to ascertain; to make sure of; to determine; to probe; to get to the bottom (of something)
to curry favour (with); to play up (to); to cozy up (to); to butter up
intimidating enough to quieten a crying child
the one before last; two generations, etc. previous
former job; former position
dismissal; sacking; discharge
dressing oneself; putting on clothes; embezzlement
artificial muscle; synthetic muscle
local; localized; partial; topical (application)
suggestiveness; sensationalism; stirring up strong emotions
to demarcate; to delimit; to divide (an area); to punctuate; to put an end to (e.g. a sentence); to insert pauses or breaks (e.g. when reading aloud)
polarized light; polarised light; polarization; polarisation
enclosing wall; boundary fence; obstacle; barrier
famous picture; masterpiece (painting); film classic
fantasy; illusion; vision; dream
to enquire of someone about something (inquire); to question
appeal; call for something; request; axiom
cane; walking stick; staff; wand
above all else; more than anything
behaving outrageously as though there were no one around; acting without consideration for others; arrogance; audacity; insolence
technical skill; ability; capacity
percussion hammer; firing hammer; cocking piece
quick firing; rapid firing
coastal waters; adjacent seas
gadid (any fish of the family Gadidae, incl. cod, haddock, whiting and pollack); Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus)