gently (raining); drizzling; moist; damp
disappearance; running away; going missing; absconding
to take more time than expected; to take a long time; to be delayed
to come untied; to come apart; to be softened; to be relaxed
confirmation; verification; validation; review; check; affirmation
whole face; all over one's face
force; vigor; influence; authority; impetus; impulse
agreement; consent; same opinion; same view; same meaning
limit; limits; degree; extent; the end; the last; as long as ...
(not) a single person; (no) one
tea (esp. green or barley); tea break; teatime; tea ceremony
rest; recess; vacation; holiday; dormancy (of a silkworm prior to moulting)
repair; mending; fixing; servicing
to creak; to squeak; to grate; to grind; to rasp
pause; suspension; rest; stoppage
nine; nine years of age; twelve o'clock (old time system)
to begin to fall (of rain, snow, etc.)
exactly; precisely; closely; tightly; properly; without fail
mouse; rat; dark gray; slate gray
to surround; to encircle; to enclose; to fawn over (someone); to play up to; to curry favor with
lonely (e.g. person, feeling); lonesome; desolate; deserted; sad; lacking
to add; to add up; to increase; to gather (e.g. speed); to include; to count in
to mellow (e.g. personality); to be rounded; to huddle; to cower
does not seem; unlikely; improbable
come (on); come now; all right; right; well; hmm
description; describing; depicting
very difficult to ...; nearly impossible to ...
to hold (in one's hand); to take (into one's hand); to own; to obtain
one bow; one salute; one greeting
definite; final; decisive; conclusive
together with; as X, then Y (e.g. as we age we gain wisdom, as wine matures it becomes more valuable, etc.)
to take in one's hand; to pick up; to obtain
point in question (at issue)
sticking to (an opinion, theory, belief, etc.); clinging to; adherence; persistence; insistence
beginning; start; clue; lead; thread end
to pat (e.g. a dog); to rub; to stroke; to fondle; to caress
to look up at; to raise one's eyes; to look up to; to admire; to respect
to talk; to chat; to chatter
it does not mean that ...; I don't mean that ...; it is not the case that