defense; defence; pleading; advocacy
accused; defendant; prisoner at the bar
to act tough; to act bad; to act worse than one really is
approximate age; apparent age; marriageable age (esp. of a woman); age of maturity; age (when ...); for years (past)
arbitration; intercession; mediation
elegance; grace; article; item; counter for items (of food, etc.); counter for dishes or courses (at a restaurant)
stick; club; cudgel; bludgeon
sharpness; cutting ability; quickness (of wit); incisiveness; peppiness (of a ball)
upright; honest; faithful; conscientious; sincere
to betray; to turn traitor (to); to double-cross; to disappoint; to let down
pressure; urgency; tension; imminence; acuteness
to open hostilities; to take up arms (against)
to start to say; to attempt to say; to be about to say; to speak to; to address
long-awaited; much-awaited
seeing through (a trick, someone's mind, etc.)
having in mind; happening to know (of); idea (of); inkling
with these words; while saying
to refuse; to reject; to inform; to give notice; to ask leave; to excuse oneself (from)
derailment; digression; deviation
to become dim; to become blurred
doubt; suspicion; misgivings; scruples
fast (talking); rapid; quick-tongued
to receive; to take; to get someone to do something; to have in one's pocket (a fight, match); to contract (a disease); to catch
useless; futile; unnecessary; needless; not on business; unrelated
younger scholar; future reference
to come apart; to unravel; to come loose; to become disarrayed (e.g. of hair)
winner-takes-all (system); taking everything (esp. winnings)
sure to ...; certain to ...; bound to ...; it's natural that ...; it's obvious that ...
anyone; anybody; everyone; everybody; whoever
actual existence; real existence; existing in real life
art; technique; means; way; stratagem; artifice
hmmm; uh-huh; murmur indicating approval, comprehension, etc.
one's speciality; one's forte; one's strong point
to drive away; to order off; to chase away; to force into an unpleasant situation (bankruptcy, prostitution, suicide, etc.)
to become clear; to be made public
to return to normal; to revert to the starting point; to go back to how it was
diversion (from one's worries, troubles, etc.); distraction; amusement