pretext; history; past; according to ...; ... says
new student; freshman; first-year student
almost; nearly; hardly; barely; large majority; large proportion
to have one's breath taken away; to gasp (in surprise, wonder, etc.); to have one's breath catch in one's throat; to gulp
to be temperate in; to refrain; to make notes; to jot down (e.g. phone number); to be in preparation for; to be in waiting for
beautiful face; good looks; beauty
fleeting; transient; short-lived; empty (dream, etc.); mere (hope); faint (possibility)
silver hair; gray hair; grey hair
story; tale; narrative; account; fable; legend
so; like this; in this way; this much; to this extent
entertainer; performer; celebrity; entertainment personality
to take a picture; to take a photo
companion; fellow; group; company; member of the same category (family, class)
to go out to meet; to receive; to call for; to summon; to accept (e.g. as a member of a group or family); to take (e.g. a wife)
joyful (news, event, etc.); joyous; delightful (e.g. result); pleasing (e.g. sight); gratifying; welcome
good; excellent; sufficient; enough; profitable (deal, business offer, etc.); beneficial
voice; singing (of a bird); chirping (of an insect); voice; opinion (as expressed in words); sound; sense (of something's arrival)
admiration; being impressed; admirable; praiseworthy; astonishment; being appalled
while; even though; despite
to be mixed; to be blended with; to be combined; to associate with; to mingle with; to interest
to be troubled; to have difficulty; to be bothered; to be inconvenienced; to be badly off; to be hard up
life; living; I; me; student
not less than ...; ... and over; beyond (e.g. one's expectations); above; the above; the above-mentioned
intelligence gathering; information gathering
tightly (holding on); firmly; strongly (built); solidly; properly; well
to perform; to do; to conduct oneself; to carry out
to go through a bitter experience; to get into trouble; to get hurt; to feel pain
to be evident; to be obvious; to understand completely
first (of all); firstly; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
average; mean; balance; equilibrium
somehow; for some reason; without knowing why
scornful laughter; ridicule; derision; sneer
mark; target; object; subject; point (e.g. of argument)
near; close; close (in time); soon; close (relationship); friendly
the old days; the past; former times; the past ten years; the past decade
leaving behind; desertion; abandonment
to hold a grudge; to hold something against someone