adroit
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN Anglais BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Espagnol FR Français DE Allemand RU Russe ZH Chinois JA Japonais
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C2 adjective əˈdrɔɪt

adroit

habile, astucieux, adroit
Meaning
clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
Example
She is adroit at solving complex problems.
Elle est habile à résoudre des problèmes complexes.
C2 verb /əˈvaʊ/

avow

avouer ouvertement
Meaning
to openly declare or admit something, often publicly and firmly
Example
He avowed his loyalty to the cause without hesitation.
Il avoua sa loyauté à la cause sans hésitation.
C2 adjective /ˌæk.rɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/

acrimonious

amer et en colère
Meaning
Bitter and angry, often involving harsh words.
Example
The debate turned acrimonious after the controversial remark.
Le débat est devenu acrimonieux après le commentaire controversé.
C2 noun /ˌæriˈviːst/

arriviste

nouveau riche
Meaning
A person who has recently gained wealth or status but is considered arrogant or socially unsophisticated.
Example
The business world is full of ambitious arrivistes.
Le monde des affaires est rempli d’arrivistes ambitieux.
C2 noun /ˈæn.dʒi.əʊ.plæs.ti/

angioplasty

procédure médicale pour ouvrir les vaisseaux sanguins bloqués ou rétrécis qui fournissent du sang au cœur
Meaning
A medical procedure to open blocked or narrowed blood vessels that supply blood to the heart.
Example
Angioplasty is now safer with robotic assistance.
L'angioplastie est maintenant plus sûre avec l'assistance robotique.
C2 verb /əˈvɜːr/

aver

affirmer
Meaning
to state or assert something confidently and strongly
Example
She averred that she was innocent.
Elle affirmait qu'elle était innocente.
C2 noun /ˈæl.kə.laɪ ækt/

Alkali Act

Loi de l'Alcalinité
Meaning
A British law passed in 1863 to regulate the emission of hydrochloric acid gas from alkali works, representing one of the first pieces of environmental legislation.
Example
The Alkali Act of 1863 was one of the first environmental laws.
La Loi de l'Alcalinité de 1863 fut l'une des premières lois environnementales.
C2 noun /ˈæpəˌθɛm/

apothegm

maxime, dicton
Meaning
A short, witty, and instructive saying or maxim.
Example
His speech was filled with apothegms about life and success.
Son discours était rempli de maximes sur la vie et le succès.
C2 verb /ˈɔːltərˌkeɪt/

altercate

disputer
Meaning
to argue or dispute angrily or noisily
Example
The neighbors began to altercate over the boundary wall.
Les voisins ont commencé à discuter sur le mur de la frontière.
C2 noun /ˈɔːlmənæk/

almanac

almanach
Meaning
An annual publication containing calendars, weather forecasts, astronomical data, and other useful information.
Example
He consulted the almanac to check the phases of the moon.
Il a consulté l'almanach pour vérifier les phases de la lune.
C2 noun /ˌæɡ.rəˈdeɪ.ʃən/

aggradation

processus de construction de la terre par dépôt de sédiments
Meaning
The process of land being built up by sediment deposition.
Example
Aggradation helps in the natural expansion of riverbanks.
L'aggradation aide à l'expansion naturelle des rives des rivières.
C2 adverb /əˈsɪdʒuəsli/

assiduously

assidûment
Meaning
with great care and persistence
Example
He worked assiduously to complete the project before the deadline.
Il a travaillé assidûment pour terminer le projet avant la date limite.
C2 noun /ˈɛərəˌstæt/

aerostat

aérostat
Meaning
A lighter-than-air craft, such as a balloon, that is lifted by gas.
Example
The military used an aerostat for surveillance over the border.
L'armée a utilisé un aérostat pour la surveillance de la frontière.
C2 adjective /əˈkjuː.zəˌtɔːr.i/

accusatory

accusateur
Meaning
Suggesting blame or indicating someone has done wrong.
Example
He gave her an accusatory glance.
Il lui lança un regard accusateur.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪstrəfi/

antistrophe

antistrophé (un dispositif rhétorique)
Meaning
A rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is repeated at the end of successive clauses; in Greek choral poetry, the part of the ode sung by the chorus in return movement.
Example
The poet used antistrophe to emphasize the repeated phrase.
Le poète a utilisé l'antistrophé pour souligner la phrase répétée.
C2 noun /ˈæsənəns/

assonance

assonance
Meaning
the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words in poetry or prose
Example
The poet used assonance to create a musical effect in his verse.
Le poète a utilisé l'assonance pour créer un effet musical dans son vers.
C2 adjective /əˌnækrəˈnɪstɪk/

anachronistic

anachronique
Meaning
belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; old-fashioned or outdated
Example
His views on gender roles are considered anachronistic.
Ses opinions sur les rôles de genre sont considérées comme anachroniques.
C2 adjective /ˌæntɪˈmʌndeɪn/

antemundane

avant la création du monde
Meaning
Existing or occurring before the creation of the world.
Example
Some myths speak of an antemundane chaos before order was established.
Certains mythes parlent d'un chaos antémundane avant l'établissement de l'ordre.
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 adjective /ˈæmbjələˌtɔːri/

ambulatory

ambulatoire
Meaning
Relating to or able to walk; relating to outpatient medical care.
Example
The patient is ambulatory and does not require bed rest.
Le patient est ambulatoire et n'a pas besoin de repos au lit.
C2 adjective /əˈmɔːrfəs/

amorphous

amorphe
Meaning
Lacking a clear shape or form; without a defined structure.
Example
The plan remained amorphous and lacked concrete details.
Le plan est resté amorphe et manquait de détails concrets.
C2 noun (plural) /ˈɔːspɪsɪz/

auspices

auspice
Meaning
Patronage, support, or guidance, often used in the phrase 'under the auspices of'.
Example
The conference was held under the auspices of the United Nations.
La conférence a eu lieu sous les auspices des Nations Unies.
C2 verb /ˈæntɪdeɪtɪd/

antedated

daté antérieurement
Meaning
assigned to an earlier date than the actual one; happened earlier
Example
The letter was antedated to appear more official.
La lettre a été antidatée pour paraître plus officielle.
C2 adjective /əˈluːsɪv/

allusive

allusif
Meaning
Making indirect references or hints; suggestive without being explicit.
Example
The novel is full of allusive passages that point to classical literature.
Le roman est plein de passages allusifs qui font référence à la littérature classique.
C2 noun /ˌæk.rəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/

acrophobia

peur des hauteurs
Meaning
An extreme or irrational fear of heights.
Example
Her acrophobia prevented her from climbing the tall building.
Son acrophobie l'a empêchée de monter dans le grand bâtiment.
C2 adjective /ɔːˈrɔːrəl/

auroral

relatif à l'aurore
Meaning
Relating to or resembling the aurora, especially the northern lights.
Example
The scientists observed auroral activity in the night sky.
Les scientifiques ont observé une activité aurorale dans le ciel nocturne.
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 adjective /əˈɡɒɡ/

agog

Meaning
Highly excited by eagerness, curiosity, or anticipation.
Example
The children were agog with excitement as they waited for the magician to appear.
C2 adjective /ˌæntɪdəˈluːviən/

antediluvian

désuet
Meaning
extremely old-fashioned; belonging to the time before the biblical flood
Example
His views on women are positively antediluvian.
Ses opinions sur les femmes sont positivement démodées.
C2 noun /ˈændaɪərn/

andiron

support en métal pour bois
Meaning
a metal support used in a fireplace to hold logs
Example
The logs rested on the andirons in the old fireplace.
Les bûches reposaient sur les andirons dans l'ancienne cheminée.
C2 verb /əˈreɪn/

arraign

inculper
Meaning
to formally accuse someone in a court of law and ask them to respond to the charges
Example
The suspect was arraigned before the judge this morning.
Le suspect a été inculpé devant le juge ce matin.
C2 adjective /ˈæsənənt/

assonant

assonant
Meaning
Having or characterized by assonance; repeating similar vowel sounds.
Example
The poem is filled with assonant words that create a musical rhythm.
Le poème est rempli de mots assonants qui créent un rythme musical.
C2 noun /əˈmæl.ɡəm/

amalgam

mélange
Meaning
a mixture or blend of different things
Example
The new policy is an amalgam of several previous laws.
La nouvelle politique est un mélange de plusieurs lois antérieures.
C2 verb /əˈniːl/

anneal

durcir par la chaleur
Meaning
To heat and cool metal or glass to make it stronger or less brittle.
Example
The blacksmith annealed the steel to improve its durability.
Le forgeron a anilé l'acier pour améliorer sa durabilité.
C2 adjective /ˈæk.rɪd/

Acrid

âcre et désagréable
Meaning
having a strong, unpleasant, and sharp smell or taste
Example
The acrid smoke from the fire made everyone cough.
La fumée âcre du feu a fait tousser tout le monde.
C2 adjective /əˈsɜːrbɪk/

acerbic

acerbe
Meaning
sharp, harsh, or bitter in tone or taste
Example
His acerbic comments offended many people in the meeting.
Ses commentaires acerbes ont offensé de nombreuses personnes lors de la réunion.
C2 noun /æmˈbroʊʒə/

ambrosia

ambroisie
Meaning
The food of the gods in classical mythology; something extremely pleasing to taste or smell.
Example
The dessert was so delicious that it tasted like ambrosia.
Le dessert était tellement délicieux qu'il avait le goût d'ambrosia.
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 noun /əˈsɜːrbəti/

acerbity

acerbité
Meaning
bitterness or sharpness of tone, manner, or taste
Example
The acerbity of his remarks left everyone silent.
L'acerbité de ses remarques a laissé tout le monde en silence.
C2 noun /əˈdjuː/

adieu

adieu
Meaning
A farewell or goodbye, often used in a formal or poetic sense.
Example
She bid her friends adieu before leaving for France.
Elle fit ses adieux à ses amis avant de partir pour la France.
C2 verb /əˈleɪ/

allay

apaiser
Meaning
to reduce the intensity of fear, worry, or pain; to calm
Example
The teacher tried to allay the students’ fears before the exam.
L'enseignant a essayé de calmer les peurs des élèves avant l'examen.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrtɪfɪs/

artifice

artifice
Meaning
clever or cunning devices or tricks used to deceive others
Example
The politician's charm was nothing but artifice.
Le charme du politicien n'était rien d'autre qu'un artifice.
C2 adverb /əˈbæk/

Aback

surpris
Meaning
by surprise; unexpectedly
Example
I was taken aback by his sudden announcement.
J'ai été surpris par son annonce soudaine.
C2 adjective /ˈædɪˌpoʊs/

adipose

adipeux
Meaning
Relating to or consisting of animal fat; fatty.
Example
The doctor explained that the tissue was mainly adipose in nature.
Le médecin a expliqué que le tissu était principalement adipeux par nature.
C2 adjective /ˈeɪkwiəs/

aqueous

aqueux
Meaning
related to or containing water; watery
Example
The solution was in an aqueous form.
La solution était sous forme aqueuse.
C2 verb /əˈvaʊtʃ/

avouch

affirmer
Meaning
to affirm or assert something as true
Example
He avouched his innocence before the judge.
Il a affirmé son innocence devant le juge.
C2 noun /ˌæprəˈbeɪʃən/

approbation

approbation / éloge
Meaning
approval or praise
Example
The plan won the approbation of the board members.
Le plan a reçu l'approbation des membres du conseil.
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 /ˈæf.ə.rɪ.zəm/

aphorism

aphorisme
Meaning
a short, witty saying that expresses a general truth or principle
Example
He began his speech with an aphorism about life and success.
Il a commencé son discours par un aphorisme sur la vie et le succès.
C2 noun /ˌɛərəˈstætɪks/

aerostatics

aérostatique
Meaning
The branch of physics that deals with the equilibrium of air and gases and the forces acting on bodies in them.
Example
Aerostatics is essential for understanding how balloons float.
L'aérostatique est essentielle pour comprendre comment les ballons flottent.
C2 adjective /ˈɑːrtləs/

artless

naturel, simple
Meaning
Without deception or pretentiousness; natural and simple.
Example
Her artless smile made everyone feel at ease.
Son sourire naturel a mis tout le monde à l'aise.
C2 noun /ˌænəlˈdʒiːziə/

analgesia

analgésie
Meaning
The inability to feel pain while still conscious.
Example
The doctor induced analgesia before performing the procedure.
Le médecin a induit l'analgésie avant de réaliser la procédure.
C2 adjective /ˌækwiˈɛsənt/

acquiescent

soumis
Meaning
ready to accept something without protest, or to do what someone else wants
Example
He gave an acquiescent smile and agreed to the plan.
Il a souri d'un sourire soumis et a accepté le plan.
C2 noun /ˈɔːldərmənʃɪp/

aldermanship

poste de conseiller
Meaning
The office, position, or dignity of an alderman.
Example
He was honored with aldermanship after years of service.
Il a été honoré du poste de conseiller après des années de service.
C2 adjective /əˈbɔːrtɪv/

abortive

avorté
Meaning
Failing to produce the intended result; unsuccessful.
Example
Their abortive attempt to climb the mountain ended in retreat.
Leur tentative avortée de gravir la montagne s'est terminée par une retraite.
C2 noun /ˌænθrəpəˈsɛntrɪzəm/

anthropocentrism

anthropocentrisme
Meaning
The belief that human beings are the most important or central element of existence.
Example
Anthropocentrism often shapes environmental policies.
L'anthropocentrisme façonne souvent les politiques environnementales.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrkeɪˌɪzəm/

archaism

archaïsme
Meaning
a word, expression, or style of language that is no longer in everyday use
Example
The poem is full of archaisms that give it an old-fashioned flavor.
Le poème est plein d'archaïsmes qui lui donnent un goût ancien.
C2 noun ˈɔː.tɑː.ki

autarky

autarcie, autosuffisance
Meaning
Economic independence or self-sufficiency; a policy of establishing a self-sufficient national economy.
Example
Some nations aim for autarky to reduce reliance on imports.
Certaines nations visent l'autarcie pour réduire leur dépendance aux importations.
C2 noun /əˈklɪvɪti/

acclivity

pente ascendante
Meaning
An upward slope or incline on the ground.
Example
The hikers struggled as they climbed the steep acclivity.
Les randonneurs ont eu du mal à gravir la pente ascendante.
C2 verb /ˈærəˌɡeɪt/

arrogate

revendiquer injustement
Meaning
To claim or take something without justification.
Example
The dictator arrogated all powers to himself.
Le dictateur a revendiqué tous les pouvoirs pour lui-même de manière injuste.
C2 verb /əˈmælɡəmeɪt/

amalgamate

fusionner
Meaning
to combine or unite to form one organization or structure; to merge
Example
The two companies decided to amalgamate their operations.
Les deux entreprises ont décidé de fusionner leurs opérations.
C2 verb /əˈɡræn.daɪz/

aggrandize

agrandir
Meaning
To increase the power, wealth, or importance of a person or entity.
Example
The politician tried to aggrandize himself through exaggerated claims.
Le politicien a essayé de s'aggrandir à travers des affirmations exagérées.
C2 adjective /ɔːˈrɪkjʊlər/

auricular

relatif à l'oreille
Meaning
Relating to the ear or hearing.
Example
The doctor used an auricular thermometer to check the patient's temperature.
Le médecin a utilisé un thermomètre auriculaire pour vérifier la température du patient.
C2 noun /ˈɔːspɪs/

auspice

augure, patronage
Meaning
A sign, omen, or divine token; also refers to protection or support.
Example
The project was launched under the auspice of the government.
Le projet a été lancé sous l'auspice du gouvernement.
C2 adjective /ˈækwɪˌlaɪn/

aquiline

de type bec d'aigle
Meaning
curved like an eagle's beak; hooked
Example
He had an aquiline nose that gave him a distinguished appearance.
Il avait un nez de type bec d'aigle qui lui donnait une apparence distinguée.
C2 adjective /ɑːrˈbɔːr.i.əl/

arboreal

relatif aux arbres
Meaning
Relating to trees or living in trees; tree-dwelling.
Example
Monkeys are arboreal animals that spend most of their time in trees.
Les singes sont des animaux arboricoles qui passent la majeure partie de leur temps dans les arbres.
C2 verb /əˈsweɪdʒ/

assuage

apaiser
Meaning
To make an unpleasant feeling less intense; to ease or relieve.
Example
The kind words helped assuage her anxiety.
Les mots gentils ont aidé à apaiser son anxiété.
C2 adjective /ɑːrˈθʊr.i.ən/

arthurian

relatif à Arthur
Meaning
Relating to the legendary King Arthur and the stories surrounding him.
Example
The novel is set in an Arthurian world of knights and castles.
Le roman se déroule dans un monde arthurien de chevaliers et de châteaux.
C2 adjective /əˈkɪliən/

achillean

achillien
Meaning
like or characteristic of Achilles; strong but vulnerable
Example
His achillean pride made him blind to danger.
Sa fierté achillienne le rendait aveugle au danger.
C2 noun /ˈæmpərˌsænd/

ampersand

esperluette
Meaning
The symbol '&' used to represent the word 'and'.
Example
Use an ampersand instead of writing the word 'and' in the company name.
Utilisez une esperluette au lieu d'écrire le mot 'et' dans le nom de l'entreprise.
C2 noun /ˌær.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

arability

arabilité
Meaning
The quality of land being suitable for growing crops.
Example
The arability of land depends on soil quality and water availability.
L'arabilité du sol dépend de la qualité du sol et de la disponibilité de l'eau.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrbɪtər/

arbiter

arbitre
Meaning
a person who has the authority to settle a dispute or decide an issue
Example
The principal acted as the arbiter in the conflict between the students.
Le principal a agi en tant qu'arbitre dans le conflit entre les élèves.
C2 verb /ˌæntɪˈsiːd/

antecede

précéder
Meaning
to come before in time or order
Example
A short introduction usually antecedes the main text.
Une courte introduction précède généralement le texte principal.
C2 noun /əˈkʌmpənɪst/

accompanist

accompagnateur
Meaning
A person who plays a musical instrument to support a singer or another musician.
Example
The pianist served as the accompanist for the singer during the concert.
Le pianiste a joué le rôle d'accompagnateur pour le chanteur pendant le concert.
C2 noun /ɔːl/

awl

alêne
Meaning
a small pointed tool used for making holes, especially in leather
Example
The cobbler used an awl to punch holes in the leather.
Le cordonnier a utilisé une alêne pour faire des trous dans le cuir.
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 adjective /ˈæfərənt/

afferent

afférent
Meaning
carrying impulses toward a central organ or part, especially toward the brain or spinal cord
Example
Afferent nerves carry signals from the body to the brain.
Les nerfs afférents transportent des signaux du corps vers le cerveau.
C2 verb /əˈdʌltəreɪt/

adulterate

adulterer
Meaning
to make something poorer in quality by adding another substance, usually of lower quality
Example
The company was fined for adulterating its products with cheap chemicals.
L'entreprise a été condamnée à une amende pour avoir adultéré ses produits avec des produits chimiques bon marché.
C2 noun /ˌæs.əˈfet.ɪ.də/

Asafoetida

asafoetida
Meaning
a pungent spice derived from the resin of a plant, commonly used in Indian cooking
Example
A pinch of asafoetida adds a distinctive flavor to the lentil curry.
Une pincée d'asafoetida ajoute une saveur distinctive au curry de lentilles.
C2 adjective /əˈdʌltəreɪtɪd/

adulterated

Meaning
describes food, drink, or medicine made weaker or impure by the addition of another substance
Example
Authorities seized adulterated drugs from the warehouse.
C2 noun /əˈkjuːtnəs/

acuteness

acuité; intensité
Meaning
sharpness of mind or senses; severity or intensity of a condition
Example
Her acuteness allowed her to notice details others missed.
Son acuité lui a permis de remarquer des détails que les autres ont manqués.
C2 adjective /əˈsiːtɪk/

acetic

acétique
Meaning
relating to or containing acetic acid; sour or vinegary in taste or smell
Example
The acetic smell of vinegar filled the kitchen.
L'odeur acétique du vinaigre a rempli la cuisine.
C2 verb /əˈbrɪdʒ/

abridge

abréger
Meaning
to shorten a text without losing its meaning
Example
The editor decided to abridge the long novel for young readers.
L'éditeur a décidé d'abréger le long roman pour les jeunes lecteurs.
C2 adverb /əˈskæns/

askance

d'un air méfiant
Meaning
With suspicion, mistrust, or disapproval.
Example
She looked askance at his unusual proposal.
Elle regarda sa proposition étrange d'un air méfiant.
C2 noun əˌklaɪ.mə.tɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

acclimatization

acclimatation
Meaning
The process of adapting to a new environment or condition.
Example
The hikers needed time for acclimatization to high altitudes.
Les randonneurs ont eu besoin de temps pour l'acclimatation aux hautes altitudes.
C2 adjective /ɔːˈɡʌst/

august

auguste
Meaning
Respected and impressive; inspiring reverence or admiration.
Example
The king entered the hall with an august presence.
Le roi entra dans la salle avec une présence auguste.
C2 adjective /ˈæn.ə.daɪn/

anodyne

inoffensif, analgésique
Meaning
Not likely to cause offense; bland or harmless. Also refers to something that relieves pain.
Example
The speaker’s anodyne remarks avoided controversy.
Les remarques anodines de l'orateur ont évité la controverse.
C2 noun /ˈævərɪs/

avarice

avarice
Meaning
extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Example
His avarice led him to exploit his workers.
Son avarice l'a conduit à exploiter ses travailleurs.
C2 noun /ˈiːɒn/ or /ˈiːən/

aeon

éon
Meaning
An indefinitely long period of time; an age or eternity.
Example
Dinosaurs roamed the Earth millions of aeons ago.
Les dinosaures ont parcouru la Terre il y a des millions d'éons.
C2 verb /əˈbreɪd/

abrade

usiner par friction
Meaning
to scrape or wear away the surface by friction or erosion
Example
The rough cloth can easily abrade the skin.
Le tissu rugueux peut facilement user la peau.
C2 adjective /ˈæb.ə.rənt/

aberrant

aberrant
Meaning
deviating from what is normal or expected; abnormal
Example
His aberrant behavior shocked everyone at the meeting.
Son comportement aberrant a choqué tout le monde à la réunion.
C2 noun /ˈɛəri/

aerie

nid d'aigle
Meaning
A large nest of a bird of prey, especially an eagle, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff.
Example
The eagle built its aerie on the high cliff.
L'aigle a construit son nid sur la haute falaise
C2 adjective /ˌæntɪməˈrɪdiən/

antemeridian

avant midi
Meaning
Relating to the time before noon; occurring in the morning.
Example
She scheduled all her important meetings during the antemeridian hours.
Elle a planifié toutes ses réunions importantes pendant les heures avant midi.
C2 adjective /əˈpɜːrtənənt/

appurtenant

appartenant
Meaning
Belonging to or associated with something, often used in legal/property contexts.
Example
The right of way is appurtenant to the landowner’s property.
Le droit de passage est appartenant à la propriété du propriétaire.
C2 noun /əˈkriːʃən/

accretion

accrétion
Meaning
The process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter.
Example
The accretion of wealth allowed him to invest in various projects.
L'accrétion de richesse lui a permis d'investir dans divers projets.
C2 noun /ˈænsɛstrɪs/

ancestress

ancêtre féminine
Meaning
a female ancestor; a woman from whom one is descended
Example
She discovered that her ancestress came from a small village in Bengal.
Elle a découvert que son ancêtre féminine venait d’un petit village du Bengale.
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 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 noun /ˈæntɪˌtʃeɪmbər/

antechamber

antichambre
Meaning
a small room serving as an entry to a larger one
Example
The guests waited in the antechamber before being admitted to the hall.
Les invités ont attendu dans l'antichambre avant d'être admis dans la salle.
C2 noun /ˈæpəˌsteɪt/

apostate

apostat
Meaning
A person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.
Example
He was labeled an apostate after abandoning the faith of his community.
Il a été étiqueté comme apostat après avoir abandonné la foi de sa communauté.
C2 adjective /æmˈbroʊʒiəl/

ambrosial

ambrosial
Meaning
Exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; divine.
Example
The aroma of freshly baked bread was simply ambrosial.
L'arôme du pain fraîchement cuit était tout simplement ambrosial.
C2 noun ˌæb.əˈreɪ.ʃən

aberration

aberration, déviation, anomalie
Meaning
A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome.
Example
The scientist dismissed the data as an aberration.
Le scientifique a rejeté les données comme une aberration.
C2 noun /əˈpɒstəsi/

apostasy

apostasie
Meaning
The abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.
Example
His public apostasy shocked his followers.
Son apostasie publique a choqué ses partisans.
C2 noun /ˌɔːskʌlˈteɪʃən/

auscultation

auscultation
Meaning
The act of listening to internal sounds of the body, typically using a stethoscope.
Example
The doctor performed auscultation to check the patient’s lungs.
Le médecin a effectué une auscultation pour vérifier les poumons du patient.
C2 adjective /ˌækrəˈmætɪk/

achromatic

achromatique
Meaning
without color; free from color
Example
The designer chose an achromatic palette of black, white, and gray.
Le designer a choisi une palette achromatique de noir, blanc et gris.
C2 adjective /ˌæn.θrə.pəˈdʒen.ɪk/

anthropogenic

anthropogénique
Meaning
Originating in human activity; caused by humans.
Example
Climate change is largely due to anthropogenic activities.
Le changement climatique est en grande partie dû à des activités anthropogéniques.
C2 verb /ˈæmərˌtaɪz/

amortize

amortir
Meaning
To gradually reduce or pay off a debt with regular payments.
Example
They plan to amortize the mortgage over 20 years.
Ils prévoient d'amortir l'hypothèque sur 20 ans.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪkwɛri/

antiquary

antiquaire
Meaning
A person who studies, collects, or deals in antiques or ancient objects.
Example
The antiquary spent years collecting rare manuscripts from the medieval period.
L'antiquaire a passé des années à collecter des manuscrits rares de la période médiévale.
C2 adjective /ˈæstrəl/

astral

astral
Meaning
Relating to the stars or to spiritual, non-physical realms.
Example
Some believe in astral projection, the ability to leave the body and travel spiritually.
Certains croient à la projection astrale, la capacité de quitter le corps et de voyager spirituellement.
C2 verb /əˈpraɪz/

apprise

informer
Meaning
to inform or notify someone
Example
The manager will apprise the staff of the new policies.
Le responsable informera le personnel des nouvelles politiques.
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 noun /ɑːmz/

alms

aumône
Meaning
Money, food, or goods given to the poor as charity.
Example
The monk distributed alms to the needy villagers.
Le moine a distribué des aumônes aux pauvres villageois.
C2 noun /ˈæn.ə.lɪst/

annalist

annaliste
Meaning
A person who writes annals or records events year by year.
Example
The annalist carefully documented the events of the king's reign.
L'annaliste a soigneusement documenté les événements du règne du roi.
C2 noun /əˈfeɪ.ʒə/

aphasia

aphasie
Meaning
a medical condition that causes loss of ability to speak or understand language
Example
After the stroke, she was diagnosed with aphasia.
Après l'accident vasculaire cérébral, elle a été diagnostiquée d'une aphasie.
C2 verb /ˌæpərˈteɪn/

appertain

appartenir
Meaning
to relate to or be connected with something
Example
The rules only appertain to members of the club.
Les règles ne s'appliquent qu'aux membres du club.
C2 noun /ˈæsɪˌteɪt/

acetate

acétate
Meaning
a salt or ester of acetic acid; a synthetic material used in textiles and film
Example
The company produces acetate fibers for clothing.
L'entreprise produit des fibres d'acétate pour les vêtements.
C2 noun əˌten.juˈeɪ.ʃən

attenuation

atténuation, réduction, affaiblissement
Meaning
The reduction of the force, effect, or value of something.
Example
The attenuation of sound waves affects communication.
L'atténuation des ondes sonores affecte la communication.
C2 adjective /ˈæməˌtɔːri/

amatory

amoureux
Meaning
Relating to or expressing sexual love.
Example
The poet’s verses were filled with amatory themes.
Les vers du poète étaient remplis de thèmes amoureux.
C2 adjective /ænˈhaɪdrəs/

anhydrous

anhydre
Meaning
Containing no water.
Example
The chemist used anhydrous ammonia for the experiment.
Le chimiste a utilisé de l'ammoniac anhydre pour l'expérience.
C2 adjective /əˈɡeɪp/ or /əˈɡɑːp/

agape

bouche bée
Meaning
With the mouth wide open in surprise or wonder.
Example
She stood agape at the breathtaking view.
Elle resta bouche bée devant la vue à couper le souffle.
C2 noun /əˈnækrəˌnɪzəm/

anachronism

anachronisme
Meaning
something that is out of its proper time period, especially something old-fashioned in a modern context
Example
Using a typewriter today feels like an anachronism.
Utiliser une machine à écrire aujourd'hui ressemble à un anachronisme.