to shrink; to contract; to diminish (in size)
optical illusion; hallucination; misapprehension; delusion
to ask after (someone's health); to visit; to attack; to strike; to meet with misfortune
to be crushed; to be smashed; to become useless; to cease functioning; to go bankrupt; to go out of business
quick; swift; nimble; quick (understanding, judgement, etc.); alert; prompt
to tear; to rip; to break through (cordon, opponent's defense, etc.); to breach; to defeat; to beat; to break (e.g. silence)
thunderstruck; hit by a thunderbolt; struck by lightning
not a chance; not likely; oh no; yuck; fault; defect
fearfully; timidly; cautiously; nervously
non-official history; privately composed history
unsteadily (e.g. on one's feet); shakily; wavering (in one's mind); unsteadily; aimlessly; unconsciously
to see someone off (at a station, an airport, etc.); to escort (e.g. home); to follow something with one's eyes until it is out of sight; to let pass; to pass up (an opportunity etc.); to shelve (a plan, deliberation on a bill, etc.); to postpone
sitting cross-legged (i.e. Indian style)
to cross (legs or arms); to link (arms); to put together; to construct; to braid; to plait; to grapple
surprise; astonishment; wonder; amazement
sincere; earnest; serious
first; firstly; first of all; Introduction; Preface
eyes sparkling; with shining eyes; for one's eyes to gleam
to load (a gun, etc.); to charge; to put into (e.g. emotion, effort); to include (e.g. tax in a sales price); to hang over; to shroud
earnest desire; eager hope; longing; yearning; hankering
desire; wish; request; entreaty; prayer; (written) application
connotation; comprehension; intension; inclusion; containment within
whole story; full picture; full particulars
fragment; broken piece; chip; ounce (of truth, conscience, etc.); trace; shred
scattered; disperse; loose; disconnected; in pieces; in drops
skillful; skilful; delicious; appetizing; fortunate; splendid
(arch.) sitting outdoors; room that served both as a reception room and as a living room in a Heian-period mansion; temporary sitting place installed in the garden at the imperial court, used on the occasion of archery or sumo ceremonies
indicates supposition; if ... then; when; (typically after someone's name) indicates exasperation
wasteful; a waste; too good; more than one deserves; impious; profane
little more than; only slightly better than; almost the same as
composition; construction; formation; makeup; structure; organization
to charm; to attract; to fascinate; to entice
(raw) ore; unpolished gemstone
to shed light; to cast light
mostly; nearly; practically; well-nigh; almost invariably; all but
to go to bed; to be sick in bed; to be laid up
wrong (guess or estimate); misdirected; irrelevant; off the point
violent emotion; passion; fury
to take back; to regain; to get back; to recover
will; volition; intention; intent; determination