War and Peace

False friends2 entries

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

Just now

at the moment

queer

strange

Idioms70 entries

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

after all

in the end

never favorably disposed toward him

never kind to him

to turn the count against him

to make the count dislike him

Pierre was received

Pierre was greeted

assumed precisely the same expression

made exactly the same face

a cheerful and lively disposition

a happy, lively nature

scarcely able to refrain from laughing

hardly able to stop herself laughing

only too well

very well, and I wish I did not

physically and mentally

in body and in mind

causing him annoyance

upsetting him

you will end very badly

things will go very badly for you

had not been disturbed

had been left alone

make menacing gestures at the wall

make threatening movements at the wall

running a sword through

stabbing with a sword

glaring savagely

staring fiercely

muttering indistinct words

saying unclear words quietly

shrugging his shoulders

lifting and dropping his shoulders

is done for

is finished

a traitor to the nation

someone who betrayed his country

is sentenced to

is punished by the court with

effected the dangerous crossing

made the dangerous trip across

had quite forgotten him

had completely forgotten him

impulsive and hearty

quick to act and warm

did not consider it necessary to introduce himself

did not think he needed to say who he was

without experiencing the least embarrassment

without feeling at all awkward

I didn’t know you at first

I did not recognise you at first

You are mistaken

you are wrong

now we know where we are

now everything is clear

make a mess of things

do everything badly

did not read the papers

did not read the newspapers

more occupied with

busier with

in his quiet ironical tone

in his quiet, gently mocking voice

for his companion’s sake

for the good of the young man he was talking to

the latter

the officer

he would afterwards regret

he would later be sorry for

distinctly, clearly, and dryly

plainly and coolly

to whom the count will leave his fortune

who will get the count's money when he dies

outlive us all

live longer than all of us

to himself

for Pierre

flushing slightly

going a little red

So it does

yes, it does seem that way

to avoid misunderstandings

so that you do not think wrongly of me

quite mistaken

completely wrong

if you reckon me

if you count me

for my own part at any rate

speaking for myself, at least

for the very reason that

precisely because

I don’t regard myself as a relation

I do not think of myself as family

neither I nor my mother

not I and not my mother

mingled shame and vexation

shame and annoyance mixed together

putting Pierre at ease

making Pierre feel comfortable

make it a rule

always choose

relieved himself of an onerous duty

finished a heavy task

extricated himself from an awkward situation

got free of an uncomfortable moment

to have made your acquaintance

to have got to know you

get better acquainted

get to know each other better

been in to see the count

gone in to visit my father, the old count

manage to get an army across

succeed in taking an army over the sea

being of the same mind

wanting the same

the princess was going

Anna Mikháylovna was leaving

to make Borís’ better acquaintance

to get to know Borís better

piercing an imaginary foe

stabbing an enemy who is not there

at the remembrance of

remembering

one who leads a lonely life

someone who lives alone, with few friends

cost me what it may

however hard it is for me

I can’t think why

I cannot understand why

to prepare him

to make him ready for death

in a dreadful state

in a terrible condition

said the mother to her son

said Anna Mikháylovna to Borís

what is his attitude to Pierre

how does he feel about Pierre

our fate also depends on it

what happens to us rests on it too

Phrasal verbs15 entries

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

She drew her wool down

she pulled her thread down

make out the pattern

see the pattern clearly

settled in

began to live there

sent for Pierre

asked Pierre to see him

pacing up and down

walking back and forth

will come off badly

will lose

went on

continued

to get something out of

to get some money from

I have spoken out fully

I have said everything openly

to speak out

to say what I think

calming down

becoming calm

sent for me

asked to see me

made up his mind

decided

saw the princess off

walked Anna Mikháylovna to the door

put it off

keep delaying it

Noun phrases13 entries

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

riotous conduct

wild, noisy behaviour

low but ringing laughter

quiet but clear laughter

an invisible foe

an enemy who is not there

the rights of man

people's freedoms

pronounce Pitt’s sentence

say what punishment Pitt would get

a friendly smile

a kind, open smile

a considerable pause

a long silence

such an age

so long ago

tone or attitude

voice or manner

a wonderful fellow

a wonderful man

the advantages and disadvantages

the good and bad sides

an unaccountable tenderness

a warm liking he could not explain

hardly a sufficient reason

not a good enough reason

Words from other languages2 entries

Adieu

French: goodbye

Adieu, ma bonne

French: goodbye, my dear lady

Old word forms5 entries

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

the ladies about his father

the ladies around his father

One has so many relatives

a person has so many relatives

what answer am I to take

what answer shall I bring to them

I should not have had the courage

I would not have been brave enough

that you should have suspected me

that you thought I believed such things of you

Words53 entries

In the order you will meet them.

a career

a line of work for life

expelled

sent away

escapade

wild adventure

nevertheless

even so

drawing room

the best sitting rooman object or practice the period took for granted

embroidery frames

wooden frames that hold cloth tight while it is sewn with patternsan object or practice the period took for granted

eldest

oldest

embroidering

sewing patterns

rosy

pink-cheeked

a little mole

a small dark spot on the skin

evoked

caused

she foresaw

she expected to see

the canvas

the cloth

stooped

bent down

awkwardly

without grace

unabashed

not at all ashamed

apparently×2

it seems

sufferings

pains of the mind

outright

completely

beef tea

hot meat broth for the sickan object or practice the period took for granted

evidently

clearly

the mole

the dark spot on her lip

spectacles×2

glasses

resuming

starting again

gesticulating

waving his arms about

scowling

frowning angrily

unseen

who was not there

well-built

strong and well-shaped

exclaimed×2

said loudly

joyfully

happily

deliberately

slowly and clearly, on purpose

sarcastic

mocking

feasible

possible

scandal

shocking gossip

chiefly

mostly

good-natured

kind

sincerely

truly

horrid

nasty

inadvertently

without meaning to

disconcerting

upsetting

seized

grabbed

clumsy

awkward

blushing

going red

offended

hurt the feelings of

splendid

wonderful

footman

male servantan object or practice the period took for granted

to summon

to call

affectionately

warmly

resolute

firm and sure

tearful

wet with tears

dreadful

terrible

Mamma×2

Mother

The will

the paper that says who gets his money after death