Коллектив авторов - «Дракула» и другие лучшие мистические истории на английском

sent a round robin– a petition or protest, having the signatures in a circle (not to guess the order of signing)

Jack Sheppard– a famous London thief and gaol-breaker of the 18th century.

kick the beam —to be of light weight or of misguided judgment

virgin crants and maiden strewments– from William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet,’ Act 5, Stage 1.

perfeshunal subjucts– professional subjects

bloomin’ ’arf-quid– half-quid; quid = 1 pound.

dessay– dare say

‘bloomin’ good a bloke’ – jolly good fellow

chapelle ardente– burning chapel ( French ); a room where the corpse of a king or other high-rank person lies before the funeral service. The name is an allusion to the many candles lighted round the catafalque.

polyandrist– a woman who takes two or more husbands at the same time

‘bloofer lady’– apparently, the children mispronounced ‘beau-tiful.’

à deux mains– in two hands ( French )

Charcot– Jean-Martin Charcot (1825–1893), a French neurologist and professor of anatomical pathology, the founder of modern neurology

‘Old Parr’– Thomas Parr (1483 (supposedly) – 1635), an Englishman who was said to have lived for 152 years

pourparlers– discussions before negotiations ( French )

The Host– consecrated bread used in the Christian ceremony of the Eucharist

ex post facto– from after the action ( Latin ) is a law according to which the legal consequences of actions are changed in case the actions were committed before the enactment of the law.

‘ouse, guv’nor, is the rummiest —house, sir, is the most peculiar

Blyme– reduced form of ‘blind me,’ as ellipsis from ‘God blind me’; used to express surprise.

that took the cike– to take the cake = to beat all

non causa– a part of ‘non causa pro causa’ – non-cause for a cause ( Latin ), used when a cause is incorrectly identified

ignoratio elenchi– a mistake in presenting an argument that fails to address the issue in question

Chersonese —a name given to several different places in ancient times. Most probably, the Tauric Chersonese, ancient name for Crimea.

pabulum —food, nourishment ( Latin )

the Scholomance– a legendary school of black magic in Transylvania

In manus tuas, Domine– Into your hands, Lord ( Latin )

depite —deputy

new-fangled ware’us —newfangled warehouse

prig of the first water– a self-assured moralistic person who feels superior to the others

Enoch —a figure in the Generations of Adam, the great-grandfather of Noah

carnivora– mammals that include dogs, cats, raccoons, bears etc.

en règle —in due form ( French )

Festina lente– make haste slowly ( Greek )

Tally Ho! – A phrase, originating from hunting with hounds, when a follower sees the game (usually a fox).

Omme Ignotum pro magnifico. –The unknown seems grand in importance or difficulty. ( Latin )

enkeen– make more pressing

ptomaines– organic substance formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria, sometimes poisonous

particulari ad universale– from the particular to the universal ( Latin )

qua criminal —as being a criminal

speer– watch, spy

Gin we were nigh —when we were near

the Old Mon —the Old Man (Devil)

anent —concerned

porterage– the work of porters (carrying)

octroi– local tax

‘actinic’ rays– photo-chemically active rays (Pity they didn’t have cameras at that time!)

scout– servant in Oxford and some other universities

more’n= more than

Ixion —in Greek mythology the King of the Lapiths, who killed his father-in-law, and for that was bound by Zeus to a fiery wheel that kept revolving.

Herr Ollendorff —Heinrich Gottfried Ollendorff (1803–1865) was the author of the Latin textbook, the book that Crawford must have considered the most boring one.

locker which tradition ascribes to Davy Jones —sailor’s idiom ‘Davy Jones’s locker’ means the bottom of the sea, the resting place for those drowned or shipwrecked.

d – d =damned

Hermes —in Greek mythology Hermes was the messenger of the Gods.

Fire Island– one of the outer barrier islands parallel to Long Island, New York

there’s nobody on board as can keep this ’ere port shut at night. You can try it yourself, sir. I ain’t a-going to stop hany longer on board o’ this vessel, sir; I ain’t, indeed. – ’ere = here; ain’t – am not; hany – any

a hinch– an inch (common language)

’arf– half

horful– horrible

hinchantin’– enchanting

pick-me-up —an alcoholic drink for the nerves