to declare; to assert; to say bluntly; to say straight out
amendment; correction; revision; modification; alteration; retouching
home video game console; home console
Second World War (1939-1945); World War II; WWII; WW2
domestic affairs; internal administration
country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
simulation; simulation (of a foul); diving; flopping
safety zone; buffer (e.g. against defeat)
to play with; to joke; to use (esp. trick, sophistry, etc.); to deride; to scoff at; to make fun of
assistant; associate; duplicate; copy; adverb
dark clouds; threatening signs; ominous indications
to stare back at; to look back at
embarrassed; feeling ashamed; feeling awkward
lightning strike; thunderbolt; bolt of lightning; to strike (lightning); to be struck by lightning
funeral; burial rites; attendance at a funeral
to doubt; to think (something is) doubtful; to wonder; to be suspicious
passing shower; streaks of pouring rain
to strengthen; to emphasize; to emphasise
to narrow; to reduce; to contract
repulse; repelling (e.g. the enemy); driving back
beforehand; in advance; previously
(outward) appearance; (proper) format (e.g. of an essay); form; appearances; decency; lip-service
heavy work; manual labour; feat of strength
replenishment; supplementation; supplement; replacement; refilling
tottering; staggering; faltering; reeling
to crawl out of; to creep out of
conclusion; decision; judgement; affirmative
persuasiveness; powers of persuasion; cogency
magnification; enlargement; expansion; amplification
to attract interest; to capture attention
this way (of doing); this method; this sort (of thing); this type
outstanding; excellent; exceptional; preeminence; distinction; extraordinariness