reigning (over a country); dominating; controlling; dictating
retaliation; revenge; reprisal; retorsion; retortion
weak and small; inferior in strength and size; minor; young; youthful
personnel changes through favoritism
to defend oneself; to protect oneself
self-; from (a time or place)
to dye; to colour; to color
powerful person; influential person
limited time; limited-time offer
(slowly and) carefully; without haste; thoroughly; deliberately; closely; meticulously
little by little; bit by bit
gap; opening; break; interval; unguarded moment; carelessness
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
vanguard; advance-guard point; advance detachment; vanguard; pioneer; avant-garde
pull; patronage; tug; room to move the camera back; drawing back; pulling back
fingers; fingertips; underling; stooge; tool
unique; distinctive; novel; different color (colour)
hostile; adversarial; antagonistic
balance of power (in a relationship); power dynamic
remainder; remnant; (not) very; (not) much; too much; excessively; extreme
change; variation; variety; diversity; inflection; declension
frame; framework; border; box; limit; restriction; category
pure; true; genuine; unmixed
(in a) long time; long time (ago); while (ago); long ago; long while (ago); (in a) long while
to attract attention; to come into the limelight
sound of thin metal or plastic surface caving in and springing back; action of quickly bowing or lowering one's head; with a bob of the head
thanks; gratitude; manners; etiquette; bow (i.e. bending of the body); bowing; reward
feats of arms; military exploits; distinguished military service
beginning; start; first (in line, etc.); origin; such as ...; not to mention ...
guarantee; security; assurance; warranty
receiving; getting; eating; drinking; please (give me; do for me)
young person; youth; young
sparse; thin; scattered; straggling; sporadic
clapping hands; applause; clapping one's hands in prayer (at a shrine)
doubt; question; uncertainty; skepticism; scepticism; suspicion
to give the stamp of approval
to pick out; to single out; to select; to extract; to draw out; to pull out
message; informative matter
guardian; protector; patron; parent
seductive; carnal; troubling; difficult; anxious; uneasy