War and Peace

False friends5 entries

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

Hollow

completely: they were beaten completely

his partner

the girl sitting beside him at dinner

concentrated

gathered again into two groups

cried

shouted

study

private work room

Idioms46 entries

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

forwarded by courier

sent by a special messenger

devoted to the service

loyal to the army

patriotically Russian

loving Russia as his own country

He resented

he was angered by

with particular emphasis

saying it especially strongly

the gist of the matter

the main point

characterized him

was typical of him

on firm foundations

so that it lasts

to despatch part of the army abroad

to send part of the army to other countries

to create a new condition

to take a new step

the attainment of that purpose

reaching that goal

with dignity

in a serious, proud way

for approval

hoping he would agree

puckering his brows

wrinkling his forehead

he knew what he was about

he knew exactly what he was doing

where are we to find

where can we find

down to the ground

perfectly

I just ask you that

tell me, what can anyone do?

he dwelt particularly on

he stretched out and stressed

with eyes and ears intent on

watching and listening closely to

I am quite of your opinion

I agree with you completely

with as much decision and desperation

as firmly and wildly

too enthusiastic and emphatic for the occasion

too excited and strong for a dinner

That’s fine

well said

exciting yourself

growing so angry and loud

I don’t fret

I do not worry

It is all in God’s hands

God decides what happens

God may spare you

God may keep you alive

carried the whole length of the table

could be heard all along the table

She half rose

she partly stood up

by a glance inviting

with a look asking

contralto notes

low sounds

a threatening and forbidding movement

a shake of the head to warn her

was hushed

went quiet

still more

even more

uncertain how to regard this sally

not sure what to think of this bold joke

You had better take care

be careful

with saucy gaiety

happy and a little rude

would be taken in good part

would not make anyone angry

she braved

she dared to face

in this fashion

in this way

only desisted

only stopped

served round

handed to every guest

clink glasses

touch glasses together in a toast

chairs scraped

chairs made a rough noise

with redder faces

with faces pinker from the wine

Phrasal verbs7 entries

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

flaming up

going red with feeling

shouted down the table

shouted along the table to the far end

rang out

sounded clearly

doubled up with laughter

bent over laughing

burst out laughing

suddenly laughed loudly

struck up

began to play

rushed about

hurried here and there

Noun phrases7 entries

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

the declaration of war

the official statement that war has begun

the unerring official memory

a perfect memory for government papers

sole and absolute aim

one and only goal

a tumbler of wine

a full glass of wine

a real hussar

a true horse soldier

reckless and joyous resolution

wild, happy decision

incredible boldness and smartness

how amazingly brave and quick she was

Words from other languages4 entries

Connaissez-vous le Proverbe

French: do you know the saying?

Cela nous convient à merveille

French: that fits us exactly

à plate couture

French: completely

Je vous demande un peu

French: tell me, what can anyone do?

Old word forms5 entries

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

as if in it lay

as if in that word was

has now decided him

has now made him decide

how do you judge of it

what do you think about it

as were others

the others knew it too

demanded of

asked sharply

Words54 entries

In the order you will meet them.

animated

lively

The colonel

a high army officer at the dinnerrank

the commander in chief

the general in charge of the whole armyrank

stout

fat

plethoric

red-faced and heavy

evidently

clearly

It is for the reasson, my goot sir

it is for this reason, sir; my good sir is a polite, stiff way to speak to a manEnglish respelled to carry an accent

for the reasson zat ze Emperor knows zat

because the Emperor knows thatEnglish respelled to carry an accent

ze manifessto

the Emperor's public statementEnglish respelled to carry an accent

he cannot fiew wiz indifference

he cannot watch without caringEnglish respelled to carry an accent

ze danger vreatening

the danger threateningEnglish respelled to carry an accent

ze safety and dignity of ze Empire

the safety and honour of the EmpireEnglish respelled to carry an accent

as vell as

as well asEnglish respelled to carry an accent

ze sanctity of its alliances

the holy duty to keep its promises to friendly countriesEnglish respelled to carry an accent

the manifesto

the Emperor's public statement

constitutes

is

Zat, my dear sir, is vy

that, sir, is why; my dear sir is a polite, stiff way to speak to a manEnglish respelled to carry an accent

now

take him, for example

proverb

old saying

Ve must vight

we must fightEnglish respelled to carry an accent

to the last tr-r-op of our plood

until every one of us is deadEnglish respelled to carry an accent

thumping×3

banging

ve must tie for our Emperor

we must die for our EmperorEnglish respelled to carry an accent

zen all vill pe vell

then all will be wellEnglish respelled to carry an accent

as po-o-ossible

as possible, said slowlyEnglish respelled to carry an accent

Zat is how ve old hussars

that is how we old horse soldiersEnglish respelled to carry an accent

zere’s an end of it

there is nothing more to sayEnglish respelled to carry an accent

a young hussar

a young horse soldierrank

wineglasses

glasses for wine

convinced

sure

conscious

aware

uttered

said

splendid

wonderful

blushed

went red

approvingly

to show he agreed

inquired

asked

the hussar×2

the horse-soldier colonelrank

I am speaking ze truce

I am speaking the truth, said with his German accentEnglish respelled to carry an accent

flushed

went red

Mamma×3

Mother

childish

young

audible

able to be heard

startled

surprised

mischief

a naughty joke

sternly

strictly

resolute

determined

frown

look angry

threateningly

as a warning

the elders

the older people

prank

joke

Ice pudding×2

a frozen sweet dessertan object or practice the period took for granted

pineapple ice

ice cream made with pineapplean object or practice the period took for granted

footmen

male servantsan object or practice the period took for granted

drawing room

the large room for guestsan object or practice the period took for granted