unheard-of; unprecedented; unparalleled in history (unparallelled); record-breaking
situation; (present) state of affairs; circumstances
gradually; steadily; slowly; little by little; step by step; by degrees
even a little; any at all; if only a little; no matter how little
explanation; exposition; description; account; caption; legend
in general; generally; mostly; gist; point; main idea
understanding; comprehension; appreciation; sympathy
circumference; outskirts; environs; (computer) peripheral
exchange (e.g. cultural); interchange; interaction; alternating current; AC
resistance; opposition; reluctance; repulsion; resistance; drag
to mind (negative nuance); to care about; to worry; to pay undue (amount of) attention to (something)
to pass (the night); to spend; to reveal; to divulge; to prove; to verify
destination; whereabouts; future; prospects
teacher; instructor; professor
southern country; southern provinces; southern lands
leader; guide; mentor; coach
conversation; conference (usu. between important people); discussion; interview
plans; arrangement; schedule; program; programme; expectation
far away; far off; far; long ago; long before
to ask; to inquire; to blame (someone) for; to accuse of; to care about; to regard as important
attraction (e.g. magnetic, gravitation); affinity; gravitational pull; attractiveness; magnetism
to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle; to have a good command of (a language); to play proficiently (of a musical instrument); to work (a puppet); to pull the strings of a puppet
accumulation; accumulate; store
vast; huge; immense; malva nut (Sterculia lychnophora)
breast; chest; pit of the stomach; solar plexus; epigastrium
to shine; to glitter; to be bright
several years; a few years
originally; primarily; essentially; intrinsically; proper; rightful
to return to normal; to revert to the starting point; to go back to how it was
continuously in some state (for a long time, distance); throughout; much (better, etc.); by far; far away; long ago
wonderful; marvelous; strange; strangely enough; oddly enough; for some reason
far; distant; distant (past); remote (in time); distant (relationship or kinship); having little to do (with someone); far (from something else in quality, degree, etc.)
record; minutes; record (e.g. in sports); results; to record; to document
accurate; correct; precise; exact
place; situation; position; location
on the sea; surface of the sea
eye; eyeball; eyesight; sight; look; stare; notice
entirely; completely; cleanly; snugly
to fit into (a box, frame, category, etc.); to be contained within; to settle down (into); to be installed (in one's rightful place); to settle into (one's position); to take up (a post)