to pass (of time); to elapse
continent; continental Asia (esp. mainland China); continental Europe
to straddle; to sit astride; to mount; to extend over; to spread over; to span
when; at what time; how soon; normal times; ordinary days
to collapse; to crumble; to get out of shape; to lose one's shape; to break down; to be thrown into disarray; to crash (stock market)
unity; consolidation; uniformity; unification; compatible
maintenance; preservation; improvement
hard fighting; hard struggle; fighting against heavy odds
Damascus (Syria); Dimashq
caliph; chief civil and religious Muslim ruler (prior to 1924)
to harden; to freeze; to put together; to collect; to make secure; to stabilize; to fortify
supremacy (over a nation); hegemony; domination; championship; victory
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
to boast of; to be proud of; to take pride in
rejoicing; glorification; exultation; celebration; enjoyment; singing praises
to meet; to assemble; to congregate
ideal land; earthly paradise; Utopia; Arcadia
making rapid progress; making great advances; rush; dash; onslaught
terrible; dreadful; terrifying; surprising; startling; tremendous
something; something or other; so-and-so; somehow; anyhow; one way or another
turning point; tipping point; commutation point
to check; to hold back; to keep at bay; to stop; to prevent; to stem
European countries; European nations
enforcement; implementation; putting into practice; carrying out; operation; working (e.g. working parameters)
to throw down; to bring down; to kill; to defeat; to overthrow; to trip up
to advance on; to close in; to march on; to descend on (the enemy); to move towards; to surge forward (crowd, wave of nostalgia, wave, etc.)
1,000,000; one million; million; many
to make round; to roll up; to seduce; to cajole; to round off (a fraction); (arch.) to lump together
to trample down; to tread on; to ignore; to spurn