foster mother; adoptive mother
to get dark; to grow dark; to end (of a day, year, season, etc.); to come to an end; to be sunk in (e.g. despair); to be lost in (e.g. thought)
one hundred-thousandth; sudden; abrupt; unexpected
to be surprised; to be amazed; to be frightened; surprise (e.g. surprise party)
bonnet; (car) hood; bonnet (hat)
dark (skin, complexion, etc.); swarthy; tanned
glossy (e.g. hair); sleek; shiny; lustrous
inconsequential; indifferent; not worth worrying about; whatever; whichever; I don't care
somehow or other; for some reason or another; without knowing why
(United States of) America; United States; US; America (land mass); the Americas
selection; choice; option
plan; project; schedule; scheme; program; programme
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
writing brush; paintbrush; writing with a brush; drawing with a brush; writing (composing text); the written word
long time; long interval; for quite some time
studying abroad; studying at a different school, etc. (usu. for a specific purpose)
lately; recently; nowadays
birth; birthplace; born in (country, month, imperial era, zodiac year, etc.)
active; dynamic; energetic
optimist; easy-going person
sometimes; occasionally; at times; seasonal; of the season; appropriate (for the season or occasion)
to chip; to be chipped; to be missing (from a set, team, etc.); to be absent; to be lacking (in); to be short (of)
mountain villa; mountain retreat; mountain cottage
skill; skillful; dexterity; flattery
that gentleman; that lady; he; she
by some chance; somehow; in some way; somehow or other; one way or another; by any means possible
(a) little; (a) few; slight; only; just; merely
to start; to begin; to challenge; to pick (a fight); to set (traps); to plant (explosives)
(smelling) strongly; pungently; furiously; indignantly; fuming
most of all; extremely; supremely
good performance; good work; great success
most; highest; maximum; best; wonderful; finest
roughly; approximately; round about; cursorily; briefly; quickly
set; suit; uniform collection; entirely; all; every one