it was, wasn't it?; must have been; I think (it was); how might it have been?
whirlpool; maelstrom; vortex; spiral (shape, pattern)
summary; recapitulation; aggregation
to excite; to incite; to stimulate; to arouse; to tempt; to stir up
low-grade; low-class; low-quality; vulgar; cheap
extraction; abstraction; selection (from a group); sampling
right under; directly below; right beneath
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
to take in; to gather in; to adopt (e.g. an idea); to accept (e.g. advice); to harvest; to reap
to dye; to colour; to color
instructor (esp. of martial or traditional arts); teacher; model; exemplar; normal school (Japan; 1872-1947); teachers' training college
to meet (by chance); to come across; to meet (e.g. of rivers, highways, etc.); to emerge and engage (an enemy)
far from; anything but; not at all ... but rather ...; let alone; to say nothing of; not to mention
bamboo sword (for kendo); bamboo fencing stick; bamboo sword
to clasp; to grasp; to hold (the answer); to have (e.g. the solution); to seize (power); to hold (the reins)
to swing; to wield (physically); to exercise (e.g. power, ability); to exhibit; to flourish; to prosper
burden; load; responsibility; bearing (a cost, responsibility, etc.); shouldering
to place on (something); to give (someone) a ride; to give a lift; to load (luggage); to carry; to send out (on the airwaves, etc.); to deceive
secret; private; surreptitious
great erudition; extensive knowledge; vast stock of knowledge
pollution; public nuisance; contamination
contents; interior; substance; content; (sword) blade
to conceive; to become pregnant; to get filled with (e.g. sails filled with wind); to be swollen with; to contain (a contradiction, danger, etc.); to carry (a problem, consequences, etc.)
to mix; to stir; to blend
stain; blot; flaw; disgrace
worst-ever; history's worst
tool; means; ingredients (added to soup, rice, etc.); counter for sets of armor, utensils, furniture, etc.
possession; having (on one's person); carrying (with one)
to transfer (trains); to change (bus, train); to change (to another ideology, party, company, etc.); to switch (to a different system, method, etc.); to move on to (e.g. a new love interest)
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
selecting a suitable person; personnel selection
valid; proper; right; appropriate; reasonable
to draw in; to take in; to retract; to withdraw; to take back (e.g. words)
petty underling; small fry
related (by blood); blood-related; of the same blood
unusual event; strange occurrence; strange phenomenon; something abnormal; change (for the worse); accident
far away; distant place; long ago; far back; by far
to perceive; to sense; to take in; to grasp; to feel
living thing; organism; creature; biology