in fact; as a matter of fact; actually; in reality; to tell the truth
(real) ability; true strength; merit; arms; force
guaranteed; authentic; certified
the deceased; the departed; old friend; longtime acquaintance
lifespan; life; lifetime; life (of a battery, lightbulb, etc.); service life; end of an object's (useful) life
immortality; eternal life; undeath; undead
to succeed (a person, to a position, etc.); to inherit; to patch (clothes); to mend; to add (e.g. charcoal to the fire); to replenish with
many; numerous; various; large number of
wandering; roaming; drifting
to spread; to propagate; to popularize; to broaden; to extend; to widen
very recently; in the very recent past
succession to another's professional name
active duty; active service; student taking (university) entrance exams while still enrolled in school; student who passed their university entrance exams on the first try
modern times; the modern age; this day and age
various; varied; diverse; all sorts of
weapon; arms; ordnance; weapon (something used to gain an advantage); asset
large; big; great; prominent; -sized; as big as; university
major powers of the world; great powers
worthy of special mention
the point of ...; the place where ...; a place called ...; places known as ...; I would say ...; ... is how I'd put it
highish; somewhat high; on the high side; somewhat expensive; comparatively expensive; on the expensive side
to add to one's circle of friends (or colleagues, etc.); to take in; to accept
to fall into (someone's) hands; to fall under someone's control; to become someone's property (e.g. of an object)
dispute; conflict; trouble; unrest; strife
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
where ... is concerned; when it becomes; if it becomes
to brace oneself; to focus one's energies; to focus one's mind
southern part; the south (of a region)
name; designation; denomination; naming; giving a name
settlement; village; community; (bacterial) colony
fight; dispute; feud; competition; contest; rivalry
in a manner of speaking; as it were; so to speak; if you like; per se
Warring States period (of Japanese history, approx. 1467-1568); Sengoku period; Warring States period (of Chinese history, 403-221 BCE); era of vicious competition
to go upstream; to go up (a river); to go back (to the past or origin); to date back (to); to trace back (to)
end of war; cessation of hostilities
fertile; rich; productive