trying out a new sword or blade (originally on someone, but now on soaked straw targets)
greatest treasure; most valuable asset; pride (of)
scarecrow; figurehead; dummy
qualitative difference; disparity; gap
correction; revision; redressing; rectifying
cause for headaches; pain in the neck; source of worry
ordinary citizen; the general public
women and children; woman; grown woman; wife
not insignificant; not to be sneezed at
unexpectedly; surprisingly
to tie; to restrain; to confine; to bind; to fasten
delicate situation; choice of two evils; mixed blessing
one class; one set; a pair; a suite; a series
to aggravate; to complicate; to make worse
mountain climbing; mountaineering
frontline (military) base; forward base; outpost
robber; mugger; robbery; burglary
conspirators; faction; cabal; clique
to install (a king, emperor, etc.); to appoint (to a post); to promote; to assign (to study under)
obligation; duty; charge; responsibility
precipitous cliff; sheer precipice; critical situation
honest to a fault; foolishly honest; naively honest
crossbow (incl. large models operated by a number of people); netted apparatus atop a wall containing large stones, which were dropped onto attackers by cutting the net; slingshot; catapult
working without pay; free service; work for nothing
care-taking; house-sitting; house-watching; caretaker; house-sitter
sight (e.g. of a gun); aim; alignment
inferior goods; defective product; defective goods
succeeding; following; trailing; next
to make sense; to be meaningful