state (of the US, Australia, India, Germany, etc.); province (e.g. of Canada); continent; province (of Japan); province (of ancient China); prefecture
opposition; rivalry; competition; antagonism
center; centre; middle; -centered; -centred; -focused
war potential; military strength; fighting power; ability (to compete); capabilities; valuable asset
battle; war; fight (against time, poverty, etc.); struggle (for freedom, survival, etc.); contest; competition
amateur; layman; respectable woman (i.e. not a prostitute, hostess, geisha); (arch.) unlicensed prostitute
destructive power; destructive energy; destructive force
profound; deep; grave; solid; dignified; stately
horse riding; horseback riding; horseback rider
easily; readily; quickly; lightly (seasoned food, applied make-up, etc.); plainly; simply
to blow away; to blow off; to dispel; to drive away; to talk big
even if; no matter (what); if; though; although; supposing
civilian in military employ
control; management (e.g. of a business)
lifeboat; friend in need; helping hand; timely help
memory; recollection; remembrance; memory; storage
to dig up; to unearth; to uncover
the old days; the past; former times; the past ten years; the past decade
sweet-tasting; sweet; fragrant (smelling); sweet (music); lightly salted; light in salt; indulgent
large sturdy broad-bladed knife, used in woodcraft and hunting
to swing downward; to bring down (one's sword, fist, etc.)
to be in the firing line; to bear the brunt of (an attack, criticism, etc.); to face (e.g. questioning)
to thrust at someone (e.g. a weapon); to point (a gun, knife, etc.) at; to hold up threateningly to (someone's face); to present forcefully (demand, document, etc.); to confront someone with (evidence, facts, etc.); to force upon
little by little; bit by bit
reduction; curtailment; cut; cutback; scaling down; contraction
-ing and -ing (e.g. "coming and going"); doing such things as ...; expresses a command
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
to intimidate; to frighten; to scare; to threaten (e.g. peace); to jeopardize; to endanger
the whole; all; on the whole; generally; from the start; from the outset
contradiction; inconsistency
status elevation; upgrading; promotion
link (e.g. in a chain of events); part (of a plan, campaign, activities, etc.); monocyclic
to lead; to spearhead (a group); to command (troops)
until now; till now; up to now; up to the present; so far
deterrence; ability to deter (an attack, etc.)
worst; worst-case (scenario)
evasion; avoidance; recusal (of a judge)
biggest; greatest; largest; maximum
having done that; if that is done; if it is done in that way