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C2 verb /ˌæd ˈlɪb/

ad-lib

dire improvisé
Meaning
to speak or perform without preparation; to improvise
Example
The comedian ad-libbed a joke when the microphone failed.
Le comédien a improvisé une blague lorsque le microphone a échoué.
C2 verb /həˈmɑː.dʒə.naɪz/

homogenize

homogénéiser
Meaning
To make uniform or similar by blending or mixing different elements.
Example
The company tried to homogenize its products across global markets.
L'entreprise a essayé d'homogénéiser ses produits sur les marchés mondiaux.
C2 noun /ˌjuːnɪˈtɛəriən/

unitarian

unitaire
Meaning
A person who believes that God exists as one entity rather than as a Trinity; a member of a religious denomination that emphasizes individual freedom of belief.
Example
The Unitarian church is known for its inclusive and open-minded approach.
L'église unitaire est connue pour son approche inclusive et ouverte d'esprit.
C2 verb /ɪˈvɜːrt/

evert

retourner vers l'extérieur
Meaning
To turn inside out or outward.
Example
The surgeon had to evert the eyelid during the procedure.
Le chirurgien a dû retourner la paupière pendant la procédure.
C2 noun /ˌpɜːrtərˈbeɪʃn/

perturbation

perturbation
Meaning
A state of anxiety, disturbance, or disorder.
Example
The announcement caused a perturbation in the financial markets.
L'annonce a causé une perturbation sur les marchés financiers.
C2 verb /əˈkuːtər/

accouter

équiper
Meaning
to equip or outfit, typically with military or ceremonial attire
Example
The soldiers were accoutered in full battle gear.
Les soldats étaient équipés de tout l'équipement de combat.
C2 noun /ˈɪkθiəˌsɔːrz/

ichthyosaurs

ichtyosaures (un type de reptile marin éteint)
Meaning
Extinct marine reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins, dominant during the Mesozoic era.
Example
Ichthyosaurs were swift predators of the ancient seas.
Les ichtyosaures étaient des prédateurs rapides des mers anciennes.
C2 adjective /əˈskjuː/

askew

de travers
Meaning
Not in a straight or level position; crooked or tilted.
Example
The picture on the wall hung slightly askew.
Le tableau sur le mur était légèrement de travers.
C2 noun /ˈɡæli/

galley

cuisine de navire
Meaning
A low, flat ship used in ancient times, often with sails and oars; also, a kitchen on a ship or aircraft.
Example
The galley was filled with the smell of freshly cooked food.
La cuisine de navire était remplie de l'odeur de la nourriture fraîchement cuisinée.
C2 noun /ˈrɛvəlri/

revelry

fête
Meaning
Lively and noisy festivities, especially involving drinking and dancing.
Example
The sound of revelry could be heard throughout the night.
Le bruit de la fête se faisait entendre toute la nuit.
C2 adverb /ˈtrɛbli/

trebly

triplement
Meaning
in a triple manner or to a threefold degree
Example
The sound was trebly distorted through the old speakers.
Le son était distordu triplement par les vieux haut-parleurs.
C2 adjective /ˌpɛrənˈθɛtɪkəl/

parenthetical

commentaire entre parenthèses
Meaning
Relating to or expressed in parentheses; a side remark or digression.
Example
He added a parenthetical comment during the lecture.
Il a ajouté un commentaire entre parenthèses pendant la conférence.
C2 verb /ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/

sublimate

transformer en activités supérieures
Meaning
to redirect strong emotions or desires into socially acceptable activities or channels
Example
She sublimated her anger into painting beautiful landscapes.
Elle a sublimé sa colère en peignant de beaux paysages.
C2 noun /ˈɪnroʊd/

inroad

progrès
Meaning
An advance or significant progress, often at the expense of something else.
Example
The company made significant inroads into the mobile market.
L'entreprise a réalisé des progrès significatifs sur le marché mobile.
C2 noun /strəˈmoʊ.ni.əm ˌflaʊ.ər/

Stramonium flower

fleur de stramoine
Meaning
A trumpet-shaped white or purple flower from the jimsonweed plant, known for its toxic properties
Example
The stramonium flower blooms at night with a sweet fragrance.
La fleur de stramoine fleurit la nuit avec un parfum doux.
C2 noun /ˌpraɪmoʊˈdʒɛnɪtʃər/

primogeniture

primogéniture
Meaning
The right of the firstborn child to inherit the family estate or title.
Example
Under primogeniture, the eldest son inherited the entire estate.
Sous la primogéniture, le fils aîné a hérité de l'ensemble du domaine.
C2 noun /ˈkɒrənɛt/

coronet

petite couronne
Meaning
a small crown, especially one worn by a prince, princess, or noble
Example
She wore a delicate coronet on her head for the ceremony.
Elle portait une délicate petite couronne sur sa tête pour la cérémonie.
C2 adjective /aɪˈsɒ.krə.nəs/

isochronous

se produisant à intervalles de temps égaux
Meaning
Occurring at equal time intervals; in unison or synchrony.
Example
The pendulum swings are isochronous, repeating at equal intervals.
Les balancements du pendule sont isochrones, se répétant à intervalles égaux.
C2 noun /əˈvɪdəti/

avidity

avidité
Meaning
extreme eagerness or enthusiasm
Example
He accepted the offer with avidity.
Il a accepté l'offre avec avidité.
C2 noun /ˈkriːməri/

creamery

crèmerie
Meaning
a place where milk and cream are processed and dairy products are made
Example
The local creamery produces fresh butter and cheese daily.
La crèmerie locale produit du beurre et du fromage frais tous les jours.
C2 adverb, adjective /ˈɡrætɪs/ or /ˈɡreɪtɪs/

gratis

gratuit
Meaning
Without charge; free of cost.
Example
The drinks at the event were provided gratis.
Les boissons à l'événement étaient fournies gratuitement.
C2 noun /ˈpɜr.kwɪ.zɪt/

Perquisite

avantage
Meaning
an additional benefit or privilege given to an employee beyond their regular salary; a special right or advantage
Example
Company car was one of the perquisites of his executive position.
La voiture de fonction etait l'un des avantages lies a son poste de cadre.
C2 noun /ɒmˈnɪʃəns/

omniscience

omniscience
Meaning
the state of knowing everything
Example
The novel's narrator has an air of omniscience, revealing every character's thoughts.
Le narrateur du roman a un air d'omniscience, révélant les pensées de chaque personnage.
C2 verb /əˈbeɪs/

abase

abaisser
Meaning
to belittle or degrade someone
Example
He refused to abase himself before the king.
Il a refusé de s'abaisser devant le roi.
C2 verb /ˈsʌplɪˌkeɪt/

supplicate

supplier
Meaning
To ask for something earnestly or humbly, often in a religious context.
Example
The villagers supplicated the gods for rain during the drought.
Les villageois supplièrent les dieux pour la pluie pendant la sécheresse.
C2 noun /ˈtɛsteɪtər/

testator

testateur
Meaning
a person who has made a will
Example
The lawyer read the will of the deceased testator.
L'avocat a lu le testament du testateur décédé.
C2 noun /ˈtʃaɪ.nə roʊz/

China-rose

hibiscus
Meaning
a tropical flowering plant with large, showy flowers in various colors
Example
The bright red China-rose flowers decorated the entrance of the house.
Les fleurs rouges vives d'hibiscus décoraient l'entrée de la maison.
C2 noun /ˈkoʊdə/

coda

coda
Meaning
the concluding passage of a piece of music or a literary work
Example
The novel ends with a reflective coda that ties up the themes.
Le roman se termine par une coda réfléchie qui relie les thèmes.
C2 verb /ˈdiːfælˌkeɪt/

defalcate

détourner des fonds
Meaning
to misuse or embezzle money that one is responsible for
Example
The accountant was accused of defalcating company funds.
Le comptable a été accusé de détournement des fonds de l'entreprise.
C2 noun /lɪˈbrɛtoʊ/

libretto

livret d'opéra
Meaning
The text of an opera or other long vocal work.
Example
She studied the libretto before attending the opera performance.
Elle a étudié le livret avant d'assister à la performance de l'opéra.
C2 verb /ˌriːkruːˈdɛs/

recrudesce

récruder
Meaning
to break out or appear again after a period of dormancy or decline
Example
After months of calm, violence recrudesced in the region.
Après des mois de calme, la violence a recrudé dans la région.
C2 noun /ˌhæŋ.ki ˈpæŋ.ki/

Hanky-Panky

escroquerie; activité suspecte; comportement malhonnête; tromperie
Meaning
dishonest or suspicious activity; unethical behavior; trickery or deception
Example
The audit revealed some hanky-panky in the company's financial records.
L'audit a révélé de la fraude dans les registres financiers de l'entreprise.
C2 noun /fɔːrˈbɛrəns/

forbearance

tolérance
Meaning
Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance, especially in difficult situations.
Example
She showed remarkable forbearance during the heated argument.
Elle a montré une tolérance remarquable pendant la dispute animée.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊləs/

undulous

ondulé
Meaning
Having a wavy surface or form.
Example
The artist painted the undulous sea at sunset.
L'artiste a peint la mer ondulée au coucher du soleil.
C2 noun /ˈɪnˌɡreɪt/

ingrate

ingrat
Meaning
An ungrateful person; someone who shows no appreciation.
Example
He worked hard for his friend, but the ingrate never thanked him.
Il a travaillé dur pour son ami, mais l'ingrat ne l'a jamais remercié.
C2 verb /ˈædjʊˌleɪt/

adulate

aduler excessivement
Meaning
to praise or flatter excessively
Example
The fans adulated the actor after his performance.
Les fans ont adulé l'acteur après sa performance.
C2 noun /ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjʊəns/

discontinuance

discontinuité
Meaning
the act of stopping something, especially permanently
Example
The discontinuance of the service disappointed many customers.
L'interruption du service a déçu de nombreux clients.
C2 noun /raɪm/

rime

givre
Meaning
frost formed on cold surfaces by freezing water vapor
Example
The trees were covered with a white rime after the cold night.
Les arbres étaient recouverts de givre blanc après la nuit froide.
C2 noun /ˈbɛnɪfɪs/

benefice

bénéfice ecclésiastique
Meaning
a permanent church appointment for which property and income are provided
Example
The bishop appointed him to a wealthy benefice.
L'évêque l'a nommé à un bénéfice ecclésiastique riche.
C2 noun /wɛlp/

whelp

chiot
Meaning
a young offspring of a dog or other carnivorous mammal; sometimes used to mean an impudent young person
Example
The farmer found a wolf whelp hiding near the barn.
Le fermier a trouvé un chiot de loup caché près de la grange.
C2 noun /fiːf/

fief

un terrain de terre détenu sous le système féodal ; un domaine ou une zone de contrôle
Meaning
an estate of land held under the feudal system; a domain or area of control
Example
The knight was granted a fief by the lord for his service.
Le chevalier a reçu un fief du seigneur pour ses services.
C2 noun /ˌpɜː.spɪˈkæs.ɪ.ti/

perspicacity

perspicacité
Meaning
Sharp insight, keen understanding and discernment.
Example
Her perspicacity in business decisions led to success.
Sa perspicacité dans les décisions commerciales a mené au succès.
C2 noun /ɪˈlɛk.trə.taɪp/

electrotype

électrotype
Meaning
A duplicate printing plate made by electroplating a mold of the original.
Example
The printer used an electrotype to produce multiple copies of the page.
L'imprimeur a utilisé un électrotype pour produire plusieurs copies de la page.
C2 adjective /əˈbɪs.əl/

abyssal

relatif à l'océan profond
Meaning
Related to or characteristic of the deep ocean, especially the zone below 4000 meters.
Example
Abyssal creatures survive in extreme pressure conditions.
Les créatures abyssales survivent dans des conditions de pression extrême.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnsɛrəˈmoʊniəs/

unceremonious

sans cérémonie/rude
Meaning
Done without formality or courtesy; abrupt or rude.
Example
He made an unceremonious exit from the party.
Il a fait une sortie sans cérémonie de la fête.
C2 noun /ˌɪrɪˈdɛsəns/

iridescence

brillance iridescente
Meaning
a play of lustrous, changing colors like those of a rainbow
Example
The butterfly's wings shimmered with iridescence.
Les ailes du papillon brillaient d'une brillance iridescente.
C2 adjective /ˈpruːdɪʃ/

prudish

prude
Meaning
having or revealing a tendency to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity
Example
She was too prudish to watch the movie with her friends.
Elle était trop prude pour regarder le film avec ses amis.
C2 verb /bɪˈteɪk/

betake

se rendre à; recourir à
Meaning
to go or resort to a place or course of action, especially as a response; to apply oneself
Example
After dinner, she betook herself to her room to read.
Après le dîner, elle se rendit dans sa chambre pour lire.
C2 adjective /ˈpɒndərəbl/

ponderable

qui peut être considéré, pensable
Meaning
able to be considered or thought about
Example
The evidence was substantial and ponderable.
La preuve était substantielle et pensable.
C2 verb /ˈsnʌfəl/

snuffle

respirer bruyamment par le nez
Meaning
to breathe noisily through the nose, often because of crying or a cold
Example
The child began to snuffle after crying for a long time.
L'enfant a commencé à respirer bruyamment par le nez après avoir pleuré longtemps.
C2 verb /prəˈpɪʃieɪt/

propitiate

apaiser
Meaning
to win or regain the favor of someone by doing something that pleases them
Example
He offered gifts to propitiate the angry gods.
Il a offert des cadeaux pour apaiser les dieux en colère.
C2 noun /ˈkæm.fər/

Camphor

camphre
Meaning
a white crystalline substance with a strong aromatic smell, used in medicine and religious ceremonies
Example
The temple was filled with the fragrant smoke of burning camphor.
Le temple était rempli de la fumée parfumée du camphre en combustion.
C2 noun /dɜːrdʒ/

dirge

élégie
Meaning
A mournful song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief, often for the dead.
Example
The choir sang a solemn dirge at the funeral.
La chorale a chanté une élégie solennelle lors des funérailles.
C2 noun /ˌdeɪnuːˈmɒ̃/

denouement

dénouement
Meaning
The final resolution or conclusion of a story, drama, or complicated situation.
Example
The novel's denouement was both surprising and satisfying.
Le dénouement du roman était à la fois surprenant et satisfaisant.
C2 noun /ˈzuːəʊˌplæŋktən/

zooplankton

zooplancton
Meaning
Microscopic aquatic animals that drift in water bodies and form an essential part of the aquatic food chain, serving as food for fish and other marine organisms.
Example
Zooplankton plays an important role in the aquatic food chain.
Le zooplancton joue un rôle important dans la chaîne alimentaire aquatique.
C2 adjective /ˈruːnɪk/

runic

relatif aux runes
Meaning
relating to or consisting of runes; mysterious or magical
Example
The old stone had strange runic carvings on it.
La vieille pierre avait des gravures runiques étranges.
C2 verb /ˌɪmpɔːrˈtuːnd/

importuned

demander de manière insistante
Meaning
asked someone persistently and pressingly for something
Example
She importuned her boss for a raise until he finally gave in.
Elle demandait de manière insistante une augmentation à son patron jusqu'à ce qu'il cède enfin.
C2 noun /ˈɑːbəlɪsk/

obelisk

obélisque
Meaning
A tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument with a pyramid-shaped top.
Example
The ancient Egyptians built obelisks to honor their gods.
Les anciens Égyptiens ont construit des obélisques pour honorer leurs dieux.
C2 noun /ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/

absolution

absolution
Meaning
formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment
Example
The priest granted him absolution for his sins.
Le prêtre lui a accordé l'absolution pour ses péchés.
C2 verb /aɪˈdɒləˌtraɪz/

idolatrize

idolâtrer
Meaning
To worship idols; to regard with excessive devotion or admiration.
Example
They began to idolatrize the statue as a deity.
Ils ont commencé à idolâtrer la statue comme une divinité.
C2 noun /ˈɪəri/

eyrie

nid d'aigle
Meaning
the nest of a bird of prey, such as an eagle, typically built high on a cliff or tree
Example
The eagle’s eyrie was perched high on the mountain cliff.
Le nid d'aigle était perché au sommet de la falaise.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːrkən/

hearken

écouter attentivement
Meaning
To listen attentively; to give heed.
Example
He would hearken to his mentor’s advice before making decisions.
Il écouterait attentivement les conseils de son mentor avant de prendre des décisions.
C2 noun /tækˈsɒnəmɪst/

taxonomist

taxonome
Meaning
A scientist who classifies organisms into groups based on their characteristics.
Example
The taxonomist discovered a new species of insect.
Le taxonome a découvert une nouvelle espèce d'insecte.
C2 noun /kənˌdʒiː.niˈæl.ə.t̬i/

congeniality

affabilité
Meaning
The quality of being pleasant, friendly, and easy to talk to.
Example
His congeniality makes him popular among friends.
Son affabilité le rend populaire parmi ses amis.
C2 noun /ˈiːɡres/

egress

issue
Meaning
The action of going out or leaving a place; an exit.
Example
The emergency door provided an egress for the trapped workers.
La porte de secours a fourni une issue pour les travailleurs piégés.
C2 verb /ɪnˈɡrɑːft/

ingraft

implanter
Meaning
To implant or fix deeply, often used in the sense of grafting an idea or quality.
Example
The teacher tried to ingraft good manners in the students.
Le professeur a essayé d'implanter de bonnes manières chez les étudiants.
C2 verb /ˈek.stər.peɪt/

extirpate

extirper
Meaning
to completely remove or destroy something unwanted
Example
The government launched a program to extirpate corruption from public offices.
Le gouvernement a lancé un programme pour extirper la corruption des bureaux publics.
C2 noun /ˈiːsθiːt/ or /ˈɛsθiːt/

aesthete

esthète
Meaning
A person who has a special appreciation of art and beauty.
Example
The aesthete admired the subtle details of the painting.
L'esthète admirait les détails subtils de la peinture.
C2 noun /ˈlɑːrdər/

larder

garde-manger
Meaning
A place, such as a pantry, where food is stored.
Example
The larder was full of fresh bread and cheese.
Le garde-manger était plein de pain frais et de fromage.
C2 noun /ˈbrɒŋkəs/

bronchus

bronche
Meaning
either of the two main branches of the trachea that lead directly into the lungs
Example
The left bronchus carries air into the left lung.
Le bronchus gauche transporte l'air dans le poumon gauche.
C2 noun /ˈnaɪsəti/

nicety

subtilité
Meaning
a fine or subtle detail, or a refined, delicate aspect of something
Example
The lawyer explained the legal niceties of the case.
L'avocat a expliqué les subtilités juridiques de l'affaire.
C2 noun /ˈheɪ.deɪ/

Hey day

l'âge d'or; la période de gloire; le sommet
Meaning
the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor; prime time
Example
During her heyday as a singer, she performed in sold-out concerts around the world.
Pendant son âge d'or en tant que chanteuse, elle a performé dans des concerts à guichets fermés à travers le monde.
C2 noun /ˈfɪli/

filly

jeune jument
Meaning
a young female horse
Example
The filly ran swiftly across the meadow.
La pouliche a couru rapidement à travers la prairie.
C2 adjective /ˈtɛsəleɪtɪd/

tessellated

carrelé
Meaning
arranged in a pattern of repeated shapes fitting together without gaps
Example
The tessellated floor was made of colorful tiles arranged in perfect symmetry.
Le sol carrelé était composé de carreaux colorés disposés en parfaite symétrie.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪvəˈɡeɪʃən/

divagation

divagation
Meaning
digression; wandering from a path or subject
Example
His lecture was full of divagation, making it hard to follow the main point.
Sa conférence était pleine de divagations, ce qui rendait difficile de suivre le point principal.
C2 adjective /ˈdɔːrsəl/

dorsal

dorsal
Meaning
Relating to the back or upper side of an animal or body part.
Example
Sharks have a prominent dorsal fin.
Les requins ont une nageoire dorsale proéminente.
C2 adjective /dʒərˈmeɪn/

germane

pertinent
Meaning
Relevant and appropriate to the subject being considered.
Example
Her comments were not germane to the discussion.
Ses commentaires n'étaient pas pertinents pour la discussion.
C2 noun /əˈrɔɪ.oʊ/

arroyo

ruisseau sec
Meaning
A dry creek or stream bed that temporarily fills with water after heavy rain.
Example
After the storm, the arroyo quickly filled with rushing water.
Après la tempête, le ruisseau s'est rapidement rempli d'eau.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrfɪt/

surfeit

excès
Meaning
an excessive amount of something
Example
There was a surfeit of food at the festival.
Il y avait un excès de nourriture au festival.
C2 adjective /ˈfer.əs/

ferrous

riche en fer
Meaning
containing or consisting of iron
Example
Ferrous metals are commonly used in construction.
Les métaux ferreux sont couramment utilisés dans la construction.
C2 verb /ɪmˈbɪtər/

embitter

amerir
Meaning
To make someone resentful or angry; to cause bitterness.
Example
The unfair treatment embittered the employees.
Le mauvais traitement a rendu les employés amers.
C2 noun /kjuːˈpɪdəti/

cupidity

cupidité
Meaning
Excessive desire for wealth or possessions; greed.
Example
The king's downfall was caused by his cupidity.
La chute du roi a été causée par sa cupidité.
C2 adjective /kəˈprɪʃəs/

capricious

capricieux
Meaning
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Example
The stock market can be capricious, shifting dramatically without warning.
Le marché boursier peut être capricieux, changeant de manière spectaculaire sans avertissement.
C2 adjective /ˈskʌr.ɪ.ləs/

scurrilous

calomnieux
Meaning
Using or expressed in coarse, abusive, or slanderous language.
Example
The politician faced criticism for his scurrilous remarks about his opponent.
Le politicien a fait face à des critiques pour ses remarques calomnieuses sur son adversaire.
C2 noun /əˈfreɪ/

affray

bagarre publique
Meaning
A public fight or noisy disturbance that causes alarm.
Example
The police were called to break up an affray outside the stadium.
La police a été appelée pour arrêter une altercation à l'extérieur du stade.
C2 noun /kəˈraʊzl/

carousal

fête bruyante
Meaning
A noisy or lively drinking party or festivity.
Example
They were exhausted after a night of wild carousal.
Ils étaient épuisés après une nuit de fête bruyante.
C2 noun /ˈhʌk.stər/

huckster

vendeur ambulant
Meaning
A person who sells small items aggressively, often in a showy or dishonest way.
Example
The huckster loudly promoted his goods in the busy marketplace.
Le vendeur ambulant a bruyamment promu ses marchandises dans le marché bondé.
C2 verb /rɛtʃ/

retch

bonheur
Meaning
to make the sound and movement of vomiting without bringing anything up
Example
The smell of spoiled food made him retch violently.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher sa joie lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /kɒˈkeɪd/

cockade

rosette en ruban
Meaning
a rosette or knot of ribbon, usually worn on a hat as a badge of office or party
Example
The soldier wore a red cockade on his cap.
Le soldat portait une rosette en ruban rouge sur son chapeau.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪfəni/

antiphony

antiphonie
Meaning
a form of music in which two or more groups or choirs sing alternately in response to each other
Example
The cathedral's architecture was designed to enhance the effect of antiphony.
L'architecture de la cathédrale a été conçue pour améliorer l'effet de l'antiphonie.
C2 verb /ˈvaɪtəlaɪz/

vitalize

vitaliser
Meaning
To give life, energy, or strength to something.
Example
Fresh air and exercise can vitalize the body and mind.
L'air frais et l'exercice peuvent vitaliser le corps et l'esprit.
C2 verb /ˈsʌpjʊˌreɪt/

suppurate

supurer
Meaning
to form or discharge pus, usually as a result of infection
Example
The wound began to suppurate after a few days.
La plaie a commencé à suppurer après quelques jours.
C2 noun /ˌɔːltərˈkeɪʃən/

altercation

altercation, dispute
Meaning
a noisy argument or quarrel
Example
There was a brief altercation between the two drivers.
Il y a eu une brève altercation entre les deux conducteurs.
C2 verb /ˈbæstərdaɪz/

bastardize

dénaturer
Meaning
to corrupt or debase something by altering it from its original form; to change in a way that reduces quality or purity
Example
Critics argue that the remake bastardized the original novel.
Les critiques disent que le remake a dénaturé l’œuvre originale.
C2 noun /dɪˈstɪlər/

distiller

distillateur
Meaning
A person or company that makes alcoholic drinks or purified liquids by distillation.
Example
The distiller introduced a new brand of whiskey last year.
Le distillateur a lancé une nouvelle marque de whisky l'année dernière.
C2 noun /ˌbækəˈneɪliə/

bacchanalia

fête débridée
Meaning
A Roman festival of Bacchus celebrated with dancing, drinking, and revelry; any occasion of wild and drunken revelry.
Example
The novel describes the party as a bacchanalia of excess and joy.
Le roman décrit la fête comme une bacchanale d'excès et de joie.
C2 noun /ɪˈnænɪti/

inanity

ineptie, absurdité
Meaning
a nonsensical remark or action; silliness; emptiness
Example
The speech was full of inanities that bored the audience.
Le discours était rempli d'inepties qui ennuyaient le public.
C2 noun /dɪˈdʒɛkʃən/

dejection

dépression
Meaning
a state of sadness, depression, or low spirits
Example
She sat in a state of dejection after hearing the bad news.
Elle était assise dans un état de dépression après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C2 verb /ɪnˈtɜːrpəˌleɪt/

interpolate

interpoler
Meaning
To insert something, often words, into a text or conversation; to estimate values between known data points.
Example
The editor interpolated a missing paragraph into the manuscript.
L'éditeur a interpolé un paragraphe manquant dans le manuscrit.
C2 verb /rɪˈkænt/

recant

rétracter
Meaning
to withdraw or renounce a statement or belief formally
Example
He recanted his previous statement in court.
Il a rétracté sa déclaration précédente au tribunal.
C2 verb /ˈhɛnˌpɛk/

henpeck

être constamment critiqué ou dominé par son épouse
Meaning
To continually criticize, nag, or dominate (especially a husband).
Example
He felt henpecked by his overly controlling wife.
Il se sentait constamment critiqué par sa femme dominante.
C2 noun /rɪˈfɛktəri/

refectory

réfectoire
Meaning
a dining hall, especially in a monastery, convent, or school
Example
Students had lunch in the refectory.
Les étudiants ont déjeuné dans le réfectoire.
C2 verb /ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡ/

pettifog

discuter de futilités
Meaning
to argue or quibble over trivial matters; to engage in petty, dishonest practices
Example
The lawyer was accused of trying to pettifog instead of addressing the real issue.
L'avocat a été accusé d'essayer de discuter de questions futiles au lieu de traiter le vrai problème.
C2 verb /ˌnɒnˈplʌst/

nonplussed

déconcerté
Meaning
Past tense of nonplus; surprised and unsure how to react.
Example
He stood nonplussed at the strange remark.
Il est resté déconcerté par la remarque étrange.
C2 noun /ˌkæstɪˈɡeɪʃən/

castigation

critique sévère ou punition
Meaning
Severe criticism or punishment for wrongdoing.
Example
The manager’s harsh castigation shocked the entire team.
La sévère castigation du manager a choqué toute l'équipe.
C2 verb /əˈdʒʊər/

adjure

adjurer
Meaning
to urge or command someone solemnly, often under oath or a strong sense of duty
Example
The witness was adjured to tell the truth in court.
Le témoin a été adjuré de dire la vérité au tribunal.
C2 noun /dɪˈpoʊnənt/

deponent

témoignage
Meaning
A person who gives testimony under oath, especially in a written deposition.
Example
The deponent confirmed the accuracy of the statement during the trial.
Le témoin a confirmé l'exactitude de la déclaration pendant le procès.
C2 verb /ˈrævəl/

ravel

embrouiller / démêler
Meaning
to tangle or complicate; to untangle or unravel depending on context
Example
She began to ravel the loose threads of the sweater.
Elle a commencé à démêler les fils lâches du pull.
C2 noun /flæks/

flax

lin
Meaning
a plant whose fibers are used to make linen and whose seeds are edible
Example
Flax is often used in making linen fabrics.
Le lin est souvent utilisé pour fabriquer des tissus en lin.
C2 adjective /ˌoʊpəˈlɛsənt/

opalescent

opalescent
Meaning
showing or reflecting a milky, iridescent light like an opal
Example
The opalescent sky glowed with shades of pink and blue.
Le ciel opalescent brillait avec des nuances de rose et de bleu.
C2 noun /ˈæmjʊlət/

Amulet

amulette; talisman
Meaning
an ornament or small piece of jewelry thought to give protection against evil, danger, or disease
Example
She wore a silver amulet around her neck for good luck.
Elle portait un amulette en argent autour du cou pour la chance.
C2 noun /ˌkælɪsˈθɛnɪks/

calisthenics

exercice physique
Meaning
exercises that use body weight for strength and flexibility
Example
She practices calisthenics every morning in the park.
Elle pratique la calisthénie chaque matin dans le parc.
C2 noun mʌnˈdeɪ.nɪ.ti

mundanity

banalité
Meaning
The quality of being ordinary, routine, or lacking excitement.
Example
The mundanity of office life can be exhausting.
La banalité de la vie au bureau peut être épuisante.
C2 noun /ˈhæbɪtənt/

habitant

habitant
Meaning
An inhabitant; a person or animal that lives in a particular place.
Example
The habitants of the village were friendly and welcoming.
Les habitants du village étaient amicaux et accueillants.
C2 noun /kɒŋk/

Conck

conque
Meaning
a shell, especially a large spiral one used as a horn or for decoration
Example
The priest blew the conch shell to signal the start of the ceremony.
Le prêtre a soufflé dans la coquille de conque pour signaler le début de la cérémonie.
C2 adjective /ˈnɔɪ.səm/

Noisome

nauséabond; nuisible ou désagréable
Meaning
having an extremely offensive smell; harmful or unpleasant
Example
The noisome smell from the garbage made everyone cover their noses.
L'odeur nauséabonde des ordures a forcé tout le monde à se boucher le nez.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːdri/

tawdry

bon marché et voyante mais de mauvaise qualité
Meaning
cheap and showy but of poor quality
Example
She wore a tawdry necklace that broke easily.
Elle portait un collier bon marché et voyante qui s'est cassé facilement.
C2 noun /ˈmæntl̩/

mantel

étagère au-dessus de la cheminée
Meaning
A shelf above a fireplace, often used for decoration.
Example
She placed family photos on the mantel above the fireplace.
Elle a posé des photos de famille sur l'étagère au-dessus de la cheminée.
C2 verb /ˈjuːləˌdʒaɪz/

eulogize

élogier
Meaning
To praise highly in speech or writing, especially in honor of someone who has died.
Example
They gathered to eulogize their beloved teacher.
Ils se sont réunis pour faire l'éloge de leur professeur bien-aimé.
C2 verb ˈɑːb.fə.skeɪt

obfuscate

obscurcir, embrouiller, mystifier
Meaning
Render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
Example
Politicians often obfuscate facts to mislead people.
Les politiciens obfusquent souvent les faits pour induire les gens en erreur.
C2 noun /ˌpæl.ənˈkiːn/

Palanquin

palanquin
Meaning
a covered chair or bed carried on poles by bearers
Example
The bride was carried to the wedding ceremony in an ornate palanquin.
La mariée a été transportée à la cérémonie de mariage dans un palanquin orné.