at the very beginning; first of all; first and foremost; before anything else
very; greatly; much; just about to; almost; very nearly
to be surprising; to be shocking; to be jaw-dropping
variegated; varicoloured; varicolored; multi-coloured; multi-colored; diverse
person who has great confidence (faith) in himself
shrewdness; sharpness; astuteness; acumen; tact
to slam into; to crash into; to run into; to face (trouble, difficulties, etc.); to confront
to become experienced (after many years of practice)
often; frequently; now and then; occasionally
twist; spin; ingenuity; sophistication (e.g. of writing style); wrapped offering (of money); twisting throw
victory or defeat; match; contest; game
to say enough (as much as required); to say plenty; to say well; to say cleverly; to say often; to say frequently
group engaged in some activity (players, companies, forces, etc.)
overly serious; serious to a fault; humorless
expression; presentation; representation; notation
someone working behind-the-scenes; scene shifter; lady consort (to a high personage)
to penetrate; to sink in; to devote oneself (to); to do intently and exclusively; to do throughout (e.g. the night)
everywhere; at every turn
beast (i.e. any animal other than man); person reborn into the animal realm; brute (i.e. a contemptible human being); damn it; damn
spoiler; revealing important plot points of a story; spoiling a story
to look toward; to have one's eyes drawn towards something
quick-witted; quick to understand
number (in a series); (one's) turn; watch; guard; rank; standing; bout
(large) compilation; culmination (of hard work)
unusual event; strange occurrence; strange phenomenon; something abnormal; change (for the worse); accident
to accomplish; to finish; to fulfill
to clear up; to clear away; to refresh (e.g. spirits); to be cleared (e.g. of a suspicion); to be dispelled; to be banished
to lose focus; to let one's mind wander; to relax one's attention
desire; wish; request; entreaty; prayer; (written) application
to grant (request, wish); to answer (prayer); to fulfill (conditions); to meet (requirements)
relief; reassurance; recognition of right to land ownership (by the shogunate, a feudal lord, etc.); (arch.) living safely surrounded by walls
to regain one's breath; to catch one's breath
having had enough (of); fed up (with); sick and tired (of); to learn one's lesson; to learn from a bad experience
to tell (a story); to give an account of (an event, experience, etc.); to relate; to tell of; to show; to indicate
at full speed; as fast as one's legs can carry one
slowly (but steadily); gradually; irritatedly; impatiently; scorchingly (of the sun); sizzling (i.e. sound of frying in oil); sound of a warning bell, alarm clock, etc.