first and foremost; above all; most importantly of all
interest; rights; concession
every conceivable; every single; every possible; all kinds of
degeneration; retrogression; atrophy; regression (e.g. of society); deterioration; degeneration
to explain; to preach; to advocate; to persuade; to prevail upon; to reason with
to sing; to sing of (love, beauty, etc.) in a poem; to express in the form of a poem; to recite (a poem)
wretched; miserable; shameful; mean; despicable; abject
to decline (of morals, character, etc.); to become vulgar (e.g. of a conversation); to stoop (to); to be ruined; to go under; to fall (into hell)
how things should be; the way something ought to be; ideal state; ideal form
to thrust at someone (e.g. a weapon); to point (a gun, knife, etc.) at; to hold up threateningly to (someone's face); to present forcefully (demand, document, etc.); to confront someone with (evidence, facts, etc.); to force upon
self-control; self-mastery; self-restraint; self-denial
diligent study; devoting oneself to one's studies
war; battle; campaign; (arch.) troops; (arch.) forces
the more ... the more ...; as; (arch.) while; (arch.) during; (arch.) because; (arch.) since
to get used to seeing; to become accustomed to seeing; to be familiar with
hateful; detestable; abominable; amazing; fantastic; admirable
one day; (on) a certain day
direct; frank; straightforward; decisive; prompt
to ask (about); to inquire; to enquire; to question; to make sure of
self-deprecating; self-mocking
tempering (metal); annealing; forging; toughening; disciplining; training
barren; sterile; infertile; unproductive (e.g. discussion); fruitless
reason for being; raison d'être
glowing ember (either red hot charcoal or the glowing remains of burnt firewood); live charcoal
to hold up over one's head; to hold aloft; to hold over something; to hold (one's hands) out (e.g. towards a fire); to hold up to shade one's eyes, face, etc.
to be foolish; to be stupid; to be ridiculous; to be absurd
one's last moment; one's death; one's end
to accompany; to follow; to keep up with
it cannot be helped; there's nothing for it; it's no use fighting back; it's hopeless; there is no way out of it
mask; disguise; guise; mask
interest; appeal; attraction; fun
meeting; rendezvous; meeting for the first time; coming across; confluence
to sharpen; to grind; to whet; to hone; to make keen
on one occasion; once; at one point; at one time
king; ruler; tycoon; magnate; king (of the senior player)
in itself; the thing itself; this itself; for its own sake; per se
wise; sensible; well-advised; intelligent; sagacious; prudent