fertile; rich; productive
nature of the locality; character of a place; local colour; local color
barren land; sterile soil; wasteland
expressly; especially; taking the trouble (to do); intentionally; deliberately
achievement; feat; meritorious deed; distinguished service
empty; void; vain; fruitless; lifeless
to fall into ruin; to be desolated
to throw away; to abandon
to look back on (the past); to reflect on; to look behind (at); to turn round (and look); to consider; to concern oneself about
suddenly; abruptly; unexpectedly
remote place; backcountry; the sticks; hinterland
central part; heart (of a city)
to come and go; to go back and forth
face; looks; vestiges; trace
keenly; deeply; calmly; quietly; fixedly (e.g. gazing, staring)
to praise extravagantly; to lionize; to lionise; to make much of
after all; in the end; anyway; (cannot) possibly; (not) at all; (not) by any means
back country; remote countryside
small; little; tiny; insignificant; humble; modest
to occupy; to hold; to account for; to make up; to take up
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
to swing; to wield (physically); to exercise (e.g. power, ability); to exhibit; to flourish; to prosper
ancient times; distant past; antiquity
phantom; vision; illusion; extremely rare item
again; once more; a second time
come; come now; well; who knows; well now; let's see
bloody; gory; covered in copious amounts of blood; desperate; frantic
year; counter for years (e.g. of an era), grades (e.g. school); period of an apprentice's contract (usu. ten years)
to separate (by distance, time, etc.); to isolate; to interpose; to have between; to alienate; to estrange
contract; compact; agreement
ferocious; fierce; audacious; impudent; shameless
to worry (about); to fret (over); to be anxious
to shake; to jolt; to shake (e.g. the political world); to disturb; to put off a batter (by varying one's type of pitch)
to become aroused (of emotions, nerves, etc.); to become excited; to become stirred up; to be proud; to be haughty; to be pompous
at once; immediately; right now