book; document; calligraphy (esp. Chinese); penmanship; handwriting; letter
dumbfounded; overcome with surprise; in blank amazement; in a daze
after a short while; not long after; soon; before long; shortly thereafter
contrived; false-sounding
entry (on stage); appearance (on screen); entrance; introduction (into a market)
at once; immediately; without delay; promptly
to fold up; to fold into layers
one thin flat object; one sheet
hostility; animosity; enmity
to go around; to return; to surround; to concern (usu. of disputes)
competition; contest; rivalry; competition (between organisms or species)
at once; immediately; right now
to throw a punch at; to swing at; to strike out at; to raise a hand against
inevitable; necessary; foregone; brinkmate (inevitable checkmate)
equality; equal; same rights; same rank; equivalence
human pillar; human sacrifice
companion; follower; attendant; retinue
to be dyed; to be tainted; to be infected; to be stained
on a routine basis; regularly; habitually
claim; insistence; assertion; advocacy; emphasis; contention
objection; refutation; rebuttal; counterargument
not feeling like doing ...; having no mind to ...; being in no mood for ...; having no intention of ...
emergency; extraordinary; unusual
be (that) as it may; having said that
pioneer; trailblazer; leader; groundbreaker; pathfinder; forerunner
disadvantageous; long (odds)
gambling; gaming; speculation; undertaking a risky venture; (arch.) professional gambler; (arch.) gamester
to take on; to undertake; to take over; to inherit; to guarantee; to vouch for
otherwise; or else; if not
significant; useful; meaningful; worthwhile; valuable; of interest
before very long; soon; someday; of the previously mentioned; of that number; among them
to return to normal; to revert to the starting point; to go back to how it was
to pass; to pass on; to give (something) a miss; to cut it out; to knock off (for the day); to let the matter drop
guarantee; security; assurance; pledge; warranty
at last; finally; barely; narrowly; just
that kind of; of the sort; of the kind; such
to reconsider; to rethink; to reassess
quick; speedy; prompt; rapid; swift
plan; scheme; (payment) plan; package; deal
storm; tempest; uproar; hullabaloo; storm (e.g. of protest)