gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
clear; plain; distinct; obvious; evident; articulate
clearly; plainly; distinctly; to be clear; to be definite; to be certain
coming out; going out; attending (work); appearing (on stage); start; beginning; origins
instead of; in place of; as a substitute for; in exchange for; in return for; to make up for
finally; in the end; on top of all that
exposing fully; uncovering completely; being in full view; putting on display; not disguising
blushing; getting red in the face; embarrassment
that's the way it is; such is life
resistance; opposition; reluctance; repulsion; resistance; drag
explanation; interpretation
place; room; margin; scope
defense; defence; protection
to manufacture; to produce; to raise (crops); to invent; to dream up; to create
recoil; hesitation; flinching; shrinking back
recognition; awareness; perception; understanding; knowledge; cognition
spell (that restricts one's movements); binding spell
divine sword (one of the three sacred treasures)
to hold aloft (e.g. a sword); to brandish
till; to; concerning (an area of expertise); swearing by (one's sword, God, etc.)
sophism; chop logic; far-fetched argument; quibble; cavil; argument for argument's sake
to knead; to mix with fingers; to quibble; to argue for argument's sake
admiration; being impressed; admirable; praiseworthy; astonishment; being appalled
to assault with a sword; to stab at; to slash at
to bear; to carry on one's back; to take responsibility for; to accept a duty; to receive (wound); to incur (damage)
in accordance with; according to
to take a step backward; to retreat a step
to be hot on a person's heels
friend; companion; comrade; accompaniment; companion (e.g. book); complement
waste; scrap; garbage; scum; piece of trash; loser
what did you just say (to me)?; what's that?
together with; same; both; all; including ...
to eat; to live; to make a living; to bite; to sting (as insects do); to tease; to torment
to put something out of the way; to move (something, someone) aside
follow; following (on social media, esp. Twitter); follow-up; following up; backing-up; covering for; follow-up shot
retreat; falling back; recession; waning; backspace (key)
behind; in the rear; in back
to have authority over; to exercise one's authority (over); to glare; to scowl at; to glower at
to erase; to delete; to turn off (power); to switch off; to extinguish; to put out
victory or defeat; match; contest; game
to rock; to shake; to swing
cruelty; coldheartedness; relentless; ruthless
way (of doing); manner; method; means
to abandon; to fail; to desert; to forsake