several times; once or twice
with a burble; hollow (sounding); holey; full of holes or dents; here and there; (sound of) walking slowly
omission; slip; error; definition (of photograph); sharpness; clarity (sound)
fruitless effort; wasted effort; abortive scheme; futility
to muster (e.g. one's courage); to call forth; to rouse up; to be enlivened; to be invigorated
establishment; opening; setting up; inauguration
to paint (draw) a picture
idle gossip; foolish talk; yarn
to bend; to warp; to curve
detestable; abhorrent; loathsome
to avoid misfortune; to escape danger
imitative sound (in film, theatre, etc.); sound effect
emotion; feeling; atmosphere; mood; spirit
promise; agreement; arrangement; something expected or predictable (e.g. running gag); typical or clichéd development (in a story); something considered obligatory or guaranteed (in a certain situation)
standing upright; standing straight; standing erect; rising perpendicularly; rising straight up; towering high
caged bird; person whose freedom has been restricted (esp. a prostitute, mistress, concubine, etc.)
otherwise; or else; if not
one's field of expertise; one's strong area
concreteness; feasibility
to chip; to nick; to break; to lack
story; tale; narrative; account; fable; legend
circumstances; conditions; situation; reasons; state of affairs
departure; departing (from ...); sending; sent (by ...); engine; counter for gunshots, bursts of gas, etc.
authenticity; credibility
marching orders; sailing orders
prediction; prophecy; prognostication
to become stronger; to grow in intensity; to grow violent; to invite contributions, etc.; to solicit help, participation, etc.; to recruit (e.g. soldiers)
chain of command; line of command; command structure; command system
incomprehensible; mysterious; inexplicable; inscrutable; enigmatic; baffling
to darken; to get dark; to be clouded; to be hidden (behind clouds)
to have one's horizons broadened
barren; sterile; infertile; unproductive (e.g. discussion); fruitless
to enter; to trespass; to interfere; to meddle; to pry into
central part; heart (of a city)
calamity; disaster; misfortune
featureless (face); expressionless; flat; flat (terrain); smooth
not necessarily; not entirely; not altogether