to start the debate; to get the ball rolling; to fire the first shot; to start a conversation
attending physician; physician in charge; (one's) family doctor
old gentleman; elderly gentleman
no more than; just; only; mere; goes no further than
where ... is concerned; when it becomes; if it becomes
Your Majesty; His Majesty; Her Majesty
dagger; stiletto; confidant; right-hand man
inquiry into; enquiry into; prying (into); investigation; search; exploration
to work (for); to be employed (at); to serve (as); to act (as); to conduct a religious service
to bring; to take; to bring about
largest ever; biggest; record
drowning; flood; shipwreck
direct descent; direct line
headship of a family; family property
House of Peers (Japan, Meiji constitution); House of Lords (UK)
percussion; tapping; examining by percussion; sounding out (someone's intentions); making an approach (about)
successive generations; hereditary daimyo (whose ancestors supported Tokugawa Ieyasu prior to the battle of Sekigahara)
(Oh) dear!; (Oh) dear me!; Good gracious
bribe; money under the table
debt; loan; liabilities; borrowing money
application; entry; request; subscription; offer; proposal
to die out; to peter out; to become extinct; to cease; to be stopped; to be discontinued
plausible (but untrue); credible (e.g. of a lie); specious; truthy
to fall into someone's hands; to place oneself in someone's power
of all people; a person of ...'s standing
influential; prominent; strong; likely; plausible
declining; refusal; nonacceptance; turning down; withdrawal (e.g. of candidacy); pulling out (e.g. of a race)
to spend; to expend; to waste; to squander; to devote
guardianship; guardian; (theatrical) assistant; prompter
to fit into (a box, frame, category, etc.); to be contained within; to settle down (into); to be installed (in one's rightful place); to settle into (one's position); to take up (a post)
medal of honour; medal of merit