choice; selection; diagnosis; medical opinion; judgement; opinion
enough; sufficient; sufficiently; fully; division into ten
merit; success; meritorious deed; achievement; accumulated experience
father-in-law; foster father; stepfather
factional dispute; factional strife; rivalry between factions
malicious; spiteful; vicious; shady and damp
pardon; forgiveness; forbearance
little by little; bit by bit; sparingly
to ask; to enquire; to query
to choke; to be choked by; to be stifled by
bright; intelligent; clever; smart
decisively; decidedly; boldly; precisely; exactly
(one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups
now that you mention it; come to think of it; that reminds me; on that subject; speaking of which
true character; true form; true colors; consciousness; one's senses
several times; a few times
in any case; at any rate; anyhow; because; since; for
glance; look; glimpse; complete view; bird's-eye view
eminent; prominent; distinguished; ringing (of metal); resonant (of a musical instrument)
losing one's nerve; feeling awkward; feeling timid; feeling hesitant; feeling nervous; feeling diffident
scheme; plot; artifice; stratagem; trick
to compete; to contest; to quarrel; to argue; to deny (e.g. evidence)
now (while the time is ripe); while one still can
ingenuity; resourcefulness
many; numerous; various; large number of
series of biographies; lives
to go down in history; to be recorded in the history books
stage (of a theatre, concert hall, etc.); stage performance; stage production; setting (of a story); scene; sphere (of activity)
to act (a part); to play (a role); to perform (a play, etc.); to put on (a production); to commit (e.g. a blunder); to disgrace oneself
as if it were about oneself
with a friendly grin; smilingly
riddle; puzzle; enigma; enigmatic; mysterious
to get drunk; to become tipsy
illegitimate (e.g. born to a mistress)
complex; complicated; intricate; mixed (feelings)
home; household; family; hearth
perhaps; maybe; perchance; by some chance; by any chance
on bad terms; at loggerheads
half- (sibling by a different mother); paternal
reeking of liquor; smelling of alcohol