unheard-of; unprecedented; unparalleled in history (unparallelled); record-breaking
food shortage; food scarcity; difficulty of obtaining food
(essential) utilities; lifeline
invasion; incursion; raid; aggression; intrusion; trespass
suddenly; abruptly; deliberately; slowly; gently
right on the heels of yesterday, then today ...; soon after something, and yet now ...
obvious; clear; plain; evident; apparent; explicit
due form; official; formality
quick; prompt; without delay; simple; easy; effortless
arrest; apprehension; capture
to trap (into a difficult situation); to put (in a fix); to capture (a castle, fortress, etc.); to take; to drop (something) into
progress; pace; carriage; step; stage
careless; sloppy; faulty; using unreliable sources (in a piece of writing); piece of writing with unreliable sources or many errors
doubtful; questionable; uncertain; disputable; suspicious
to fabricate; to invent; to make up (a story); to cobble up; to put together in a hurry
origin; source; birthplace; release from prison; discharge from prison; exit
stupid; foolish; idiotic; fool; idiot; blockhead
development; revitalization; standing (something) up; waking up; tilling a rice field; drawing a card from the draw pile
(a) step ahead; (a) jump ahead
very early in the morning; so early in the morning; at this ungodly hour
to wipe; to mop up; to get rid of (an impression, feeling, blemish, etc.); to dispel (e.g. shame); to erase
fresh; refreshing; invigorating; clear (e.g. voice); fluent; eloquent
habit; (social) custom; practice; convention
exercise; physical training; appeal; campaign; motion; movement
to wake up; to rouse out of bed; to knock on the door and wake someone
eyes; expression of the eyes; area around the eyes; skin round one's eyes
to make a habit of; to make it a practice to
to have meaning; to be meaningful
serving (of food); helping; chilled soba served on a dish (often on a wicker basket or in a shallow steaming basket) with dipping sauce
child; childish person; immature person
uneasily; restlessly; erratically
tune; tone; vein; mood; condition; state of health
(a) little; somewhat; somehow
independent action; acting alone
daily routine; daily work; daily lesson
to accomplish; to achieve; to carry out; to do ... completely; to do ... entirely