to couch (a sword); to look at cynically or ironically; (arch.) to stand ready (to do); (arch.) to adopt a formal attitude
to accept (e.g. an explanation); to be satisfied (with); to assent (to)
funny; comical; humorous; ridiculous; silly; absurd
quite capable of ...; could happen; not unlikely to
absurd; foolish; stupid; silly; nonsense; ludicrous
model; standard; pattern; norm; criterion; example
keeping alive longer; prolonging life; life extension; life-support
tedious; boring; being fed up with
advocate; defender; champion; backer
example; simile; metaphor; allegory
to complain; to make a complaint
to enquire of someone about something (inquire); to question
arrest; apprehension; capture
episode; side story; story within a story; aside; anecdote
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
after that; afterwards; thereafter
to delineate; to draw; to express; to imagine
falling down; tumbling; reversing; inverting; getting upset
bending; curving; warping (of feelings, logic, etc.); distortion; refraction; inflection
article; news story; report; account
bloomers; (girls') gym shorts
pre-war days; before the war
future (usually near); prospects
attending (school, college, etc.); being enrolled; being a student
medium; average; moderation; middle school; China; volume two (of three); during (a certain time when one did or is doing something)
conscription; (military) draft; (compulsory) enlistment
as a child; when one was a child; childhood
being startled; getting a shock
not in one's recollection; having no recollection (of); having no memory (of)
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
to do oneself; to do by oneself; to start work (on); to commence
anyhow; anyway; somehow or other; apart from ...; setting ... aside
sad; miserable; unhappy; sad; lamentable; deplorable
confidential talk; whispering
to confide; to reveal; to disclose; to lay bare; to speak frankly; to open (one's heart)