control; management; supervision
natural calamity; disaster
historic; historical; traditional
details; particulars; longitude and latitude; warp and weft; warp and woof
accidental; incidental; occasional; casual
live coals (for firelighting); cause (of disturbance, conflict, etc.); trigger
merchant; trader; expert (in a trade or profession); professional; woman working in the nightlife business (bar or nightclub hostess, geisha, etc.); demimondaine
to be incomparable; to be completely different matters; to be completely different things
senior; elder; person older than oneself
to lament; to grieve; to regret; to deplore
to shake one's head (in denial)
softly; gently; stealthily; secretly; to leave alone; to leave as it is
whispering into a person's ear
to distract one's attention
(arch.) it is not so; no; never mind
how; in what way; how about
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
(world of) politics; political world; political circles
relation; connection; affinity
to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
leading; foremost; preeminent; outstanding; one of the best
smelling burnt; smelling scorched; smelling of gunpowder (i.e. as if armed conflict is about to break out); tense; suspicious; dubious
arms buildup; military expansion
thinly; slightly; vaguely; a little
cornerstone; main point; requirement; need; necessary; required
deep knowledge; attainments; scholarship
reinforcement; augmentation; strengthening; increase; buildup
by virtue of one's office; in the nature of one's duties
to be tired of; to be sick of; to get fed up with
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
to chip (off); to shave (off); to slice (off); to dampen (e.g. enthusiasm); to discourage; to weaken
anticipation; expectation; plan; preparation
to mediate; to intervene; to smooth
fate; chance; relationship; tie
to be of use as a reference; to be helpful
to the last; persistency; thoroughness
insurrection; mutiny; rebellion; revolt; uprising
to be possible; to be likely; to be probable
to dominate; to prevail; to be superior to; to get ahead of; to get the upper hand