War and Peace

False friends7 entries

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

the porter

the servant who guards the front door

rose×2

stood up

quite just

quite fair and true

ministers

the Emperor's highest officials

great people

important, powerful people

big people

important people

relation

relative

Idioms56 entries

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

gave orders to admit no more

told the servants to let no more visitors in

had not seen properly

had not had a real talk with

drew her chair nearer

pulled her chair closer

quite frank

completely honest

I so value your friendship

your friendship means so much to me

evidently not a favorite

clearly not the child she loved best

roused no pleasant feeling

gave no pleasant feeling

in defense

to protect them

getting warmer

getting angrier

I have nothing to complain of

I have no reason to be unhappy

in a mortified voice

in a hurt, ashamed voice

much in vogue

very popular

in the special sense they attached to it

with their own special meaning

very stinging

very hurtful

as much as you please

as much as you want

at any rate

at least

run after a young man before visitors

chase a young man in front of guests

produced such an irritating and unpleasant effect

made people feel so annoyed and uncomfortable

evidently unmoved

clearly not upset at all

still colder and calmer

even colder and more calm

my life is not all roses either

my life is not all easy and happy either

Don’t I know that

I know very well that

at the rate we are living

spending so much, as we do

our means won’t last long

our money will not last long

It’s all the Club and his easygoing nature

it is the fault of the club where my husband spends money, and his careless ways

in the country

at our country house

do we get any rest?

we get no rest at all

heaven knows what besides

and many other things too

I often wonder at you

you often amaze me

get things settled

get everything arranged

to distraction

so much it is hard to think of anything else

with a certain pride

with some pride

desires an interview with

wishes to meet

to interest himself for him

to help him

at once×2

immediately

put the matter before the Emperor

asked the Emperor about it

all the humiliation she had endured

all the shame she had suffered

to gain her end

to get what she wanted

aged much

grown much older

He paid me attentions

he showed that he liked me, as a young man shows a girl

overflowing with amiability

full of kindness

His position has not turned his head

his high place has not made him proud

my affairs are in such a bad way

my money matters are so bad

dropping her voice

speaking more quietly

makes no progress

does not move forward

I am in such a state

I am so upset

allow him something for his maintenance

give him a regular sum of money for his needs

leave something to Borís

give Borís money in his will, when he dies

speak to him straight out

tell him plainly

Let people think what they will of me

let people think whatever they like about me

it’s really all the same to me

it truly does not matter to me

when my son’s fate is at stake

when my son's future depends on it

make the most of time

use every minute well

saw her to the door

walked with her to the door

If he is better

if the sick old count is better

distinguishes himself

does a fine job

Phrasal verbs5 entries

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

copying out some verses

writing down a poem

interfere with

bother

bestowed on

given to

put in

said

thrown away

wasted

Noun phrases6 entries

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

so little tact

so little sense of what to say or do

guilty, happy faces

faces both happy and a little ashamed

such a diplomat

so careful to please everyone

a widow without means

a woman whose husband has died, with no money

a fine fellow

a good man

literally not a penny

truly no money at all

Words from other languages1 entry

tête-à-tête

French: private, just the two of them

Old word forms1 entry

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

to whom did you apply

whom did you ask for help

Words39 entries

In the order you will meet them.

to congratulate

to wish mother and daughter well on the day of the saint they are named after

tear-worn

tired from much crying

eldest

oldest

handsome×3

good-looking

contemptuously

as if she thought them silly

Mamma×2

Mother

scornfully

mockingly

ceased

stopped

apparently

it seemed

the inkstand×2

the pot of ink for dipping a penan object or practice the period took for granted

dipping his pen

putting his pen into the inkan object or practice the period took for granted

drawing room×2

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

lingered

did not leave

gently

softly

affectionate

loving

tiresome

annoying

flirt

try to win his love in a playful way

the nursery

the children's rooman object or practice the period took for granted

the looking glass

the mirroran object or practice the period took for granted

Theatricals

home plays acted by family and friendsan object or practice the period took for granted

hunting

chasing wild animals on horseback

astonishing

amazing

That lawsuit

that long fight in the courts

a cab

a hired horse carriagean object or practice the period took for granted

an officer in the Guards

an officer among the Emperor's best soldiersrank

a cadet

a soldier training to become an officerrank

enthusiastically

with great excitement

wretched

miserable

lawsuit

fight in the courts

to equip

to buy the uniform and things needed for

five hundred rubles

a large sum of Russian moneymoney

twenty-five-ruble note

a single piece of paper money, a small summoney

pondered

thought deeply

tremendous

huge

a burden

a heavy load

grandees

rich, important nobles

dine×2

have dinner

anteroom

entrance room

the anteroom

the entrance room

Words inside the phrases19 entries

These were explained above as part of a longer phrase. Here is what each one means on its own.

amiability

friendliness

bestowed

given

cadet

a young soldier in training

distinguishes

does very well

distraction

near madness

endured

suffered

equip

give the things needed

humiliation

deep shame

inkstand

a pot of ink

irritating

annoying

mortified

hurt and ashamed

nursery

the children's room

overflowing

too full

ruble

a unit of Russian money

rubles

Russian money

stinging

hurtful

tact

a sense of what not to say

unmoved

not upset

vogue

fashion