outward appearance; ostensible; public; official
incomprehensible; mysterious; inexplicable; inscrutable; enigmatic; baffling
doubt; suspicion; misgivings; scruples
to spur (on); to expedite; to encourage
past; after; too (much); over- (e.g. eating)
flatly rejecting; curtly refusing; beating easily; defeating handily; a kick
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
to omit; to leave out; to exclude; to curtail; to save; to cut down
marriage of an Imperial princess to a subject
younger brother; little brother; brother-in-law (spouse's younger brother or younger sister's husband); (arch.) pupil; (arch.) apprentice
circumstances; conditions; situation; reasons; state of affairs
exchange; interchange; switching; reciprocity; barter; substitution
blood relationship; blood relative
that is to say; so that means
to keep a promise; to keep one's word
to wipe; to mop up; to get rid of (an impression, feeling, blemish, etc.); to dispel (e.g. shame); to erase
to come along; to come around; to turn up; to arrive at the present; to get where one is; to have been doing something (for a period of time)
inconvenient; inexpedient; unfavourable; wrong; improper; objectionable
to descend; to go down; to be handed down (of an order, judgment, etc.); to pass (of time); to surrender; to capitulate; to be less than
to be prolonged; to drag on
still more; to say nothing of; not to mention; still less
breaking off (an engagement, negotiations, etc.); cancellation
be considered; be deemed; be thought to be
immediately; as soon as possible; as quickly as possible
to grow long (e.g. hair, nails); to lengthen; to extend; to reach out; to hold out; to straighten; to smooth out
irritating; irritated; frustrating; vexing; (feeling things are) not quick enough; (feeling) too slow-going
connotation; comprehension; intension; inclusion; containment within
query; interrogation; enquiry; question; inquiry
sparkle of one's eyes; insight; discernment; penetration
to taper to a point; to become pointed; to become sharp; to look displeased; to look sour; to be on edge
permission; approval; authorization; to permit; to authorize
to trample down; to devastate
mutually; with each other; reciprocally; together
to challenge to (a fight, game, etc.); to throw down the gauntlet; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to attempt; to pressure (someone) for sex; to make advances to
to glare at each other; to confront each other
cooperation; conciliation; harmony; coordination
order; system; structure; set-up; organization; organisation
to collect; to put (it all) together; to summarize; to aggregate; to bring to a conclusion; to finalize
doesn't amount to doing (something); not significant enough to require (something); unnecessary