20 лучших повестей на английском / 20 Best Short Novels. Коллектив авторов

      5

      the Company – the East India Company formed in 1600 for the development of trade with India and Southeast Asia; later the Company became involved in politics as a British agent in the region

      6

      bureau – a writing desk with drawers

      7

      Macaulay – Thomas Bebington Macaulay (1800–1859); an English politician, historian and essayist; he is best known for his ‘History of England’

      8

      jugglers – persons who perform tricks to amuse people

      9

      attics – an attic is a space under the roof of the house

      10

      balusters – construction details supporting a handrail

      11

      hydrophobia – strong fear of water

      12

      medium – a person who is able to receive information from the spirits of the dead

      13

      mesmerizm – a sort of hypnotism; named after Franz Mesmer (1734–1815) who was the first to use hypnotic trance in medical treatment

      14

      mesmerize = hypnotize

      15

      mesmerizer = hypnotizer

      16

      Will-o’-the Wisp – a meteorological effect, a mysterious light seen over marshes due to ignition of methane, produced by the decomposition of plants

      17

      simulacra – pl. from simulacrum – shadowy likeness that is deceiving

      18

      phantasm – a phantom

      19

      phantom – a ghost, or smth. seen in a vision

      20

      larvae – insects in the first stage of their life cycle

      21

      Liverpool – a city and port in the historic county of Lancashire in northwestern England

      22

      Melbourne – an important city and port on the southeastern coast of Australia

      23

      Walworth – a historic village in Southwark, an inner borough of London; a borough is an incorporated town or district with special privileges.

      24

      mesmeric – hypnotic

      25

      rapport = relationship

      26

      en rapport = in close relationship

      27

      Paracelsus (1493–15410) – a Swiss doctor and alchemist who was the first to widely use the achievements of chemistry for treating patients

      28

      eidolon – a ghost or phantom (Greek)

      29

      Bacon – Francis Bacon (1561–1626), a famous English philosopher, statesman, essayist and speaker

      30

      Plato (428 BC–348 BC) – an ancient Greek philosopher, founder of the Academy; he was the pupil of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle.

      31

      the Almighty = God

      32

      crotchet – a strange and unreasonable idea

      33

      hobgoblins – in English and Scottish folklore, small malicious fairies which inhabit houses, mislead travelers, frighten people, spoil things, etc.

      34

      pentacle – a magic geometrical figure

      35

      vellum – parchment

      36

      anathema – a formal declaration of the Church condemning smb. or smth.; a curse

      37

      Somersetshire – a historic county in the southwest of England

      38

      Methodist – a member of the Methodist Church which separated from the Church of England in the 18th century and later developed into an autonomous church

      39

      chaise – a low carriage with two or four wheels

      40

      Cambridgeshire – a historic county in eastern England

      41

      brogue – a local way of speaking English; a dialect

      42

      was dead against smth. = was strongly against smth.

      43

      Providence – God or some power that intervenes in human lives and affairs of the world

      44

      the Eesraelites – the Israelites, people of Jewish origin, members of the twelve tribes of Israel; in the 10th century BC, ten tribes established the Kingdom of Israel, and two tribes the Kingdom of Judah

      45

      the West-end – the fashionable part of London known for its palaces, mansions, parks and shops

      46

      laudanum – a sedative made from opium

      47

      delusion – a false opinion that may be a symptom of madness

      48

      Metz –