to have a smattering knowledge of
clasp; latch; catch; fastener
to melt (steel, etc.); to liquefy; to soften; to melt (one's heart); to disarm
ready wit; quick wits; resourcefulness; raising (money)
great achievement; glorious deed; (gaining) fame; (earning) distinction
in a day; in a brief space of time
crawling on all fours; being on all fours; being on one's hands and knees
to sob; to be choked with tears
finally; after great pains; at last; just barely
to slip out; to sneak away; to break into the lead; to get ahead; to begin to fall out (e.g. hair); to break out (of a loop)
besides; moreover; in addition; to make matters worse
stronghold; inner citadel; base; headquarters
satisfactory; decent; good; proper; respectable
endurance contest; test of endurance
to experience (something unpleasant); to go through; to suffer
not insignificant; not to be sneezed at
wearing a sword; sword one is wearing
to become calm (of the wind, sea, etc.); to die down
to maintain one's honor as a man; to save face (as a man); to have one's honor upheld
as; because; with; due to
even; if only; if just; as long as; the only thing needed
double bottom (ship, trunk, etc.); false bottom; double sole; double hull
pair; couple; antithesis; counter for items that come in pairs; counter for sets (of clothes, small furniture, utensils, etc.)
lower floor; downstairs; bottom of the stairs; foot of the stairs
already completely (did, happened, etc.); already entirely
to stay up all night; to sit up all night; to do something all night
information; (brief) notice; letting someone know; first report; initial report
partly open; in half bloom
state of things; state of affairs; situation; conditions; circumstances
continuation; continuance; maintenance; persistence; going on
pickling in salt; food preserved in salt; holding on to (shares, land, etc.) for an extended period until its value increases; leaving unsold; leaving unused
capture (of enemy territory); taking (by storm); defeating (an opponent); attacking (a problem) strategically; strategy; tactics
damply; moistly; clammily; stickily
to leave (someone) alone; to leave to oneself; to leave (someone) be
now that you mention it; come to think of it; that reminds me; on that subject; speaking of which
comfort; consolation; diversion
to shed tears; to (begin to) cry
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; difficulty
to be involved (in); to get involved (in); to relate to (a matter); to pertain to; to (seriously) affect; to concern
to devote oneself; to do one thing exclusively; to make a job of; to decide to
stocking up (in case of emergency); stockpile; reserves; storing; laying in (supplies)
to be expensive; to be costly