in search of; in order to look for
to head out (for); to head (to); to go (to); to leave (for)
stairs; stairway; staircase
ghost story; tale of the supernatural
to take the form of (esp. in ref. to a spirit, fox, raccoon dog, etc.); to assume the shape of; to disguise oneself (as); to change (into); to transform; to change radically (for the better)
prop; stay; support; brace; fulcrum
flabby; limp; soft and pliable
to coil itself (e.g. a snake); to loaf around
(United States of) America; United States; US; America (land mass); the Americas
monastery; convent; cloister; abbey
actual existence; real existence; existing in real life
exterior; outside; outer; external; lateral
still; even now; to this day
article; thing; object; property; real estate
scrawl; scribble; graffiti; doodle
to twist; to wrench; to twist (a body part); to bend; to strangle (to death); to wring (an animal's neck); to defeat easily
to read (a book); to open (a book) to read; to unravel (e.g. a mystery); to discover (the truth)
standing statue; standing image
to search about for; to hunt around for; to look high and low for; to look everywhere for
all pain and no gain; lots of pain and not much gain
bursting out (laughter); breaking out (applause); in a rush; in a surge; suddenly; all of a sudden
to lean over (and cover with one's body); to bend over (someone); to (stand tall and) lean on (someone); to weigh on one; to bear (heavily) on one; to lie on one
foster father; adoptive father
Mary (mother of Jesus); the Virgin Mary; Mary (of Magdala); Mary Magdalene
virgin birth (esp. of Jesus)
individual; one by one; separate; each
famous; well-known; renowned; your name
sticky paper slip; sticky note
afterglow (of a sunset); evening glow; traces (of something that is no more); remnants
3rd day of the month; three days
to declare; to assert; to say bluntly; to say straight out
play; playing; pleasure; amusement; play (in a mechanism, e.g. a steering wheel); slack
shame; embarrassment; disgrace
creed; belief; conviction; article of faith
to hit (e.g. one's head); to strike; to throw (at); to fling (at); to vent (e.g. one's anger); to express (one's feelings)
contortion; distortion; warp; kink (in one's character); twist
cannot handle (it) any longer; fed up with; enough is enough
(sound of) footsteps; sense or sign that something is approaching