meeting; assembly; gathering; congregation; convention; rally
hot topic; talk of the town
past middle age; nearing old age; near-elderly; age 40
to do something in readiness for; to get something (needful) done
door; gate; opening; title page
opposite side; other side; over there; that way; the other party; the other person
swallowing in one gulp; downing; sipping; sip; thinking nothing of one's opponent; making easy prey of someone
to try and do something; to attempt to do something
cavern; cave; cave system; grotto
outside world; physical world
addition; annexation; appendage
to seclude oneself; to shut oneself away
to sleep; to die; to rest (in peace); to lie idle (e.g. of resources); to lie unused; (arch.) to close one's eyes
a few years ago; some years back
human; human-like; as a person
school building; schoolhouse
place; spot; grounds; arena; stadium; range
field; sports stadium; arena
training range; training grounds; training area
interception (email); wiretap; bug
to line up; to stand in a line; to rival; to match; to equal
centre; center; pivot; central nervous system
to see through; to see the true nature of something
aging; wearing out; deterioration
as; because; with; due to
school tradition; school customs; school spirit
conservativeness; conservatism; regression; retrogression; unadventurousness
to be doing; to be in the process of doing
to create; to bring forth; to invent; to think up and bring into being; to give birth to; to bear
regarding as important; attaching importance to; taking a serious view of; putting emphasis on