stage; step; level; rank; order; stairs
extent; scope; sphere; range; span
the present; present time; as of; present tense; this world; this life
to lend an ear; to hearken; to give an ear to; to listen carefully
common; ordinary; conventional; customary
opportunity to show one's abilities; time to show one's stuff; one's province
conclusion; resolution; gathering and bundling; convergence; focusing (of light); convergence
legal force; legally binding force; compelling power; compelling force
to make one's story to seem coherent; to adjust one's story to fit the situation
retribution; retributive justice; karma; just deserts; poetic justice; reward and punishment for one's past behavior
worldview; outlook on the world; Weltanschauung; setting (for a fictional work); world; universe
to perceive; to sense; to take in; to grasp; to feel
processing; dealing with; treatment; disposition; disposal
to suppress (a smile, yawn, etc.); to stifle; to bite to death
complaint; troubles; objection; grievance
judging from appearances; to all appearances; from the looks of it; on the face of it; apparently; seemingly
authority; expert; counter for messages, letters, notes, documents, etc.; understanding (esp. of male-female relations); tact; supernatural powers
one's circumstances; environment; situation (in life)
as much as one can; as much as possible; if at all possible
anyway; either way; one way or the other; whichever; whatever
preparedness; readiness; mental attitude; frame of mind
to wait expectantly; to await in anticipation
being afraid of; being fearful; being timid; trembling; shivering
to put oneself on guard; to stand ready; to square off
mind; spirit; attitude; mentality; spirit (of a matter); essence
to wear away; to rub down; to abrade
superior airs; air of importance; overemphasis
having done that; if that is done; if it is done in that way
time (three times, each time, etc.); times
working for a company; being employed by a company
headgear (esp. one made of cloth); hood; kerchief; tokin (headgear worn by yamabushi)
innocent; childlike; guileless; free of malice; thoughtless; simple-minded
faddist; follow-the-crowd type; poser; trend junkie; sheep
to imagine; to picture; to figure; to see
to give (an example); to list; to summon up (e.g. all of one's energy); to gather; to arrest (a criminal); to capture; to nominate (e.g. for a position)
ladle; dipper; wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris); cow parsley; keck
singing one's own praises; praising one's own wares
really; truly; very; extremely; exceedingly; sincerely
to worry about; to be anxious about; to be concerned about; to lament; to grieve; to mourn
overloading (someone; with work); overworking (someone); overwhelming; flooding (e.g. with tasks)
to get; to obtain; to come by; to find
self-hatred; self-abhorrence; self-loathing