bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
unparalleled; unparallelled; unequaled; unequalled; unique
peace; security; tranquility; tranquillity
circumstances; conditions; situation; reasons; state of affairs
to wither (of flowers, dreams, etc.); to wilt; to droop; to shrivel; to fade (away); to sag
by all rights; properly speaking; legally speaking
to shine; to be visible; to be tinged with; to rise (of water levels); to flow in; to be felt (i.e. as an emotion); to come over one
bump; lump; protuberance; swelling
to thrust before; to thrust at
Sui dynasty (China, 581-618)
to be bloodcurdling; to be ghastly
to shrink back; to wince; to flinch; to recoil
mouthful; morsel; gulp; sip; one word; in short
to gnaw; to nibble; to bite; to dabble in; to have a smattering of
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
before I knew it; next thing you know; when I came to
to bite at; to snap at; to nibble; to get one's teeth into (metaphorically); to get to grips with; to really get into
heave-ho; oops; yes; yeah
to be thirsty; to feel thirsty; to thirst for; to crave
reception (telephone); listening (to a telephone)
absorption; suction; attraction
esophagus; gullet; esophageal
having a meal (before doing something); fortifying oneself with a meal
to diffuse; to spread throughout; to prevail; to become widespread; to reach everyone
will; desire; ambition; urge (e.g. creative urge)
to encamp; to take up positions
gradually; steadily; slowly; little by little; step by step; by degrees
a drop in the bucket; a drop in the ocean; (lit.) (pouring) water on a hot stone
various; diverse; divergent; each according to one's own wishes
at the very beginning; first of all; first and foremost; before anything else
foot (of a mountain or hill); bottom; base
fire chief's car; command vehicle
clerk; secretary; writing down; putting on record
blank form; sheets of paper; sheet of paper
container; receptacle; vessel; packaging
to dry (clothes, etc.); to desiccate
several minutes; a few minutes