tea-drinking companion; crony; buddy; spouse married late in life for companionship
comparatively; relatively; fairly; considering ...; for ...; despite ...
admiration; appreciation; enjoyment; viewing (for pleasure)
once in a lifetime; once in one's life
way; method; means; (technical) specification
to burn into one's memory; to sear an image
useless; vain; aimless; idle
to pile up; to stack; to load (car, ship, etc.); to pack; to acquire; to accumulate
quality; value; nature; inherent quality; logical quality
learning about the world; preparation for life in the community; work experience
name; title; appellation; (under the) pretext (of); pretense
transformation; variation; metamorphosis; modification; deformation; variety
powerful; strong; forceful; reassuring; encouraging
to walk; to go on foot; to tread (a figurative path); to follow; to advance towards (e.g. a solution); to set out (e.g. on the path to destruction, ruin, etc.)
interrogative sentence-ending particle expressing doubt
after this; henceforth; henceforward; from now on
town; block; downtown; main street; street; road
about to start out; just about to leave or go out; outing; trip
restlessly; nervously; uneasily; in a fidget
custom; convention; common practice; (arch.) becoming accustomed (to)
invitation; introduction; temptation
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
still; much more; (not) yet; still a long way to go; still a long way off; not there yet
greeting the New Year (on New Year's Eve); welcoming the New Year
unrequited love; one-sided love
to bear fruit; to ripen; to produce (good) results; to show results; to bear fruit