almost; very nearly; only just; barely; just in time
to gulp down; to swallow deeply; to understand; to take in; to engulf; to swallow up
influential; prominent; strong; likely; plausible
via; through; by doing; by means of; using
to slip out; to sneak away; to break into the lead; to get ahead; to begin to fall out (e.g. hair); to break out (of a loop)
cannot (due to external circumstances); cannot afford to; must not; impossible to; no way one can (do)
start; commencement; beginning; initiation
to send or direct a person to
when it comes to ...; if one were to speak of ...; by ... you mean ...; when you say ... you mean that ...; whenever ...; if it's ... then (without fail)
talkative; loose-lipped; persiflage; frivolous talk
on and after; as from; hereafter; thereafter; since
awkward; clumsy; stiff; crude; unrefined; constrained
middle part; medium depth (water); medium layer; medium-size; mid-level; medium-rise (building)
room; wife (of someone of high rank); scabbard; Chinese "Encampment" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
to entertain; to make welcome
conversation; conference (usu. between important people); discussion; interview
to revel in trouble and discord; to be bent on making trouble; to like starting fights
actually; really; truly; in practice; practically
conference room; council room
drawing room; parlour; parlor; reception office
those present; attendance
(table) napkin; serviette; sanitary napkin; sanitary pad
close to the wall; alongside the wall
reserve; spare; preparation; preliminaries
dubious; puzzled; suspicious
the same rank; equality; apposition
to the last; persistency; thoroughness
expressing one's feelings; communicating one's intention; declaration of intent
place; spot; field; discipline; occasion; situation; scene (of a play, movie, etc.)
to take an attitude; to take a stance; to commit oneself; to assume a position
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
successively; one after another
commencing with; including
beautiful woman; (a) beauty
dark brown; colour of tanned skin
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)