A deep and as it were secret sigh went through the Department.是什么意思？

A deep and as it were secret sigh went through the Department.

整个司里的人都深深地——也是暗地里——松了一口气.

deep

adj. 深的，深远的，深奥，重大的，深刻的，强烈的，痛切的，深厚的；n. 深处，深渊；adv. 深深地，深入地；

例句
When I arose from the chair, my father and Eleanor's father were in deep conversation...
当我从椅子上站起来时，我父亲和埃莉诺的父亲谈兴正浓。

and

conj. 和，与，而且，于是，然后，因此；

例句
I spend a lot on expensive jewelry and clothing...
我花很多钱购买昂贵的首饰和衣服。

as

adv. 同样地，一样地，例如；prep. 作为，以…的身份，如

例句
As far as I can recall, Patti was a Smith.
我记得帕蒂是姓史密斯的。

it

pron. 它，他，正好是所需的，事实[情况]；n. <美俚>傻瓜，笨蛋，<俚>绝妙的人，理想的东西，登峰造极；

例句
I suggest you leave it to an expert...
我建议你把它留给专家来解决。

were

be的过去时复数和第二人称单数形式，有时代替 was,用于条件从句、动词 wish 之后等；

例句
Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.
店铺、房子和车辆全都陷于火海。

secret

n. 秘密，机密，秘诀，奥秘；adj. 秘密的，机密的，神秘的，隐秘的；

例句
The Party is being degraded by its acceptance of secret donations...
该党因私下接受捐赠而蒙羞。

sigh

vi. 叹气，悲叹，悲鸣；vt. 叹气地说；n. 叹气，叹气声；

例句
There was an audible sigh of relief.
听得出来松了一口气。

went

v. 进行( go的过去式 )，去，进展；

例句
I went round the streets and found his new abode.
我走街串巷找到了他的新住所。

through

prep. 通过，穿过，经由，透过，凭借；adv. 从头到尾，彻底，自始至终；adj. （电话）接通，通话完毕，有洞的，直达的；

例句
The proposal was instantly voted through with two to one in favour, accompanied by enthusiastic applause...
在热烈的掌声中，提案以2比1的优势很快通过了表决。

the

art. 指已提到的人（物），指说话人与听者已知的人（物），用于独一无二的事物前，与形容词最高级和序数词连用；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

department

n. 部门，部，系，学部，知识范围，车间；

例句
They move freely from one department to another as they ascend the civil service ladder.
随着仕途晋升，他们可以在部门间随意调动。