Лучшие романы Томаса Майна Рида / The Best of Thomas Mayne Reid

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Anahuac – the part of Aztec Mexico (4,000 square km) where Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, was located

124

Phidias – the Greek sculptor of the 5th century BC who created the impressive images of the Greek gods; he supervised the construction of Parthenon and initiated a building program in Athens

125

Praxiteles – the greatest of the Greek sculptors of the 4th century BC; gentle charm and grace of his works greatly influenced the development of Greek sculpture

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éclaircissement – explanation (French)

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muslin – a thin cotton fabric; it was first made in Mosul, Iraq

128

Geehosofat – Jehoshaphat, king of Judah in the 9th century BC, who tried to centralize the country with the help of religious and legal reforms

129

cocina – kitchen (Spanish)

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chez soi-même – here: alone in her room (French)

131

Xeres – sherry, the wine of Spanish origin; the name comes from Jerez, the province in Andalusia

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Madeira – Portuguese fortified wine from the island of Madeira

133

hidalgo – a hereditary member of the gentry in Spain (Spanish)

134

Coahuila – a state in northern Mexico

135

éclat – magnificence (French)

136

belle – a beauty

137

majoress – wife of a major

138

douceur – here: gift (French)

139

Hibernian – Irish

140

caballeriza – stable (Spanish)

141

aurora – a morning star, the symbol of dawn; the Roman goddess of dawn

142

valet de tout – a manservant who looks after his master’s clothes, weapon, etc.

143

paraphernalia – numerous objects used for a certain activity or event

144

impedimenta – provisions, stores

145

Lucullus – Lucius Licinius Lucullus (117–56 BC), a Roman general; he is remembered for his extravagant and luxurious life and great feasts

146

manada – a herd (Spanish)

147

vidette – an observer (Spanish)

148

Hola! – Hello! (Spanish)

149

machete – a large heavy knife used both as a tool and weapon (Spanish)

150

tapis vert – a green carpet (French)

151

caracara – a large bird of a falcon group (Spanish)

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yegua pinta – here: a spotted mare (Spanish)

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en paz – at peace (Spanish)

154

braverie – bravery (French)

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sang froid – composure, coolness (French)

156

Hartford – the capital of Connecticut, located in the north-central part of the state, a major industrial and commercial centre, founded in 1635

157

corral – a trap for catching wild animals, or an enclosure for cattle and horses

158

embonpoint – plumpness, stoutness (French)

159

the Emerald Isle – Ireland (poet.)

160

stampede – a sudden rash of frightened animals or people

161

palthogue – here: an amusing speech

162

mésalliance – unequal marriage

163

presidio – a fortress (Spanish)

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General Zachariah Taylor (1786–1850) – the American general who took part in the Mexican War of 1846–1848; later he became the US president

165

Lethean – related to Lethe – in Greek mythology, the river in Hades that gives forgetfulness of the past

166

asterisks – marks used to call attention

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bivouac – a temporary camp, usually military

168

a Joseph – a chaste man; from Joseph, a biblical figure of the Old Testament

169

sotto voce – in a low voice (Italian)

170

with his arms akimbo – with hands on the hips and elbows outwards

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six-shooter – a revolver with six bullets

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ma bohil – my friend (Irish)

173

billet doux – a love letter (French)

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bravoes – brave men (Spanish)

175

salvo – salvation (Spanish)

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cuadrilla – a gang or band (Spanish)

177

salteadores – robbers (Spanish)

178

Helen – in Greek mythology, an extremely beautiful woman, the daughter of Zeus, and the cause of the Trojan War

179

siesta – rest or sleep in the afternoon, when it is very hot outside

180

rebozo, topado – a cape or a scarf (Spanish)

181

outré – exaggerated (French)

182

equestrienne – a horse woman (Spanish)

183

escalera – staircase (Spanish)

184

cared a straw – did not care at all (idiom)

185

Pandora’s box – in Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman made out of earth; she had a box with all kinds of evil and misery, and she opened it

186

haciendado – owner of the estate or the land (Spanish)

187

inamorata – a sweetheart, a beloved one (Spanish)

188

tomahawks – Indian weapons, small battle axes; to bury (entomb) a tomahawk means to achieve peace

189

desayuno – breakfast (Spanish)

190

almuerzo – lunch (Spanish)

191

comida – dinner (Spanish)

192

y cena – and supper (Spanish)

193

piazza – here: place, open place (Italian)

194

peccary – a wild swine

195

Seminole – North American Indian tribe, known under this name since 1775

196

sala – sitting-room (Spanish)

197

Siéntese! – Sit down! (Spanish)

198

Pesos in this very sentence mean dollars. Peso was a monetary unit in Mexico and many Spanish-speaking countries

199

Maldita! – Damn it! (Spanish)

200

Carrambo!, Carajo!, Carrai! = Deuce take it! (Spanish)

201

Santíssima Virgen! – Holy Virgin! (Spanish)

202

Adiós! – Goodbye! (Spanish)

203

chiripé – good luck (Spanish)

204

claco – a trifle (Spanish)

205

Viva la guerra de los Indios! – Long live the Indian war! (Spanish)

206

Houma – one of the North American Indian tribes

207

bayou Atchafalaya – Atchafalaya Bay, a part of the Gulf of Mexico along the southern coast of Louisiana

208

Condé – Louis II de Bourbon, Prince Condé (1621–1686), one of the greatest French generals of the times of King Louis XIV

209

the Campeador (1043–1099) – also called the Sid, the byname of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, Castilian national hero and military leader

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Ferdinand – Ferdinand II, king of Aragon and Castile; he united different Spanish kingdoms into one nation and supported Columbus’ expeditions to America

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Cortez – Hernán Cortés (1485–1547), Spanish conquistador who ruined the Aztec empire and expanded Spanish territories on the American continent

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Pizarro – Francisco Pizarro (1475–1541), Spanish traveller who led many successful expeditions in Central and South America, conquired the Inca empire and founded the city of Lima

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Malinché – also called Marina (1501–1550), an Indian princess; she was interpreter and mistress to Cortés during his conquest of Mexico

214

Eve – in the Bible, the first woman on earth, created from Adam’s rib by God; Adam and Eve lived happily in the Garden of Eden until Eve yielded to the temptation of the evil serpent

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Elysium – in Greek mythology, a land of perfect happiness, the paradise to which immortal heroes were sent after death

216

sylph – an imaginary soulless creature that lives in the air

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the old Scratch – the devil

218

Jehovah or Jahweh – in Judaism, the name of God; the name is thought too sacred to be said aloud

219

negligé – any kind of informal dress

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robe de chambre = dressing-gown (French)

221

reja – an iron or wooden grate (Spanish)

222

Hyperion – in Greek mythology, one of the Titans

223

Satyr – in Greek mythology, half man, half goat; Satyrs were associated with the god Dionysus and his cult

224

cottonade – cotton (Spanish)

225

patio – an inner courtyard in a Spanish American home

226

the Almighty – God; the Almighty God

227

saguan – here: gates (Spanish)

228

sangre – blood (Spanish)

229

Madre de Dios – the Holy Virgin, Mother of Jesus (Spanish)

230

Popish – Catholic

231

leperos – rascals (Spanish)

232

table-d’hôte – 1. a large dinner table for many people in hotels and restaurants; 2. a fixed menu at a fixed price

233

bon vivant – a person who enjoys life and lives to his/her own pleasure

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Scouts – rangers, reconnoiterers

235

carcass – a dead body of a human being or animal

236

phantasmagoria – fantastic, unreal pictures; ghostly images

237

Iberian – Iberian people used to live in the southeast of Spain; in the text, Iberian means Spanish

238

Aztecan – related to the Aztec people

239

Vandyke – Anthony Van Dyck (1599–1641), the most famous Flemish painter; beards and collars in the portraits by Van Dyck came into fashion under his name: Vandyke beard, Vandyke collar

240

cuartilla – the four of them (Spanish)

241

conpaisanos – here: compatriots (Spanish)

242

mezcal – a strong alcoholic drink (Spanish)

243

pueblita – a small settlement (Spanish)

244

Mein Gott – My God! (German)

245

Aguardiente – Mexican rum (Spanish)

246

musteños – mustangs (Spanish)

247

tasajo – here: meat

248

confrères – comrades, friends (French)

249

gringo – a contemptuous name for Americans in Latin American countries

250

Saurian – one of lizard species

251

Ochone! – Oh, my God! (Irish)

252

goblins – in European folklore, goblin is a malicious spirite attached to a household, who makes noise, disturbs people, punishes disobedient children, etc.

253

Ishmaelites – also called Medianites, in Old Testament, nomadic tribes living in the Arabic deserts and engaged in banditry

254

butt – a target of or for smth