mostly; nearly; practically; well-nigh; almost invariably; all but
everything; all; the whole; entirely; completely; wholly
newspaper reporter; print journalist
imagination; supposition; guess
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
(political) administration; political power
snatching; stealing; seizure; usurpation
feeling; sensation; preparedness; readiness; thought; sentiment
house; residence; family; household; lineage; family name
meeting; assembly; party; society; association; club
blocking (e.g. the way); obstructing; block (lump of something (usu. square), area of town, etc.); block; physical record (e.g. on magnetic tape); concrete block; blocking (from view, esp. of websites, on social media, etc.)
maneuvers; manoeuvers; machinations; scheming
(political) power; authority; influence
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
emphasizes direct object of action
to name; to call; to christen; to term
conclusion from reasoning, judgement or calculation based on something read or heard; reason; cause; meaning; circumstances; situation
logs in bark; rough wood; unseasoned timber; new lumber
hailing each other; acting in concert; responding (to); agreement; concord
very; much; greatly; a lot of
to gain fame; to make one's name
advocate (of a theory or principle); ideologist; -ist (i.e. adherent to a belief system); (arch.) socialist; (arch.) communist
to consider as; to regard (as equivalent); to deem (as); to equate
suddenly (rising to fame, etc.); instantly; immediately; one bound; one leap
to take (seat, position, course, office, etc.); to assume; to ascend (the throne); to accede; to start (on a journey); to commence
considerably; not a little; in no small numbers
to gulp down (a drink); to slurp
star (cinema, sports, etc.); celebrity; star symbol; asterisk; (celestial) star
on the surface; ostensibly; superficially; apparently
breaking up (e.g. meeting); dispersing (e.g. crowd); dissolving (company, organization, etc.); liquidating; dissolving (diet, parliament, etc.)
noisy; loud; much talked of; much-discussed; strict; severe
to cheer; to jeer; to mock
important post; important office; key position
to collect; to assemble; to gather
business world; business circles