gentle (nature, personality, etc.); mild; quiet; moderate (statement, measure, etc.); mild; temperate
to perceive; to sense; to understand; to comprehend; to attain enlightenment
hating to lose; always wanting to win; unyielding; competitive
core; heart (of the matter); point; crux; kernel
several years standing; over several years
to wipe; to mop up; to get rid of (an impression, feeling, blemish, etc.); to dispel (e.g. shame); to erase
to be bewildered; to be perplexed
sister-in-law (spouse's younger sister or younger brother's wife); younger stepsister; younger adopted sister; non-blood-related younger sister
to take responsibility (for a fallout); to accept the blame; to take the blame
dissolute; dissipated; licentious; slovenly; untidy; messy
the opposite sex; isomerism
adultery; immorality; impropriety; (an) affair
vice; immorality; corruption
to be lacking in options; to be too few
just barely; only just; at the very limit; at the last moment
to investigate thoroughly; to examine closely; to probe into; to be obsessed with a thought; to brood over; to worry about
take a chance; go for broke; nothing ventured, nothing gained
one's heart; at one's discretion; in one's hands
moderate; reserved; conservative; humble; mild-mannered; self-effacing
lover; sweetheart; boyfriend; girlfriend
when one was a very young child; very early in one's life
one's nature; talents; destiny; mission; sphere of activity
to compete (with each other); to contend for; to vie for; to rival
talkative; loose-lipped; persiflage; frivolous talk
harmless but pointless; neither bad nor good
time bell; chime of a time bell
feeling uneasy; very worried; very anxious; on tenterhooks; on pins and needles
to half-rise to one's feet
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; nuisance; bore; burden
to talk or say too much; to go too far; to overstate; to exaggerate
ill-bred; impolite; rude; impudent; insolent; blunt
under one's arm; (in) the armpit
impudence; cheekiness; impertinence
cowardice; timidity; bashfulness
sworn younger brother; junior male peer (in a club, group, etc.)
weighing anchor; unmooring; sailing off
central figure; pillar (e.g. of the nation); chief; boss; master carpenter; beams and ridge supports of a roof
unidentifiable; unidentified
to go unpunished; to be tolerated; to be allowed; to be overlooked
disposition; inclination; characteristic; sexual disposition; fetish
challenge; defiance; dare; attempt; try