War and Peace

False friends11 entries

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

his study

his private work room

society

the rich, important families

fresh

young and healthy-looking

intended

future husband

His favorite occupation

the thing he liked doing most

some important relation

some important family member

to entertain

to talk with and amuse

rose×2

stood up

fearless and gay

not afraid and happy

assuming

using

the game

the dish of wild birds and animals

Idioms88 entries

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

his choice collection of Turkish pipes

his fine set of long smoking pipes from Turkey

distinguished not for wealth or rank

famous not for money or high position

wondered at her

were amazed by her

without exception

every one of them

neither smoked nor talked

did not smoke and did not talk

with evident pleasure

clearly enjoying it

as if quite at home

as if he were in his own house

inhaling the smoke spasmodically

breathing in the smoke in short jerks

condescending to

treating as less important than himself

The latter×2

the second of the two men

irreproachably washed, brushed, and buttoned

perfectly clean and neat

that of listener

listening

at one another

arguing with each other

laughing ironically

laughing in a mocking way

a peculiarity of his speech

an odd habit of his talk

make something out of your company

earn money from the soldiers you command

with great precision

very exactly

no direct bearing on himself

nothing to do with him

put out of countenance

embarrassed

I should get not more than

I would get no more than

as it is

as things are

the chief desire of everyone else

what everyone else wanted most

exchanging into the Guards

moving to the Emperor's own special army units

vacancies occur much more frequently

higher posts become free much more often

emitting a smoke ring

blowing out a ring of smoke

A German knows how to skin a flint

a German can get money even out of a stone, he is so careful

oblivious of irony or indifference

not noticing that people mocked him or did not care

gained a step on

moved ahead of

as senior in the company

as the officer who had served longest in his group

succeed to the post

be given that job

so prettily sedate

so calm and proper

the naïveté of his youthful egotism

his simple, young way of thinking only of himself

that I’ll warrant

I promise you that

not at all impatient for their food

not at all eager to eat

at dinnertime

just as dinner was about to be served

in monosyllables×2

in one-word answers

the affair with the bear

the joke in which he tied a policeman to a bear

exchanged glances with

looked meaningfully at

as he had the countess

the same way he had answered the countess

was heard on all sides

could be heard all around

Herself

yes, it's me

Tall and stout

tall and heavy

feeling dull

feeling bored

a scamp of a girl

a naughty girl

at once

immediately

addressed herself to

turned to speak to

Eh, eh, friend! Come here a bit

a sweet, teasing call for him to come close for a moment

still higher

even further

in a childlike way

like a child

Come nearer

come closer

when he was in favor

when important people liked him

on his deathbed

dying

amuses himself

has fun

setting a policeman astride a bear

putting a policeman on a bear's back

gave her hand to

reached her hand toward the count so that he could take it

could hardly keep from laughing

was trying hard not to laugh

we were at table

we sat down to dinner

on the arm of

walking arm in arm with

a man of importance to them

an important man for the family

was to go

would soon leave

to the regiment

to his army unit

Berg gave his arm to Véra

the young officer Berg went arm in arm with Véra, the oldest daughter

chairs scraped

chairs made a rough noise on the floor

the strains of the count’s household band

the music of the count's own musicians

not neglecting his own

and not forgetting to fill his own

in turn

she too

without omitting her duties

while still doing everything she must

threw significant glances

gave meaningful looks

by their redness

by being so red

louder and louder

more and more loudly

as a pattern

as an example to copy

not an earthly but a heavenly feeling

a feeling from heaven, not from this world

without omitting a single dish

trying every one of the dishes

These latter

the wines

thrust mysteriously forward

pushed forward in a secret way

as the case might be

whichever it was

engraved with the count’s monogram

cut with the count's initials

at random

without choosing

with ever-increasing amiability

more and more friendly

that same look fell on Pierre

she looked at Pierre the same way

inclined to laugh

wanting to laugh

tormented by jealousy

suffering because he paid attention to another girl

now she turned pale, now blushed

at one moment she went white, the next red

strained every nerve

tried as hard as she could

to resent any slight

to be offended by any small insult

He frowned

he pulled his eyebrows together, annoyed

to quench his thirst

to stop being thirsty

a conscientious desire for knowledge

a careful wish to learn

Phrasal verbs18 entries

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

egged on

urged to argue

screwing up his eyes

squeezing his eyes almost shut

put a little aside

save a little

he went on

he continued

burst out laughing

suddenly laughed loudly

you’ll get along

you will do well

come across

found

went on

kept

as if rolling them up

as if getting ready to work hard

she went on

she continued

came up

walked over

tucked up her sleeves

pushed up her sleeves, as if ready for work

struck up in the gallery

began to play on the balcony

held him up

pointed to him

went on to

then ate

held out one

lifted one glass toward the butler to be filled

put upon the children

done to the children

passed him by

went past without offering him any

Noun phrases19 entries

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

common sense

good judgment

frank plainness of speech

speaking plainly and honestly

none the less

even so

an old bachelor

an older man who never married

a sharp tongue

a habit of saying clever, hurtful things

the choicest French phrases

the finest French words

a more prominent position

a better place, more easily noticed

squares matters

makes the sums even

his old comrades

his old friends

foot or horse

with foot soldiers or horse soldiers

clumsy, modest fellow

awkward, shy man

such a prank

such a wild joke

gray curls

curly gray hair

my evident duty

clearly my duty

expectant of

waiting for

an even chatter

a steady sound of talk

Rhine wine

a white wine from a river valley in Germany

a company smile

a polite smile for guests

his people

his family

Words from other languages7 entries

le terrible dragon

French: the terrible dragon, a joking name because she is so fierce

mon très honorable

French: my most honourable, said as a joke

Vous comptez vous faire des rentes sur l’état

French: you expect to earn a living from the government

La balance y est

so what he earns and what he spends are equal — French

Hors d’oeuvres.

the writer's note: French for small starter dishes

Oui, madame

French: yes, madam

Non, madame

French: no, madam

Old word forms3 entries

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

was to travel

was going to travel

Were I in the cavalry

if I were a soldier on horseback

what is to be done

what can anyone do

Words86 entries

In the order you will meet them.

drawing room×3

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

privately

in secret

rudenesses

rude remarks

count×8

master of the houserank

a manifesto

an official public statement from the Emperor

the recruiting

the gathering of new soldiers

sallow

with yellowish, unhealthy skin

clean-shaven

with no beard

civilian

man not in the army

wrinkled

with many small folds in the skin

an amber mouthpiece

the end of the pipe, made of hard yellow tree resinan object or practice the period took for granted

countess×8

the lady of the house, a noble ladyrank

rosy×2

pink-cheeked

officer of the Guards

an officer in the Guards, the Emperor's own best army unitsrank

gently

softly

regiment

large group of soldiers

attentively

carefully

boston

an old card gamean object or practice the period took for granted

loquacious talkers

people who love to talk

an income

a regular sum of money

the cavalry

soldiers on horseback

the infantry

soldiers on foot

circumstantially

in great detail

two hundred rubles every four months

a small pay of two hundred in Russian money, three times a yearmoney

lieutenant

a junior officerrank

joyful

happy

two hundred and thirty rubles

two hundred and thirty in Russian money, his pay every four monthsmoney

winking at

quickly closing one eye at

wartime

a time of war

the company commander

the officer leading his group of soldiersrank

the regiment

the army unit

evidently×2

clearly

narrating

telling

patting

gently tapping

joyously

happily

assembled

gathered

host and hostess

the count and countess

awkwardly

in an uneasy, uncomfortable way

naïvely

like a simple child

spectacles×2

glasses

stout

heavy

lately

recently

inappropriately

at the wrong moment

conversing

talking

charming

lovely

the ballroom

the big room for dancingan object or practice the period took for granted

unmarried

not married

surveying

looking around at

leisurely

slowly, taking her time

full-toned

deep and strong

stroked

gently rubbed

pear-shaped ruby earrings

earrings with red jewels shaped like pearsan object or practice the period took for granted

reticule

handbagan object or practice the period took for granted

beamed

smiled brightly

ominously

in a threatening way

for

because

a prelude

a beginning

a colonel of hussars

the commander of a group of soldiers on horsebackrank

tutors, and governesses

teachers who live with the familyan object or practice the period took for granted

singly

one by one

The footmen

the male servantsan object or practice the period took for granted

clatter

rattling noise

footmen

male servants who serve at table

the hussar colonel

the horse-soldier commanderrank

Midway

Halfway

governesses

women teachers for the childrenan object or practice the period took for granted

crystal decanters

fine glass bottles for winean object or practice the period took for granted

fruit vases

tall bowls for fruitan object or practice the period took for granted

busily

eagerly

hostess

the lady giving the dinner

the colonel of hussars

the horse-soldier commanderrank

flushed

red in the face

tender

loving

turtle with savory patties

turtle soup with small meat piesan object or practice the period took for granted

the butler

the chief male servantan object or practice the period took for granted

Dry Madeira

a strong wine, not sweet, from the island of Madeiraan object or practice the period took for granted

Hungarian

a wine from Hungary

gazing

looking

involuntary

that he could not help

to overhear

to hear, though they were not speaking to her

The governess

the woman teacher who lives with the familyan object or practice the period took for granted

uneasily

nervously

The German tutor

the German teacher who lives with the familyan object or practice the period took for granted

offended

hurt and upset

mortified

deeply embarrassed

greediness

wanting too much