foundation; basis; bedrock; substrate (circuit board)
latest; most recent; nearest (in time)
many people; a large number of people
alarm bell; fire bell; warning; wake-up call
curtain; bunting; act (in play)
tire track; traces of a person or thing; path one has taken; locus
elopement; running away with a lover
disappointment; despair; despondency; broken heart; adversity
white; unseasoned; undyed; very much; precisely; playing dumb
steering; piloting; flying; management; handling; control
rapid succession (e.g. questions)
regular; normal; formal; legal; established; legitimate
not hard to... (in certain circumstances, it would be possible)
thief; robber; burglar; rebel; insurgent; traitor
on hand; readily available
civilian in military employ
no exception; without exception; always the same
overlooking; looking down at; having an overhead view; having a bird's-eye view; having a high-angle view
following (in the footsteps of); catching up with; coming level with
unmanned; uninhabited; unattended; shorthandedness; lack of help
(raised) footpath between rice fields; ridge between rice fields
wearing a kasaya; wearing an article of clothing in the same manner as a kasaya (i.e. draped over one shoulder); slashing a sword diagonally from the shoulder
to temper thoroughly; to train well
to be sacrificed; to fall victim to; to fall prey to
speaking by proxy; speaking for (someone else); payment by proxy; compensation by proxy; acting for (someone else); carrying out (on someone's behalf)
to kick (at someone, something)
commander; commanding officer; CO
aggressiveness; aggression
to reject; to repulse; to repel; to bounce back; to counterattack; to strike back
smoke screen; dazzler; camouflage; deceptive means; magic; witchcraft
upward adjustment; upward revision
victory goes to the one who makes the first move; being quick to take action leads to victory; the early bird gets the worm
tattoo (esp. a traditional Japanese one); tattooing
nonetheless; nevertheless
sweet voice; seductive voice
great man; great god; hero; big man
gentlemanly; well-mannered; well-bred; gentlemanlike
document; official papers
quick; rapid; swift; satisfactory
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator