conspiracy; collusion; complicity
to arrange beforehand; to make a sign to each other; to conspire
in drops; dripping; gently (sloping); sluggishly; endlessly; leisurely
to be prolonged; to drag on; to take a long time; to persist; to linger
profit; gains; benefit; advantage; grace (of God, Buddha, etc., esp. as attained through rightful actions, prayer, adherence to one's faith, etc.); blessing
to covet; to crave; to indulge in; to do ceaselessly; to eat greedily; to devour
wretched; miserable; shameful; mean; despicable; abject
to chip; to nick; to break; to lack
ordinary person; run-of-the-mill people; John Doe; Jane Doe
coercion; overpowering; overawing; daunting
gentle; quiet; mild; quiet (color, pattern, etc.); sober
tough; hard; determined; strong-minded; strong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol); severe
always; without exception; necessarily; certainly; without fail; positively
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
companion; follower; attendant; retinue
long slits (esp. of eyes)
to flare up; to burst into flames
flame; blaze; flames (of intense emotion, e.g. love, jealousy, anger); passion
to come near; to let someone approach; to bring near; to bring together; to deliver (opinion, news, etc.); to send (e.g. a letter); to let someone drop by
true state; actual condition; reality
king; ruler; tycoon; magnate; king (of the senior player)
respect; esteem; reverence; honour; honor
territory (of country, feudal domain, etc.); (arch.) counter for suits of clothing, sets of armor, etc.
idly; lazily; aimlessly; evasively; elusively; vaguely
to ward off (e.g. an attack); to fend off (e.g. a question); to elude; to evade; to dodge; to turn aside (e.g. a joke)
irritation; annoyance; frustration
establishment; creation; posing (a problem); options setting; preference settings; configuration
close aide (of a powerful person); close associate; entourage; attendant; retainer
betrayer; traitor; turncoat; informer
neighbour; neighbor; (people in the) neighbourhood; neighborhood
disgust; hate; repugnance; loathing
various countries; several countries
throughout; over a period of ...; over a span of ...
influence; clout; leverage
base (of operations); site; location; center; foothold; stronghold
teaching; instruction; teachings; precept; lesson; doctrine
root; source; origin; cause
to believe; to believe in; to place trust in; to confide in; to have faith in
(religious) faith; belief; creed
to go through; to pierce; to run through (e.g. a river through a city); to pass through; to stick to (opinion, principles, etc.); to carry out
to corner; to drive to the wall; to run down; to track down; to chase after
to look out on; to overlook; to face (a situation, crisis, etc.); to meet (e.g. death); to deal with (an issue); to attend (e.g. a function)