blood is thicker than water
nowadays; these days; at present
alma mater clique; old school tie
graduate of the same school; fellow alumnus; (former) schoolmate
difference; distinction; discrepancy; mistake; error
simile; metaphor; allegory; parable
unknown; obscure; insignificant
private (non-governmental) school (college, university)
graduate; alumnus; alumna
colouring; coloring; shade (of colour); flavour; nuance; feel
to make an appeal (to the public); to rally (people) to one's cause; to call to action; to spur on; to fire (someone) up; to rally (troops, employees, etc.)
(written) appeal; circular; manifesto; encouragement; encouraging words; letter of encouragement
alumnus (alumnae); graduate; former member of an organization; former inhabitant (country, region, etc.)
ceremony; matter; affair; with regard to; as for
to assemble everything together; to do something as a group
association; socializing; socialising; fellowship
practitioner (of medicine, sorcery, fortune telling, etc.)
prejudice; bias; warped view; jealousy; inferiority complex
recruitment; invitation; raising (funds, donations, etc.); collection; flotation (of shares, loans, etc.)
to make contact (with); to get in touch; to enter into relations; to come to an understanding
poor; pitiable; pathetic; pitiful
course (of events); development; progress; market order; order without limit
so-so; passable; now, now; there, there; my, my; oh my!
personal use; private use; private business; personal business
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
illegitimate child (usu. of a nobleman)
remarkably; markedly; rapidly; sound of breaking or creaking
restoration; recovery; rehabilitation; recovery (from an illness); recuperation; convalescence
cheerful; lively; lighthearted
doubt; distrust; suspicion (of)
to have learning; to be educated
hound; hunting dog; running dog; dupe; tool of another person
forerunner; precursor; pioneer; outrider; outriding
pioneer; trailblazer; leader; groundbreaker; pathfinder; forerunner
(not even) a little; (not even) a tiny bit
before; previously; ahead; pardon me for leaving (before you)
old friend; old acquaintance
Wood Rat (1st term of the sexagenary cycle, e.g. 1924, 1984, 2044)
troublesome; annoying; complicated
for convenience; as a matter of convenience
betrayer; traitor; turncoat; informer
former years; formerly; a few years ago