formative experience (from one's youth)
groping in the dark; exploring new avenues without having any clues
the whole town; all over the town; throughout the town
stillness; tranquility; tranquillity; dullness
free and easy; open-hearted; relaxed; not fussy; frank
false accusations; unfounded suspicion; groundless charge; wet clothes
spell; curse; incantation
to die; (lit.) to become bones
morning star; Venus; preeminent person (within their own field); star (of the stage, silver screen, etc.)
ominous; sinister; (arch.) annoying; (arch.) appearing to be true; (arch.) plausible
report (of an investigation); investigation (investigative) report
immense; awesome; enormous; terrific
to engage in a bloody feud; to have a family quarrel; to quarrel with one's own flesh and blood; (lit.) to wash blood for blood
human intellect; knowledge
to say in other words; to put another way; to express in different words; to reword; to rephrase
hectic; topsy-turvy; chaotic
plan; scheme; plot; design; project; intention
scum of the earth; monster; fiend
to revere; to respect; to worship
trick; trap; stratagem; intraoperative; during surgery
to be due to; to be caused by; to depend on; to turn on; to be based on; to come from
to keep watch; to stand guard
conspiracy; collusion; complicity
peerless; matchless; unparalleled; unrivalled; unequalled; incomparable
to run out of; to dry up; to be depleted; to hit the bottom; to bottom out
honesty; integrity; purity and unselfishness
pitch dark; total darkness
unable to compete with; not able to make a dent in (e.g. a problem); not able to get a solid hit in (e.g. in a fight); hard to chew
survival; remaining; being extant; being left
wartime fire; war; wartime destruction; horrors of war
needle (compass, gauge, etc.); hand (clock); indicator; guiding principle; guideline; guide
secret art; the mysteries
to overestimate (someone); to overrate; to think too highly of; to make too much of; to give (someone) too much credit
sacred treasure; the three sacred treasures (sword, jewel, mirror); implement used in religious ceremonies
caution; admonition; prohibition; ban; punishment; (arch.) caution
to detest; to abhor; to loathe
to divide; to separate; to share; to distribute; to distinguish
absurd; unreasonable; excessive; very; extremely; excessively