Vocabulary

mercury (Hg)

water tank; cistern

decline; degeneration; decay; waning; ebbing

end of a century (esp. 19th); fin-de-siècle

to hold back (e.g. emotions); to rein in (e.g. a horse, unruly people); to bridle

maturity; ripeness

normalization; normalisation

living; being alive

living thing; living creature; animal; life

birth (esp. of a famous person); nativity

refining; purification

sacred precincts; sanctuary; consecrated ground; holy ground

stillness; rest; being stationary; standing still; coming to a standstill

taxation law

stone wall

posing a question

vindication of honour; vindication of honor; making up for loss; revenge

deciding first; settling (a matter) first; first priority

upper reaches of a river; upstream

senryū; comic haiku; humorous seventeen-mora poem

washing; cleansing; cleaning; laundering

washing machine; (clothes) washer

suffrage; right to vote

the former; the first

the whole company

height of prosperity

going around; patrol; round; tour

first time; first innings; initial attempt

first appearance

beginner

document; letter

pocket money; spending money; pin money; allowance

extinguishing a fire; fire fighting

to rise; to go up; to come up; to ascend; to be raised

loading on top; piling on top; upper load; goods loaded on top; deck cargo

in-house; (on) the grounds; (in) the premises; hall; theatre; theater

text (of a law, treaty, contract, etc.); provisions

afforestation

appetite (for food)

guard; convoy; escort