medium; mediocrity; average
space (between); gap; period of time (during, while); duration; between (two parties or things); among (a group); relations (between)
few; a little; scarce; insufficient; seldom
certainly; of course; even if; no matter (who, what, when, where, why, how); without even; without so much as; at the (least, earliest, etc.)
to partition; to divide; to direct; to manage; to settle accounts; to assume a crouching posture (at the start of a bout)
highest rank; highest position; high-end; highest-order; most-significant (e.g. bit)
layer; stratum; class; stratum; sheaf; counter for stories (of a building)
to be no match for (e.g. outclassed in authority, strength or in debt to); to be unable to act on an equal basis with
character (of a person); personality; disposition; characteristics; nature (of a thing, event, etc.)
light; well-lit; bright (of a colour); brightly-coloured; cheerful; bright; encouraging (for the future of a project, etc.)
to place (in relation to the whole); to rank; to position; to locate
(real) ability; true strength; merit; arms; force
recently; lately; these days; nearest; closest
direct; immediate; personal; firsthand
than; from; out of; except; but; more
(a) step; one step; level; stage; small degree; small amount
slowly; quietly; steadily; soon; momentarily; before long
new face; newcomer; rookie; modern humans (from Cro-Magnon man onwards)
war; battle; match; game; competition
to be decided; to be settled; to be unchanging; to be the same (as always); to be a fixed rule; to be destined; to be well executed (of a manoeuvre in a sport, game, etc.)
genuine; real; full-scale; full-blown; full-fledged; professional
mass meeting; convention; tournament; competition; grand event
to open; to undo; to bloom; to unfold; to open (for business, e.g. in the morning); to be wide (gap, etc.); to widen
at that time; in those days; at that moment; then
very; much; greatly; a lot of
to omit; to leave out; to overtake; to pass; to say; to speak
surely; undoubtedly; sternly; severely; having no slack; rigid
exposed; scanty; bare; public; open
to gather in a circle; to form a circle
seat; place; position; status; gathering; party; stand
expressly; especially; taking the trouble (to do); intentionally; deliberately
to avoid being seen; to be clandestine
empirical; from experience
that kind; competition; match
sensitive; alert; aware; susceptible
to mind (negative nuance); to care about; to worry; to pay undue (amount of) attention to (something)
tendency; trend; inclination
fear; horror; anxiety; concern; uneasiness; reverence
to shiver; to shake; to quake; to tremble; to quaver; to quiver
to keep within limits (e.g. spending); to restrain (e.g. emotions); to control; to hold back (e.g. an enemy); to check; to curb
softly; gently; stealthily; secretly; to leave alone; to leave as it is
to speak; to say; to vocalize
match; game; bout; contest