spine; line of the backbone; seam down the back (of clothing)
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
to chase; to run after; to pursue
(a) stop (e.g. in a timber joint, or at the end of a kanji stroke); remaining (e.g. poste-restante)
assimilation; absorption; adaptation; assimilation; anabolism; assimilation (phonology)
after a long time; for the first time in a while
question; inquiry; enquiry
straight ball (pitch); direct (e.g. question); blunt
answer; reply; response; answer; solution; result
plain; frank; candid; open; direct; straightforward
-ical; -ive; -like; -ish; (something) like; along the lines of
silence; keeping silent; giving no notice; giving no warning; wordless pantomime performed in the dark (in kabuki)
to drift; to float; to waft (e.g. a scent); to hang in the air; to be in the air (e.g. a feeling or mood); to wander; to walk around aimlessly
violence; oppression; high-handedness; tyranny; despotism
to express (orally); to put into words; to say out loud
to shift; to slide (e.g. something away from something else); to move (e.g. something out of the way); to put off; to delay; to postpone
inarticulate; clumsy with words; poor at speaking
clumsy; awkward; tactless; awkward (e.g. socially); (arch.) mean; (arch.) cowardly
someone (unspecified, but someone in particular); a certain person
in that manner; like that
polite; courteous; civil; careful; close; thorough
standing on formality; in a reserved manner; treating a friend as a stranger; unduly distant; formal
usual; normal; everyday; usually; normally; generally
perfect; complete; flawless
relaxed; familiar; easy to access; friendly
bad feeling; feeling bad; disagreeable; unpleasant; revolting; gross
shepherd; German shepherd
to become attached (to); to take (to); to become affectionate (with); to be tamed
tone of command; authoritative tone; commanding tone
carefully; attentively; profoundly; deeply; at length
to express in a refined fashion; to weave a web of words
to steal; to rob; to deceive; to trick; to graze (in passing); to skim; to appear and quickly disappear (a thought, a smile, etc.)
lodger who pays nothing for room and board; freeloader; sponger
part; portion; amount; worth (as in "two days' worth"); one's means; one's place; one's duty
saving; savings; accumulation; putting aside; reserving
serious; honest; sober; grave; earnest; steady
to hand over; to transfer; to give up (e.g. one's seat); to give way; to yield; to concede
club; fraternity; sorority; clubhouse