the present; present time; as of; present tense; this world; this life
dispute; strife; quarrel; dissension; conflict; rivalry
affiliated with; under jurisdiction of; under the umbrella
self-government; autonomy; local (governmental) autonomy
to look down on; to make light of
mistress; kept woman; concubine
to be urgent; to be pressing; to be imminent
query; interrogation; enquiry; question; inquiry
to hear a rumor; to get wind of
contract; compact; agreement
tacit understanding; unspoken agreement
backing; support; backer; shield that protects one's back
to trick; to cheat; to deceive; to coax; to wheedle; to soothe and humor (humour)
minimum; at the very least
notice; attention; observation
search (esp. for someone or something missing); manhunt; legally authorized search of a person, building, etc.
murmur; mutter; murmuring; tweet; Twitter post
to compose; to put together
compression; condensation; constriction; compaction
area; domain; territory; field; range; region
sticking (in one place, position, etc.); settling; becoming established (of a custom, system, etc.); taking hold; fixation (photography); fixing
restoration; repair; mending
complicated and mysterious
wrong; bad; not allowed; not possible; failing grade
inverse; reverse; retro-; contra-
physiological function; physiology
to affect; to impact; to influence
swaying (only once, in a large, slow motion); relaxedly
regulation; adjustment; control
collapse; crumbling; breaking down; (radioactive) decay; disintegration
to check; to hold back; to keep at bay; to stop; to prevent; to stem
to be honest; to be frank; honestly; if you want to know the truth
to leave alone; to leave as is; to ignore; to neglect