dimly; faintly; absentmindedly; vacantly; idly; aimlessly
door (Western-style, car, etc.)
to prick up one's ears and listen; to listen attentively
gesture; movement; action; acting; performance
to reply; to respond; to answer; to talk back; to retort
to throw open; to leave open
smallish; on the small side
to dazzle one's eyes; to hold one's gaze; to fascinate; to captivate
back; rear; background; behind the scenes
light; well-lit; bright (of a colour); brightly-coloured; cheerful; bright; encouraging (for the future of a project, etc.)
to work as the backbone (of); to bear responsibility (for); to be the mainstay (of); to be the central part (of)
pure white; blank (e.g. mind, paper)
to put on; to wear; to be clad in; to twine around; to twist around; to coil around
silver hair; gray hair; grey hair
to shine on; to illuminate; to compare (with); to refer to
glittering; sparkling; glistening; twinkling
to shine; to glitter; to sparkle
isolated; standing alone; falling in drops (e.g. rain); saying a single word; muttering just a few words
murmur; mutter; murmuring; tweet; Twitter post
to leak out; to escape; to find expression; to give vent; to leak out; to be divulged
immediately; at once; soon; before long; easily; readily
with a twitch (e.g. an eyebrow); with a dip; with a bob; with a flutter
poor-quality; shoddy; unskillful; inexpert; unlucky
instant; moment; for an instant
possibly; apparently; (seem) likely; somehow or other; with difficulty; barely
mediator; manager; caretaker
(picture) frame; framed picture; amount (esp. of money); sum
one long straight object (e.g. strand of hair, beam of light, wisp of smoke); a single bloodline; earnest; resolute; (arch.) ordinary; (arch.) common
to dribble; to spill; to suspend; to hang down; to slouch
calm; serenity; tranquillity; tranquility
to dress (oneself in); to attire oneself in; to adorn; to pretend; to feign; to affect
softly; gently; stealthily; secretly; to leave alone; to leave as it is
standoffishly; primly; pungently (of a smell); acridly; long and pointed (e.g. of a nose); popping (of ears)
strong-willed; strong of heart
ear; hearing; edge; crust; selvedge (non-fray machined edge of fabrics); selvage
red; crimson; Red; communist; (arch.) beautiful
rich (taste); full-bodied (flavour, flavor); mellow; laid-back (lifestyle); relaxed; comfortable
to set up (a house, store, etc.); to build; to have at the ready (e.g. a gun); to hold in preparation (e.g. a camera); to adopt a posture; to assume a stance; to put on an air
period of time; time slot; time zone
sleepless vigil; night watch; vigilance
dawn; daybreak; end; soon after something has ended; beginning (of a new year, month, etc.)