before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
one's wife; one's wife and daughter or daughters
to make a wish (to a god); to pray (for the fulfilment of a wish)
to excel; to surpass; to exceed; to outweigh; to preponderate
(not) anyone; (not) a single person; no one; nobody
oracle; revelation; divine message
by all means; at all costs; absolutely
marriage proposal; courtship
remarks; comments; way of talking; speaking style; excuse; topic (of conversation)
stupid girl; stupid woman
to drive away; to turn away; to send away; to repel; to repulse
odd; strange; queer; peculiar
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
strange; unfamiliar; unknown; unfamiliarity; strangeness; stranger
proposal; offer; request; application
to stop up; to close up; to stand in the way; to obstruct; to occupy; to fill up
(kicking and) struggling; wriggling; floundering; to get into a panic; to make a fuss; to make a scene
signalling with the eyes; exchanging looks; winking
to quiet; to calm down; to compose oneself; to settle down
older brother; elder brother; young man; buddy; fella
marriage ceremony; wedding
pit of the stomach; solar plexus; place where water falls
one breath; time of one breath; pause; break; (doing in) one go; doing without stopping
to force someone to clamp with their teeth; to force into someone's mouth (e.g. a gag); to wedge into a space; to inflict (a blow); to deal (a hit); to pull (a joke)
horseback riding; sitting astride; straddling
goes before a verb to strengthen its meaning or to add emphasis
clumsy (work); awkward; poorly made; ugly (of a person); unattractive; plain
housework; domestic chores; family affairs; household matters
declining; refusal; rejection; announcement; notice
to wield; to brandish; to display (one's knowledge); to show off; to abuse (one's power); to manipulate someone
anyone; anybody; everyone; whoever
to be kind to; to treat kindly
(clenched) fist; knuckles
glaring; flaming; fiery; blazing
brightness; brilliance; brilliancy; radiance; glitter
lovely; dear; beloved; pitiable; pitiful
to well (up); to gush forth (of water); to appear (esp. suddenly) (sweat, tears, etc.); to feel emotions from (joy, bravery, etc.); to hatch (esp. of parasitic insects, etc.)
wholehearted; earnest; determined; intent; single-minded; straightforward
basis; foundation; grounds; authority
insipid; flat; dull; lifeless; listless
right side; right-hand side
right beside; close to; nearby