preface; introduction; preamble
corner; edge; (street) corner; turning; rough edges (of one's character, words, etc.); abrasiveness
exquisite; superb; perfect; miraculous
the touch of; feel of; texture
dozens; scores of; decades
in an instant; in a flash; right away; immediately
partition; division; settlement of accounts; preliminary warm-up ritual; toeing the mark; directing
to hand over; to surrender
(relating to) gender; sex; sexual
when you really think about it; on reflection; in actual fact; once again (fashionable, popular, etc.); back (in style)
refreshing (e.g. feeling, scene, wind, morning air); brisk; bracing; fresh; refreshed
focus of one's attention; what one is looking for; point of view; viewpoint
opening (a letter, parcel, etc.); breaking the seal; unboxing (a product); unsealed mail
to tear off; to peel off; to rip off; to strip off; to skin; to flay
crude; unrefined; coarse; ill-mannered; rude; insensitive
essence; true nature; substance; reality
to displease; to offend; to hurt (a person's) feelings
to appear; to come in sight; to become visible; to be expressed (e.g. emotions); to become apparent (e.g. trends, effects)
to mix; to combine; to exchange (words, fire, etc.); to cross (e.g. swords); to join together
largish; biggish; a little bit larger
confections; sweets; candy; cake
preparation; arrangements; provision; getting ready; laying out (e.g. a meal)
stiffening; rigidity; rigor; stiffness; ossification; petrification
jumping to a wrong conclusion
high (e.g. ball in baseball); highish; on the expensive side; comparatively expensive; wait tile which produces a winning hand with a higher score
dropping (of tears, dew, etc.); falling off; dropping off; inadvertently (coming to the surface); letting out (e.g. a secret)
upright; honest; faithful; conscientious; sincere
no wonder; little wonder; after all; as expected; which isn't surprising
to be aware of; to know about; to be concerned in; to have to do with
wholeheartedly; with heart and soul; intently; with undivided attention; with intense concentration; single-mindedly
recommendation; advice; suggestion; encouragement
to tear off; to peel off; to rip off; to strip off; to skin; to flay
to push aside; to overcome (e.g. difficulties); to align; to put in order; (arch.) to push open
to question again; to repeat a question (esp. a problematic point, or to verify understanding); to repeat a query