to disappear (of people or animals); to go (away); to leave; to no longer exist
connection; link; relationship
to decrease (in size or number); to diminish; to abate
recently; lately; these days; nearest; closest
periodic; regular; routine
smirkingly; broadly (grinning)
to be ...-ing; to have been ...-ing
latest; most recent; nearest (in time)
to refuse; to reject; to inform; to give notice; to ask leave; to excuse oneself (from)
even; (if) only; just; besides; on top of that
to pile up; to heap up; to stir up; to enliven; to bring to a climax
disturbance; trouble; ups and downs
incident; affair; happening; event
slowly (but steadily); gradually; bit-by-bit; slowly soaking in; slowly permeating; oozing out
fear; dread; dismay; terror; horror; scare
large; big; older; senior; final; ultimate
no good; not serving its purpose; hopeless; wasted; cannot; must not
fetching balls (tennis, baseball, etc.); ball boy
inter-scholastic athletics competition
preliminary contest; qualifying round; trial; heat; primary
goal; target; aim; mark; sign; landmark
loss of (self-)confidence; inferiority complex
time (three times, each time, etc.); times
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
and yet; though; when; in spite of
objection; refutation; rebuttal; counterargument
happy; glad; pleased; joyful; delightful; gratifying
beast (i.e. any animal other than man); person reborn into the animal realm; brute (i.e. a contemptible human being); damn it; damn
joint ownership; co-ownership; sharing (e.g. a viewpoint); sharing (files, devices on a network, posts on social media, etc.)
to feel (as if); to have a feeling (that); to have a hunch (that); to feel like doing; to want to do
pleasant feeling; good vibes
to shake; to waver; to tremble
being defeated; being eliminated (from competition)
unity; union; solidarity; combination; teaming up
preparation; arrangements; getting ready; provision; setup; reserving
to go down and stand; to alight; to get down
beyond this point; from now on; after this
how many years; how long; what year