as soon as...; just after...; immediately after...; hurriedly; in haste; quickly
to detain; to check; to restrain
to ask; to enquire; to inquire; to search; to look for; to look into
bookshelves; bookshelf; bookcase
standing on tiptoe and stretching one's back to make oneself taller; stretching oneself; overreaching oneself; overstretching oneself; trying to do something beyond one's ability
harmful effect; harmful influence; evil practice; abuse; malady
something like ...; something called ...
reluctant; unwilling; involuntary; unintentional; unintended; unlooked-for
to lend a hand; to give a hand; to help; to extend a helping hand
worthwhile reading; substantial reading
mismatched; odd; irregular; inconsistent; incoherent; confused
(idle) curiosity; fancifulness; whimsy; (having) strange tastes
it is, isn't it?; I know, right?; innit?
enjoyable; fun; pleasant; happy; delightful
whether or not (in phrases like "I don't know whether or not I can come")
other than; except for; aside from; apart from; save for
how many years; how long; what year
carefree; buoyant; lighthearted; ease
I, myself; one-self; by one-self; even I; even one
to grow up; to become an adult
as usual; as always; as before; as ever; still
shelf; ledge; rack; trellis
all; entire; whole; altogether
spine (of book); binding (of book)
notebook; copy-book; note; noting down; (musical) note; laptop (computer)
counter for books; volume
to cram; to stuff; to jam; to squeeze; to compress; to pack
younger scholar; future reference
sly; cunning; sneaky; miserly; mean; stingy
profile; face in profile; face seen from the side; (personal) profile; (biographical) sketch; outline (of someone's life)
major subject; special study
is something wrong?; what's wrong?; what's the matter?; slightest; mere; trivial
writing; composition; essay; sentence
to be fascinated (by); to be captivated by; to be enchanted by; to gaze admiringly at; to watch in fascination
to spread; to extend; to unfold; to open; to scatter about; to spread around
nature; natural; spontaneous; naturally; spontaneously
to shorten; to narrow; to close; to shrink
to compare (something) to; to liken; to speak figuratively; to use a simile; to use a metaphor
easy; likely to ...; have a tendency to ...; easy to ...
precise; accurate; appropriate; exactly the right
to manufacture; to produce; to raise (crops); to invent; to dream up; to create
letter (of alphabet); character; writing
to close (e.g. book, eyes, meeting, etc.); to shut
to stroke; to caress; to brush gently; to comb (hair); to smooth down
treatment; service; handling (of a machine, tool, etc.); operation; treating as; treating like