advance guard; vanguard; avant-garde (e.g. music)
samurai on horseback; (medieval) knight
superior (in rank); top; higher order (e.g. byte); host computer (of connected device)
muttering voice; murmuring voice
high efficiency; high performance
entrance; entry; gate; approach; mouth
young person; youth; young
handsome; shapely; clean-cut (features)
gentle; peaceable; amicable; without fuss; simply
hostility; animosity; enmity
book; volume; this; present; main; head
to flicker; to glimmer; to flit; to fall lightly (snow, rain)
(period of) a year; during an era
to shut; to close; to block (a street, entrance, etc.); to shut in (with snow, ice, etc.); to shut off; to consume (with negative feelings)
motionlessly (e.g. stand, wait); (be) still; fixedly (e.g. gaze, stare); intently (e.g. listen, think); patiently (endure); stoically
Carlisle (Britain); Carlyle; Carlile
present (e.g. government, administration); current; existing
king; queen; monarch; the Crown (as a focus of authority in the UK, etc.); the throne
(political) power; authority; influence
to stand, walk, etc. shoulder-to-shoulder; to be on a par with
it cannot be that...; it is highly unlikely that...; it is impossible that...
railway switchback; twisting backward knee trip
to shrink back; to wince; to flinch; to recoil
actually; in fact; as a matter of fact
unnatural; artificial; affected; strained
seal; to seal (e.g. a letter); to affix a seal; to seal up
oracle; revelation; divine message
wherein; therein; thereinto
appropriate; adequate; suitable; fitting; worthy
scabbard; sheath; cap (on pen, brush, etc.); case; margin (between two prices); spread
incomprehensible; nonsensical; puzzling; I don't get it; I'm confused; I'm lost
but; however; provided that
remnant; residue; remaining; left-over