to have a go; to try and do (something); to take a chance with something
bonds (between people); (emotional) ties; relationship; tether; fetters
to perceive; to grasp (the situation)
difficult to be (in a place); not feeling like staying
to bend; to warp; to curve
sleek; smooth; thin (of a liquid); without hesitation or delay
handwriting; calligraphy specimen; example of penmanship; holograph
leading; prominent; eminent; counting on one's fingers
first meeting; first interview with
if you think about it; come to think of it
confession; acknowledgement; acknowledgment
to spell; to write; to compose; to bind (e.g. documents); to patch
the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability
to be interested in; to take an interest in; to care about
outrageous; monstrous; appalling; inordinate; overambitious
cutting a fingernail (or toenail) to the quick; cutting a nail too close; deep-set nail; deep-set part of nail
eagerly; earnestly; ardently
at present; currently; so far; for now; for the time being
triumphant; exultant; in high and proud spirits
thin rice porridge; watery cooked rice; rice gruel; congee
to struggle; to writhe; to wriggle; to act frantically; to make desperate efforts
to loosen; to slacken; to relax (attention, efforts, etc.); to let down (one's guard); to relax (a rule); to ease (e.g. restrictions)
in case of; at that time; at this time
to spread one's roots (of a tree, etc.); to take root (of an ideology, etc.)
counter for people (usu. seating, reservations and such); first name; famous; great; name; noun
remarkable; striking; obvious
coercion; overpowering; to overpower; to overawe; to daunt
period of an apprentice's contract (usu. ten years); apprenticeship; indentureship; indenture
way (of doing); manner; method; means
to feel down; to feel sad; to be in a slump (business, economy, etc.); to be in an unfavourable condition; to fall into (e.g. a hole)
a matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
every month; trite; commonplace; conventional
to be smeared; to be covered
cruel; brutal; ruthless; merciless; inhuman
to keep in pace with; to keep up with; to follow (someone's thought); to understand
transfiguration; transformation; change of appearance