beforehand; in advance; previously
to attempt; to test; to try out
while alive; during one's lifetime
simply; merely; only; solely
to investigate thoroughly; to examine closely; to probe into; to be obsessed with a thought; to brood over; to worry about
how long; how much; to what extent
combat; battle; action; active service; actual fighting
regarding highly; attaching importance to
practice; practising; experience
one-by-one; separately; every single; each and every; without omission
very; greatly; much; just about to; almost; very nearly
eccentric; crank; oddball
person with a lot of free time on their hands; person of leisure; idler; loafer
without; but if; otherwise; or else
great; excellent; very troublesome; awful; tiring; tough
habit (often a bad habit, i.e. vice); tendency; peculiarity; idiosyncrasy; crease; wrinkle
to make a habit of; to make it a practice to
interesting; fascinating; amusing; funny; enjoyable; fun
intensive; concentrated; focused
to grapple with; to wrestle with; to engage in a bout; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to come to grips with; to work hard on
thoroughly; completely; severely; harshly; (arch.) scattered; (arch.) disconnected
noisy; loud; annoying; troublesome; fussy; finicky
to tell; to (try to) persuade; to advise; to warn; to admonish; to reason
clan; partisans; participation (e.g. in a plot); one flavour; one charm; one ingredient (in traditional Chinese medicine)
proclamation; dissemination; promulgation
to begin (doing); to start (doing)
last century; ancient times
strict; severe; stringent; rigorous; rigid; firm
to deliver; to forward; to send; to report; to notify; to file notice (to the authorities)
major incident; major happening; big scandal
fashion (current) of the times; general drift of affairs
floral pattern; flourish; ornament; star (actor, player, etc.)
brilliant; splendid; glorious; magnificent; spectacular
secret manoeuvres (maneuvers); operating behind the scenes
to devise; to arrange; to plan; to plot
across; over; beyond; throughout (a period of time); for
fierce; intense; severe; violent; strong; vehement