to waste; to treat shabbily; to treat frivolously; to handle roughly; to treat without respect
having nothing to do; having time on one's hands (and not knowing what to do); being at a loose end; being bored
mystery novel; detective novel; whodunit
indeed; really; very; extremely; absolutely; certainly
detective; investigator; sleuth; detective work; secret investigation
middle-age; middle age; midlife; one's middle years
minus; negative (quantity); deficit; disadvantage; drawback; negative (ion, pole, growth, image, effect, etc.)
charming; fascinating; enchanting; bewitching; beguiling; captivating
character (in a play or novel); dramatis personae
fantastic; grotesque; strange-looking; suspicious-looking
mansion; palace; (arch.) nobleman; (arch.) noblewoman; (arch.) cabin (on a boat, carriage, etc.)
to meet; to assemble; to congregate
(present) head of a family
disagreeable; unpleasant; adverse; unsympathetic
black suit; mourning clothes; black-suited staff member (e.g. in restaurant, sex establishment, etc.)
to wear; to be dressed in; to be adorned in; to clad oneself with
past middle age; nearing old age; near-elderly; age 40
steward; butler; court official; deacon (Anglican, Lutheran, etc.)
confinement; imprisonment; incarceration
business affairs of a company; clerical business of a Shinto shrine
property; fortune; assets
to colour; to color; to apply make-up; to decorate; to garnish
iron wall; impregnable fortress; impregnable; invulnerable; unassailable
slaughter (of animals for meat); butchery
fluent (in a language); flowing
way of reciting; way of telling a story
to listen to in an ecstasy
talkativeness; garrulity; loquacity
cannabis (Cannabis sativa); hemp (plant); hemp (fiber); linen; flax
individual; distinctive; unique; characteristic; personal; idiosyncratic
to check; to hold back; to keep at bay; to stop; to prevent; to stem
activity (esp. energetic); great efforts; conspicuous service; to flourish; to participate actively; to play an active role
talented; gifted; prodigious; virtuoso; masterful
head; brains; intellect; understanding