corpulent -> (of a person) fat. People say ‘corpulent’ to avoid saying ‘fat’.

Incidentally, my dad is a very good husband, He's just pragmatic. -> solving problems in a practical and sensible way rather than by having fixed ideas or theories

And Kelly just happened to say that the transcendental movement is a close parallel to this day and age. -> going beyond the usual limits of human knowledge, experience or reason, especially in a religious or spiritual way

It seems like a rather auspicious beginning -> showing signs that something is likely to be successful in the future

The valedictorian is always last -> the student who has the highest grades in a particular group of students and who gives the valedictory speech at a graduation ceremony

…my mother is not a very adroit liar about things like that. -> clever and showing skill

When she saw me approaching the group, her face went ashen. -> usually of somebody’s face) very pale; without colour because of illness or fear

He even painted in the mutton chop side burns with a grease pencil. -> hair at the sides of the face that is grown so that it is very wide and round in shape at the bottom

When we hit the tunnel, all the sound got scooped up into a vacuum -> a space that is completely empty of all substances, including all air or other gas