the most; the best; peerless; the greatest; first-rate
now that it's come to this; since it's come to this
at least; at most; (even) just
imitation; copy; make-believe; doing something in a way that only superficially resembles the real thing
verge of death; dying moments
careful thought; consideration; deliberation; reflection; rumination; pondering
wakizashi; short sword worn by samurai
to grow long (e.g. hair, nails); to lengthen; to extend; to reach out; to hold out; to straighten; to smooth out
scabbard; sheath; cap (on pen, brush, etc.); case; margin (between two prices); spread
to rely on; to depend on; to count on; to turn to (for help)
to hold on to something (secret, lead in a race, etc.)
good-for-nothing; spineless; gutless; spiritless; feckless; pluckless
to anticipate; to expect; to place confidence in; to put trust in; to find promising; to see good prospects (in)
weird; ominous; eerie; uncanny; ghastly
matter; thing; affair; circumstance
at a stroke; with a single swoop
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.)
to tell (somebody) to (do something)
grinding of the teeth; involuntary nocturnal tooth grinding; bruxism; grinding one's teeth out of anger or vexation; gnashing one's teeth; gritting one's teeth
opening suddenly and widely (e.g. eyes)
groan; moan; roar; growl; buzz; hum (e.g. motor)
no sooner than; as soon as; immediately after; at the thought of; when I think about
favorite sword; cherished sword
to roll; to tumble; to fall over; to roll over; to lie down; to be scattered about; to be lying around
to stop (moving); to come to a stop; to stop (doing, working, being supplied); to come to a halt; to alight; to perch on
to make light of; to ignore; to slight
pretending to obey but secretly betraying (someone)
to swing; to wield (physically); to exercise (e.g. power, ability); to exhibit; to flourish; to prosper
selfish; self-centred; egotistical
(my) wife; inside the home; one's family
internal or domestic affairs
dispute; strife; quarrel; dissension; conflict; rivalry
to intimidate; to frighten; to scare; to threaten (e.g. peace); to jeopardize; to endanger
live coals (for firelighting); cause (of disturbance, conflict, etc.); trigger
one's heart; one's mind; one's intentions
to blaze; to burn brightly
to deny; to contradict; to negate (esp. a sound); to drown out
to prick; to stab; to poke; to prod; to use (a cane); to prop oneself up with
previously; before; first; before (something or someone else); beforehand; in advance
clear; plain; distinct; obvious; evident; articulate
unrecoverable; irreversible; irreparable
representative; representation; delegation; switchboard number; main number