2018-03-24 #Chapter20-21_The Help

这两章是读起来相对无趣的部分，也可能是因为有很多生词。我气不过，刚好周末，干脆就一个一个查出来。

It is tall and white-columned, appropriately azalea-ed.

1. azalea n. 杜鹃花 

这个词应该出现几次了，不过这里作者应该是把名词动用，和前面columned一样，用白柱子装扮的，这里表示用杜鹃花装扮的。

A gold plaque declares it a historical landmark.

2. plaque n. 匾；血小板；饰板

N-COUNT A plaque is a flat piece of metal or stone with writing on it which is fixed to a wall or other structure to remind people of an important person or event. (金属或石质的) 匾额

说明参议员大人家不但华贵，还有历史性意义。

Gas lanterns flicker despite the hot six o’clock sun.

3. flicker

vi. 闪烁；摇曳；颤动；扑动翅膀；假装昏倒

vt. 使闪烁；使摇曳

n. 闪烁；闪光；电影

V-I If a light or flame flickers, it shines unsteadily. 闪烁不定

这里明显是指煤油灯顶着烈日闪烁着，显示出一副了不起的样子。

flicker 还有颤动的意思，比如

But I see it, the flicker on her mouth, a hint of softness beneath her anger.

这里是说看到Minny嘴巴上的颤动，一丝温柔藏在她的气愤之下。

His belt is cinched too tight to be comfortable much less fashionable.

4. cinch 

n. 肚带；紧握；有把握的事情

vt. 紧握住；系肚带

We step into the foyer and the first thing I see is the chandelier, sparkling, gauzy with light.

5. foyer

n. 门厅，休息室；大厅

6. chandelier

n. 枝形吊灯

7. gauzy

adj. 薄的；纱似的；轻薄透明的

总之还是夸参议员家美。

I look down from my lollygagging.

8. lollygag 

V to loiter aimlessly 无所事事[美国英语]

查了词典这个词是指无所事事虚度光阴，想来想去想不通，看了英语解释豁然开朗，就是正瞎逛呢，然后往下看。

She has on a suit like mine, thankfully, but in crimson.

9. crimson

n. 深红色

adj. 深红色的

vt. 使变为深红色；脸红

vi. 变为深红色；脸红

She is almost my height in her peau de soie heels.

10. peau de soie

N. a rich reversible silk or rayon fabric 双面横棱缎

女主秀了一段法语来夸参议员夫人有钱有品位。

I gasp as a prong of her ring scratches my skin.

11. prong

vt. 刺；贯穿；翻掘

n. 耙子；叉状物

是不是很懵逼， The prongs of something such as a fork are the long, thin pointed parts.

这里就是说参议员夫人的戒指托挂着她了。

“There she is!” Behind Missus Whitworth, a tall, bull-chested man lumbers toward me.

12. lumber

vi. 伐木；喧闹地向前走；笨重地行动，缓慢地移动

vt. 砍伐木材；乱堆

n. 木材；废物，无用的杂物；隆隆声

我们熟知的意思是伐木、木材，这里指 move heavily or clumsily

参议员大人长了个牛胸，沉重地朝女主走来。然后给了个熊抱，这是后话。

Daddy follows and I cringe at the fine line of mud on the back of his shoe.

13. cringe

If you cringe at something, you feel embarrassed or disgusted, and perhaps show this feeling in your expression or by making a slight movement. 感到局促不安

One more swipe of the rag would’ve gotten it, but Daddy’s not used to wearing good loafers on a Saturday.

14. loafer

n. 乐福鞋；懒汉鞋

a low leather step-in shoe; the top resembles a moccasin but it has a broad flat heel

We move into a formal living room with ornate molding and green velvet settees, so full of heavy furniture I can hardly see the floor.

15. ornate

adj. 华丽的；装饰的；（文体）绚丽的

rich in decorative detail

16. molding

n. 模塑；铸造；装饰用的嵌线

17. settee

n. 有靠背的长椅；中型沙发

不用说，这都是参议员家才有的词。