to pierce; to penetrate; to sting (wound or sensitive area, etc.); to smart; to be infected (with vice); to be steeped (with prejudice)
to act (a part); to play (a role); to perform (a play, etc.); to put on (a production); to commit (a blunder); to disgrace oneself
secret; private; surreptitious
dam; weir; barrier; sluice
smacking one's lips (over food)
resolute; determined; bold
filthy; squalid; dirty; foul; sordid
one's own expense; out-of-pocket expense
patron (of the arts, an artist, etc.); patroness; sugar daddy; man who provides for a woman (e.g. a geisha); patron; master
(political) power; authority; influence
operation; management; handling; manipulating (to one's benefit); manipulation; influencing
to attempt; to test; to try out
marriage proposal; courtship
to escape (disaster, death, etc.); to be saved from; to be rescued from; to avoid (e.g. punishment); to evade (e.g. responsibility); to avert
to decorate with many bright colours (colors); to create a beautiful variegated pattern; to manipulate skillfully
to dedicate; to make an offering; to supply; to store; to finish; to bring to a close; to restore (something to its place)
quitting one's job as a government official to return to live quietly in one's own native region
disinterested; unselfish; indifferent; detached
youth; child (esp. of the young son of someone of high social standing); young; new
of course; certainly; naturally
part; assigning (allotment of) parts; role; duties
to take in one's hand; to pick up; to obtain
to become a (bad) habit; to get accustomed to
revival (e.g. musical); come-back; restoration; rebirth; resurrection
first-class; top grade; characteristic; peculiar; school (e.g. of a performance art); one flag
common; commonplace; reckless; pulp paper; granulated sugar; (arch.) coins
to think deep down (that); to tell oneself (that); to secretly believe (that)
in short; the point is; the important thing is; in a word; basically
witty and knowing; not to be underestimated; smooth operator
to get tired; to tire; to become worn out (of a well-used object); (arch.) to starve
to untie; to unfasten; to unsew; to unstitch; to solve; to work out; to dispel (misunderstanding, etc.)
alone; by oneself; on one's own
turning over while sleeping in bed; betrayal; double-crossing