War and Peace

False friends4 entries

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

the general conversation

the talk everyone was having

a place and everything waiting for him

a job all ready for him

regarding him

looking at him

We have engaged an Italian

we have hired an Italian teacher

Idioms57 entries

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

not counting

apart from

a tender look in her eyes

a soft, loving look

veiled by long lashes

half hidden by long eyelashes

thick black plaits coiling twice round her head

thick black hair, woven into ropes and wound twice around her head

a tawny tint in her complexion

a warm golden-brown colour in her skin

graceful and muscular

smooth-moving and strong

By the grace of her movements

by the smooth, lovely way she moved

flexibility of her small limbs

how easily her small arms and legs bent

a certain coyness and reserve of manner

a shy, quiet way of behaving

which promises to become

which looks as if it will become

evidently considered it proper

clearly thought it right

in spite of herself

without meaning to

with such passionate girlish adoration

with such strong, young love

impose upon anyone

fool anyone

escape from the drawing room

get away from the best sitting room

addressing the visitor

speaking to the visitor

for friendship’s sake

because of their friendship

entering the military service

joining the army

in an inquiring tone

as if asking a question

war has been declared

the war has officially begun

that will be the end of it

nothing more will happen

there’s friendship for you

that is real friendship

on leave

on holiday from the army

It can’t be helped!

nothing can be done about it

evidently distressed him

clearly upset him

the flirtatiousness of a handsome youth

the playful way a good-looking young man tries to charm girls

feasting her eyes on him

looking at him with great pleasure

has turned all their heads

has filled all the young men with foolish dreams

engaged the smiling Julie in a confidential conversation

began a quiet, private talk with smiling Julie

In the midst of

in the middle of

restrain her tears

stop her tears

maintain the artificial smile

keep the false smile

How plainly

how openly

wear their hearts on their sleeves

show their feelings openly

a question no one had put

a question nobody had asked

had their full confidence

had them trust me completely

get into mischief

do something naughty

a boy can’t help it

a boy cannot stop himself

all the same×2

still

splendid, splendid youngsters

wonderful, wonderful young people

solved questions that seemed to him perplexing

found an answer to problems that puzzled him

Just fancy!

Just imagine!

concerned with a thought that always occupied her

thinking of something always on her mind

forbid it

tell her it is not allowed

on the sly

in secret

but as it is

but the way things are now

of her own accord

because she wants to

Perhaps I spoil her

perhaps I let her do as she likes too much

did not enhance Véra’s beauty

did not make Véra prettier

on the contrary

instead

unnatural, and therefore unpleasant, expression

false-looking, and so unpleasant, face

the visitors and countess alike

both the visitors and the countess

too clever with their eldest children

try too hard with their first children

What’s the good of denying it

why pretend it is not true

was too clever with Véra

tried too hard with Véra

took their leave

said goodbye

promising to return to dinner

saying they would come back later to eat dinner

Phrasal verbs13 entries

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

flaring up

suddenly getting angry

He always flares up!

he always gets angry so fast

glanced round at her

looked quickly back at her

had to go through

had to suffer

the bringing up

how children are raised

chimed in

added

Takes after me!

she is like me

went on

kept talking

be up to

do

brought up

raised

was well brought up

had been raised well

turned out splendidly

grown up very well

seen her guests out

walked her guests to the door

Noun phrases10 entries

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

slender little brunette

thin, graceful girl with dark hair

more energy

more strength and life

a shameful aspersion

an insult that would shame him

a smile of approbation

a smile that showed they liked what he said

his involuntary smile

the smile he did not mean to give

passionately angry glance

a look full of hurt anger

a dangerous neighborhood

a danger, because cousins living close may fall in love

my daughters’ first confidante

the first person my daughters tell their secrets to

impulsive nature

habit of acting without thinking

charming creature

sweet girl

Words from other languages1 entry

Cousinage—dangereux voisinage

French: cousins living close together is dangerous, since they may fall in love

Old word forms5 entries

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

It’s not at all from friendship

it is not at all because of friendship

one has

a mother like me has

that we might rejoice in them now

so that we can be happy about them now

One is always, always anxious!

a mother is always, always worried!

What’s one to do

what can anyone do

Words41 entries

In the order you will meet them.

drawing room

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

countess×7

the lady of the house, a noble ladyrank

eldest

oldest

the niece

the daughter of a brother or sister of the count or countess

softness

how gentle

count×8

a nobleman, the master of the houserank

the hussars

soldiers who fight on horsebackrank

declared

said firmly

vocation

the work I am meant to do

the colonel

the commanderrank

shrugging

lifting and dropping

playfully

lightly, as a joke

Papa

Father

diplomat

a man who speaks for his country with other countries

government clerk

office worker in the government

gambols

playful jumping

kittenish

playful

rose from an ensign

went up from the lowest officer rankrank

sarcastic

mocking

The elders

the older people

dull

boring

tender

soft, loving

flattered

pleased by her praise

coquettish

flirting

blushed

went red

unnaturally

in a forced way

animation

bright, happy energy

vanished×2

disappeared

distressed

worried

the brightness

the happy, lively feeling

suffering

pain

anxiety

worry

evidently

clearly

severe

strict

utters

says

stricter

more severe

handsome

good-looking

appropriate

right for the moment

awkward

uncomfortable

exceptional

very special

winking

quickly closing one eye as a friendly sign