to defend against; to protect against; to prevent; to avert; to avoid
of late; lately; this part; this point; here
depression; recession; slump
to become misty; to become hazy; to get blurry; to grow dim; to be overshadowed; to be upstaged
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
declaration; proclamation; announcement
to fall ill; to suffer from (e.g. a disease); to have something wrong with (e.g. an inner organ)
to cure; to heal; to fix; to correct; to do over again; to replace
my; one's own; I ...; one ...
sick person; patient; invalid
gathering; meeting; assembly; collection; attendance
to get better; to get well; to recover (from an illness); to be cured; to be restored; to heal
bitter (e.g. criticism); sharp; biting; severe; scathing; harsh
satisfaction; pride; one's strong point; one's forte; regular customer; regular client
to profit; to get; to have (bear, beget) a child; to have a stroke of luck
textbook; coursebook; schoolbook
to be caught; to be arrested; to hold on to; to grasp; to find (e.g. proof); to get (e.g. a taxi)
most; highest; maximum; best; wonderful; finest
lesson; class work; teaching; instruction
taking a class; studying a subject; completing a course
to jump out; to rush out; to appear (suddenly); to protrude; to project; to butt in
unflaggingly; steadily; untiringly; knocking; tapping; clicking
foundation; base; basis; from the beginning; from the outset; by nature
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)
to fry; to saute; to stir-fry
scattering (e.g. dust in the wind, enemies before an assault); dispersal; flying off (in all directions); flying apart
gradually; slowly but steadily
tear; tears; lachrymal secretion; sympathy
circumference; girth; surroundings; neighbourhood; people surrounding oneself; surrounding circumstances
scoundrel; rascal; villain
waking or sleeping; constantly; at all times; twenty-four hours a day
I, myself; one-self; by one-self; even I; even one
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
to interrupt; to obstruct (a view, someone's way, etc.); to block (light, wind, etc.); to intercept; to cut off
an eye for people; the ability to judge character
this world; this life; the free world (outside of prison, the army, red light district, etc.); this corrupt world; present world
living room (Western style); sitting room
to sound; to ring; to resound; to echo; to roar; to rumble
hurriedly; in a hurry; in haste