isolation; cut off; blockade; quarantine; interception; deprivation
flight; desertion; escape
course; route; path; process; means
impossible; incapable (of doing); incompetence; inability; impotence; having no solution (of an equation)
painstaking; careful; meticulous; scrupulous; detailed; elaborate
a help; an aid; some assistance
without; but if; otherwise; or else
few decades; many decades; several decades
serious; earnest; real sword (as opposed to a wooden practice weapon)
impossible to do (although wants to)
at the critical moment; when the time comes; when it's most important; when necessary; in an emergency; when push comes to shove
to scurry home; to run home; to fly back
slight; little; insignificant
to have meaning; to be meaningful
if there is a chance; if possible; if circumstances permit; if things go well; if luck is on my side
negative; passive; half-hearted; unmotivated
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)
to be reasonable; to stand to reason; to be logical; to hold water
muscle; tendon; vein; artery; fiber; fibre; line
in general; generally; as a whole; all in all; altogether
to be forestalled; to fall behind; to be one step behind
to brace oneself; to focus one's energies; to focus one's mind
attitude; manner; behaviour; attitude (towards an issue, etc.); position; stance
difficult; tough; formidable; redoubtable; stubborn
could result in (something undesirable); might end up (doing, happening); run the risk of
army; armed forces; military authorities; team; group
to remain; to abide; to stay (in the one place); to be limited to; to be confined to; to only account for
to break; to destroy; to wreck; to ruin; to break (a bill, etc.)
turmoil; chaos; confusion
far from; anything but; not at all; let alone; to say nothing of; not to mention
retirement; retiring (from a race, match, etc.); dropping out
record; minutes; record (e.g. in sports); results; to record; to document
expressing one's mind; speaking out
magnificent; grand; fair; square; grandly; boldly
mass meeting; convention; tournament; competition; grand event
joy; delight; rapture; pleasure; gratification; rejoicing
falling lightly (e.g. snow, petals, confetti); fluttering; flickering; twinkling; appearing and disappearing; catching glimpses
to say no more; to sink into silence
regret; repentance; remorse