War and Peace

False friends3 entries

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

company

the people in the room

the country

the countryside, away from the city

the society of

spending time with

Idioms54 entries

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

of medium height

neither tall nor short

firm, clearcut features

a strong, sharply drawn face

measured step

slow, even walk

offered a most striking contrast to

was completely different from

off to

leaving for

stressing the last syllable

putting the force of his voice on the last part

has been pleased to take me

has kindly agreed to take me

deprive us of

take away from us

took his arm

took hold of his arm

looked round

turned to look

expressing his annoyance

showing he was annoyed

in the great world

among the rich and fashionable people

in a low voice

quietly

excuse me

forgive me for leaving

deprives me of a pleasure

takes a pleasure from me

obliges me to

forces me to

the folds of her dress

the loose hanging cloth of her dress

still more

even more

Very

yes, very much

In passing

as he walked past

in society

among the fashionable upper class

take Pierre in hand

take charge of Pierre and teach him how to behave

rose hurriedly

stood up in a hurry

How about

what news is there about

betraying some impatience

showing he was impatient

What would it cost you to

How hard would it be for you to

say a word

ask the Emperor to help him

at once

immediately

appeal to

ask for help from

one of the best families in Russia

one of the highest-ranking noble families in the country

long been out of society

been away for years from the world of rich upper-class people and their parties

procure an appointment in the Guards

get her son made an officer among the Emperor's own soldiers

for God’s sake

words used to beg as hard as one can

regard you as

think of you as

classically molded

shaped like a Greek statue

on behalf of all who begged of him

for everyone who asked him

chary of

careful and unwilling about

indebted to

owing something to

the first steps in his career

his start in his career

will not rest

will not stop

gained their end

got what they wanted

make scenes

cause loud, embarrassing arguments in public

This last consideration moved him

This last thought persuaded him

Here is my hand on it

I give you my hand as a promise

on good terms with

friendly with

at rest

able to stop worrying

since his appointment as

since he was made

do promise×2

please, promise

at one time

long ago

came naturally to her

was easy and real for her

ill-suited to

did not match

by force of habit

because it was her old habit, without thinking

employed all the old feminine arts

used all the old tricks women use to charm men

resumed its former cold, artificial expression

went back to its earlier cold, false look

Phrasal verbs6 entries

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

screwing up his eyes

narrowing his eyes

screwed up his eyes

narrowed his eyes

came up

came close to him

holding him down by the sleeve

holding his sleeve to keep him seated

take back

carry home

made up their minds

decided

Noun phrases7 entries

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

the ambassador’s

the house of a foreign country’s chief representative

a connection of

a relative of

affectation of interest

pretended interest

my poor boy

my son, whom I am so sorry for

influential connections

friends with power

qualms of conscience

uneasy feelings of guilt

just a word

let me say one more thing

Words from other languages4 entries

aide-de-camp

an officer who works as a general’s personal assistant

André

the French form of Andrew

fete

a party

au revoir

goodbye, in French

Old word forms2 entries

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

said she×3

she said

I should advise you

I would tell you

Words67 entries

In the order you will meet them.

the drawing room

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

handsome

good-looking

weary

tired

expression

look on his face

evident

clear

tiresome

boring and annoying

wearied

tired

tedious

dull and boring

grimace

twisted, ugly look

distorted

twisted out of shape

scanned

looked quickly across

Prince

the title of a Russian nobleman of the highest rankrank

charming

delightful

addressing

speaking to

coquettish×2

flirting like a young girl

a tale

a story

affectionate

loving

frowned

made an angry face

beaming

shining with a wide smile

supper

the evening meal

disturb

interrupt

pressing

squeezing

rose

stood up

friendly

warm and kind

enchanting

delightful

shone

was shining

radiantly

brightly, with joy

gazed

looked long and steadily

rapturous

full of delight

seized

grabbed

overtook

caught up with

anteroom×2

the small outer room before the main room

assumed

pretended

kindly

kind

tear-worn

marked by much crying

anxiety

worry

remain

stay

reluctantly

without wanting to

ingratiating

meant to make him like her

appealing

asking for pity

the Emperor

the Tsar, the ruler of Russiarank

transferred×3

moved

the Guards

the best army units, the ones closest to the Emperor: a safer and higher place to servean object or practice the period took for granted

Princess

her title: a Russian princess is a lady of a noble family, not a king’s daughterrank

solely

only

obtained

got

reception

evening party

embittered

bitter, full of old anger

once handsome

good-looking when she was young

clutched

held tightly

entreat

beg

benefactor×3

a person who has done me a great kindness

kindhearted

kind and warm

Papa×2

Father

economized

spent carefully

familiarity

easy, friendly manner

weariness

being tired

devotion

being ready to do anything for you

faltered

spoke with a shaky pause

adjutant

an officer who assists a commander

pestered

bothered constantly

Commander in Chief

the head of the whole armyrank

conspired

secretly agreed together

adjutants

officers who assist a commander

cried

said loudly

careworn

worn out by worry

accomplished

done