background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
to relax; to feel at home
presumably; it seems that ...; I guess that ...; I suppose that ...; one could infer that ...
fully; luxuriantly; fluffy; plump; soft and full
hard to please; moody; crusty; fastidious
past middle age; nearing old age; near-elderly; age 40
to cover fully; to wrap around
breathing; respiration; knack; trick; harmony; balance
stroke of the brush; touch; literary style
to hang (something) on (something); to throw on (clothes); to hook; to catch; to cheat; to evade payment; to drink (alcohol)
completely; thoroughly; horribly; without exception; until there's no untouched (undamaged) part
to knock down; to beat up (till unable to stand)
the present age; these days; (present) head of the family
look; glimpse; apparently; seemingly; (arch.) first meeting
to give an answer; to find an answer to a question; to work out a solution
disqualification; elimination; incapacity; being unfit for one's role; being a failure
stout; corpulent; plump; voluptuous
seven; seven years of age; four o'clock (old time system)
vice; immorality; corruption
line; stripe; line (e.g. telephone line); wire; ray (e.g. X-ray); beam; line (e.g. of a railroad)
ostentation; show; affectation
pointed end; tip; point; forefront; vanguard; spearhead
to wither (of a plant); to be blasted; to die; to mature (of one's personality, abilities, etc.)
unreliable; undependable; helpless; forlorn; worried; uneasy
extravagant spending; wasteful spending; splurging; squandering
where; which; anyway; anyhow; sooner or later; eventually
greedy; avaricious; rapacious; insatiable
to become weak; to decline; to wear; to abate; to decay; to wither
failure (in an examination); failing to advance (to the next year); falling short of the standard; not making the grade
dignity; majesty; solemnity; gravity
horse riding; mounting a horse; mount; riding horse; saddle horse
clever; shrewd; canny; smart; quick; prompt
feminine; womanly; female
district; region; the country; countryside; civilian society
beginning; start; first (in line, etc.); origin; such as ...; not to mention ...
ancient times; distant past; antiquity