astringent; bitter; austere; elegant (and unobtrusive); sour (look); glum
Chinese "star" constellation (one of the 28 mansions); Singapore
outward appearance; ostensible; public; official
the same rank; equality; apposition
above; up; top; summit; surface; before; previous
disorder; chaos; confusion; mayhem
throwing in; inserting; investment; commitment (of funds, personnel, etc.); launching (a product into the market); introduction
treatment; service; handling (of a machine, tool, etc.); operation; treating as; treating like
of bad character; ill-natured; nasty; vicious; wicked; malignant
secrecy; highly classified information
order; system; structure; set-up; organization; organisation
defeat; loss; failing to live up to (one's name, looks, etc.); discount; loss (on a sale)
to be decided; to be settled; to be unchanging; to be the same (as always); to be a fixed rule; to be destined; to be well executed (of a manoeuvre in a sport, game, etc.)
actual spot; scene (of a crime, accident, etc.); (on) site; (on) the ground; filming location; (movie) set
promptly; immediately; quickly; indifferently
relation; connection; relevance
disposal; abandonment; scrapping; annulment; cancellation; abrogation
at that time; in those days
testimony; (verbal) evidence
given that ... it is only natural that ...; ... being the case, it is unavoidable that ...; (precisely) because ...; contrary to expectations ...
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
(not) well; (not) properly; (not) enough; (not) sufficiently; (not) satisfactorily; (not) decently
inarticulate; not making oneself quite clear; slurring one's words; evasive
concise; brief; succinct; compact (style)
long ago; already; a long time ago
person in charge (including a supervisory role for other staff); person responsible for ...; responsible party; supervisor; manager
to disappear (of people or animals); to go (away); to leave; to no longer exist
office work; clerical work; administration; business; affairs
(not) anything; (nothing) at all; and everything else; and all; (not) at all; (not) in the least
(can you) spare a little time (to speak)?; (do you) have a moment (to speak)?
statement; remark; observation; utterance; speech; proposal
to want; to wish for; to request; to demand; to seek; to search for
to raise; to elevate; to do up (one's hair); to fly (a kite, etc.); to launch (fireworks, etc.); to land (a boat); to show someone (into a room)
to lose; to miss (a change, opportunity); to lose (a loved one); to be bereaved of; to concede (goals, points, etc.)
to contain; to comprise; to hold in the mouth; to bear in mind; to understand; to express (emotion, etc.)
how; in what way; by what means
don't you think?; indicates question
answer; reply; response; answer; solution; result
to urge; to encourage; to press; to stimulate (e.g. growth); to hasten (e.g. development); to quicken