background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
boorish; inelegant; unpolished; unromantic; tactless
to claim victims; to leave casualties
medium; average; moderation; middle school; China; volume two (of three); during (a certain time when one did or is doing something)
(idle) curiosity; fancifulness; whimsy; (having) strange tastes
end of a century (esp. 19th); fin-de-siècle
century; era; of the century (e.g. fight of the century)
beginning (of a century, etc.)
presence (impressive quality)
to take offense (at); to take offence (at); to feel hurt (by)
as a child; when one was a child
prodigy; talented person; person of exceptional talent; genius
self-assessment; self-evaluation; self-rating; self-esteem
moreover; furthermore; nevertheless; and yet
to be preeminent; to be outstanding
lack of ability; incompetence; incapacity
to slurp; to sip (loudly); to sniffle; to sniff
unfit; unsuitable; unmarketable
fair-skinned; light-complexioned
to say in other words; to put another way; to express in different words; to reword; to rephrase
thin arm; slender arm; slender means; meager ability to earn a living
complex; inferiority complex; complex (of buildings, facilities, etc.)
to play accompaniment; to keep time; to cheer; to applaud; to jeer; to mock
deep pool; deep water; abyss; depths (e.g. of despair, etc.); grip (e.g. of death)
to hear a rumor; to get wind of
discernment; penetration; insight; intellectual acumen
opponent; rival; adversary; menace; danger; threat
means of survival; means of escape; way out of a difficulty
great admiration; deep respect
to be able (to); to be possible (to)
costume; dress; attire; (arch.) interior decoration; (arch.) landscaping; (arch.) furnishing
here and there; all around; everywhere; to get things in the wrong order (back to front); to become muddled up
root (of a plant); root (of a tooth, hair, etc.); center (of a pimple, etc.); root (of all evil, etc.); source; one's true nature
unusual; uncommon; extraordinary; out of the ordinary; incomparable; serious
battle; fight; war; struggle; conflict
to go under; to pass under; to dive (into or under the water); to evade; to get around; to survive
to fuss over; to be particular about; to be obsessive about; to be fixated on; to obstruct; to hinder
laconic; of few words; reticent; quiet
life or death struggle; mortal combat; struggle to the death