not understanding; not knowing
muttering voice; murmuring voice
sharp-eared; have sharp ears; picks things up fast
dreary; bleak; monotonous; tasteless; unrefined
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
gem; jewel; precious stone
rose-colour; rose-color; bright (e.g. life, future, prospects); cheerful; rosy
very; extremely; terrible; horrid; remarkable; extraordinary
trouble; troubles; worry; distress; sorrows; anguish
certainly; surely; undoubtedly; just; precisely; exactly
closeted maiden; carefully raised girl from a well-to-do family
to let out; to utter; to issue; to send; to leave; to depart
one-by-one; separately; in detail
(bearing a) close resemblance; vivid reminder (e.g. of the past); dim; faint; vague
time (three times, each time, etc.); times
grain; bead; drop; counter for small round objects including grains, seeds, pills, drops
to burst open; to split open; to be bursting with (e.g. youth, laughter, flavor); to bounce; to bound
environment; surroundings; circumstances
to be raised (e.g. child); to be brought up; to grow (up)
so (e.g. so much, so close, so many, so few)
to be completed; to be finished; to be ready (e.g. to serve or eat); to be very drunk; to get plastered
appearance; shape; form; atmosphere; look; feel
to master (e.g. a skill); to become accustomed to (e.g. a lifestyle); to acquire (e.g. a habit); to retain
above ground; on the ground; earth's surface; this world; this earth
to swoop down; to glide down; to fly down; to land gently (on); to alight (on)
pitch-black; jet-black; strongly tanned; deeply sunburnt; sooty; black with dirt
oldest member of a group; longest-serving member
most ominous; most sinister; most atrocious; most evil
trickery; wiles; finesse; Machiavellism
advocate (of a theory or principle); ideologist; -ist (i.e. adherent to a belief system); (arch.) socialist; (arch.) communist
outward appearance; looks
to trick; to cheat; to deceive; to coax; to wheedle; to soothe
to knock down; to beat up (till unable to stand)
in this way; along these lines; similarly
in the early period (of something); at the beginning
to have a bad time; to go through a bitter experience; to get into trouble; to get hurt; to suffer
cooperation; collaboration; association; partnership; (acting in) unison