to wear the mantle of (borrowed) authority and misuse it
shameless; shameless person
to brace one's legs; to stand firm; to plant one's feet (firmly on the ground); to hold out; to persist; to make an effort
examination; exam; test; trial; experiment; test
indicates concession or compromise; indicates permission
small mercy (from some misfortune); silver lining of a dark cloud; consolation in sadness; blessing in disguise
to soak (in); to steep; to dip; to dunk
to answer; to fire back; to retort; to redo; to do over; to try again
head-on fight; direct confrontation; head-to-head contest
nothing new; same as always; an old story; nothing new about it; not the first time it has happened
to feel relieved; to feel satisfied
not a pretty sight; appalling; not a good look
all you have to do is; just; that's all
to overdo; to go too far; to go to excess
reading partway; leaving half-read
ghastliness; dreadfulness; grimness; intimidation; menace; threat
to cause to swell; to inflame
confusion; dismay; consternation; panic
returning tit for tat; retaliating
sickle; leading question; trick question; sickle-and-chain (weapon); spear with curved cross-blades; gooseneck tenon and mortise joint; (arch.) noisiness
assailant; perpetrator; wrong-doer; aggressor
support (e.g. for an argument); backing; proof; evidence; corroboration; substantiation
contribution (to a newspaper, magazine, etc.); submission; post (on a blog, social media, etc.)
person of lofty virtue; man of noble character; perfect person; saint
father and mother; parents
to talk; to tell; to recite; to pledge; to conspire with
reprimand; rebuke; reproach; scolding
there being no use in arguing (about it)
reason; cause; history; origin
(not) anything; (nothing) at all; (not) any
return; conclusion; reduction
maintaining a reasonable distance; neutral position; indecision
prepaid (phone, card, etc.)
to steam (food, towel, etc.); to be hot and humid; to be sultry
to lie on top of one another; to be in a heap
minor; small; minor (key, scale, etc.); the minor leagues (US baseball)
new work; new production; new composition; new creation; new title