dozens; scores of; decades
circumference; outskirts; environs; (computer) peripheral
neighbourhood; neighborhood; vicinity
dead person; deceased person
great disaster; horrible tragedy; catastrophe; catastrophic event; catastrophic incident; dire calamity
fingernail mark; scratch; scars (e.g. of war); traces (of damage); ravages
painful; bitter; tough; difficult; cruel; harsh
orbit; trajectory; railroad track; (right) track; proper course
defense; defence; protection
kernel; core; nucleus; center; centre
laser; Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
composition; construction; formation; makeup; structure; organization
magnification; enlargement; expansion; amplification
to burn completely; to consume (by fire); to burn to nothing; to burn to the ground; to reduce to ashes
otherwise; or else; if not
whole nation; whole land; whole country
downfall; ruin; collapse; destruction
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
to name; to call; to christen; to term
to regain one's footing; to get back on one's feet; to recover; (of the market) to improve
to reply; to respond; to answer; to talk back; to retort
arrangement (of resources); deployment; stationing; posting; disposition; configuration
trump card; ace up one's sleeve; secret weapon
stone (of a fruit); pit; core (of an organization, team, etc.); nucleus; nuclear weapons; nucleus (of an atom); nucleus (of a cell)
to be a match for; to rival; to equal; to compare with; to be equivalent to
to grow; to spring up; to sprout; to cut (teeth)
trace; vestige; mark; sign; evidence
ground; earth; the solid earth; the (vast) land
literally; to the letter; literal
to heal; to cure; to satisfy (e.g. hunger, thirst); to alleviate (e.g. sorrow, fatigue)
body and soul; mind and body
to leave (someone) alone; to leave to oneself; to leave (someone) be
standing by; awaiting an opportunity; being on alert
to turn on one's heel; to turn back; to return
to leave; to depart; to take one's leave
one person; being alone; being by oneself; being single; being unmarried; by oneself
when it becomes; when it comes to