War and Peace

False friends3 entries

You know these words. In this book they mean something else.

her flight

her running away

produced

pulled

a relation of yours

one of your family

Idioms38 entries

Fixed expressions with a settled meaning of their own. Worth learning once.

Silence ensued

then everyone went quiet

not concealing the fact

letting it show

would not be distressed

would be glad

took their leave

said goodbye and went

with an inquiring look at her mother

looking at her mother as if to ask whether to go

stopped short

stopped suddenly

It was evident

it was clear

so far

this far into the room

plump rosy-faced

chubby, with pink cheeks

swaying from side to side

rocking a little as he moved

there is a time for everything

this is not the right moment for this

with feigned severity

pretending to be strict

You spoil her

you let her do whatever she likes

addressing the mother

speaking to the mother

full of life

lively

heaved and shook her bodice

rose and fell with her breathing, moving the top of her dress

tossed backward

thrown back

not paying the least attention

not listening at all

in fragmentary sentences

in broken bits of sentences

the folds of her frock

the loose cloth of her dress

ringing fit

loud, clear burst

with pretended sternness

pretending to be strict

compelled to look on at

forced to watch

thought it necessary to take some part

felt she had to join in somehow

tone of condescension to childish things

way of speaking to children as if they were silly

to restrain within the bounds of decorum

to control, so that they behaved politely

shone in all their faces

showed brightly on all their faces

Now and then

sometimes

hardly able to suppress their laughter

only just able to stop themselves laughing

tall and fair

tall, with light-coloured hair

on the contrary

but in the opposite way to his shy friend

at once found his footing

felt comfortable immediately

related quietly and humorously

told calmly and in a funny way

right across

all the way across

suppressed laughter

laughter he was trying to keep quiet

returning his smile

smiling back at him

went in search of

went to look for

their program had been disturbed

their plans had been spoiled

Phrasal verbs9 entries

A verb and a small word that together mean something the two words do not.

smoothing down her dress

making her dress flat and neat, ready to stand

darted in

ran in quickly

threw them round

put them around

burst into

suddenly started

could not help joining in

could not stop herself laughing too

glanced up

looked up quickly

settled down

sat down quietly

dashed out so impetuously

rushed out so wildly

screwing up his eyes

squeezing his eyes almost shut

Noun phrases9 entries

A group of words naming a person or a thing, explained together.

the folds of

the loose cloth of

My dear pet

my darling

tears of laughter

tears from laughing so hard

the younger generation

the young people

the drawing room talk

the polite talk of the best sitting room

society scandals

shocking gossip about important families

handsome fellows

good-looking young men

regular, delicate features

an even, finely shaped face

an open expression

an honest face that shows his feelings

Words from other languages1 entry

Ma chère

French: my dear

Old word forms1 entry

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

You were meaning to go out

you were planning to go out

Words35 entries

In the order you will meet them.

countess×2

the lady of the house, a noble ladyrank

callers

visitors

affably

in a friendly way

rose

stood up

footsteps

the sound of feet

muslin frock

dress of thin light cottonan object or practice the period took for granted

a crimson coat collar

a deep red collar, part of a university uniforman object or practice the period took for granted

an officer of the Guards

an officer from the Emperor's own best soldiersrank

count×2

master of the houserank

exclaimed

said loudly

charming×2

sweet and pleasing

wide-mouthed

her mouth was wide

childish

like a child

black curls

black hair in rings

lace-frilled drawers

long pants with lace edges, seen below a short dressan object or practice the period took for granted

low slippers

soft light shoesan object or practice the period took for granted

flushed

red and hot

the lace

the fine patterned net cloth

mantilla×2

a lace scarf worn over the shouldersan object or practice the period took for granted

severe

strict

utter

say

prim

stiff and proper

monstrosity

ugly thing (a joke about the doll)

the undergraduate

the university student

eldest

oldest

niece

daughter of his brother or sister

drawing room×2

the best sitting room, where guests are welcomedan object or practice the period took for granted

mirth

fun and laughter

Evidently×2

clearly

impetuosity and enthusiasm

quick, eager feeling

blushed

went red in the face

cracked

broken open

nimble

quick and light

Mamma

Mother

vexed

annoyed