old-fashioned; behind the times; out-of-date; antiquated
participation; taking part in; participating in; being concerned in
to doubt; to distrust; to be suspicious of; to suspect
wonder; miracle; amazement; prodigy
unskillful; poor; awkward; imprudent; untactful
bonds (between people); (emotional) ties; relationship; tether; fetters
several years; a few years
check; keeping in check; containment (of enemy forces); diversionary action; pickoff throw; holding a runner on base
selfish; self-centred; egotistical
order; system; structure; set-up; organization; organisation
to break; to destroy; to wreck; to ruin; to break (a bill, etc.)
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
going to bed; retiring (for the night)
boastful talk about one's love life; speaking fondly about one's sweetheart; going on about one's love affairs
to ascertain; to check; to make sure
longed-for; anxiously awaited
placid; composed; big hearted; broad-minded; great quantity (of something)
to be affected; to put on airs; to act like (something one isn't); to pretend to be
to shorten; to narrow; to close; to shrink
whereabouts; place; location; place where one belongs; where one fits in; place where one can be oneself
failure; mistake; blunder
around there; near there; or thereabouts; or so; such a matter; such a thing
practice kit; practice board; practice partner; training partner
on and after; as from; hereafter; thereafter; since
willingness (e.g. to do something); eagerness; motivation; inspiration; determination; high aspirations
slow; time-consuming; late (in the day); towards the end (of the day or night); later (than expected or usual); late
from now; from the present moment; from this time forward; henceforth
to pull; to draw; to string (lines); to run (cable); to pull towards oneself (e.g. someone's sleeve); to drag; to haul
tough; hard; determined; strong-minded; strong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol); severe
to balance; to be in harmony; to be in equilibrium; to suit; to go well together; to be a good match
stealthily; secretly; in secret
very; greatly; immense; enormous; serious; grave
emergency; extraordinary; unusual
concentration; focusing; convergence; within a collection of works
outline; main points; generally; on the whole; general; rough
each time; every time; whenever (something happens); on the occasion of
minute (unit of time); fun (one tenth of a monme, 5.787 grains)
because of; owing to; due to
to make matters worse; besides; what's more; in addition; on top of that