Vocabulary

expert(ise); skill; dexterity

ideal land; earthly paradise; Utopia; Arcadia

successive or progressive increases; cumulative increase

cancelling a meeting; adjournment of a meeting (due to lack of attendance)

woman in childbirth; woman who is just about to give birth; woman who has just given birth

occupation; calling

chassis; car body

commercial bank; city bank; private bank; high street bank

(Judeo-Christian) Sabbath

talk about divorce or separation

all one's life; throughout one's life; as long as one lives

to achieve; to win; to gain; to attain

outside a window

to sharpen; to grind; to whet; to hone; to make keen

first tea of the season

drinking bout; merrymaking

austerity; voluntary privation

enlightenment; great wisdom

virtuous act or deeds; goodness

legislative decision

ghastly; dreadful

the northeastern (unlucky) direction; person or thing to be avoided; the demon's gate

taxpayers' hard-earned money

stormy; threatening

for bath use

recommendation; putting in a good word for someone

sentimental; emotional; maudlin; mawkish

sound effects

incompetency

aeronautics

cruising range; flying range

mating

ancestors

elegant (literary) style

a narrative

accidental shooting

purveyor (to the Imperial Household, etc.)

(whether) existent or non-existent; life or death

impact (of a projectile); landing (of a bullet); striking

to put together; to assemble