massing (of troops); gathering
chaos; confusion; disorder; chaotic; confused; uncertain
connection (to a person, place, etc.); relation; affinity
crossing swords; fighting with swords; cutting each other (in fighting)
towering; astonishingly high
in spite of; nevertheless; although; despite; no matter the; regardless of
popular use; circulation; to pass as; to pass for
to assault with a sword; to stab at; to slash at
one's post; place of work; workplace
to extract; to pull out; to draw out; to headhunt; to lure away; to poach
picking up; someone who picks up things; type picking (letterpress printing); walking (of an aristocrat)
large drop (rain, sweat, tears, etc.); large grain-like object (grape, cherry, etc.)
by all rights; properly speaking; legally speaking
feminine handwriting; woman's hand
to throw down; to throw out; to abandon; to resign; to give freely; to give generously
persistence; single-mindedness
approximately; about; only; nothing but; just (finished, etc.)
premodern; old-fashioned; outmoded; antiquated
to confess; to speak out; to disclose; to tell
with a burble; hollow (sounding); holey; full of holes or dents; viciously beating; hitting and kicking repeatedly
audience (with a person of high standing); eye-level
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
seeing for the first time; first sight; first meeting; sight-reading
to be curious; to wonder; to marvel
boobs; female breasts; hooters
to say enough (as much as required); to say plenty; to say well; to say cleverly; to say often; to say frequently
surely; certainly; without doubt
top recommendation; (something) highly recommended
indolence; laziness; sloth
taking over; handing over; transfer of control; inheriting; passing on the baton
boy; son; child; mere boy; stripling; greenhorn
rough (estimate, manner, etc.); crude; broad; loose; careless (work)
to take offense; to take offence; to get angry; to lose one's temper
side effect; adverse reaction
negligence; neglect; carelessness; procrastination
to be knotty (of a tree, etc.); to be gnarled; to be rough and bony (hands, fingers, etc.); to be gnarled; to be knobby
watchdog; chaperone; watcher