gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
ending; conclusion; join; union; knot; knotting
stage (theatre, theater); scene or setting (e.g. of novel, play, etc.)
to come to an end; to lower the curtain
desire to act only in one's self-interest; selfish desires
retribution; retributive justice; karma; just deserts; poetic justice; reward and punishment for one's past behavior
to be affected; to put on airs; to act like (something one isn't); to pretend to be
besides; moreover; in addition
to rub on; to rub against; to wipe on; to lay the blame on
being lost for words; becoming speechless; jueju (Chinese quatrain with lines of either five or seven syllables)
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 harden; to solidify; to become firm; to become certain; to gather (together); to assemble
(not) anyone; (not) a single person; no one; nobody
people; citizens; subjects; folk
impossible; unlikely; improbable
disturbance of mind; losing one's head; being upset; transition; changing; moving
failure; collapse; breakdown; break-up; bankruptcy
manager; landlord; warden; root (user)
to hold on to something (secret, lead in a race, etc.)
it cannot be that...; it is highly unlikely that...; it is impossible that...
to step back; to move back; to withdraw (from the presence of a superior); to leave; to resign; to retire
to roughen (e.g. one's attitude); to raise (one's voice)
to spread one's roots (of a tree, etc.); to take root (of an ideology, etc.)
collapse; crumbling; breaking down; (radioactive) decay; disintegration
to continue (going along some trend)
relief; reassurance; recognition of right to land ownership (by the shogunate, a feudal lord, etc.); (arch.) living safely surrounded by walls
ill will; spite; bad meaning; mala fides; bad faith; malice
breaking off short (in one's speech); rendered speechless for a moment
anger; rage; resentment; indignation; exasperation
hand used like a sword in striking
to give; to do (something) for
trivial; not amounting to much; not a big deal
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
still; much more; (not) yet; still a long way to go; still a long way off; not there yet
wedge; chock; linchpin; tie; bond
under development; in development
analysis; analytical study; parsing; parse
to descend; to go down; to be handed down (of an order, judgment, etc.); to pass (of time); to surrender; to capitulate; to be less than
dull; uninteresting; dry; insipid; boring; prosaic
stimulating; exciting; provocative
to appear; to come in sight; to become visible; to be expressed (e.g. emotions); to become apparent (e.g. trends, effects)
loud laughter; roaring with laughter