contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
rice reaping; rice harvesting
village headman; village mayor
destination; whereabouts; future; prospects
end of life; death; annihilation
mission; errand; task; duty; obligation
semi-transparent; translucent
while alive; during one's lifetime
on and after; as from; hereafter; thereafter; since
horizon (related to land)
favorite; favourite; habitually used
to stop writing; to put down one's pen; to close (a letter)
(good) result; outcome; fruits (of one's labors); product; accomplishment
painstaking; careful; meticulous; scrupulous; detailed; elaborate
to read (a book, etc.) over again
wink of sleep; snooze; doze; nap
complete; completion; perfection; accomplishment
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
to devote oneself; to do one thing exclusively; to make a job of; to decide to
to recover; to rally; to improve; to pick up
to come around to do; to become inclined to do; to get excited about; to take an interest
as much as one can; as much as possible; if at all possible
probability; likelihood; chances
division of labour; division of labor; splitting into groups (e.g. to search)
at the very beginning; first of all; first and foremost; before anything else
no matter what; whatever happens; in any situation; rain or shine
when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
to pull apart; to separate; to have a lead over; to pull ahead of; to outdistance
to make sure of; to assure oneself of; to see with one's own eyes; to ascertain
trade; business; trading; turnover; sales; takings
reward; recompense; tip; conveyance charge; packhorse charge
to blow upon; to breathe on; to pick (a fight); to force (unreasonable terms); to exaggerate; to overcharge
to form a line; to queue up; to line up
shout of joy; cry of pleasure; jubilant comments
striking; remarkable; considerable
deserted (esp. store, market, town, streets); quiet; inactive (business, trade, etc.); slack; idle; free