hard-liners; diehards; hawks
influence; power; might; influence (of stones)
to tie up in a bundle (e.g. straw, hair, bills, letters); to bundle; to govern; to manage; to fold (one's arms); to put together (one's hands)
foster father; adoptive father
academic; scholarly; scientific
to take in; to bring in; to capture (e.g. image); to import; to win over; to please
level; standard; water level
science and technology; technology; scientific techniques
giving; provision; furnishing
invitation; introduction; temptation
to respond; to answer; to accept (an invitation, offer, etc.); to comply with (a request, etc.); to suit; to match
depravity; corruption; degradation
temptation; allurement; lure; enticement; seduction
prediction; prophecy; prognostication; (religious) prophecy
in that case; (might not be what was expected or hoped for but) if that's the case
to think hard; to brood over; to worry too much (about); to torment oneself (with the thought of)
to come along; to come around; to turn up; to arrive at the present; to get where one is; to have been doing something (for a period of time)
dainty; delicate (e.g. fingers); fine; sensitive; delicate (feelings, sense, etc.); subtle
to have a talk; to tell a story
ceiling; ceiling (e.g. of share price); ceiling price
tenacious; tough; enduring; dogged; headstrong; stubborn
characteristic (of); peculiar (to); inherent (in); eigen-
personality; character; individuality; personhood
independence; self-reliance; independence (e.g. of a nation); freedom; separation; isolation
to be parted from; to be separated
brothers and sisters; siblings; half-siblings; step-siblings; mate; friend
unpleasant; disagreeable; displeasing; uncomfortable; unhappy
hateful; detestable; abominable; amazing; fantastic; admirable
no problem; all right; not an issue; unobjectionable
if that is the case; if it becomes so; when it becomes so
claim; insistence; assertion; advocacy; emphasis; contention
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid
(young and) innocent; naive; pure; fresh; artless; unsophisticated
kindness; favor; favour; goodwill; affection; liking (for someone)
this way (of doing); this method; this sort (of thing); this type
outsider; someone outside of a group
object of romantic interest; potential love interest
ill-natured; mean; nasty; sadistic; cruel; mean-spirited
relation; relationship; participation; involvement; influence; effect
unnatural; affected; studied; forced
bottom of one's heart; depths of one's mind; innermost thoughts; from the bottom of one's heart; wholeheartedly; truly