to darken one's face; to assume a gloomy look
flapping (of a flag, fan, etc.); fluttering; pitter-patter (of footsteps); quickly (making progress); in quick succession
to withdraw from (a deal); to wash one's hands of; to lead by the hand
to bring near; to bring close; to let go near; to associate with; to bring (people) together; to let come near (of a person)
to obey respectfully; to humble oneself; to sit straight (upright, respectfully, attentively)
to the utmost; to the best of one's ability
to miss a chance to do; to fail to do
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
lover; sweetheart; boyfriend; girlfriend
older brother; elder brother; brother-in-law (spouse's older brother or older sister's husband)
prosperity; bustle; activity; crowd; turnout
to wait for a long time; to wait and wait; to eagerly await
energy; vigour; vigor; liveliness; spirit; life
it says ...; it reads ...; ... is written
least; lowest; worst; awful; horrible; at the very least
whole; entirety; to begin with; in the first place; ... the heck (e.g. "what the heck?"); ... in the world (e.g. "why in the world?")
regarding as important; attaching importance to; taking a serious view of; putting emphasis on
eldest child; oldest child; first child; eldest son; oldest son
hereditary system; hereditary succession
that is (to say); namely; precisely; exactly; if one does ..., then; in that case
to be added to; to be appended; to join in (e.g. a group of friends); to participate; to increase (e.g. heat); to gain in (e.g. influence)
alternating between happiness and anxiety; swinging between joy and sorrow; being glad and sad by turns; oscillating between optimism and pessimism
figure of a person; figures of people; shadow of a person
creak; squeak; creaking; discord; strife; friction
to break the ice; to broach a subject; to bring up a topic
adviser; someone to consult with; someone to turn to about one's concerns; confidant
about; roughly; generally; on the whole; completely; quite
continuation; continuance; maintenance; persistence; going on
joining (a club, organization, etc.); becoming a member; entry; admission; subscription; affiliation
management; administration; operation
field of vision; view; one's outlook (e.g. on life); one's horizons
wholly (due to); entirely; solely; earnestly; intently; sincerely
family a woman has married into
to escape (disaster, death, etc.); to be saved from; to be rescued from; to avoid (e.g. punishment); to evade (e.g. responsibility); to avert
instability; insecurity; crankiness
(someone else's) parents; both parents
unhappiness; sorrow; misfortune; death (usu. of a relative); bereavement