duty; obligation; responsibility
ruler; monarch; sovereign
system; institution; organization; organisation
becoming a mere shell; becoming a dead letter; losing (one's) substance; being reduced to a formality
to raise an objection; to voice an opinion different from those of others
to make sense; to be meaningful
to have an eye on; to zero in on
exploitation; overuse; abuse
to aim at (with a weapon, etc.); to be after (something or someone); to have an eye on; to aim for; to set up as a goal
complaint; quibble; niggle; finding fault; false accusation
to fight against; to oppose; to face
to gain a victory; to win
condition; term; requirement; qualification; prerequisite
non-aggression pact; non-aggression treaty
this time; now; next time; another time; recently; lately
to keep (a person) waiting
weight; weight (e.g. of someone's words); burden; importance; significance
sacrifice; victim; sacrifice (to a deity)
to be loath to; to balk at (doing); to grudge (doing); to take (good) care of
recompense; indemnity; atonement
to cut down; to slay; to truncate; to round down; to omit; to discard
to be born and raised (in); to be born and brought up; to be born and bred
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
to be smeared; to be covered
to make the most of the present; to live for the moment; to seize the day
to be sacrificed; to fall victim to; to fall prey to
quilt; bedspread; cover (for a kotatsu quilt); cloak; smock; second dyeing
skillful; skilful; delicious; appetizing; fortunate; splendid
so-so; passable; now, now; my, my
fellow; guy; thing; object; he; she
scrawl; scribble; graffiti; doodle
to screw in; to thrust into; to push into; to protest (and seek rectification); to complain
doesn't amount to doing (something); not significant enough to require (something); unnecessary
self-abasement; humility; self-depreciation
past; after; too (much); over- (e.g. eating)
a-ha-ha (laughing loudly)