to get distracted; to jump off the track
machination; secret plan; plot; trick up one's sleeve
to begin to read; to leaf through a book
inconsequential; indifferent; not worth worrying about; whatever; whichever; I don't care
dragon (esp. a Chinese dragon); naga; semi-divine human-cobra chimera in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; promoted rook
hill; height; knoll; rising ground
near; close; beside; third person
deep pool; deep water; abyss; depths (e.g. of despair, etc.); grip (e.g. of death)
criticism; judgement; judgment; comment
nature; natural constitution; innate disposition
expectation; anticipation; purpose; intention; others' opinions of one; speculation
drumming (noise); beating; rapidly; quickly; continuously; one after the other
and then; and so; and; so then
dejected; dispirited; crestfallen; discouraged
fairness; impartiality; justice; objectivity
gap; space; break; interlude; chink (in one's armor, armour); chance
to find out the truth; to ascertain; to clarify; to confirm; to verify
listen!; you see; mind you; remember
to put something out of the way; to move (something, someone) aside; to set aside; to keep apart; to remove (someone) from the group; to shun
welcome rain; beneficial rain; blessed rain; rain that comes after a drought
contest between different schools (of fencing, etc.)
riddled with holes; full of holes; full of flaws; full of loopholes; faulty
to open wide (doors, windows, etc.); to fling open
charge; custody; safekeeping; deposit; storage
fort; stronghold; fortification
reality; actuality; hard fact
wandering; rambling; roaming
unsteadily (e.g. on one's feet); shakily; wavering (in one's mind); unsteadily; aimlessly; unconsciously
to throw down; to bring down; to kill; to defeat; to overthrow; to trip up
unpreparedness; falsehood; Chinese "Emptiness" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
to take advantage of; to impose on; to make an entry (in an account book)
grave; solemn; serious; harsh (e.g. truth); hard; strict
shyness; bashfulness; shame
tendency; trend; inclination
house where one was born; one's parents' house
tenets (of a religious sect); doctrines; (religious) sect; denomination; one's principles; one's tastes
qualifications; requirements; capabilities
abstinence; self-control; celibacy; abnegation; asceticism
strict; severe; stringent; rigorous; rigid; firm
creed; belief; conviction; article of faith