The person (often a child or grandchild) or thing that one cherishes most in life; something essential to one's life or success

to secretly bribe someone in order to lay the foundation for a future favor; used in certain dialects and literature

the root of a tree

(colloquial) the ear

gullible or easily influenced by others; having a tendency to listen to and believe whatever one is told

A sharp-tongued, unreasonable, or hot-tempered person, especially a woman; refers to someone with a fierce or difficult personality.