stage; step; level; rank; order; stairs
to raise; to elevate; to do up (one's hair); to fly (a kite, etc.); to launch (fireworks, etc.); to land (a boat); to show someone (into a room)
leather cover; leather binding
indeed; really; truly; very much
to turn one's hand to; to reach out one's hand; to get involved in; to make a move on; to strike; to beat
little less than; slightly fewer than; just under; weakness; the weak
fifth day of the month; five days
memory; ability to remember
once; one time; temporarily; for a moment; one degree; one tone
dictionary; lexicon; (arch.) letter of resignation
to pull; to tug; to draw (attention, sympathy, etc.); to attract (e.g. interest); to draw back (e.g. one's hand); to draw in (one's chin, stomach, etc.); to draw (a card, mahjong tile, etc.)
to forget; to leave carelessly; to be forgetful of; to forget about; to forget (an article)
expectation; anticipation; prediction; forecast; conjecture
to exceed (esp. figures: profits, unemployment rate, etc.); to surpass; to be more than; to be better than
vocabulary; lexicon; lexis; terminology
to increase; to add to; to augment
beginning; outset; first; onset
ancient times; distant past; antiquity
record of war; war chronicle; commentaries of war; military history
astringent; bitter; austere; elegant (and unobtrusive); sour (look); glum
good-quality; superior in quality
predecessor; pioneer; ancestor
quick; prompt; without delay; simple; easy; effortless
structure; construction; arrangement; plan; plot; contrivance
selection; choice; option
at first; initially; in the beginning
necessary; needed; essential; necessity; need; requirement
gradually; steadily; slowly; little by little; step by step; by degrees
number of times; frequency; count
to decrease (in size or number); to diminish; to abate
to be completely absorbed in; to fall for (something)
to lend; to loan; to rent out; to hire out
time; hour; occasion; case; chance; opportunity
secondhand bookshop; secondhand bookstore; secondhand bookseller
to eat; to live on (e.g. a salary); to live off; to subsist on
highly priced; expensive; valuable; costly
tolerance; open-mindedness; forbearance; generosity; magnanimity