War and Peace

False friends8 entries

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

assumed×2

changed to

rose×3

stood up

in their intercourse with

in their talk and dealings with

started

jumped a little in surprise

starting

leaving for the war

the country

the countryside, far from the city

about to rise

about to stand up

experienced

felt this myself

Idioms26 entries

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

How is it

why is it

you have no sense about women

you do not understand women at all

touched her to the quick

hurt her in her most tender feelings

don’t in the least

do not at all

you shall judge between us

you must decide which of us is right

Here he is

look, he is already

well received

welcomed warmly

gave no reply

said nothing

don’t speak of his going

do not talk about him leaving

I won’t hear it spoken of

I will not let anyone talk about it

plainly ill-suited to

clearly wrong for

a shudder ran down her back

she shook with fear

Just for a whim of his own

only because of a sudden wish of his

goodness only knows why

nobody can tell why

all the same

even so

You had better go

you should go now

all at once

suddenly

distorted by a tearful grimace

twisted as she began to cry

have no pity for me

do not feel sorry for me at all

above all

most of all

still more

even more

unable to bear the sight of tears

finding it too painful to see someone cry

An outsider is out of place here

someone not in the family should not be here

distress yourself

make yourself unhappy

caught him by the hand

took hold of his hand to stop him

a winning and piteous look

a sweet look that begged for pity

Phrasal verbs6 entries

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

settling down

sitting down comfortably

broken off

ended suddenly

locks me up

sends me away to live alone

not taking his eyes off

looking all the time at

looked over

looked above the top of

went on

kept talking

Noun phrases3 entries

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

a most brilliant position

a very fine and important job

the family circle

the close family at home

a gesture of despair

a movement showing she had lost all hope

Words from other languages2 entries

Monsieur Pierre×2

French: Mister Pierre, a polite way to name him

“Mon Dieu, mon Dieu!”

French: My God, my God!

Old word forms5 entries

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

There

a cry meaning: you see, I was right

before Pierre

in front of Pierre

now at him and now at her

first at him, then at her, again and again

I have long wanted

for a long time I have wanted

changed so to me

become so different towards me

Words45 entries

In the order you will meet them.

The rustle

the soft brushing sound

drawing room

big front room where guests were metan object or practice the period took for granted

her gown

her long formal dressan object or practice the period took for granted

a house dress

a simpler dress for wearing at homean object or practice the period took for granted

fresh and elegant

clean-looking and beautiful

briskly and fussily

quickly, and with a lot of small movements

the easy chair

the soft comfortable armchairan object or practice the period took for granted

argumentative

always ready to argue

fellow

man

embarrassment

shy awkward feeling

Evidently

Clearly

Uncle’s aide-de-camp

the officer who carries messages and orders for her uncle, a generalan ordinary word the author has stipulated a meaning for

appreciated

valued

aide-de-camp to the Emperor

one of the officers who carry the Emperor's own messages and ordersan ordinary word the author has stipulated a meaning for

most graciously

very kindly, as a great man speaks to a lesser one

petulantly playful

playful, but with the moods of a spoiled child

the drawing room

the big front room where guests were metan object or practice the period took for granted

delightful associations

lovely friendships and parties

significantly

in a way that meant something

frigid politeness

good manners with no warmth at all

egotists

people who think only of themselves

gently

softly and kindly

querulous

complaining, with a whining sound

joyful

happy

squirrel-like×2

like a small wild animal that lives in trees

indecorous

not proper or polite

her pregnancy

the baby she is expecting

downy

covered in very soft fine hair

quivered

shook a little

shrugged

lifted and dropped his shoulders

spectacles

glasses worn on the nosean object or practice the period took for granted

naïve

simple, like someone who knows little of the world

exclaimed

said suddenly and loudly

conviction

firm belief

an invalid

a sick person

desist

stop

emphatically

strongly and firmly

agitated

upset and nervous

muttered×2

said quietly and unclearly

without restraining

without trying to stop

dryly

coldly, with no feeling

askance

sideways, with fear or doubt

timid

shy and afraid

deprecating

begging not to be blamed

courteously

very politely

Words inside the phrases18 entries

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

aide

a helper; an aide-de-camp is an officer who carries a general's orders

briskly

quickly and with energy

distress

trouble and pain

drooping

hanging down

entreaty

a strong request, begging

frigid

very cold, with no warmth

fussily

with many small nervous movements

gist

the main point

graciously

kindly, as an important person speaks to a lesser one

intercourse

talk and dealings between people

invalid

a person who is ill for a long time

petulantly

in a cross, sulking way

piteous

making people feel pity

restraining

holding back

shudder

a sudden shaking of the body

tearful

full of tears

wags

moves from side to side

whim

a sudden wish with no good reason