim that, because houses and birds both have wings, both can fly, is extremely specious reasoning.
|
|
|
privation
|
hardship; want; 困难，困苦；短缺，缺少; N.
|
In his youth, he knew hunger and privation. .
|
|
|
venial
|
forgivable; trivial; 可宽恕的; ADJ.
|
When Jean Valjean stole a loaf of bread to feed his starving sister, he committed a venial offense.
|
|
|
denigrate
|
blacken; 抹黑; V.
|
All attempts to denigrate the character of our late president have failed; the people still love him and cherish his memory.
|
|
|
precarious
|
uncertain; risky; 不定的；冒风; ADJ.
|
Saying the stock would be a precarious investment, the broker advised her client against purchasing it.
|
|
|
quail
|
cower; lose heart; 懦弱；胆怯; V.
|
The Cowardly Lion was afraid that he would quail in the face of danger.
|
|
|
allegiance
|
loyalty; 忠诚; N.
|
Not even a term in prison could shake Lech Walesa's allegiance to Solidarity, the Polish trade union he had helped to found.
|
|
|
felicity
|
happiness; appropriateness (of a remark, choice, etc.); 欢乐；适当; N.
|
She wrote a note to the newlyweds wishing them great felicity in their wedded life.
|
|
|
disgruntle
|
make discontented; 使郁闷; V.
|
The passengers were disgruntled by the numerous delays.
|
|
|
fulcrum
|
support on which a lever rests; （杠杆的）支点; N.
|
If we use this stone as a fulcrum and the crowbar as a lever, we may be able to move this boulder.
|
|
|
dappled
|
spotted; 有斑点的; ADJ.
|
The sunlight filtering through the screens created a dappled effect on the wall.
|
|
|
impenitent
|
not repentant; 执迷不悟的; ADJ.
|
We could see from his tough guy attitude that he was impenitent.
|
|
|
scuttle
|
scurry; run with short, rapid steps; 迈着碎步轻快的走; V.
|
The bug scuttled rapidly across the floor.
|
|
|
spangle
|
small metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation; 衣服上亮晶晶的小金属饰件; N.
|
The thousands of spangles on her dress sparkled in the glare of the stage lights.
|
|
|
cistern
|
reservoir or water tank; 水塔；水库; N.
|
The farmers were able to withstand the dry season by using rainwater they had stored in an underground cistern.
|
|
|
conglomeration
|
mass of material sticking together; 团块，聚集，混合物;; N.
|
In such a conglomeration of miscellaneous statistics, it was impossible to find a single area of analysis.
|
|
|
vacillate
|
waver; fluctuate.; 摇摆; 振荡; 波动; 犹豫;; V.
|
Uncertain which suitor she ought to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one, now the other. The big boss likes his people to be decisive: when he asks you for your opinion, whatever you do, don't vacillate. vacillation, N.
|
|
|
elegy
|
poem or song expressing lamentation; 挽歌，悲歌; N.
|
On the death of Edward King, Milton composed the elegy "Lycidas. elegiacal, ADJ.
|
|
|
mercurial
|
capricious; changing; fickle; 善的；无常的; ADJ.
|
Quick as quicksilver to change, he was mercurial in nature and therefore unreliable.
|
|
|
solicitous
|
worried; concerned; 担心的；关切的；期望的; ADJ.
|
The employer was very solicitous about the health of her employees as replacements were difficult to get.
|
|
|
prehensile
|
capable of grasping or holding; 可以得到的；可以抓住的; ADJ.
|
Monkeys use not only their arms and legs but also their prehensile tails in traveling through the trees.
|
|
|
asylum
|
place of refuge or shelter; protection; 庇护所; N.
|
The refugees sought asylum from religious persecution in a new land.
|
|
|
enervate
|
weaken; 使变弱; V.
|
She was slow to recover from her illness; even a short walk to the window would enervate her.
|
|
|
balk
|
foil or thwart; stop short; refuse to go on; 反对；阻止; V.
|
When the warden learned that several inmates were planning to escape, he took steps to balk their attempt. However, he balked at punishing them by shackling them to the walls of their cells.
|
|
|
forensic
|
suitable to debate or courts of law; 法院的；于法庭的; ADJ.
|
In her best forensic manner, the lawyer addressed the jury. forenSiCS, N.
|
|
|
marquee
|
canopy above an entrance, under which one can take shelter; rooflike shelter above a theater entrance; 建筑物入口处的雨棚，遮蔽物; N.
|
On stormy days, the hotel doorman keeps dry by standing directly beneath the marquee. The title of Arthur Kopit's play Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Momma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad was too long to fit on the marquee.
|
|
|
finicky
|
too particular; fussy; 过分讲究；鸡毛蒜皮; ADJ.
|
The little girl was finicky about her food, leaving over anything that wasn't to her taste.
|
|
|
rent
|
rip; split; 撕；裂口; N.
|
Kit did an excellent job of mending the rent in the lining of her coat.
|
|
|
penury
|
severe poverty; stinginess; 一贫如洗；困潦倒; N.
|
When his pension fund failed, George feared he would end his days in penury. He became such a penny pincher that he turned into a closefisted, penurious miser.
|
|
|
skinflint
|
stingy person; miser; 守财奴；吝啬鬼; N.
|
Scrooge was an ungenerous old skinflint until he reformed his ways and became a notable philanthropist.
|
|
|
gloat
|
express evil satisfaction; view malevolently; 垂涎；幸灾乐祸，洋洋得意; V.
|
As you gloat over your ill- gotten wealth, do you think of the many victims you have defrauded?.
|
|
|
impalpable
|
imperceptible; intangible; 难以明了，难以觉察的; ADJ.
|
The ash is so fine that it is impalpable to the touch but it can be seen as a fine layer covering the window ledge.
|
|
|
flick
|
light stroke as with a whip; 轻弹；轻打; N.
|
The horse needed no encouragement; one flick of the whip was all the jockey had to apply to get the animal to run at top speed.
|
|
|
gaudy
|
flashy; showy; 华而不实的; ADJ.
|
The newest Trump skyscraper is typically gaudy, covered in gilded panels that gleam in the sun.
|
|
|
whinny
|
neigh like a horse; 马嘶; V.
|
When he laughed through his nose, it sounded as if he whinnied.
|
|
|
defoliate
|
destroy leaves; 落叶; V.
|
In Vietnam the army made extensive use of chemical agents to defoliate the woodlands.
|
|
|
trespass
|
unlawfully enter the boundaries of some else's property; 过失；侵入; V.
|
The wicked baron flogged any poacher who trespassed on his private hunting grounds. also N.
|
|
|
canvass
|
determine votes, etc; 调查；投票; V.
|
After canvassing the sentiments of his constituents, the congressman was confident that he represented the majority opinion of his district. also N.
|
|
|
fetter
|
shackle; ; V.
|
The prisoner was fettered to the wall.
|
|
|
ebullient
|
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm; 热情的，激动的; ADJ.
|
Amy's ebullient nature could not be repressed; she' was always bubbling over with excitement. ebullience, N.
|
|
|
chortle
|
chuckle with delight; 得意的笑; V.
|
When she heard that her rival had just been jailed for embezzlement, she chortled with joy. She was not a nice lady.
|
|
|
recluse
|
hermit; loner; 隐遁者；寂寞者; N.
|
Disappointed in love, Miss Emily became a recluse; she shut herself away in her empty mansion and refused to see another living soul. reclusive, ADJ.
|
|
|
trifling
|
trivial; unimportant; 不重要的; ADJ.
|
Why bother going to see a doctor for such a trifling, everyday cold? .
|
|
|
epoch
|
period of time; 时代; N.
|
The glacial epoch lasted for thousands of years.
|
|
|
mite
|
very small object or creature; small coin; 小东西；小硬币; N.
|
Gnats are annoying mites that sting.
|
|
|
hallowed
|
"blessed; consecrated; 神
|
化的; ADJ."
|
|
|
sully
|
tarnish; soil; 弄脏；玷污; V.
|
He felt that it was beneath his dignity to sully his hands in such menial labor.
|
|
|
finesse
|
delicate skill; 精密的技巧; N.
|
The finesse and adroitness with which the surgeon wielded her scalpel impressed all the observers in the operating room.
|
|
|
bland
|
soothing or mild; agreeable; 温和的; ADJ.
|
Jill tried a bland ointment for her sunburn. However, when Jack absentmindedly patted her on the sunburned shoulder, she couldn't maintain a bland disposition.
|
|
|
lexicon
|
dictionary; 字典; N.
|
I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library.
|
|
|
rostrum
|
platform for speech-making; pulpit; 演讲台；讲道坛; N.
|
The crowd murmured angrily and indicated that they did not care to listen to the speaker who was approaching the rostrum.
|
|
|
tempestuous
|
stormy; impassioned; violent; 有暴风雨的；暴乱的; ADJ.
|
Racketthrowing tennis star John McEnroe was famed for his displays of tempestuous temperament.
|
|
|
increment
|
increase; 增加; N.
|
The new contract calls for a 10 percent increment in salary for each employee for the next two years.
|
|
|
gratify
|
please; 取悦; V.
|
Lori's parents were gratified by her successful performance on the SAT.
|
|
|
jostle
|
shove; bump; 推，挤；撞; V.
|
In the subway he was jostled by the crowds.
|
|
|
gruff
|
rough-mannered; 粗糙的；粗暴的; ADJ.
|
Although he was blunt and gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children.
|
|
|
defunct
|
dead; no longer in use or existence; 死的；不存在的，报废的; ADJ.
|
The lawyers sought to examine the books of the defunct corporation.
|
|
|
derivative
|
unoriginal; derived from another source; 派生的; ADJ.
|
Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature,the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice.
|
|
|
espionage
|
Spying; 间谍行为; N.
|
In order to maintain its power, the government developed a system of espionage that penetrated every household.
|
|
|
stipend
|
pay for services; 薪金；津贴; N.
|
There is a nominal stipend for this position.
|
|
|
fledgling
|
inexperienced; 无经验的; ADJ.
|
While it is necessary to provide these fledgling poets with an opportunity to present their work, it is not essential that we admire everything they write. also N.
|
|
|
flagrant
|
conspicuously wicked; blatant; outrageous; 非常坏的；残忍的；恶名昭著的; ADJ.
|
The governor's appointment of his brother-in-law to the State Supreme Court was a flagrant violation of the state laws against nepotism (favoritism based on kinship).
|
|
|
ghastly
|
horrible; 恐怖的; ADJ.
|
The murdered man was a ghastly sight.
|
|
|
pathos
|
tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; 痛苦，悲怆，哀婉; N.
|
The quiet tone of pathos that ran through the novel never degenerated into the maudlin or the overly sentimental.
|
|
|
cant
|
insincere expressions of piety; jargon of thieves; 伪善；黑话; N.
|
Shocked by news of the minister's extramarital love affairs, the worshippers dismissed his talk about the sacredness of marriage as mere cant. Cant is a form of hypocrisy: those who can, pray; those who cant, pretend.
|
|
|
analgesic
|
causing insensitivity to pain; 止痛的; ADJ.
|
The analgesic qualities of this lotion will provide temporary relief.
|
|
|
livid
|
lead-colored; black and blue; enraged; 铅灰色的；青一块紫一块的；暴怒的; ADJ.
|
His face was so livid with rage that we were afraid that he might have an attack of apoplexy.
|
|
|
belie
|
contradict; give a false impression; 掩饰，造成假象；矛盾; V.
|
His coarse, hard-bitten exterior belied his inner sensitivity.
|
|
|
chisel
|
swindle or cheat; cut with a chisel; 欺骗; V.
|
That crook chiseled me out of a hundred dollars when he sold me that "marble" statue he'd chiseled out of some cheap hunk of rock.
|
|
|
misgivings
|
doubts; 担忧，疑虑; N.
|
Hamlet described his misgivings to Horatio but decided to fence with Laertes despite his foreboding of evil.
|
|
|
bard
|
poet; （吟游）人; N.
|
The ancient bard Homer sang of the fall of Troy.
|
|
|
emulate
|
imitate; rival; 仿效；抗衡; V.
|
In a brief essay, describe a person you admire, someone whose virtues you would like to emulate.
|
|
|
incantation
|
singing or chanting of magic spells; magical formula; 咒语; N.
|
Uttering incantations to make the brew more potent, the witch doctor stirred the liquid in the caldron.
|
|
|
treacly
|
sticky sweet; cloyingly sentimental; 甜蜜的; ADJ.
|
Irritatingly cheerful, always looking on the bright side, Pollyanna speaks nothing but treacly sentimentalities. treacle, N.
|
|
|
hoodwink
|
deceive; delude; 欺骗，迷惑，蛊惑; V.
|
Having been hoodwinked once by the fast-talking salesman, he was extremely cautious when he went to purchase a used car.
|
|
|
fickle
|
changeable; faithless; 变化无常的；薄情的; ADJ.
|
As soon as Romeo saw Juliet, he forgot all about his old girlfriend Rosaline. Was Romeo fickle?.
|
|
|
clapper
|
striker (tongue) of a bell; 铃舌，钟舌; N.
|
Wishing to be undisturbed by the bell, Dale wound his scarf around the clapper to muffle the noise of its striking.
|
|
|
hurtle
|
crash; rush; 冲击；碰撞；急冲; V.
|
The runaway train hurtled toward disaster.
|
|
|
bluster
|
blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully; 咆哮；吓唬; V.
|
"Let the stormy winds bluster," cried Jack, "we'll set sail tonight. Jill let Jack bluster. she wasn't going anywhere, no matter what he said.
|
|
|
desecrate
|
profane; violate the sanctity of; 亵渎; V.
|
Shattering the altar and trampling the holy objects underfoot, the invaders desecrated the sanctuary.
|
|
|
prolixity
|
tedious wordiness; verbosity; 冗长的；啰嗦的; N.
|
A writer who suffers from prolixity tells his readers everything they never wanted to know about his subject (or were too bored to ask). prolix, ADJ.
|
|
|
bandy
|
discuss lightly or glibly; exchange (words) heatedly; 传话; V.
|
While the president was happy to bandy patriotic generalizations with anyone who would listen to him, he refused to bandy words with unfriendly reporters at the press conference.
|
|
|
blithe
|
gay; joyous; heedless; 欢乐，高兴; ADJ.
|
Shelley called the skylark a "blithe spirit" because of its happy song.
|
|
|
ovation
|
enthusiastic applause; 热情洋溢的喝彩; N.
|
When the popular tenor Placido Domingo came on stage in the first act of La Boheme, he was greeted by a tremendous ovation.
|
|
|
solecism
|
construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; 语法错误；谬误; N.
|
I must give this paper a failing mark because it contains many solecisms.
|
|
|
aptitude
|
fitness; talent; 能力，才能; N.
|
The counselor gave him an aptitude test before advising him about the career he should follow.
|
|
|
tempo
|
speed of music; 节奏，乐曲的速度; N.
|
I find the band's tempo too slow for such a lively dance.
|
|
|
heckler
|
"person who harasses others;
|
者; N."
|
|
|
viper
|
poisonous snake; 蝰蛇; N.
|
The habitat of the horned viper, a particularly venomous snake, is in sandy regions like the Sahara or the Sinai peninsula.
|
|
|
gnarled
|
twisted; 扭曲; ADJ.
|
The gnarled oak tree had been a landmark for years and was mentioned in several deeds.
|
|
|
miscellany
|
mixture of writings on various subjects; 杂记; N.
|
This is an interesting miscellany of nineteenth-century prose and poetry.
|
|
|
testy
|
irritable; short-tempered; 易怒的; ADJ.
|
My advice is to avoid discussing this problem with him today as he is rather testy and may shout at you.
|
|
|
wizardry
|
sorcery; magic; 巫术，魔术; N.
|
Merlin the Magician amazed the knights with his wizardry.
|
|
|
entice
|
lure; attract; tempt; 吸引；引诱; V.
|
She always tried to entice her baby brother into mischief.
|
|
|
fastidious
|
difficult to please; squeamish; 挑剔的；伺候的; ADJ.
|
Bobby was such a fastidious eater that he would eat a sandwich only if his mother first cut off every scrap of crust.
|
|
|
mendicant
|
beggar; 乞丐; N.
|
"O noble sir, give alms to the poor," cried Aladdin, playing the mendicant.
|
|
|
derelict
|
abandoned; negligent; 遗弃的；废弃的; ADJ.
|
The derelict craft was a menace to navigation. Whoever abandoned it in the middle of the harbor was derelict in living up to his responsibilities as a boat owner. also N.
|
|
|
garner
|
gather; store up; 收集，储存; V.
|
She hoped to garner the world's literature in one library.
|
|
|
vagrant
|
a homeless wanderer; 无家可的流浪者; N.
|
Because he was a stranger in town with no visible means of support, Martin feared he would be jailed as a vagrant. vagrancy, N.
|
|
|
spate
|
sudden flood or strong outburst; a large number or amount; 爆发；大洪水；一大群的; N.
|
After the spate of angry words that came pouring out of him, Mary was sure they would never be reconciled.
|
|
|
hypochondriac
|
person unduly worried about his health; worrier without cause about illness; 无病呻吟；忧郁症; N.
|
The doctor prescribed chocolate pills for his patient who was a hypochondriac.
|
|
|
efficacy
|
power to produce desired effect; 功效; N.
|
The efficacy of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage. efficacious, ADJ.
|
|
|
covenant
|
agreement; 协议，协定; 盖印合同; [法律]契约条款; [宗教]誓约; N.
|
We must comply with the terms of the covenant.
|
|
|
pandemonium
|
wild tumult; 喧嚣；混乱; N.
|
When the ships collided in the harbor, pandemonium broke out among the passengers.
|
|
|
sheaf
|
bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together; 捆；扎（秸秆）; N.
|
The lawyer picked up a sheaf of papers as he rose to question the witness.
|
|
|
infidel
|
unbeliever; 异教徒，异端；不信宗教的; N.
|
The Saracens made war against the infidels.
|
|
|
waft
|
moved gently by wind or waves; 飘荡；信号; V.
|
Daydreaming, he gazed at the leaves that wafted past his window.
|
|
|
mote
|
small speck; 小半点; N.
|
The tiniest mote in the eye is very painful.
|
|
|
larder
|
pantry; place where food is kept; 食品室；储藏室; N.
|
The first thing Bill did on returning home from school was to check what snacks his mother had in the larder.
|
|
|
alias
|
an assumed name; 别名; N.
|
John Smith's alias was Bob Jones. also ADV.
|
|
|
solder
|
repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; 焊接; V.
|
The plumber fixed the leak in the pipes by soldering a couple of joints from which water had been oozing.
|
|
|
fraternize
|
associate in a friendly way; 友善; V.
|
After the game, the members of the two teams fraternized as cheerfully as if they had never been rivals.
|
|
|
preempt
|
head off; forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself; supplant; 排挤，代替；阻止；抢占；先发制人; V.
|
Hoping to preempt any attempts by the opposition to make educational reform a hot political issue, the candidate set out her own plan to revitalize the public schools. preemptive, ADJ.
|
|
|
saboteur
|
one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property; 破坏分子；怠工者; N.
|
Members of the Resistance acted as saboteurs, blowing up train lines to prevent supplies from reaching the Nazi army.
|
|
|
nuance
|
"shade of difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction; 细微差
|
; N."
|
|
|
nullify
|
to make invalid; 使无效; V.
|
Once the contract was nullified, it no longer had any legal force.
|
|
|
vex
|
annoy; distress; 激怒；惹恼; N.
|
Please try not to vex your mother; she is doing the best she can.
|
|
|
felicitous
|
apt; suitably expressed; well chosen; 措辞巧妙的；精巧的; ADJ.
|
He was famous for his felicitous remarks and was called upon to serve as master-of-ceremonies at many a banquet. felicity, N.
|
|
|
revert
|
relapse; backslide; turn back to; 恢复；故态重萌; V.
|
Most of the time Andy seemed sensitive and mature, but occasionally he would revert to his smart-alecky, macho, adolescent self.
|
|
|
glower
|
scowl; 瞪着，愤怒的看着; V.
|
The angry boy glowered at his father.
|
|
|
quarry
|
dig into; 挖掘出，寻找出; V.
|
They quarried blocks of marble out of the hillside. also N.
|
|
|
sphinx-like
|
enigmatic; mysterious; 谜的; ADJ.
|
The Mona Lisa's sphinx-like expression has intrigued and mystified art lovers for centuries.
|
|
|
brazen
|
insolent; 厚颜无耻；傲慢; ADJ.
|
Her brazen contempt for authority angered the officials.
|
|
|
orgy
|
wild, drunken revelry; unrestrained indulgence in a tendency; 放荡，旷野；纵酒狂; N.
|
The Roman emperor's orgies were far wilder than the toga party in the movie Animal House. When her income tax refund check finally arrived, Sally indulged in an orgy of shopping.
|
|
|
baffle
|
frustrate; perplex; 挫败; V.
|
The new code baffled the enemy agents.
|
|
|
bestow
|
give; 给予; V.
|
He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.
|
|
|
cursive
|
flowing, running; 流动的；连接的; ADJ.
|
In normal writing we run our letters together in cursive form; in printing, we separate the letters.
|
|
|
grudging
|
"unwilling; reluctant; stingy; 不情愿；勉
|
; ADJ."
|
|
|
sordid
|
filthy; base; vile; 肮脏；卑鄙; ADJ.
|
The social worker was angered by the sordid housing provided for the homeless.
|
|
|
plumage
|
feathers of a bird; 鸟类的羽毛; N.
|
Bird watchers identify different species of bird by their characteristic songs and distinctive plumage.
|
|
|
obtuse
|
blunt; stupid; 钝的，迟钝的；愚蠢的; ADJ.
|
What can you do with somebody who's so obtuse that he can't even tell that you're insulting him?.
|
|
|
hone
|
sharpen; 磨尖; V.
|
To make shaving easier, he honed his razor with great care.
|
|
|
impunity
|
freedom from punishment or harm; 免受惩罚; N.
|
A 98pound weakling can't attack a beachfront bully with impunity. the poor, puny guy is sure to get mashed.
|
|
|
gale
|
windstorm; gust of wind; emotional outburst (laughter, tears); 大风；一阵感情的爆发; N.
|
The Weather Channel warned viewers about a rising gale, with winds of up to sixty miles per hour.
|
|
|
bate
|
let down; restrain; 限制；抑制; V.
|
Until it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity. bated, ADJ.
|
|
|
bungle
|
mismanage; blunder; 搞砸; V.
|
Don't botch this assignment, Bumstead; if you bungle the job, you're fired!.
|
|
|
malevolent
|
wishing evil; 坏心肠的; ADJ.
|
lago is a malevolent villain who takes pleasure in ruining Othello.
|
|
|
reminiscence
|
recollection; 怀旧；回想; N.
|
Her reminiscences of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book.
|
|
|
predicament
|
tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma; 困境；危险的境地；两难; N.
|
Tied to the railroad tracks by the villain, Pauline strained against her bonds. How would she escape from this terrible predicament?.
|
|
|
incompatible
|
inharmonious; 不和谐；不兼容; ADJ.
|
The married couple argued incessantly and finally decided to separate because they were incompatible. incompatibility, N.
|
|
|
dissident
|
dissenting; rebellious; 持不同意见的；于付的; ADJ.
|
In the purge that followed the student demonstrations at Tiananmen Square, the government hunted down the dissident students and their supporters. also N.
|
|
|
germane
|
pertinent; bearing upon the case at hand; 密切相关; ADJ.
|
The judge refused to allow the testimony to be heard by the jury because it was not germane to the case.
|
|
|
immaculate
|
spotless; flawless; absolutely clean; 无暇的; ADJ.
|
Ken and Jessica were wonderful tenants and left the apartment in immaculate condition when they moved out.
|
|
|
overt
|
open to view; 明显的；公然的; ADJ.
|
According to the United States Constitution, a person must commit an overt act before he may be tried for treason.
|
|
|
draconian
|
extremely severe; 极其严重; ADJ.
|
When the principal canceled the senior prom because some seniors had been late to school that week, we thought the draconian punishment was far too harsh for such a minor violation of the rules.
|
|
|
lavish
|
liberal; wasteful; 浪费的，大方的; ADJ.
|
The actor's lavish gifts pleased her. also V.
|
|
|
suborn
|
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); 教唆; V.
|
In The Godfather, the mobsters used bribery and threats to suborn the witnesses against Don Michael Corleone.
|
|
|
commandeer
|
to draft for military purposes; to take for public use; 征用，招募; V.
|
The policeman commandeered the first car that approached and ordered the driver to go to the nearest hospital.
|
|
|
paltry
|
insignificant; petty; trifling; 不著的；微小的; ADJ.
|
One hundred dollars for a genuine imitation Rolex watch! Lady, this is a paltry sum to pay for such a high-class piece of jewelry.
|
|
|
oligarchy
|
government by a privileged few; 寡头政治; N.
|
One small clique ran the student council: what had been intended as a democratic governing body had turned into an oligarchy.
|
|
|
oscillate
|
vibrate pendulumlike; waver; 振荡; V.
|
It is interesting to note how public opinion oscillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism.
|
|
|
slur
|
speak indistinctly; mumble; 模糊不清的说; V.
|
When Sol has too much to drink, he starts to slur his words: "Washamatter? Cansh you undershtand what I shay?".
|
|
|
baroque
|
highly ornate; 华丽的; ADJ.
|
Accustomed to the severe lines of contemporary buildings, the architecture students found the flamboyance of baroque architecture amusing. They simply didn't go for baroque.
|
|
|
flout
|
reject; mock; 轻视；嘲笑；愚弄; V.
|
The headstrong youth flouted all authority; he refused to be curbed.
|
|
|
remedial
|
curative; corrective; 治的，救的; ADJ.
|
Because he was a slow reader, he decided to take a course in remedial reading.
|
|
|
epilogue
|
short speech at conclusion of dramatic work; 尾声；收场白; N.
|
The audience was so disappointed in the play that many did not remain to hear the epilogue.
|
|
|
bleak
|
cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorable; 冷淡；凄凉; ADJ.
|
The frigid, inhospitable Aleutian Islands are bleak military outposts. It's no wonder that soldiers assigned there have a bleak attitude toward their posting.
|
|
|
morbid
|
given to unwholesome thought; moody; characteristic of disease; 病态的，恐怖的；喜怒无常的；不成熟的; ADJ.
|
People who come to disaster sites just to peer at the grisly wreckage are indulging theirmorbidcuriosity.
|
|
|
thrifty
|
careful about money; economical; 节省的；抠包的; ADJ.
|
A thrifty shopper compares prices before making major purchases.
|
|
|
fleck
|
spot; 使起斑点; V.
|
Her cheeks, flecked with tears, were testimony to the hours of weeping.
|
|
|
condole
|
express sympathetic sorrow; 表示同情，吊唁;; V.
|
His friends gath- ered to condole with him over his loss. condolence, N.
|
|
|
gamut
|
entire range; 整个领域; N.
|
In this performance, the leading lady was able to demonstrate the complete gamut of her acting ability.
|
|
|
gusty
|
windy; 多风的; ADJ.
|
The gusty weather made sailing precarious.
|
|
|
exude
|
discharge; give forth; 卸下，流出; V.
|
We get maple syrup from the sap that exudes from the trees in early spring. exudation, N.
|
|
|
sanctuary
|
refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; 避难所; N.
|
The tiny attic was Helen's sanctuary to which she fled when she had to get away from the rest of her family.
|
|
|
petrify
|
turn to stone; 石化; V.
|
His sudden and unexpected appearance seemed to petrify her.
|
|
|
clench
|
close tightly; grasp; 牢牢抓住; V.
|
"Open wide," said the dentist, but Clint clenched his teeth even more tightly than before.
|
|
|
plaintive
|
mournful; 哀伤的; ADJ.
|
The dove has a plaintive and melancholy call.
|
|
|
connivance
|
assistance; pretense of ignorance of something wrong; permission to offend; 默许，纵容;; N.
|
With the con- nivance of his friends, he plotted to embarrass the teacher. connive, V.
|
|
|
accrue
|
come about by addition; 附的; V.
|
You must pay the interest that has accrued on your debt as well as the principal sum. accrual, N.
|
|
|
arable
|
fit for growing crops; 可耕种的; ADJ.
|
The first settlers wrote home glowing reports of the New World, praising its vast acres of arable land ready for the plow.
|
|
|
paranoia
|
psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; 妄想狂；偏执狂; N.
|
Suffering from paranoia, Don claimed everyone was out to get him; ironically, his claim was accurate: even parano ids have enemies.
|
|
|
sectarian
|
relating to a religious faction or subgroup; narrow- minded; limited; 宗派主义的；地区主义的；宗派主义者；狭窄的; ADJ.
|
Far from being broad-minded, the religious leader was intolerant of new ideas, paying attention only to purely sectarian interests. sect. N.
|
|
|
fraught
|
filled; 满的; ADJ.
|
Since this enterprise is fraught with danger, I will ask for volunteers who are willing to assume the risks.
|
|
|
whittle
|
pare; cut off bits; 切；削；损害; V.
|
As a present for Aunt Polly, Tom whittled some clothespins out of a chunk of wood.
|
|
|
riddle
|
pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; 刺出无数窟窿，打排孔；充斥，弥漫；通过粗眼筛子过滤；谜语；解决，解；提出，解谜; V.
|
With his machine gun, Tracy riddled the car with bullets till it looked like a slice of Swiss cheese. During the proofreaders' strike, the newspaper was riddled with typos.
|
|
|
grill
|
"question severely;
|
; V."
|
|
|
excise
|
cut away; cut out; 去除; V.
|
When you excise the dead and dying limbs of a tree, you not only improve its appearance but also enhance its chances of bearing fruit. excision. N.
|
|
|
philistine
|
narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; 俗气的人，无教养的人；心胸狭窄的人; N.
|
We need more men of culture and enlightenment; we have too many philistines among us.
|
