novel; story; (work of) fiction
illustration (in a book, newspaper, etc.); picture
to give an answer; to find an answer to a question; to work out a solution
pupil; student; schoolchild
concrete; definite; specific; material; substantial
theme; topic; subject matter; motif; project; slogan
example; instance; precedent; custom; habit
being startled; getting a shock
to refer to; to consult; to use as a reference
old; aged; long; since long ago; of the distant past; long-ago
(emotional) backbone; support; backbone (of a network)
scrawl; scribble; graffiti; doodle
masterpiece; masterwork; chef d'oeuvre; (unintentionally) hilarious; absurd (e.g. blunder); outrageous
ecstatically; spellbound; with rapt attention; abstractedly; absentmindedly; absorbedly
famous picture; masterpiece (painting); excellent film; film classic
trademark gag; trademark routine
presentiment; premonition; hunch; to have a premonition; to have a hunch
to ask a question; to begin to ask a question
splendid; magnificent; utter (esp. defeat); total; (arch.) something worth seeing; (arch.) sight
trick; trap; stratagem; intraoperative; during surgery
to fit; to get into; to be fit for (a job, etc.); to be suited for; to fall into; to plunge into
though; although; notwithstanding; while; as; at the same time as
box made of paulownia wood; paulownia box
aaah!; oooh!; oh no!; oh boy!
to run away; to flee; to make off; to start to run away
spurious article; forgery; counterfeit; imitation; sham
in the same way; like; likewise; similarly
omitting crucial steps; cutting corners; skimping; tenuki; playing elsewhere on the board instead of responding locally
beginning; opening; start; outset
sentence; composition; text; the literary arts (as opposed to the military arts); academia; statement
boorish; inelegant; unpolished; unromantic; tactless
to change completely; to change suddenly
to open out (of a view, scenery, etc.); to spread out; to improve (of luck, prospects, etc.); to get better; to develop (of a town, civilization, etc.); to become civilized; to be sensible
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext; excuse; grounds (for)
not funny; not a laughing matter; not a joke
to warm up to; to get interested in; to get excited by
normally; ordinarily; by anyone's standards; by normal standards; without any issues; without any difficulty
divine messenger; messenger of a god (esp. an animal messenger)