to become better; to improve
again (and again); once again; yet again; (there you go) again
to one's heart's content; as much as one wants; as hard as one can; resolution; decisiveness; determination
conclusion; decision; end; settlement
pardon; forgiveness; forbearance
to rule over; to govern; to command; to integrate; to consolidate; to unite
victory; triumph; conquest; success; win
babysitting; babysitter; protecting; keeping; keeper
push; pushing; weight; pressure; authority; forcefulness
sword (esp. a large, double-edged one); blade; bayonet; swordsmanship; stinger; ovipositor
long sword (esp. the tachi, worn on the hip edge down by samurai); large sword; straight single-edged Japanese sword (from the mid-Heian period or earlier)
muscle; tendon; vein; artery; fiber; fibre; line
knowing only too well; being fully aware of
laughing at an inappropriate time; not being able to hold back one's laughter; scornful laughter; snicker; snigger
number one; first; best; most; game; round
8th in rank; eighth sign of the Chinese calendar
keenly; deeply; calmly; quietly; fixedly (e.g. gazing, staring)
doesn't amount to doing (something); not significant enough to require (something); unnecessary
to triumph; to be elated with success
true; real; genuine; proper; utter
by (means of); by doing; due to; via; through
iai; art of drawing one's sword, cutting down one's opponent and sheathing the sword afterwards
essence; quintessence; spirit; soul; heart; pith
straightforwardly; readily; without hesitation
scabbard; sheath; cap (on pen, brush, etc.); case; margin (between two prices); spread
bargain sale; selling cheaply; giving out freely
absent-mindedly; vacantly; idly; in a whisper
self-satisfaction; rejoicing
serialization; serialisation; serial story
latter period; second half; late stage; third trimester; second semester
in; at; on; as for; regarding; with regards to
-ian (e.g. Italian); -ite (e.g. Tokyoite); -er (e.g. performer, etc.); person working with ...; man; person
in the style of (esp. literary, artistic, etc. works); reminiscent of; attached or stretched on
that is to say; so that means
deterioration; degradation; drop in quality; becoming unattractive (because of aging)
row; line; company (of someone); group; sequence; counter for rows
long-established shop; shop of long standing; old shop