character (in a play or novel); dramatis personae
cherishing one's children; doting; adoring parent
elastic; flexible; telescoping; expandable; retractable; extensible
to fight to the bitter end
covering; filled in; complete; total; cliched; clichéd; plaintext
large pink (Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus); woman who displays the feminine virtues of old Japan
in the belly; in one's heart of hearts
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
to live under another's roof; to become a dependent on; to flatten oneself (against); to lean in close to
mother's side of family; maternal (grandfather, uncle, etc.)
surname; family name; hereditary title (used in ancient Japan to denote rank and political standing)
head; brains; intelligence
pudding (esp. custard); black hair dyed blond but where the roots have again turned black
surface; face (i.e. the visible side of an object); front (of a building, etc.); obverse side (i.e. "head") of a coin; outside; exterior; appearance
brutal; cruel; merciless; ruthless; cold-blooded
disqualification; unfitness; noncompliance
to lay bare; to expose; to reveal
(public) notice; attention; public eye; public gaze
reinforcement; augmentation; strengthening; increase; buildup
Satan; the Devil; the Prince of Darkness; king of the demons who try to prevent people from doing good
for dear life; barely escaping alive
being once divorced; one-time divorcee; (lit.) one x mark (i.e. one name struck from the family register)
to get the short end of the stick; to get the bad end of a bargain
weekend carpenter; do-it-yourselfer
to support; to maintain; to bring up; to raise; to adopt (a child); to cultivate (a habit, a quality, etc.)
recruitment; invitation; raising (funds, donations, etc.); collection; flotation (of shares, loans, etc.)
to bind; to fasten; to tie up
quick-witted; bright; rapid thinking
amorous feelings; feeling of being in love
searching for a marriage partner; marriage hunting; activities leading to marriage (e.g. dating, courtship)
squaring; multiplying (a number) by itself; second power
slender build; slender figure; leptosome; waifish; leptosomaic; leptosomatic
chopping board; cutting board
hair pin; hairclip; hairgrip; bobby pin