War and Peace

False friends12 entries

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

society×2

the rich and important families who all know each other

small receptions

small evening parties

conducted×2

led

some work

some sewing

down

fine soft hair

peculiar

her own

in her company

with her, near her

my work

my sewing

reception×2

party

an intimate acquaintance

a close friend

rejoined

replied

flag

grow weak and stop

Idioms12 entries

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

all the more sweetly

and because of that it rose in a way that looked even prettier

addressing all present

speaking to everyone in the room

Mind

take note

played a wicked trick on me

tricked me in a mean way

heavily built

with a big, solid body

in spite of

even with

could only have reference to

could only be about

It is very good of you

how kind of you

attend to her duties

do the work the lady of the house must do

set the hands to work

started the workers on their jobs

set it in proper motion

get it turning properly again

fond of doing

love to do

Phrasal verbs7 entries

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

drew it down

pulled it down

spreading out her dress

arranging her skirt around her as she sat

came over her face

appeared on her face

look round

keep looking at everything around him

get away

leave the conversation

goes round

walks from one to another

moved about

walked here and there

Words from other languages3 entries

la femme la plus séduisante de Pétersbourg

the most attractive woman in Petersburg, the Russian capital, said in French

Soyez tranquille, Lise

Don’t worry, Lise, said in French; Lise is the little princess’s name

the abbé

the priest

Old word forms4 entries

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

said she

she said

for

because

most

very

amid

in the middle of

Words81 entries

In the order you will meet them.

drawing room

the large room where guests are receivedan object or practice the period took for granted

assembled

gathered

differing

different

ball dress

a long dress for a dancean object or practice the period took for granted

youthful

young

large gatherings

parties with many people

most

more than any other

gravely

seriously

bows

tied loops

ribbon

narrow band of cloth

cap

an old lady’s indoor head coveringan object or practice the period took for granted

ceremony

the same fixed set of polite words and actions every time

greeting

saying hello to

greetings

words of welcome

relief

the good feeling when something hard is over

vexatious

annoying

gold-embroidered

stitched with gold thread

velvet

soft thick cloth

perceptible

just visible

charming

lovely, easy to like

thoroughly

completely

defect

fault

shortness

being too short

brightened

looked happier

carrying her burden so lightly

carrying the child so easily, without seeming tired or heavydeliberate indirection the period required

dull

boring

dispirited

tired and sad, with no energy left

constant

never stopping

gleam

flash of light

amiable

friendly

swaying

moving from side to side

workbag

the bag for her sewingan object or practice the period took for granted

gaily

in a happy, bright way

sofa

long soft seat

silver samovar

the tall metal water heater Russians keep on the table for making teaan object or practice the period took for granted

displaying

showing

hostess×3

the lady giving the party

short-waisted, lace-trimmed, dainty gray dress

a light gray dress in the style of that time, gathered high up under the chest instead of at the middle, with fine edging full of tiny holesan object or practice the period took for granted

prettier

more beautiful

wretched

horrible

delightful

lovely

arrivals

people arriving

stout

fat

close-cropped

cut very short

spectacles

glasses

breeches

knee-length trousersan object or practice the period took for granted

fashionable

popular

a very high ruffle

a collar of folded, wavy cloth standing up highan object or practice the period took for granted

dress coat

a man’s formal jacket, short at the front, with two long tails hanging at the backan object or practice the period took for granted

illegitimate

born outside marriage

grandee

one of the highest lords in Russiarank

greeted

said hello to

observant

noticing everything

Monsieur Pierre

Monsieur is the French Mr; the whole room speaks Frenchrank

exchanging

giving each other

alarmed

worried

glance

quick look

murmured

said very quietly

unintelligible

impossible to understand

bowed

made the polite forward bend of head and body

pleased

glad

justified

right, and with good reason

Her Majesty’s

the Empress’s; Her Majesty is the polite way of naming herrank

dismay

worry and shock

detained

kept there

feasible

able to be done

bent

held low

abbé’s

priest’s

chimerical

a fantasy that could never work

resumed

started again

notices

sees

spindle

the turning rod that winds the threadthe working vocabulary of a trade or field

creaks

makes a thin, high sound as it turns

hastens

goes quickly

her drawing room

the big front room where she meets her visitorsan object or practice the period took for granted

rearrangement

change in who stands where

these cares

these worries

evident

clear to see

toyshop

shop full of toys

refined

elegant, with fine manners

profound

deep

Words inside the phrases22 entries

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

accorded

gave, as something owed to a person

conversational

having to do with people talking together

dainty

small, pretty and delicate

femme

French for woman

foreman

the worker who is in charge of the others

girdled

tied round the middle with a band

hierarchy

an order that puts some people above others

impatience

the feeling of not wanting to wait any longer

impoliteness

bad manners

invalid

a person who is ill for a long time and needs care

lace

fine cloth with a pattern of tiny holes

maid

a young woman who is not married

mournful

very sad

perpetual

going on for ever, never ending

ruffle

a band of cloth gathered into folds at the neck

samovar

a metal urn that Russians keep hot to make tea

solemn

serious and quiet, as at a funeral

séduisante

French for very attractive

tranquille

French for calm

trimmed

finished at the edges with something pretty

waisted

made to fit at the middle of the body

wicked

very bad, and meaning harm