stage assistant dressed in black; stagehand; prompter; behind-the-scenes supporter; string-puller
raptor; bird of prey; predatory bird
to become tense; to be tightened; to become firm (e.g. body)
stern; grave; austere; strict (e.g. security); severe; firm
Thierry, Count of Flanders
stretching a rope around; roping off; one's turf; domain; territory (of an animal)
as you (they, etc.) say; as you suggest; I absolutely agree
to imitate; to copy; to enter someone as a candidate; to press (e.g. a weapon against someone's back); to compare; to liken
(a person's) appearance; looks
melancholy; gloom; depression
immediate; prompt; quick; rapid; urgent; pressing
the real criminal; true culprit
to find out; to discover; to locate
to take (preventive) measures; to come to an agreement (in bargaining, etc.); to strike a bargain; to clap one's hands together
concealment; hiding; ambush; incubation; latency; dormancy
to build a nest; to nest; to hang out (of a bad group); to be based (in); to lodge (in one's mind; of an evil thought, delusion, etc.); to be planted
affiliated with; under jurisdiction of; under the umbrella
common name; popular name; secular name (of a Buddhist monk)
sudden; abrupt; rapid; sharp; drastic; radical
influence; power; might; influence (of stones)
union; combination; association; RENGO (Japanese Trade Union Confederation)
hostility; antagonism; opposition
crime syndicate; criminal syndicate
one by one; one after another; successively
absorption; suction; attraction
inside (a region, area, etc.); within the range (of); within the sphere (of influence, etc.)
to control; to take the lead in; to have under one's thumb
one large ...; a great ...
growth; development; growing up; growth (of a company, the economy, etc.)
impossible; unthinkable; unbelievable; ridiculous
for example; for instance; e.g.
remote region; outlying district; border district; frontier
I don't know about ... but; it may be possible for ... but
middle; center; heart; midst (e.g. of a storm); peak (e.g. of a season); (the) height (of something)
wholly (due to); entirely; solely; earnestly; intently; sincerely
government; administration; ministry