to hold back (someone) from achieving success; to stand in the way of; to sabotage
seat (esp. in public places or places with assigned seating); seating
floral decoration; floral ornament
to invite; to ask; to beckon; to wave someone in; to call in; to send for
performance (of a play, opera, etc.); staging; presentation
participatory; participating; hands-on
sponsorship (i.e. conducting under one's auspices); promotion; organizing; organising; hosting; staging
spoiler; revealing important plot points of a story; spoiling a story
worldview; outlook on the world; Weltanschauung; setting (for a fictional work); world; universe
with; by; because of; on account of; on (a day, date); at (a time); adds emphasis to preceding word
introductory text; introductory essay
important person; strategic person; key figure
unwillingly; reluctantly; grudgingly; shaking one's head in refusal (like a child)
to render futile; to bring to naught; to waste; to not make good use of
in every nook and corner; from A to Z; from head to toe; from cover to cover
noisily (from many people talking); in a commotion; with a rustling sound (of leaves, branches, etc.); with a rippling sound (of the surface of a lake, etc.); feeling a chill; with a chill (up one's spine)
show; performance; show; exhibition; TV show
sleep mask; eye mask; blindfold
earplug (for protection against noise or water)
how; in what way; I wonder
two by two; by twos; as a couple; in pairs
to flicker; to quiver; to waver; to sway
(raining) heavily; (water rushing) plentily; with white noise; with a buzz
husband; master (of a house, shop, etc.)
(another's) daughter; young lady (of pampered upbringing); woman who has never known hardship; naive woman
knitting; knitted material; crochet
suspicious-looking; shady; questionable; dubious; fishy
stinginess; miserliness; shabby; cheap; petty; narrow-minded
cold-bloodedness; coldheartedness
from out of nowhere; from who knows where
study; library; den; home office; reading room
you (people); gentlemen; ladies and gentlemen; my friends
mansion; palace; (arch.) nobleman; (arch.) noblewoman; (arch.) temporary residence
gloomy; melancholy; dreary; depressed; dismal
to wear; to be dressed in; to have on
stern; grim; rough; rugged; forbidding; overbearing