heresy; nonconformism; heathenism; paganism
each country; every country; various countries; all countries
demand; firm request; requisition; requirement; desire
exceedingly; extremely; decisively
back; rear; background; backdrop; backing; support; going backwards
self-proclaimed; self-professed; professing oneself to be; calling oneself; first person
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
lightly (floating, drifting, etc.); buoyantly; soft; fluffy; unsteadily; flightily
short pause; short interval
all; entire; whole; altogether
to mow down; to cut down; to knock down; to defeat; to beat
one o'clock; once; at one time; for a time; for a while; a time
route; way; course; directions
not straightforward; not dealt with by ordinary means; very hard to manage
rest; relaxation; recreation; recuperation; convalescence
meeting; greeting; welcome; person sent to meet a visitor
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
messenger; envoy; emissary
not long has passed since ...
allied nation; ally; Central Powers (in WWI)
(preliminary) meeting; face-to-face introduction; costarring; appearing together; match-up; pairing
news; word; tidings; omen; foreboding; premonition
to win fame; to become widely known; to make a name for oneself
merit system (as opposed to seniority); meritocracy; ability-ism
citizen; resident; person; user (of a website, esp. as a collective, e.g. Twittersphere)
people; citizens; subjects; folk
to account for; to make up; to occupy (a place, position, etc.); to hold (a rank, seat, etc.); to occupy (one's mind, heart, etc.); to weigh (on one's mind)
actual profit; practical use; benefit
if anything; if pushed I'd say; if I had to say
zealous; enthusiastic; ardent; fervent; keen; eager
to look down on; to make light of
to stretch larger; to enlarge (photos); to delay (e.g. the end of a meeting)
Your Majesty; His Majesty; Her Majesty
best (highest) record; new record
alighting (from a train, bus, etc.); getting off; getting out (of a car)
naughty; mischievous; rascal; naughty kid; delinquency; misconduct
visual hallucination; vision
to be tired of waiting; to wait impatiently
assembling (in full force); muster; lining up; gathering; getting together
greatly energetic; ferocious; extreme; severe
to become attached (to); to take (to); to become affectionate (with); to be tamed; to get close (e.g. to someone emotionally); to become intimate (with)
to bear fruit; to ripen; to produce (good) results; to show results; to bear fruit