various countries; various regions; various provinces
trustee; councillor (councilor)
Dragon King; promoted rook
dragon (esp. a Chinese dragon); naga; semi-divine human-cobra chimera in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; promoted rook
to change into; to convert to; to transform; to be reduced; to influence; to improve (someone)
to look on enviously while doing nothing; (lit.) to hold a finger in one's mouth
to check; to stop; to keep back
contortion; distortion; warp; kink (in one's character); twist
attenuation; damping; decay
accidental; incidental; occasional; casual
to wring (towel, rag); to squeeze; to squeeze (fruit to extract juice); to press; to rack (one's brains); to strain (one's voice); to extort
to follow in order; to go through step-by-step
tingling; stinging; pungently
to understand; to make out
greatest treasure; most valuable asset; pride (of)
friend; ally; supporter; taking sides with; supporting; standing by
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
otherwise; if not; or else
the same rank; equality; apposition
front stage; center stage (of politics, etc.)
equal (in ability); even; evenly matched; well-matched; on par (with)
region; limits; stage; level
to pull out; to take out; to lead out (e.g. a horse from a stable); to summon (e.g. to court); to withdraw (money); to draw
bet; wager; stake; gamble
cannot be helped; unavoidable
behind with everything; too late; reactive
declaration of war; proclamation of war
to rise in revolt; to raise the standard of revolt
massacre; annihilation; wholesale slaughter
politics of fear; terrorism; reign of terror (esp. in the French revolution)
to spread out; to lay out; to take a position; to impose widely (e.g. over a city)
here and there; all around; everywhere; to get things in the wrong order (back to front); to become muddled up
north; the North; northern territories; North Korea; (arch.) north wind