the old days; the past; former times; the past ten years; the past decade
hating; strongly disliking
dark; gloomy; depressed; dispirited; dark (in colour); dull; ill-boding
the northeastern (unlucky) direction; person or thing to be avoided; (lit.) the demon's gate; weak point; Achilles' heel
rare; exceptional; extraordinary; unique; incomparable; unparalleled
user; consumer; master (e.g. of swordsmanship); prodigal; spendthrift
impediment; burden; encumbrance; hindrance; drag
what kind of; what sort of; what; no matter what (kind of); whatever; any
rule; regulation; settlement; conclusion; habit; custom
to run counter to; to go against; to disobey; to infringe
impossible to do (although wants to)
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext; excuse; grounds (for)
to rock; to shake; to swing
childhood friend; friend from infancy; old playmate
(social) standing; status; identity; birth; one's circumstances; one's means
fate; destiny (esp. as a mysterious force that binds two people together); relationship (e.g. between two people); bond; family ties; affinity; opportunity
protection; defense; providence; amulet; charm
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
to stay on (e.g. at one's friends house); to remain (in a place)
close friend; bosom friend; buddy; crony; chum
sarcastic; having a sharp tongue; having a sharp nasty tongue
fly in the ointment; small flaw in otherwise perfect object; only trouble; only fault
damp; humid; wet; gloomy; melancholy; depressing
carrying a disease-causing agent; carrying a pathogen
master (of a house, shop, etc.); husband; sir; boss; patron of a mistress, geisha, bar or nightclub hostess; sugar daddy
negotiations; bargaining; dialogue; duet
speciality; specialty; special subject of study; sole interest; single focus; concentrating exclusively on
thief; robber; burglar; bandit
trade; business; occupation; profession; job
sensitive; alert; aware; susceptible
outside of one's area of expertise; outside one's field
to pick up; to gather; to find (and pick up; something someone has dropped); to select; to choose; to get (unexpectedly); to hit upon (luck, an opportunity, etc.)
personal history; background; career
decomposition; putrefaction; putrescence; corruption; degeneracy; decay
to roll up; to hoist; to take away; to rip off (e.g. money from someone); to blow up (dust)
poor; needy; lacking (quantity and quality-wise); poor; scanty
underworld; underside of society
for convenience; as a matter of convenience
head (of a household); proprietor (of a store); one's husband; (one's) employer; (one's) master; host