bamboo shoot; inexperienced doctor; quack
independence; self-reliance; independence (e.g. of a nation); freedom; separation; isolation
peak; summit; ridge; back of a blade
to shave (wood, leather, etc.); to sharpen (e.g. pencil); to cut down (budget, expenses, staff, time, etc.); to curtail; to delete; to erase
gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
stairs; stairway; staircase
realistic; graphic; true to life
not the time for; not the place for; far from; anything but; ... is out of the question; ... isn't the word for it
appearance; (outward) looks; exterior appearance
life-size; life-sized; true-to-life; faithful (depiction); realistic
previous time; last time; previous installment; previous instalment; previous session
faint; dim; weak; poor; wretched; meagre
to approach; to draw near
with a twitch (e.g. an eyebrow); with a dip; with a bob; with a flutter
makings (of); aptitude; talent; nature; character; temperament
to be surprised; to be amazed; to be frightened; surprise (e.g. surprise party)
very interesting; of absorbing interest; having a keen interest (in); being immensely curious (about)
a little bit; a little while
being extremely fond of; having a weakness for; having no eye for; being a poor judge of; having no chance (of succeeding)
curiosity; inquisitiveness
feel; touch; impression (of a person); most impressive passage; highlight; beginning
feeling; sensation; mood; sensation of doing
distinction; discrimination
intention; aim; preference (for); orientation (towards a goal)
nudity; stark naked; in one's bare skin; penniless
petrifaction; petrification; mineralization; mineralisation; lithification; fossilization
elaborate; delicate; exquisite
carving; engraving; sculpture
crime; criminal act; offence; offense
family; relatives; dependents; household
last days; the end; one's fate
to hang; to suspend; to dangle; to swing; to carry
(at) a glance; (judging from) appearances
clean; hygienic; sanitary; pure; virtuous; immaculate
to become familiar with; to fit in; to adapt oneself; to get used to; to grow accustomed to