4000 CPE Vocabulary List

abacus  
n. 算盤 manual computing device consisting of a frame holding parallel rods strung with movable counters
That would be awesome - a typical abacus can count up to something like 11 million.
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abase  
v. 降低,羞辱 humiliate; lower or depress in rank or esteem
Defeated, Queen Zenobia was forced to abase herself before the conquering Romans, who made her march in chains before the emperor in the procession celebrating his triumph.
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abash  
v. 使難堪 embarrass; make ashamed or uneasy; disconcert
Her open admiration should not abash him at all.
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abate  
v. 減弱,減少 subside; decrease; become less in amount or intensity
Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate.
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abbreviate  
v. 減短,縮寫 make shorter; reduce to shorter form intended to represent full form, as for word or phrase
Because we were running out of time, the lecturer had to abbreviate her speech.
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abbreviation  
n. 縮寫,縮寫詞 shortening something by omitting parts of it
For example, the word abbreviation can itself be represented by the 'abbrev.'
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abdicate  
v. 放棄 give up, renounce, abandon, lay down, or withdraw from, as a right or claim
When Edward VIII did abdicate the British throne to marry the woman he loved, he surprised the entire world.
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aberrant  
n. 不正常的 abnormal;  markedly different from an accepted norm
Given the aberrant nature of the data, we doubted the validity of the entire experiment.
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abet  
v. 幫助,鼓勵 aid, usually in doing something wrong; encourage
She was unwilling to abet him in the swindle he had planned.
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abeyance  
n. 懸而未決 suspended action; temporary cessation or suspension
The deal was held in abeyance until her arrival.
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abhor  
v. 憎恨 fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate
One of the things I abhor is the threat to withhold aid.
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abjure  
v. 發誓放棄 renounce upon oath; abandon forever
He will abjure his allegiance to the king.
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ablaze  
a. 著火的,燃燒的,閃耀的 burning; radiant; bright; keenly excited; resembling flame in brilliance or color
But when he saw this small new-comer, his soul was all ablaze with bliss in a moment.
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ablution  
n. 洗 washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of religious rite
His ablution was accompanied by loud noises that he humorously labeled 'Opera in the Bath.'
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abnegate  
v. 克制,放棄 give up or surrender; deny something to oneself
After his retirement, the former police commissioner found it difficult to abnegate authority.
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abnegation  
n. 批判,自我犧牲 repudiation; self-sacrifice; renouncing your own interests in favor of interests of others
No act of abnegation was more pronounced than his refusal of any rewards for his discovery.
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abode  
n. 住處,住所,等候,延遲 act of waiting; delay; stay or continuance in a place
I shall take up my abode in a religious house near Lisle - a nunnery you would call it; there, I shall be quiet and unmolested.
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abolish  
v. 廢除 cancel; put an end to; destroy completely
In a letter to the British government, the EU has demanded that Britain abolish laws protecting religious freedom rights regarding sexual orientation.
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abolitionist  
n. 廢奴主義者 a reformer who favors abolishing slavery
Born to free blacks in Maryland, Frances Watkins Harper was a poet and a teacher who became active in the abolitionist struggle in the 1850s.
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abominable  
a. 可惡的,非常糟糕 detestable; extremely unpleasant; very bad
Mary liked John until she learned he was dating Susan; then she called him an abominable young man.
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aboriginal  
a. 原來的,土著的 being the first of its kind in a region; primitive; native
Her studies of the primitive art forms of the aboriginal Indians were widely reported in scientific journals.
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abortive  
a. 不成功的,失敗 unsuccessful; failing to accomplish an intended objective; fruitless
He made two abortive attempts on the French throne.  
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abound  
v. 充滿,富於 be full of; be plentiful
The rooms abound with screaming children.
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abrade  
v. 磨損,侵蝕 wear away by friction; scrape; erode
The sharp rocks did abrade the skin on her legs, so she put iodine on her abrasions.
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abrasion  
n. 磨(擦)破,擦傷處(尤指皮膚因磨擦等造成者).表面磨損 scratch; friction; the process of rubbing away the surface of something
Dust also is a significant cause of the abrasion of book papers and covers.
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abridge  
v. 刪節,節選 condense; shorten; reduce length of written text
Because the publishers felt the public wanted a shorter version of War and Peace, they proceeded to abridge the novel.
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abrogate  
a. 廢除 abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority
He intended to abrogate the decree issued by his predecessor.
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abrupt  
a. 突然的,意外的 broken off; very steep; having sudden transitions from one subject to another
Eliza's greeting was delivered in a short, abrupt voice, without a smile, and then she sat down again, fixed her eyes on the fire, and seemed to forget me.
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abscond  
v. 隱匿,逃避,躲債 leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself, often to avoid arrest or prosecution
The teller who did abscond with the bonds went un-captured until someone recognized him from his photograph on America's Most Wanted.
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absorb  
v. 吸收,合併 assimilate or incorporate; suck or drink up; occupy full attention
By contrast, what students can absorb from a one-day visit to a college are the tangibles.
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abstain  
v. 控制,限制（自己） refrain; hold oneself back voluntarily from an action or practice
After considering the effect of alcohol on his athletic performance, he decided to abstain from drinking while he trained for the race.
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abstemious  
a. 節制（飲食）,調節 sparing or moderation in eating and drinking; temperate
Concerned whether her vegetarian son's abstemious diet provided him with sufficient protein, the worried mother pressed food on him.
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abstruse  
a. 難以理解的,複雜的 obscure; profound; difficult to understand
She carries around abstruse works of philosophy, not because she understands them but because she wants her friends to think she does.
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absurdity  
n. 荒謬 quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment; logical contradiction
His story of being kidnapped by little green men is sheer absurdity.
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abundant  
a. 豐富,富足 plentiful; possessing riches or resources
At his immigration interview, Ivan listed his abundant reasons for coming to America: the hope of religious freedom and the prospect of employment.
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abut  
v. 毗鄰 border upon; adjoin; touch or end at one end or side; lie adjacent
Where our estates abut, we must build a fence.
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abysmal  
a. 無底的 bottomless; very profound; limitless; very bad
She spent hours sitting alone, in abysmal misery, because it seemed to be in plain sight, yet she couldn't define it.
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academician  
n. 學會會員,院士,學者 a scholar who is skilled in academic disputation
A scientist born after the 1970s was selected as an academician candidate.
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accede  
v. 同意 agree; give consent, often at the insistence of another; concede
The idea that one of the two chief executives should eventually accede to the role, as has happened in the past, would raise fresh doubts about the board's independence.
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accentuate  
v. 強調,重音 emphasize; stress; pronounce with stress or accent; mark with an accent
John said the overwhelming demand for transportation fuels would again accentuate the need for increased drilling, but that might take months.
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accessibility  
n. 易接近,可達到 the attribute of being easy to meet or deal with
Whitehouse.gov includes several features designed to improve accessibility for users with disabilities. Some of these features are described below.
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accessory  
n. 附件 additional object; useful but not essential thing; subordinate or supplementary item
Another accessory is a tripod needed to prevent camera shake, especially when the shutter speed drops below the tenth second at a wide-angle shot.
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acclaim  
v. 讚揚,表揚 applaud; announce with great approval
The NBC sportscasters will acclaim every American victory in the Olympics.
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acclimate  
v. 適應 accustom or become accustomed to a new environment or situation; adapt
One of the difficulties of our present air age is the need of travelers to acclimate themselves to their new and often strange environments.
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acclivity  
n. 上山的 坡 upward slope, as of hill
The car would not go up the acclivity in high gear.
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accolade  
n. 出名的大獎 award of merit; expression of approval; praise
In Hollywood, an 'Oscar' is the highest accolade.
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accompaniment  
n. 伴奏 act of accompanying someone or something
I have swallowed the remainder with an accompaniment of secret tears, forced from me by the exigency of hunger.
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accompanying  
a. 陪伴的,伴隨的 attendant; appearing or going with someone or something else
Both men plus a host of accompanying ministers will focus on common ground.
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accomplishment  
n. 成就 achievement; fulfillment; something that is successful
Getting the two leaders to sign a peace treaty was his greatest accomplishment.
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accordion  
n. 手風琴 a box-shaped musical instrument consisting of a folded central part with a keyboard
This web includes an excellent page describing in technical detail the differences between different accordion keyboards - piano, chromatic, and uniform.
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accost  
v. 搭訕,邂逅 approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with demand or request
When the two young men wanted to accost me, I was frightened because I thought they would attack me.
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accouter  
v. 裝備 equip; provide with military equipment
We will accouter the fisherman with the best that the sporting goods store could supply.
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accredit  
v. 授權 authorize; commission; give credit for
And you will discover that governmental agencies accredit rubber stamps for private regional groups.
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accretion  
n. 增長 growth or increase in size by gradual external addition, fusion, or inclusion
The accretion of wealth marked the family's rise in power.
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accrue  
v. 增加 increase, accumulate, or come about as a result of growth; accumulate over time
The Premier League awards three points for a win and one for a draw, so in a 38-game season, the maximum a team can accrue is 114 points.
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accumulate  
v. 堆積,積聚,積累 pile up; collect;  mount up; increase
The tendency of Capital to accumulate is a big threat to the free market.
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accuse  
v. 指責,歸咎 blame; say that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind
He then went on to accuse the West of hypocrisy in criticizing Russia's human rights record.
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acerbity  
n. 尖酸的（語氣,脾氣） the bitterness of speech and temper; sourness or acidness of taste, character, or tone
The meeting of the United Nations General Assembly was marked with such acerbity that informed sources held out little hope of reaching any useful settlement of the problem.
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acetic  
a. 酸的 having properties of vinegar; sour
The salad had an exceedingly acetic flavor.
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acidulous  
a. 酸的,尖銳,刻薄 slightly sour in taste or manner; sharp; caustic
James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks.
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acorn  
n. 橡實,橡子 fruit of the oak, being an oval nut growing in a woody cup; a cone-shaped piece of wood
It is a small cup-shaped structure or organ, such as the cup at the base of an acorn or one of the suckers on the feet of certain flies.
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acoustics  
n. 聲學的 science of sound; the quality that makes a room easy or hard to hear in
Music lovers like Carnegie Hall because of its fine acoustics.
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acquiesce  
v. 默許 assent; agree without protesting
Although she appeared to acquiesce to her employer's suggestions, I could tell she had reservations about the changes she wanted to make.
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acquisition  
n. 獲得 act of contracting or assuming or acquiring possession of something
It has received an unsolicited, 15 dollar a share acquisition proposal from partners.
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acrid  
a. 尖銳,尖酸 unpleasantly sharp or bitter to taste or smell; bitterly pungent
The air seemed to have different grades of warmth and chill in it; they passed a farmyard with strong-smelling, acrid from the sour smell of manure.
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acrimonious  
a. 挖苦的,尖酸的（語言,行為） bitter and sharp in language, tone, or manner
The candidate attacked his opponent in highly acrimonious terms.
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acronym  
n. 首字母縮寫詞 an abbreviation consisting of the first letters of each word in the name of something
The acronym has been an integral part of computer culture, and many originated in the military and government sectors.
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acrophobia  
n. 恐高症 fear of heights; abnormal fear of high places
A born salesman, he could convince someone with a bad case of acrophobia to sign up for life membership in a sky-diving club.
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actuarial  
a. 保險精算的,精算 calculating; pertaining to insurance statistics
According to recent actuarial tables, life expectancy is greater today than it was a century ago.
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actuate  
v. 推動,促使 put into motion or action; activate
I fail to understand what might actuate you to reply to this letter so nastily.
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acuity  
n. 尖銳 sharpness; acuteness of vision or perception; keenness
In time his youthful acuity of vision failed him, and he needed glasses.
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acumen  
n. 思想敏銳 mental keenness; quickness of perception
However, her team's political acumen is clearly beyond mine, an Ivy League Medical Science Professor and NOT a Political 'Science' Professor.
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adage  
n. 格言,諺語 wise saying; brief familiar proverb;  expression of popular wisdom
After reflecting on how I felt a year ago during the election itself and how I feel now, I do have to say that the adage is true: governing is harder than campaigning.
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adaptable  
a. 能適應的,適應能力強的 flexible; becoming or being made suitable to a particular situation or use
It made this sofa not only functional but also adaptable to any contemporary interior design.
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addendum  
n. 附加,補充 something added or to be added, especially a supplement to a book
The date on the bottom of the addendum is April 2007.
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addict  
v. 使上癮,使沉溺 cause someone to become dependent; indulge in; be devoted to
For instance, if you carry a clean needle in this country, the police are likely to arrest you for being a drug addict.
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addictive  
a. (使人)上癮的 something you cannot stop taking once you have started
That worries the department because of the addictive nature of nicotine.
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addle  
v. 使變瘋,腐壞 muddle; drive crazy; become confused
This idiotic plan is confusing enough to addle anyone.
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adept  
a. 擅長於 expert at; very skilled; having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
Williams was known as an adept improviser who effortlessly switched between classical, jazz, and pop styles.
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adherent  
n. 支持者,追隨者 a person who adheres; one who follows or upholds a leader, party, cause
In the wake of the scandal, John, the senator's one-time adherent, quickly deserted him.
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adjacent  
a. 鄰近的,毗鄰的 adjoining; neighboring; close to; lying near
Philip's best friend Jason lived only four houses down the block, close but not immediately adjacent.
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adjoin  
v. 毗連,臨近,貼近 be next to; be contiguous to; border on
A breakfast-room would adjoin the drawing-room, I slipped in there.
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adjudicate  
v. 評判,裁斷,判決,宣判 hear and settle a case by judicial procedure
The principal decided to adjudicate the disagreement between the two students.
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adjunct  
n. 無用的附加物 something added on or attached generally nonessential or inferior
Although I don't absolutely need a second computer, I plan to buy a laptop to serve as an adjunct to my desktop model.
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adjure  
v. 懇求,懇請 appeal to or entreat earnestly; command or enjoin solemnly, as under oath
The criminal tried to adjure to the court for mercy.
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adjust  
v. 調整,使適於 change something slightly, especially to make it more correct, effective, or suitable
The opera house was handed over by the builders nearly a year ago, but it's taken many months to install new stage machinery and to adjust the acoustics.
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admonish  
v. 警告,訓斥 warn; counsel someone against something to be avoided
I would again admonish the reader carefully to consider the nature of our doctrine.
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admonition  
n. 警告 gentle or friendly reproof; cautionary advice or warning
The article concludes with an admonition from a psychologist
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adobe  
n. 泥磚,土坯 clay; brick; sun-dried brick; structure built with this type of brick
Because of this thickness, the inside temperature of an adobe remains fairly constant and comfortable year-round.
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adolescent  
n. 青少年 a juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity;
These students are adolescent boys and girls.
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adopt  
v. 採用,採納 accept; take on; raise; take into one's family
In a late-night session, the United States, which has blocked most recent efforts to adopt resolutions on the Middle East, put forward its own proposal.
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adoption  
n. 採用 act of accepting with approval
'In that case,' said the Dodo solemnly, rising to its feet, 'I move that the meeting adjourn, for the immediate adoption of more energetic remedies.'.
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adoration  
n. 愛慕,崇拜 act of playing honor to a divine being; worship paid to God; the act of addressing as a god
They knelt in adoration of their gods.
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adorn  
v. 裝飾 enhance or decorate with or as if with ornaments
This small icon indicates that the plastic yard sign they adorn is either recyclable.
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adornment  
n. 裝飾,裝飾品 embellishment; decoration; something that beautifies or adorns; ornament
On close examination, the boy can be seen to have a woven strand of some sort around his left ankle, possibly adornment, spiritual or medicinal.
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adroit  
a. 熟練,有技巧 skillful and adept under pressing conditions
I should work in adroit references to this evening's speeches.
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adulation  
n. 奉承,恭維 excessive flattery or admiration; unmerited praise
The rock star thrived on the adulation of his groupies and yes men.
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adulterate  
v. 摻雜 make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances
It is a crime to adulterate foods without informing the buyer.
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adumbrate  
v. 勾畫出輪廓,隱約顯示,預示,蒙上陰影 give hint or indication of something; disclose partially or guardedly; overshadow; shade
Her constant complaining about the job would adumbrate her intent to leave.
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advent  
n. 到來,出現 coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important
Reasoning by analogy, we can come to no other conclusion unless their advent is anticipated by the arrival of ready-made colonists from the more advanced earth, like ourselves.
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adventitious  
a. 偶然 accidental; casual; not inherent but added extrinsically
He found this adventitious meeting with his friend extremely fortunate.
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advocacy  
n. 支持,辯護 support; active pleading on behalf of something
No threats could dissuade Bishop Desmond Tutu from his advocacy of the human rights of black South Africans.
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aerie  
n. 猛禽的窩 nest of a bird, such as an eagle, built on a cliff or other high place
The mother eagle swooped down on the unwitting rabbit and bore it off to her aerie high in the Rocky Mountains.
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affable  
a. 平易近人的 easily approachable; warmly friendly
Accustomed to cold, aloof supervisors, Nicholas was amazed at how affable his new employer was.
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affiliate  
v. 使隸屬,接納為成員 associate; cause a group to become part of or form a close relationship with another
Our Affiliate programs empower our associates to earn commissions and receive ticket discounts.
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affinity  
n. 親緣關係 natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship; relationship by marriage
She felt an affinity with all who suffered; their pains were her pains.
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affirm  
v. 斷言,證實,確認 state something as true; assert; confirm
Briggs calmly took a paper from his pocket and read out in a sort of official voice: 'I affirm and can prove that on the 20th of October.'
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affirmation  
n. 正面肯定,確認 positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath
Despite Tom's affirmation of innocence, Aunt Polly still suspected he had eaten the pie.
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affix  
v. 增加,附於 fasten; append; add on; secure to something
First, the registrar had to add her signature to the license; then, she had to affix her official seal.
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affliction  
n. 痛苦 cause or condition of pain, suffering, or distress
Even in the midst of her affliction, Elizabeth tried to keep up the spirits of those around her.
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affluence  
n. 富足,財富 abundance; a plentiful supply of material goods; wealth
Foreigners are amazed by the affluence and luxury of the American way of life.
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affordable  
a. 負擔得起的,便宜的 able to pay for
We need treatments that are more affordable, and we need an HIV vaccine that can have the same impact on the HIV epidemic as vaccines have had on smallpox and other diseases.
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affront  
n. 侮辱,冒犯,蓄意蔑視 insult; offense; intentional act of disrespect
When Mrs. Proudie was not seated beside the Archdeacon at the head table, she took it as a personal affront and refused to speak to her hosts for a week.
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aftermath  
n. 後果,結果 outcome; consequence, especially of a disaster or misfortune
The most critical lesson Barbara has learned from her diagnosis and the aftermath is the importance of selecting a good facility and sticking with it.
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agglomeration  
n. 聚集,累積 collection; heap; act or process of gathering into a mass
It took weeks to assort the agglomeration of miscellaneous items she had collected on her trip.
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aggrandize  
v. 增加,加強 increase the scope of; extend; intensify; make greater in power, influence, stature, or reputation
The history of the past quarter-century illustrates how a President may aggrandize his power to act aggressively in international affairs.
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aggravate  
v. 使惡化,使加重 worsen; make worse or more troublesome
Ridiculous, offensive comments like this do nothing but aggravate the situation.
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aggregate  
v. 收集,聚集 gather into a mass, sum, or whole; amount to
Before the Wall Street scandals, dealers managed to aggregate great wealth in short periods of time.
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aggregation  
n. 集合,群體 several things grouped together or considered as a whole
It provides an overview of a diverse set of more than thirty digital library aggregation services, organizes them into functional clusters.
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aghast  
a. 嚇壞了的 struck by shock, terror, or amazement
The film grabs you by the throat so that any feeling of being aghast is contained – and you hold on to that feeling up to the very last scene.
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agility  
n. 敏捷 mentally quick; moving quickly and lightly
The agility of the acrobat amazed and thrilled the audience.
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agitate  
v. 激怒,打擾 cause to move with violence or sudden force; upset; disturb
Since President has now announced that Emergency, the only demand that the lawyers can now agitate is to restore the old Supreme Court.
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agitation  
n. 焦慮,不安,鼓動,煽動 anxiety; extreme emotional disturbance
The result of all this agitation is an unsettlement that paralyzes business.
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agnostic  
n. 無神論者 one who is skeptical of the existence of a god or any ultimate reality
William's presence by so much as a purr or a claw, and I have noticed that the agnostic is the only creature living who can treat a preacher with so much contempt.
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agrarian  
a. 耕地的,耕種的 pertaining to land or its cultivation; relating to agricultural or rural matters
The economic relationship between the two nations has expanded during the past decade amid China's economic boom and Argentina's rise in agrarian production.
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ailment  
n. 疾病(尤指輕病,小病) sickness;a slight but often persistent illness 
And the number closely matches a finding of an earlier international study that estimated some 10.1 percent of people globally suffer from the ailment.
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air  
v. 空氣,空中 be broadcast on television or radio
The tidbits that will air on tonight's 6 o'clock news.
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airborne  
a. 空氣傳播的,空運的,空降的 aloft; flying; in the air
It provides air-data and GPS-inertial solutions for airborne measurement.
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alacrity  
n. 歡快的情緒 cheerful promptness or willingness; eagerness; speed or quickness
Phil and Dave were raring to get off to the mountains; they packed up their ski gear and climbed into the van with alacrity.
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alchemy  
n. 煉金術士 medieval chemistry; magical or mysterious power or process of transforming
The changing of baser metals into gold was the goal of the students of alchemy in medieval.
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alcove  
n. 小隔間,壁櫥 nook; small, recessed section of a room
In front of the centre window in the alcove is a small table on a parlour lamp and some newspapers, including the 'New York Sun.'
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algorithm  
n. 算法 established procedure for solving problem
The accountant uses an algorithm to determine the appropriate tax bracket.
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alignment  
n. 排列,聯合,聯盟 arrangement; association; alliance
When you want an alignment that covers the whole length of both sequences, use a needle.
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alimentary  
a. 營養的 providing nourishment; concerned with food, nutrition, or digestion
The alimentary canal in our bodies is so named because digestion of foods occurs there.
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alkali  
n. 鹼 soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash; one of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, potash, and ammonia
This kind of soil contains the special stuff with alkali.
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allay  
v. 平靜下來,（使）冷靜下來 calm; pacify; reduce the intensity of; relieve
The crew tried to allay the fears of the passengers by announcing that the fire had been controlled.
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allegation  
n. 宣稱,主張,斷言 suggestion without proof that someone has done something wrong
The allegation has angered the Brazilian authorities and has been strongly denied.
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allege  
v. 斷言 state without proof; assert to be true
If what Justice Department prosecutors allege is true, the five guards should have to answer for what happened on Sept. 16, 2007.
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allegory  
n. 寓言 symbolic representation of abstract ideas or principles in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form
Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the temptations and victories of man's soul.
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alliteration  
n. 頭韻 repetition of a beginning sound in poetry
'The furrow followed free' is an example of alliteration.
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allocate  
v. 分配,制定 assign; distribute according to plan
Even though the Red Cross did allocate a large sum to relieve the sufferers of the disaster, many people perished.
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alloy  
v. 混合,減少純度 combine; mix; make less pure; lessen or moderate
Our concern for Dwight Gooden, who injured his pitching arm in the game,  will alloy our delight at the Yankees' victory.
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allude  
v. 暗指 refer casually or indirectly, or by suggestion
Try not to mention divorce in Jack's presence because he will think you allude to his marital problems with Jill.
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allure  
v. 誘惑,引誘 attract with something desirable; be highly, often subtly attractive
Promises of quick profits allure the unwary investor.
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allurement  
n. 誘惑物 temptation; enticement; any real or apparent good held forth or operating, as a motive to action
Money is a kind of allurement for us.
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allusion  
n. 暗指,暗示 indirect reference; symbolical reference or comparison; metaphor
Without naming names, the candidate criticized the national leaders by allusion.
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ally  
n. 聯盟,同盟者 confederate; partner; collaborator
The trouble is that selling arms to this particular ally regularly involves commissions - in plain language, bribes - to well-placed people.
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aloft  
ad. 向上 in or into a high place; high or higher up
It tried to remain aloft, but its flying grew wild and reckless.
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aloof  
a. 分離,保留 apart; remote in manner; distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote
In this age of information and communication, no sector can remain aloof from the revolution in these fields.
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alteration  
n. 變更,改造 a passage from one form or state to another; change
Both sides can make a pretty plausible argument that the alteration is what they want it to be.
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altruistic  
a. 無私的,關心他人的 unselfishly generous; concerned for others
In providing tutorial assistance and college scholarships for hundreds of economically disadvantaged youths, Eugene Lang performed a truly altruistic deed.
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amalgamate  
v. 結合,整合 combine; unite in one body; mix or alloy metal with mercury
The unions will attempt to amalgamate their groups into one national body.
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amass  
v. 收集 collect; gather for oneself, as for one's pleasure or profit
The miser's aim is to amass and hoard as much gold as possible.
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amaze  
v. 使吃驚,使驚嘆 astonish; affect with wonder
Archaeologists amaze that such a fragile ancient document could have survived for so long and that it was then discovered as it could so easily have been overlooked.
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amazing  
a. 令人驚異的 awesome; astounding; surprising
It was an amazing year for female performances and to be nominated amongst them was really incredible.
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ambidextrous  
a. 雙手都靈巧 capable of using either hand with equal ease
A switch-hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous.
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ambience  
n. 環境 particular environment or surrounding influence; an atmosphere of the environment
A certain ambience is lost when you choose a tampon over a cocktail glass at a party.
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ambiguity  
n. 模棱兩可 state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or uncertainty
This ambiguity is also becoming part of US policy toward Israel; we all have to guess the next step.
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ambiguous  
a. 模棱兩可 unclear or doubtful in meaning
His ambiguous instructions misled us; we did not know which road to take.
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ambition  
n. 雄心,抱負 aspiration; a strong wish to achieve something
They may be trying to protect their rich pickings, but this is also in line with President Putin's ambition to see Russian business as a truly international player.
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ambitious  
a. 有雄心的,渴望成功的 aspiring; having a strong desire for success or achievement
After news of Rupert Murdoch's ambitious move, the company's share value rose rapidly, opening at 37 dollars and 12 cents and going up to 57 dollars and 28 cents.
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ambivalence  
n. 矛盾的觀點或情緒 state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes, such as love and hate
Torn between loving her parents one minute and hating them the next, she was confused by her feelings' ambivalence.
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ambivalent  
a. 有矛盾情緒的,舉棋不定的 mixed;  experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings
South Korea is one of the world's most successful trading nations, but the population remains deeply ambivalent about open markets' benefits.
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amble  
n. 漫步,緩行 moving at an easy pace; walk slowly or leisurely
When she first mounted the horse, she was afraid to urge the animal to go faster than a gentle amble.
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ambulatory  
a. 可移動的,不固定 able to walk; formed or adapted for walking; not stationary
Juan was a highly ambulatory patient; not only did he refuse to be confined to bed, but he insisted on riding his skateboard up and down the halls.
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ameliorate  
v. 提高 make or become better; improve; grow better
Many social workers have attempted to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slums.
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amenable  
a. 有服從義務的,隨時服從的 responsive to advise or suggestion; responsible to a higher authority; willing to comply with; agreeable
He was amenable to any suggestions that came from those he looked up to.
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amend  
v. 修訂,修改,變更 change for the better; improve; remove faults or errors
Would McCain amend executive orders to ensure that communications between persons outside government and White House staff are disclosed to the public?
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amendment  
n. 改正,修正 a change or changes made to the words of a text; revision
America and Britain oppose this amendment, but some other European countries, particularly Germany, have always been lukewarm on debt relief and might be swayed.
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amenities  
n. 令人愉快的,禮貌的 convenient features; courtesies
In addition to the customary amenities for the business traveler-fax machines, modems, a health club-the hotel offers butler-versed services in the social courtesies.
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amenity  
n. 舒適,愉快 pleasantness resulting from agreeable conditions
This spacious travel amenity kit lets you bring all the comforts of home.
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amiable  
a. 可愛的,友好的,愜意的 good-natured and likable; lovable; warmly friendly
In Little Women, Beth is the amiable daughter whose loving disposition endears her to all who know her.
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amicable  
a. 溫和的,友好禮貌的 exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; not quarrelsome
Beth's sister Jo is the hot-tempered tomboy who has difficulty maintaining amicable relations with those around her.
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amity  
n. 友誼 friendship; peaceful relations, as between nations
Student exchange programs such as the Experiment in International Living were established to promote international amity.
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amorous  
a. 愛情的 moved by sexual love; loving
'Love them and leave them' was the motto of the amorous Don Juan.
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amorphous  
a. 無形的,不成形的 formless; lacking shape or definition
As soon as we have decided on our itinerary, we shall send you a copy; right now, our plans are still amorphous.
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amphibian  
a. 兩棲的 able to live both on land and in water
Frogs are classified as amphibian.
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amphitheater  
n. 橢圓形的劇院,鬥獸場 oval building with tiers of seats from central open space or arena
The spectators in the amphitheater cheered the gladiators.
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amplification  
n. 擴大 addition of extra material or illustration or clarifying detail
A few remarks added in amplification and defense.
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amplify  
v. 放大 broaden or clarify by expanding; intensify; make larger or more powerful; increase
Charlie Brown tried to amplify his remarks, but jeers from the audience drowned him out.
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amputate  
v. 截肢,切除 cut off part of the body, especially by surgery; prune
When the doctors had to amputate the young man's leg to prevent the spread of cancer, he did not let the loss of a limb keep him from participating in sports.
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anachronistic  
a. 時代錯誤 having time error in the story; erroneous in date; in the wrong time
The reference to clocks in Julius Caesar is anachronistic: clocks did not exist in Caesar's time.
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analgesic  
a. 止痛的 serving to reduce sensibility to pain without loss of consciousness
The analgesic qualities of this lotion will provide temporary relief.
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analogous  
a. 類似的 comparable; similar or alike
She called our attention to the things done in an analogous situation and recommended that we do the same.
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analyze  
v. 分析,分解 diagnose; study, or examine something in detail to discover more about it
Historians follow a few basic rules to help them analyze primary sources.
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anarchist  
n. 無政府主義者 a person who seeks to overturn established government; advocate of abolishing authority
Denying she was an anarchist, Katya maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it entirely.
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anathema  
n. 詛咒 solemn curse; someone or something regarded as a curse
To the Ayatolla, America and the West were anathemas; he loathed the democratic nations, cursing them in his dying words.
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anatomy  
n. 解剖,解剖學 detailed analysis;  the scientific study of the body and how its parts are arranged
You have to know something about anatomy if you want to draw the human body well.
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ancestral  
a. 祖先的,祖傳的 inherited or inheritable by established rules
On the key issue of land rights, it called for a mechanism to study ancestral links to the land.
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ancestry  
n. 祖先 family descent; series or line of ancestors; lineage
David can trace his ancestry as far back as the seventeenth century when one was a court trumpeter somewhere in Germany.
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ancillary  
a. 輔助的 serving as aid or accessory; auxiliary
In an ancillary capacity, Doctor Watson was helpful; however, Holmes could not trust the good doctor to solve a perplexing case independently.
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anguished  
a. 很痛苦的 experiencing extreme discomfort or discontent; feeling, expressing, or caused by anguish
We have to transfer these anguished victims of the earthquake at first.
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angular  
a. 有尖角的,瘦骨嶙峋的 sharp-cornered; consisting of an angle or angles; stiff in manner
Mr. Spock's features, though angular, were curiously attractive in a Vulcan way.
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animus  
n. 敵意 the feeling of enmity or ill will; an attitude that informs one's actions; disposition
The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks.
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annals  
n. 記錄,歷史 a chronological record of the events of successive years
In the annals of this period, we find no mention of democratic movements.
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annex  
v. 接手 append or attach; take possession of; incorporate into an existing political unit
Mexico objected to the United States' attempts to annex the territory that later became Texas.
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annihilate  
v. 毀滅,破壞 destroy completely; reduce to nonexistence
The enemy, in its revenge, tried to annihilate the entire population.
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annotate  
v. 評論,註釋 comment; make explanatory notes
The editor sought to annotate many of the author's more esoteric references in the appendix to the novel.
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annoying  
a. 惱人的,討厭的,使人憤怒的 bothersome; troublesome; irritating
Please tell us how to get rid of the annoying windows alert balloons.
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annuity  
n. 年金,養老金 annual payment of allowance or income; periodical payment, amounting to a fixed sum in each year
The annuity he set up with the insurance company supplements his social security benefits to live very comfortably without working.
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annul  
v. 避免 make or declare void or invalid; reduce to nothing
The parents of the eloped couple tried to annul the marriage.
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anodyne  
n. 止痛藥,起安慰作用的事物 source of relaxation or comfort; medicine that relieves pain
The sound of classical music is usually just anodyne I need after a tough day at work.
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anoint  
v. 神聖化 apply oil or similar substance to; put oil on during religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration.
He described how the prophet Samuel to anoint David with oil crown him king of Israel.
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anomalous  
a. 不正常的,變態的 deviating from normal or common order, form, or rule
He was placed in the anomalous position of seeming to approve procedures that he despised.
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antagonism  
n. 反抗,敵對 active resistance; condition of being an opposing principle, force, or factor
Barry showed his antagonism toward his new stepmother by ignoring her whenever she tried talking to him.
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antecede  
v. 先於 precede; go before in time, and sometimes in place, rank, or logical order
The invention of the radiotelegraph should antecede the development of television by a quarter of a century.
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antecedents  
n. 歷史環境,歷史背景 preceding events or circumstances that influence what comes later; ancestors or early background
Smuggled out of Germany and adopted by a Christian family, she knew nothing of her birth and antecedents until she was reunited with her family in 1989.
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antedate  
v. 填更早的日期,早於,先於 be earlier in time; go back further
It is up to a claimant to ask the Commission to antedate a claim.
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antediluvian  
a. 遠古,上古,及其久遠 antiquated; extremely old and ancient; belonging to very ancient times
Looking at his great aunt's antique furniture, the young heir exclaimed: Heavens! How positively antediluvian!
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anthology  
n. 選集 book of literary selections by various authors
The late Isaac Asimov compiled this anthology of science fiction.
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anthropocentric  
a. 人類中心說 regarding human beings as the center of the universe
Without considering any evidence that might challenge his anthropocentric viewpoint, Hector categorically maintained that dolphins could not be as intelligent as men.
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anthropoid  
a. 類人的 manlike; resembling a human, especially in shape or outward appearance
The gorilla is the strongest of anthropoid animals.
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anthropomorphic  
a. 人形的 having human form or characteristics
Primitive religions often have deities with anthropomorphic characteristics.
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antibiotic  
n. 抗生素,殺菌劑 any substance that can destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria and similar microorganisms
Perhaps the most well-known antibiotic is penicillin.
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anticipate  
v. 預期,預料 act in advance of; deal with ahead of time; predict
I thought she loved me, outcast as I was, and I, who from man could anticipate only mistrust, rejection, insult, clung to her with filial fondness.
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anticlimax  
n. 反高潮,突降 the letdown in thought or emotion; decline viewed in disappointing contrast with the previous rise
After the fine performance in the first act, the rest of the play was an anticlimax.
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antipathy  
n. 反對,厭惡 strong feeling of aversion; dislike
Tom's extreme antipathy for disputes keeps him from getting into arguments with his temperamental wife.
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antique  
n. 古董 any furniture old and valuable; out of fashion
The woeful ongoing situation of open archaeological sites, which antique smugglers are systematically plundering, will be another priority issue.
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antithesis  
n. 對立面 contrast; direct contrast; opposition
This tyranny was the antithesis of all that he had hoped for, and he fought it with all his strength.
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antler  
n. 鹿角,茸角 entire horn, or any branch of the horn
This is taken from a soft, furry covering on developing antler of deer.
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anvil  
n. 鐵砧 a heavy block of iron or steel with a smooth, flat top on which metals are shaped by hammering
The man put the iron block on the anvil.
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apathetic  
a. 冷漠的,無動於衷的 feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent
But he shares Mary's apathetic and listless look: he seems to have more length of limb than vivacity of blood or vigor of the brain.
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apathy  
n. 漠不關心 lack of interest, or the attitude of not caring resulting from it; the indifference
A firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote.
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aperitif  
n. 開胃酒 alcoholic beverage taken before a meal as an appetizer
We had it as an aperitif with cheeses but would also go well with seafood.
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aperture  
n. 洞,穴,孔 opening; diameter of such an opening; hole
She discovered a small aperture in the wall, through which the insects had entered the room.
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apex  
n. 高點,頂點,高潮 highest point; vertex; summit; climax
He was at the apex of his career: he had climbed to the top of the heap.
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aphasia  
n. 失聲 loss of speech due to injury or illness
After the automobile accident, the victim had periods of aphasia when he could not speak at all or could only mumble incoherently.
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aphorism  
n. 格言,警句,諺語 definition or concise statement of principle; tersely phrased statement of truth or opinion
An aphorism differs from an adage in that it is more philosophical or scientific.
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apiary  
n. 蜂房 a place where bees and beehives are kept, especially where bees are raised for their honey
Although he spent many hours daily in the apiary, he was very seldom stung by a bee.
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aplomb  
n. 沉著,垂直 poise; self-confident assurance
Gwen's aplomb in handling potentially embarrassing moments was legendary around the office.
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apocryphal  
a. 假的,捏造的 untrue; of questionable authorship or authenticity; erroneous; fictitious
To impress his friends, Tom invented apocryphal tales of his adventures in the big city.
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apogee  
n. 頂點 the highest point; point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited
When the moon in its orbit is furthest away from the earth, it is at its apogee.
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apolitical  
a. 不問政治的 having aversion or lack of concern for political affairs
It was hard to remain apolitical during the Vietnam War; even people who generally ignored public issues felt they had to take political stands.
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apologetic  
a. 道歉的,歉意的 offering or expressing an apology or excuse; serving as or containing a formal justification or defense
As they went by, one of their leaders shouted out to me in apologetic explanation.
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apologist  
n. 辯護者 a person who argues in defense or justification of something, such as doctrine, policy, or institution
Finally, the fifth item mentioned by the apologist is the rigid monotheism which stamps the whole volume.
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apologize  
v. 道歉 beg pardon; tell someone that you are sorry for having done something
However, the sooner you apologize for your mistake, the more likely it will be viewed as an error in judgment and not a character flaw.
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apostate  
n. 變節者,脫黨者,叛徒 one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs
Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate.
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apostrophe  
n. 書寫中撇號(表示省略或所有格) text character used to mark the possessive or to show the omission of letters or numbers
The apostrophe is misused extensively, more so, perhaps, than any other punctuation mark.
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apotheosis  
n. 神化,典範 elevation to godhood; fact or action of becoming a god; an ideal example of something
The apotheosis of a Roman emperor was designed to ensure his eternal greatness: people would worship at his altar forever.
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appall  
v. 使驚慌,震驚 depress or discourage with fear; grow faint or become weak
The horrifying conditions in the city's jails might appall you.
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apparition  
n. 鬼,幽靈 ghostly figure; sudden or unusual sight; appearance; state of being visible
On the castle battlements, an apparition materialized and spoke to Hamlet, warning him of his uncle's treachery.
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appeal  
n. 吸引力 attraction; charm; attract; fascinate; challenge
Oxfam is making a big appeal for humanitarian aid to Darfur and neighboring Chad, where millions of people have been made homeless by fighting.
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appealing  
a. 動人的,媚人的 attractive or interesting; charming
The poor creature dropped on his knees before the stolid murderer and clasped his appealing hands.
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appellation  
n. 名字,標題 name; title; the act of naming; the act of appealing for aid, sympathy
Macbeth was startled when the witches greeted him with an incorrect appellation.
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append  
v. 追加,附上 attach; add as supplement or appendix
When you append a bibliography to a text, you have just created supplementary material.
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appendage  
n. 附加物 something appended to or accompanying, a principal or greater thing, though not necessary to it
Now, if the extra appendage is hindering the dog or will cause damage or injury to her, then yes, by all means, perform the surgery.
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appetite  
n. 胃口,食慾 instinctive physical desire, especially one for food or drink
China's urban young are developing a growing appetite for the cool white look of platinum jewelry.
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applaud  
v. 喝彩,歡呼 acclaim; express approval, especially by clapping the hands
Audiences are usually expected to applaud after a performance.
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applicable  
a. 生效的,適合的 capable of being applied; fit or suitable to be applied; having relevance
To be able to check and compare price quotations, we need currently applicable insurance rates.
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applicant  
n. 申請人 candidate; a person who formally requests something, especially a job
If the applicant doesn't pass the first time, he can try again and again.
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application  
n. 勤奮的付出,密切關注 close attention; work of applying something; verbal or written request for assistance
Pleased with how well Tom had whitewashed the fence, Aunt Polly praised him for his application to the task.
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appoint  
v. 任命,選派 designate; nominate; choose someone officially for a job or responsibility
Becky teased her mother to appoint the next day for the long-promised and long-delayed picnic, and she consented.
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apposite  
a. 合適的 strikingly appropriate and relevant; well-suited
He was always able to find the apposite phrase, the correct expression for every occasion.
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appraisal  
n. 評價,估價 assessment; evaluation; the classification of someone or something with respect to its worth
An auto damage appraisal firm offering assessments for insurance and private purposes throughout the province.
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appraise  
v. 估價 estimate value of; evaluate, especially in an official capacity
It is difficult to appraise the value of old paintings; it is easier to call them priceless.
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appreciable  
a. 很大的,值得重視的 large enough to be noticed or to affect; perceptible
Her office had no appreciable impact on improving global perceptions of the United States and made things worse in some situations.
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appreciate  
v. 感激,增值,賞識 be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly conscious of
I am truly thankful for the stocks, which would appreciate in value considerably in future years.
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apprehension  
n. 害怕 fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; the act of seizing or capturing; understanding
His nervous glances at the passersby on the deserted street revealed his apprehension.
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apprehensive  
a. 恐懼的,擔心的 capable of knowing; conscious; relating to the faculty of apprehension; sensible or perceptive
Here I walked about for a long time, feeling very strange and mortally apprehensive of someone coming in and kidnapping me.
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apprenticeship  
n. 學徒身份 the term during which one learns a trade from a skilled worker; service or legal condition of an apprentice
As a child, Pip had thought it would be wonderful to work as Joe's apprentice; now, he hated his apprenticeship and scorned the blacksmith's trade.
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apprise  
v. 告訴 inform; give notice to; make aware
If you apprise him of the dangerous weather conditions, he has to postpone his trip.
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approach  
n. 方法 a way of considering or doing something
Faced with an increasingly competitive jobs market, the army is becoming more sophisticated and corporate in its approach to recruitment.
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approbation  
n. 同意,批准 expression of warm approval; praise
She looked for some sign of approbation from her parents, hoping her good grades would please them.
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appropriate  
v. 獲得,挪用,據為己有 acquire; take possession of for one's own use; set apart for specific use
The ranch owners appropriate the lands that have originally been set aside for the Indians' use.
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approximate  
v. 接近,近似 come near or nearer to something or someone in space, time, quality, or amount
The conclusions of yours both approximate the truth.
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approximately  
ad. 近似地,大約 very similarly; roughly
According to testimony at the guilty plea hearing, he used an assumed online identity to sell approximately 637000 stolen credit card numbers.
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apropos  
a. 關於 with reference or regard; in respect
I'll admit - this list is completely in apropos of nothing.
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aquatic  
a. 與水有關係的 consisting of, relating to, or being in the water
Paul enjoyed aquatic sports such as scuba diving and snorkeling.
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aquiline  
a. 彎曲的,鉤狀的 curved or hooked like an eagle's beak
He can be recognized by his aquiline nose, curved like the beak of the eagle.
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arable  
a. 可耕種的 fit for growing crops, as by plowing
The first settlers wrote home glowing reports of the New World, praising its vast acres of arable land ready for the plow.
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arbiter  
n. 仲裁者 person with power to decide a dispute; judge
As an arbiter in labor disputes, she has won the confidence of the workers and the employers.
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arboreal  
a. 樹棲的,樹的 tree-dwelling; treelike; living in trees
Learn about the arboreal emblems that represent the provinces and territories of Canada.
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arboretum  
n. 植物園 a place where different tree varieties are exhibited
Walking along the tree-lined paths of the arboretum, Rita noted poplars, firs, and some particularly fine sycamores.
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arc  
n. 弧形,拱形 the continuous portion of a circle; something curved in shape
Why are rainbows in an arc shape?
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arcane  
a. 秘密,謎 secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated
Secret brotherhoods surround themselves with arcane rituals and trappings to mystify outsiders.
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archaeology  
n. 考古學 study of artifacts and relics of early humankind
The professor of archaeology headed an expedition to the Gobi Desert in search of ancient ruins.
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archaic  
a. 過時的 no longer current or applicable; antiquated
'Methinks,' 'thee,' and 'thou' are archaic words that are no longer part of our normal vocabulary.
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archetype  
n. 原形 prototype; original model or type after which other similar things are patterned
The Brooklyn Bridge was the archetype of the many spans connecting Manhattan with Long Island and New Jersey.
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archipelago  
n. 群島 group of closely located islands
When I looked at the map and saw the South Seas' archipelago, I longed to visit them.
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ardent  
a. 熱心的,熱情的 displaying or by strong enthusiasm or devotion; passionate
Her fellow demonstrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her ardent enthusiasm for the cause.
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arduous  
a. 努力,奮發 demanding great effort or labor; difficult
Her arduous efforts had sapped her energy.
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arid  
a. 荒蕪的 dry; lacking moisture, especially having insufficient rainfall to support trees or plants
The cactus has adapted to survive in an arid environment.
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aristocracy  
n. 貴族 hereditary nobility; privileged class
Americans have mixed feelings about the hereditary aristocracy.
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aristocrat  
n. 貴族 one of the aristocracy or people of rank in a community; one of a ruling class; a noble
Her color photographs describe a special kind of aristocrat, one with innate dignity and nobility.
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arithmetic  
n. 算數 theory of numerical calculations
He found a way to set up equations about integers and other constructs in arithmetic.
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armada  
n. 艦隊 a fleet of warships; a large group of moving things
Queen Elizabeth's navy defeated the mighty armada that threatened the English coast.
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armory  
n. 紋章,兵工廠,軍械庫 arsenal; a place where arms are manufactured
The adjutant general may designate an officer to be in direct charge of each armory, arsenal, camp, base, or other facilities.
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aromatic  
a. 芬芳的 fragrant or sweet-smelling; caused by fragrant odor
Medieval sailing vessels brought aromatic herbs from China to Europe.
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arousal  
n. 覺醒,激勵 act of awaking from sleep; arousing from what is like sleep
When arousal is too low, we become bored and seek out activities to stimulate our minds.
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arraign  
v. 傳訊,責問 officially charge someone in a court of law
After his indictment by the Grand Jury, the County Criminal Court should arraign the accused man.
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arrangement  
n. 排列,安排 composition; a plan for how something will happen
This party is intended to legitimize the power-sharing arrangement and iron out at least some of the inequalities in representation.
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arrears  
n. 欠債 being in debt; unpaid, overdue debt or an unfulfilled obligation
He was in arrears with his payments on the car.
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arrogate  
v. 非法霸占,僭越 claim without justification; claim for oneself without the right
Lynn watch in astonishments as her coworkers arrogate the credit for her brilliant work in the project.
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arroyo  
n. 乾枯的河床 deep gully; a dry gulch; brook or creek; watercourse
Until the heavy rains of the past spring, this arroyo had been a dry bed.
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artifice  
n. 技巧,欺騙 subtle but base deception; trickery; cleverness or skill; ingenuity
The Trojan War proved to the Greeks that cunning and artifice were often more effective than the military might.
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artisan  
n. 工匠 manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed to an artist
A noted artisan, Arturo, was known for the fine craftsmanship.
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artless  
a. 坦誠,直率 free of artificiality; natural; open and honest
Sophisticated and cynical, Jack could not believe Jill was as artless and naive as she appeared to be.
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ascend  
v. (漸漸)上升,升高,攀登 move up or climb something; mount
Boys ascend through the skylight onto the roof.
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ascendancy  
n. 統治,控制 superiority or decisive advantage; domination
Leaders of religious cults maintain ascendancy over their followers by methods that can verge on brainwashing.
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ascent  
n. 攀登,上升 upward slope or grade; movement upward
An unforgettable 2-hour ascent follows a 30-minute hike up to the base of the ferrate up the cliff.
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ascetic  
a. 苦行,禁慾 leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial; austere
The wealthy, self-indulgent young man felt oddly drawn to the strict, ascetic life led by members of some monastic orders.
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ascribe  
v. 歸因於,指派 inscribe or dedicate; attribute to a specified cause, source, or origin; assign as a quality
Other people ascribe his exclusion from the canon to an unsubtle form of racism.
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aseptic  
a. 抗菌的 preventing infection; having cleansing effect
Hospitals succeeded in lowering the mortality rate as soon as they introduced aseptic conditions.
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ashen  
a. 灰色 ash-colored; very pale; consisting of ashes
Her face was ashen with fear.
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asinine  
a. 愚蠢 utterly stupid or silly; inanely foolish
Your asinine remarks prove that you have not given this problem any serious consideration.
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askance  
a. 瞄,斜視 with a sideways or indirect look; Turned to side, especially of eyes
Looking askance at her questioner, she displayed her scorn.
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askew  
ad. 歪斜 turned or twisted toward one side; at an angle
When he placed his hat askew upon his head, his observers laughed.
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asperity  
n. 嚴酷,粗暴 the sharpness of temper; roughness or harshness, as of surface, sound, or climate
These remarks, spoken with asperity, stung the boys to whom they had been directed.
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asphyxiate  
v. (使)無法呼吸,窒息而死 deprive of oxygen to the extent of producing death or severe symptoms; suffocate
Carbon monoxide could build up and make you sick or even asphyxiate you.
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aspirant  
n. 有志者,有抱負的人 one who aspires, as to advancement, honors, or a high position
Although I am an aspirant for public office, I am not willing to accept the dictates of the party bosses.
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aspiration  
n. 雄心,抱負 ambition; something that you hope to achieve
The basic aspiration is that culture should serve as a rallying point for nation-building - in practice, neither the finances nor the security conditions seem very favorable.
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assail  
v. 攻擊 assault; attack with or as if with violent blows
These days nightmares assail him regularly.
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assault  
n. (武力)襲擊,(口頭)攻擊 a violent attack; an onslaught
He's charged with interfering with the performance of a flight crew by assault or intimidation.
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assay  
v. 分析,化驗 analyze; evaluate; examine by trial or experiment; put to the test
When they assay the ore, they find that they have discovered a very rich vein.
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assemblage  
n. 集合,組合 a group of persons together in one place
Ranged on benches down the sides of the room, the eighty girls sat motionless and erect; a quaint assemblage appeared, all with plain locks combed from their faces.
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assent  
v. 同意；接受 express agreement to what is alleged or proposed; accept
It gives me great pleasure to assent to your request.
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assert  
v. 斷言 declare or state with confidence; put oneself forward boldly
If you quit acting like a wimp and assert yourself a bit more, you'd improve your chances of getting a date.
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assertive  
a. 言語果斷的,斷言的 positive; affirming confidently; affirmative; peremptory
Patterson seems like a decent fellow, but lacking in assertive leadership skills.
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assess  
v. 估計,估算,評估,評價 estimate  value; judge worth of something
They say that they lack both the money and the resources to deploy officials across the country to assess each ferry's safety.
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assessment  
n. 評價,評估,判斷 act of judging or assessing; amount determined as payable
Key to this assessment is the critical geographical fact that North Korea is adjacent to South Korea, an affluent democracy.
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assiduous  
a. 勤奮 constant in application or attention; diligent; unceasing or persistent
He was assiduous, working at this task for weeks before he felt satisfied with his results.
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assimilate  
v. 吸收,同化 incorporate and absorb into mind; make similar; cause to resemble
How the United States could assimilate immigrants during the 19th and early 20th century will always be a source of pride to Americans.
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assistance  
n. 協助,援助 help, especially money or resources that are given to people  
The government has pledged in return for IMF assistance to redouble its efforts to reform the economy.
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assuage  
v. 緩和,減輕 ease or lessen pain; satisfy or appease
Jilted by Jane, Dick tried to assuage his heartache by indulging in ice cream.
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assuredly  
ad. 確實地,確信地 in a way that causes something to be certain; undoubtedly
We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.
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astigmatism  
n. 散光 eye defect that prevents proper focus
As soon as his parents discovered that the boy suffered from astigmatism, they took him to the optometrist for corrective glasses.
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astonished  
a. 驚訝的 amazed; very surprised
He looked upon his son and was again astonished at his beauty this day.
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astound  
v. 使驚異 affect with wonder; surprise; shock
The past events dovetail into those of the present, with parallels that surprise, astound, shock and delight.
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astringent  
a. 收斂的 causing contraction; having the effect of drawing tissue together; stern or austere
The juice from the last pressing, being very dark and astringent, is put with the inferior wine.
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astronomer  
n. 天文學家 a physicist who studies astronomy
He felt much as an astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned.
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astronomy  
n. 天文學 branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole
The brightened comet in the constellation Virgo may even be visible to the naked eye, allowing members of the public worldwide to join in this historic moment in astronomy.
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asunder  
ad. 分裂,分開 into separate parts or pieces; apart
A fierce quarrel split the partnership asunder: the two partners finally sundered their connections because their points of view were poles apart.
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asymmetric  
a. 不對稱 not identical on both sides of a dividing central line
Because one eyebrow was set markedly higher than the other, William's face had a particularly asymmetric appearance.
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atavism  
n. 反祖,隔代遺傳 resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; deformity returning after the passage of two or more generations
The doctors ascribed the child's deformity to an atavism.
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atavistic  
a. 復古的,從前的 displaying characteristics of previous cultural era or previous ancestral form
After spending three weeks on a desert island, Roger became a survivalist with atavistic skills that helped him endure.
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atheistic  
a. 無神論 denying existence of God; godless
His atheistic remarks shocked the religious worshippers.
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athletics  
n. 運動,體育 art of training by athletic exercises; games and sports of athletes
Sarah is very keen on athletics and can trot out the names of all the leading runners and their record times.
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atmosphere  
n. 大氣,大氣層,(某地的)空氣 air; a mixture of gases that surrounds any planet
The shuttle burned up while re-entering the earth's atmosphere on Saturday, and any debris will be important in finding out why.
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atom  
n. 原子 a tiny piece of anything; the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
If any one of them can explain it, I'll give him sixpence. I don't believe there's an atom of meaning in it.
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atrocity  
n. 暴行 brutal deed; atrocious condition, quality, or behavior; monstrousness
Unfortunately, the normal social reaction to atrocity is to banish it from our awareness.
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atrophy  
n. 枯萎,萎縮,衰退,結束 wasting away; decrease in size; reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease
It confirms earlier research showing a link between brain atrophy and low levels of B12.
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attachment  
n. 依戀,喜歡 a bond, as of affection or loyalty; fond regard; supplementary part; accessory
Her simplicity, gay prattle, and efforts to please inspired me, in return, with a degree of attachment sufficient to make us both content in each other's society.
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attain  
v. 獲得,完成 achieve or accomplish; gain
The scarecrow sought to attain one goal: he wished to obtain a brain.
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attainment  
n. 成就 something, such as an accomplishment or achievement; achievement
The end of all scholarly attainment is to live nobly.
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attend  
v. 參加,入學 be present at; go to; take care of; tend
Britain's House of Lords has been described as the best club in London, and for many of the hereditary members who rarely attend debates, that's just what it is.
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attendance  
n. 出席,出席的人數 act of being present
In some countries, taking lots of days off work sick would get you fired, and the idea of offering prizes for good attendance would be little more than a joke.
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attendant  
n. 侍者,護理人員 aide; servant; accompanying; a person who participates in a meeting
The FBI has published an affidavit that describes how a flight attendant first smelled smoke from a match.
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attention  
n. 注意,重視,關心 act or state of attending or heeding; application of the mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought
Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention, please?
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attenuate  
v. 削弱 make slender, fine, or small; weaken; lessen the density of
By withdrawing their forces, the generals hoped to attenuate the enemy lines.
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attire  
n. 穿著,服飾(正規服裝的總稱) clothes, especially of a particular or formal type; dress
I will attire my Jane in satin and lace, and she shall have roses in her hair, and I will cover the head I love best with a priceless veil.
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attraction  
n. 吸引,吸引人的事物 appeal; a characteristic that provides pleasure and attracts
Harriet died peacefully in her enclosure at a zoo in northern Australia, where she was the star attraction.
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attractive  
a. 吸引人的,有魅力的 appealing; pleasing; inviting; tempting
The mobile phone companies argue that reducing taxes will make legally imported phones more attractive than the cheaper smuggled models.
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attribute  
n. 屬性, 望 essential quality; reputation; honor
His outstanding attribute was his kindness.
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attribute  
v. 描述,解釋 relate to particular cause or source; ascribe; explain
I attribute her success in science to the encouragement she received from her parents.
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attrition  
n. 裁員,磨損 a gradual decrease in numbers; reduction in the workforce without firing employees; wearing away through harassment
In the 1960s, urban churches suffered from attrition as members moved from the cities to the suburbs.
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atypical  
a. 非正常的,不正常 not normal; unusual or irregular; not representative of a group, class, or type
The child psychiatrist reassured Mrs. Keaton that playing doctor was not atypical for a child of young Alex's age.
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audacious  
a. 大膽的,魯莽的 fearlessly, often recklessly daring; bold
Audiences cheered as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia made their audacious, death-defying leap to freedom, escaping Darth Vader's troops.
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auditorium  
n. 聽眾席,觀眾席 area of theater or concert hall where the audience sits
A seat in the stalls or in one of the elaborate boxes surrounding the horseshoe-shaped auditorium now costs nearly 700 pounds.
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auditory  
a. 聽覺的 of or relating to hearing, the organs of hearing, or the sense of hearing
Short-term auditory memory, in particular, doesn't seem to last longer than around 10 seconds.
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auger  
n. 螺絲鑽,鑽孔機 hand tool for boring holes; hollow drill used to take core samples of soil, ice
It was amazing what they could make just using an ax and an auger.
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augment  
v. 增長 make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity
Armies augment their forces by calling up reinforcements.
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augury  
n. 占卜,預言 sign of something coming; art or practice of foretelling events by signs or omens
He interpreted the departure of the birds as an augury of evil.
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aureole  
n. 日冕 the outermost region of the sun's atmosphere; halo
This medieval painting depicts its saintly character with aureole around the head.
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auroral  
a. 曙光的,極光的 characteristic of dawn; dawning, eastern, like a new beginning; relating to the atmospheric phenomenon auroras
The auroral display was particularly spectacular that evening.
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auspicious  
a. 幸運的,吉祥的 attended by favorable circumstances; marked by success; prosperous
With favorable weather conditions, it was an auspicious moment to set sail.
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austere  
a. 嚴厲的,樸素的 strict or severe in the discipline; severely simple and unornamented
The headmaster's austere demeanor tended to scare off the more timid students, who never visited his study willingly.
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authenticate  
v. 鑑別 prove genuine; establish authenticity of
An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting, distinguishing it from its imitation.
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authoritarian  
a. 獨裁 expecting absolute obedience; completely dominating another's will
After years of submitting to the will of her authoritarian father, Elizabeth Barrett ran away from home with the poet Robert Browning.
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authoritative  
a. 權威,獨裁 weighting authority; peremptory and dictatorial
Impressed by the young researcher's well-documented presentation, we accepted her analysis of the experiment as authoritative.
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autobiography  
n. 自傳 biography or story written by yourself
I shall not indulge in autobiography by speaking of my own country.
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autocrat  
n. 獨裁者,專橫霸道的人 dictator; ruler having unlimited power
Mussolini has been described as an autocrat who tolerated no opposition.
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autocratic  
a. 獨裁 having absolute, unchecked power; dictatorial
Someone accustomed to exercising authority may become autocratic if his or her power is unchecked.
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automaton  
n. 機器人 the mechanism that imitates actions of humans
Long before science fiction readers became aware of robots, this book writer was presenting a story of an automaton who could outperform men.
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autonomous  
a. 自治 self-governing; not controlled by others or by outside forces; independent
Although the University of California at Berkeley is just one part of the state university system, it is autonomous in many ways.
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autonomy  
n. 自治,自治權 independence; self-government or the right of self-government; self-determination
The study also called for the three thousand Rapa Nui people of Easter Island to be given greater autonomy.
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available  
a. 自由的,有空的 convenient for use or disposal; not busy, free; obtainable; accessible
Vaccines are available but are costly and only offer relatively short-term protection, so the animals need regular booster vaccinations.
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avant-garde  
n. 先鋒派(藝術流派),先鋒,前衛 radically new or original; cutting edge
It collects news, reviews, image galleries, and texts concerning avant-garde culture and contemporary art in Tokyo.
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avarice  
n. 貪婪,貪財 greediness for wealth; the insatiable desire to gain
King Midas is a perfect example of avarice, for he was so greedy that he wished everything he touched would turn to gold.
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aver  
v. 斷言,聲明,證明 declare to be true; affirm
The witnesses aver that he was holding a gun.
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averse  
a. 反對的 reluctant; disinclined; turned away or backward; unwilling
The reporter was averse to revealing the sources of his information.
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aviary  
n. 大鳥籠,鳥舍 large cage, building, or enclosure in which birds are reared or kept
The aviary at the zoo held nearly 300 birds.
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avid  
a. 貪婪 greedy; eager for; marked by keen interest and enthusiasm
He was avid for learning and read everything he could get.
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avocation  
n. 副業,業餘愛好 activity taken up in addition to one's regular work or profession, usually for enjoyment
His hobby proved to be so fascinating and profitable that gradually he abandoned his regular occupation and concentrated on his avocation.
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avow  
v. 宣布 declare openly; acknowledge openly, boldly, and unashamedly
Lana began to avow that she never meant to steal Debbie's boyfriend.
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avowal  
n. 公開承認 open declaration; frank acknowledgment
The water stood in my eyes to hear this avowal of his dependence, just as if a royal eagle, chained to a perch, should be forced to entreat a sparrow to become its purveyor.
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avuncular  
a. 像伯父（叔叔）一樣的 in the manner of an uncle, about uncle; kind, genial, benevolent, or tolerant
Avuncular pride did not prevent him from noticing his nephew's shortcomings.
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awkward  
a. 笨拙的,不靈活的 difficult to handle or manage
John Kerry recently spoke of his faith, but he's more awkward about it than President Bush's born again.
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awning  
n. 雨篷,遮陽篷 roof-like cover, usually of canvas, extended over or before any place as a shelter from the sun, rain, or wind
Boggs rode up before the biggest store in town and bent his head down so he could see under the curtain of the awning.
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awry  
ad. 扭曲的,歪曲的 in a position that is turned toward one side; away from the correct course
He held his head awry, giving the impression that he had caught cold in his neck during the night.
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axiom  
n. 公理,自明的道理 self-evident truth requiring no proof
Before a student can begin to think along the lines of Euclidean geometry, he must accept certain principles or axiom.
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axle  
n. 輪軸(連接二個車輪的軸) pin or spindle on which a wheel revolves, or which revolves with a wheel; transverse bar connecting the opposite wheels
The back axle of the bus was broken.
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azure  
a. 天藍 sky blue; light purplish-blue
Azure skies are indicative of good weather.
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