英语学习问答：（UK)Queen's sadness over Afghan deaths

smithrock：

The Queen has expressed her sadness at the heavy death toll suffered by British forces fighting in Afghanistan, during her Christmas message to the nation.

The stoicism showed by bereaved service families, who have seen more than 100 loved ones die during military operations this year, was praised by the monarch who offered them her sympathy.

The sovereign said Britain owed a profound "debt of gratitude" to all past and present troops who have served in Afghanistan.

The town of Wootton Bassett, which has come to symbolise the nation's respect for fallen servicemen, was featured in the broadcast.

Touching footage was shown of the July day when eight military coffins passed through the Wiltshire town which came to a standstill to honour the dead.

Echoing her famous 1992 Guildhall speech, when the the Queen labelled that year an "annus horribilis", the monarch described how some years are "best forgotten".

She highlighted how the past 12 months had brought problems for many, especially those affected by the recession.

The Queen said in her television address: "Each year that passes seems to have its own character. Some leave us with a feeling of satisfaction, others are best forgotten. 2009 was a difficult year for many, in particular those facing the continuing effects of the economic downturn.

"I am sure that we have all been affected by events in Afghanistan and saddened by the casualties suffered by our forces serving there. Our thoughts go out to their relations and friends who have shown immense dignity in the face of great personal loss."

As she said these words images were shown of the hearses carrying the remains of the eight soldiers. They were watched by thousands lining the route and a woman was briefly featured throwing flowers at the passing cortege. The servicemen were killed a few days before during the Army's bloodiest 24 hours in Afghanistan.

wyd2008问：

The stoicism showed by bereaved service families

was praised by the monarch 

Touching footage 

which came to a standstill ???to honour the dead. 

labelled that year an "annus horribilis

saddened by the casualties 

the hearses

答：

bereave:剥夺。bereaved:被剥夺的。 什么被剥夺了呢？亲人被剥夺了。就是有亲属死了。

service family：英国的军人叫service man，为国家服务嘛。所以service family就是军人家属的意思。

monarch： 大独裁者。英国谁是大独裁者呢？自然是女王啦。所以monarch是君主的意思，这里指英女王伊丽莎白2世。

footage：人脚？不对，是电影的脚。所以指电影或者视频的片段。

annus horribilis：这个东西嘛，太太有文化背景了，非英国人不知道是应该的。这里是解释：

Meaning： A horrible year.

Origin：Derived from the Latin phrase 'annus mirabilis' - year of wonders (or miracles). Recorded since the mid 1980's but brought into popular use after Queen Elizabeth II used it to describe 1992 - the year that the marriages of her two sons Charles and Andrew broke down and Windsor Castle caught fire.

casualty：伤亡。这里指英军参加阿富汗战争中的伤亡。

其它几个词查词典就可以了。

还有一个standstill，跟文化背景有关，估计不解释查词典也不明白意思。

stand：站着。

still：静止的（形容词）

standstill：站着不动。

... the Wiltshire town which came to a standstill to honour the dead.

整个镇子站着不动。这是什么意思呢？其实指的是整个镇子的人都站着不动。这更糊涂了不是？

原来英国有一个传统，就是为了纪念某个事情，通常是战争中死亡的本国士兵，在某一时刻原地默哀几分钟。所以，一到那个时刻，大家就停止一切活动默哀。这就是the Wiltshire town came to a standstill to honour the dead.

关于monarch一词，这里教一个记忆的方法。

mon是mono的意思。而mono是一个词头，“单个”的意思。

arch：拱门

monarch：单一拱门。想想古代宏伟的建筑，如果只有一个拱门，那么这个拱门是不是很重要？它倒了是不是整个建筑就倒了？所以monarch就是君主的意思。

那么要是一个建筑没有这个拱门，就是说，少了那个拱门无所谓，会是什么呢？那就是anarch，无政府主义。