English vocabulary (Wuthering Heights)
210 flashcards · English · by charlie42
they have to tolerate each other's little foibles
a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character From French foible "a weak point, a weakness, failing," from noun use of Old French adjective feble "feeble" (see feeble). The spelling borrowed in English is obsolete in modern French, which uses faible.
he extolled the virtues of the Russian peoples
praise enthusiastically
rapacious landlords
aggressively greedy or grasping Mid 17th century from Latin rapax, rapac- (from rapere ‘to snatch’) + -ious.
a ceremony staged for credulous tourists
having or showing too great a readiness to believe things
some hotels charge exorbitant rates for phone calls
unreasonably high
minor encroachment on our individual liberties
intrusion on a person's territory, rights, etc
to her consternation her car wouldn't star
a feeling of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpecte
the letter assuaged the fears of most members
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense
he finished his recital with great éclat
brilliant display or effect
I have ordered a carriage at eleven, and we'll buy all those pretty fixings you women doat on
to love to an excessive or foolish degree
he abhorred sexism in every form
regard with disgust and hatred
she was shrewd enough to guess the motive behind his gesture
having or showing sharp powers of judgement; astute
he accused the Government of being unbelievably niggardly
A mean or ungenerous person. Late Middle English alteration of earlier nigon, probably of Scandinavian origin.The words niggardly and niggard have no connection with the highly offensive term nigger, but because of the similarity of sound and the negative meaning of ‘ungenerous’ many people are uncomfortable with using them for fear of causing offence, and in the US they are now widely avoided.
she began to concoct a dinner likely to appeal to him
make (a dish or meal) by combining various ingredients
he felt like a boxer who had been pummelled mercilessly against the ropes
strike repeatedly with the fists
the social problems that beset the UK
(of a problem or difficulty) trouble (someone or something) persistently
my uncles were screwy old guys who had abandoned everyday life
nutty, rather odd or eccentric.
he had an abiding respect for her
(of a feeling or memory) lasting a long time; enduring
parsonage
a church house provided for a member of the clergy
donnée
a basic fact or assumption
a brave policewoman foiled the armed robbery
prevent (something considered wrong or undesirable) from succeeding.
he remained a stalwart supporter of the cause
loyal, reliable, and hard-working
Leonora glared back at him, incensed
very angry; enraged
Skepticism was forceful, even rancorous
showing deep-seated resentment
a harrowing film about racism and violence
acutely distressing
violence marred a number of New Year celebrations
impair the quality or appearance of; spoil
the purported marriage was void
appearing or stated to be true, though not necessarily so; alleged
His entries are terse, bullet descriptions of the unending chaos outside.
sparing in the use of words; abrupt.
a conscientious man, he took his duties very seriously
wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly
I had no scruples about eavesdropping
a feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality or propriety of a course of action
I don't want to obtrude upon/on her privacy
to make something or to become too noticeable, especially by interrupting
no other party risked ignominious defeat
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame
a plodding comedy drama
slow-moving and unexciting
the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams
involving immoral or dishonourable actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt
he must extract from her some meed of approbation
a person's deserved share of praise, honour, etc
she became querulous and demanding
complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner
Not that the Law of Sufficient Reason is quite free from equivoque
an expression capable of having more than one meaning; a pun
a crippling affliction of the nervous system
a cause of pain or harm
"he turned angrily to remonstrate with Tommy
make a forcefully reproachful protest
Jean Paul Sartre rendered the idea with neat, existential taciturnity: “No Exit.”
quality of people who don't reveal much information
the traditional fishing villages and hamlets strung along the coast
A small settlement, generally one smaller than a village, and strictly (in Britain) one without a church.
he was wont to arise at 5.30 every morning
(of a person) in the habit of doing something; accustomed
he avowed that he had voted Labour in every election
assert or confess openly
he was a popular and gregarious man
(of a person) fond of company; sociable
the implacable advance of the enemy
unable to be stopped; relentless
an appeal for clemency
mercy; lenience
a lorry swerved across her path
change or cause to change direction abruptly
she used her last banknote to buy herself a square meal before perdition
complete and utter ruin
swarthy men with gleaming teeth
dark-complexioned
the arid plains north of Cape Town
(of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation
No man can change his forefathers, but the poor man may haply become richer.
perhaps
Todd could take it, whereas I'm harrowed by it
cause distress to
master carpenters would hew the logs with an axe
chop or cut (something, especially wood or coal) with an axe, pick, or other tool.
the peaty ground only broken by the faint silhouette of other distant crags
a steep or rugged cliff or rock face
well-wrought pop music
made or fashioned in the specified way
cut away the tiles with a broad-bladed steel chisel
an island reached at low tide by a causeway
a raised road or track across low or wet ground
he's only just sixty, very hale and hearty
(of an old person) strong and healthy
"If the rope parts, then it's a case of 'going west' with a vengeance," he soliloquised grimly.
talk to oneself
a tumult of shouting and screaming broke out
a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people
Wire together dried fruit and fir cones and use to fill any gaps.
any coniferous tree belonging to the genus Abies, of the pine family, characterized by its pyramidal style of growth, flat needles, and erect cones In russian: ель.
a tall, gaunt woman in black
lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age Russian: изможденный
he was pale and haggard
looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering Russian: изможденный Mid 16th century (used in falconry): from French hagard; perhaps related to hedge; later influenced by hag.
the riders stopped to distribute alms
money or food given to poor people
a rock jutted out from the side of the bank
extend out, over, or beyond the main body or line of something выступ
the porter left with a surly expression
bad-tempered and unfriendly угрюмый
the novel is pre-eminently a realistic genre
above all; in particular
his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away
a person's face or facial expression
my humble abode
a place of residence; a house or home
a fat, slovenly ex-rock star
untidy and dirty неряшливо
a cheerful fire burning in the hearth
Place in a home where a fire is kept for home heating and for cooking, usually constituted by at least a horizontal hearthstone and often enclosed to varying degrees by any combination of reredos, fireplace, oven, smoke hood, or chimney.
he picked up the debris and flung it away
throw or hurl forcefully
the vexatious questions posed by software copyrights
causing or tending to cause annoyance, frustration, or worry.
the other farmsteads had lusty young sons to work the land
healthy and strong; full of vigour.
a flurry of activity on the floor of the stock market as soon as the news spread
a brief period of commotion or excitement a gust of wind a brief light snowfall шквал
I was loath to leave (loth)
reluctant; unwilling.
it seems churlish to complain
rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
Twenty firemen fought the blaze
a very large or fiercely burning fire
a man of precise military bearing
a person's way of standing or moving
a look of haughty disdain
arrogantly superior and disdainful Mid 16th century extended form of obsolete haught, earlier haut, from Old French, from Latin altus ‘high’.
this project has been successful only through the assiduity of a lot of people
diligence
the marshes along the coast support a remarkable profusion of plants and animals
a tract of soft wet land usually characterized by monocotyledons (such as grasses or cattails) Russian: болото
after such gatherings she would be taciturn and morose
(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little
We can only surmise what happened
to form a notion of from scanty evidence Conjecture, imagine, infer
Studies that are right will be corroborated by other good studies
to support with evidence or authority : make more certain подтверждать
the dismal weather made the late afternoon seem like evening
causing a mood of gloom or depression
the rafters above his bed
a beam forming part of the internal framework of a roof
some tall and diverting tales were told by the festival's roving storyteller
providing amusement or entertainment
a program for rehabilitating hard-core reprobates and turning them into hard-working, law-abiding citizens
an unprincipled person
The sculpture is safely ensconced behind glass
1 : to place or hide securely : conceal. 2 : to establish or settle firmly, comfortably, or snugly
’No need to be rude,’ retorted Isabel
say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manne
a small postern door
a back or side entrance
the vehemence of his reaction
great forcefulness or intensity of feeling or expression
stout middle-aged men
(of a person) rather fat or of heavy build (of an object) strong and thick
amateurs, perforce, have to settle for less expensive solutions
inevitably
he heaved himself up over a ledge
a narrow horizontal surface projecting from a wall, cliff, or other surface
He became listless, answered in monosyllables, gurgled, drank a great deal of whisky, and looked with hateful eyes at everyone.
characterized by lack of interest, energy, or spirit a listless melancholy attitude.
tuneful but vapid musical comedies
offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland
the solitary genius starving in a cold garret
a top-floor or attic room, especially a small dismal one Russian: чердак (attic room == чердак too)
she delivered her homily about the need for patience
a tedious moralizing lecture Russian: проповедь, sermon