adulate
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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 adjective /ˈbæti/

batty

fou
Meaning
crazy or eccentric in behavior
Example
The old man down the street is a bit batty but harmless.
Le vieil homme dans la rue est un peu fou mais inoffensif.
C2 noun /ˈɡʊrmənd/

gourmand

gourmand
Meaning
A person who enjoys eating a lot or has a great appetite for food.
Example
As a true gourmand, he never missed an opportunity to try new dishes.
En tant que véritable gourmand, il n'a jamais manqué une occasion d'essayer de nouveaux plats.
C2 noun /əˈkwɪtəns/

acquittance

quittance
Meaning
a written receipt acknowledging payment or discharge of a debt
Example
He demanded an acquittance after paying the loan.
Il a exigé une quittance après avoir payé le prêt.
C2 noun /kroʊn/

crone

vieille femme
Meaning
An old woman, often one who is thin and ugly, sometimes associated with witch-like qualities.
Example
The children were scared by the story of the wicked crone in the forest.
Les enfants ont eu peur de l'histoire de la vieille femme méchante dans la forêt.
C2 noun /ˈfʌriər/

furrier

fourreur
Meaning
A person who prepares or deals in furs.
Example
The furrier displayed fine coats in his shop.
Le fourreur a exposé de beaux manteaux dans son magasin.
C2 noun /ɪˌluːmɪˈnɑːti/

illuminati

illuminati
Meaning
a group of people claiming to have special enlightenment or secret knowledge, often linked to conspiracies
Example
Many conspiracy theories involve the Illuminati as a secret world-controlling group.
De nombreuses théories du complot impliquent les Illuminati comme un groupe secret contrôlant le monde.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪk/

antic

farce
Meaning
a playful, funny, or silly act or gesture
Example
The children laughed at the clown’s antics.
Les enfants ont ri des farces du clown.
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 /lɒx/ or /lɒk/

lough

lac
Meaning
An Irish or Scottish word for a lake or sea inlet.
Example
The fishermen lived by the lough for generations.
Les pêcheurs vivaient près du lac pendant des générations.
C2 noun /ˈætəmaɪzər/

atomizer

atomiseur
Meaning
A device that sprays liquid into a fine mist.
Example
She used an atomizer to apply the perfume evenly.
Elle a utilisé un atomiseur pour appliquer le parfum uniformément.
C2 noun /pərˈsɪpiəns/

percipience

capacité de perception
Meaning
The ability to perceive, understand, or notice things quickly.
Example
His percipience in reading people made him a great negotiator.
Sa capacité de perception en lisant les gens a fait de lui un excellent négociateur.
C2 noun/verb /ɡəˈfɔː/

guffaw

grand éclat de rire
Meaning
a loud and boisterous laugh
Example
The audience guffawed at the comedian’s joke.
Le public a éclaté de rire à la blague du comédien.
C2 adjective /sɪˈdɪʃəs/

seditious

séditieux
Meaning
Encouraging rebellion against authority.
Example
The activist spread seditious pamphlets among the crowd.
L'activiste a distribué des tracts séditieux parmi la foule.
C2 noun /ˈklɪpər/

clipper

tondeuse / bateau rapide du XIXe siècle
Meaning
a tool used for cutting, or a fast sailing ship of the 19th century
Example
The barber used clippers to trim his hair.
Le barbier a utilisé des tondeuses pour couper ses cheveux.
C2 noun ˌpɜː.pɪˈtʃuː.ɪ.ti

perpetuity

perpétuité, éternité, continuité
Meaning
Permanence, eternity, continuity.
Example
The contract ensures payments in perpetuity.
Le contrat garantit des paiements en perpétuité.
C2 verb /ˈpɛrəɡrɪˌneɪt/

peregrinate

bonheur
Meaning
To travel or wander from place to place.
Example
He loved to peregrinate across the countryside during summer.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur quand elle a reçu le prix.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

diacritical

diacritique
Meaning
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
Example
The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume.
Le mot 'résumé' a des marques diacritiques qui changent sa signification de 'resume'.
C2 verb /pəˈræmbjʊˌleɪt/

perambulate

flâner
Meaning
To walk through or travel around, especially for leisure.
Example
They perambulated the old town, enjoying the sights.
Ils ont flâné dans la vieille ville, profitant des vues.
C2 noun /ˈdrʌmɪt/

Drumet

drumet
Meaning
a small drum used in military or marching bands
Example
The drummer played a steady beat on the drumet during the parade.
Le batteur a joué un rythme constant sur le drumet pendant le défilé.
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 /ˈfɪlɪɡri/

filigree

travail ornemental délicat, généralement en or ou en argent
Meaning
delicate ornamental work of fine wire, usually of gold or silver
Example
The necklace was decorated with intricate gold filigree.
Le collier était décoré avec un filigrane en or complexe.
C2 adjective /pəˈluːsɪd/

pellucid

transparent
Meaning
Transparently clear; easy to understand.
Example
The lake water was so pellucid that you could see the stones at the bottom.
L'eau du lac était tellement transparente que vous pouviez voir les pierres au fond.
C2 adjective /səˈɡeɪ.ʃəs/

sagacious

sage
Meaning
Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise.
Example
His sagacious leadership saved the company from failure.
Sa direction sage a sauvé l'entreprise de l'échec.
C2 verb /ˈmɒlikɒdl/

mollycoddle

gâter
Meaning
To treat someone in an overprotective and indulgent way.
Example
Parents should avoid mollycoddling their children too much.
Les parents devraient éviter de gâter trop leurs enfants.
C2 noun /ˈprɑːflɪɡəsi/

profligacy

dépense excessive
Meaning
reckless wastefulness or extravagance
Example
His profligacy with money led him to bankruptcy.
Sa dépense excessive l'a conduit à la faillite.
C2 verb /ˈtɪtəleɪt/

titillate

exciter
Meaning
To excite or amuse, especially in a slightly sexual or playful way.
Example
The comedian's jokes titillated the audience.
Les blagues du comédien excitaient le public.
C2 verb /ɪkˈstɛnjueɪt/

extenuate

excuser
Meaning
to make an offense, fault, or situation seem less serious by providing an excuse or explanation
Example
The lawyer tried to extenuate his client's actions by highlighting his difficult childhood.
L'avocat a essayé d'excuser les actions de son client en mettant en lumière son enfance difficile.
C2 verb /ˈpɔːltər/

palter

parler de manière floue, tromper
Meaning
to act insincerely or deceitfully; to equivocate or lie
Example
He paltered when asked about his involvement in the deal.
Il a évité la question lorsqu'on lui a demandé son implication dans l'accord.
C2 noun /ˈluː.nə.si/

lunacy

folie
Meaning
Extreme foolishness or madness; insanity.
Example
It was sheer lunacy to go hiking in the storm.
C'était de la pure folie de faire de la randonnée sous la tempête.
C2 noun /ˈrɪvjʊlət/

rivulet

ruisseau
Meaning
a small stream of water; a tiny brook
Example
A rivulet ran down the hillside after the rain.
Un ruisseau a descendu la colline après la pluie.
C2 noun /ˌɪlɪbəˈræləti/

illiberality

intolérance
Meaning
The quality of being illiberal; lack of tolerance or generosity.
Example
The illiberality of the new laws alarmed the citizens.
L'illibéralité des nouvelles lois a alarmé les citoyens.
C2 noun /ˌɒpəˈrɛtə/

operetta

opéra léger
Meaning
a short opera with light and humorous themes
Example
The theater staged a famous operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Le théâtre a présenté une célèbre opérette de Gilbert et Sullivan.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɪb.ər.ɪʃ/

gibberish

charabia
Meaning
Unintelligible or meaningless speech or writing.
Example
He was so nervous that his explanation sounded like gibberish.
Il était tellement nerveux que son explication ressemblait à du charabia.
C2 noun /ˈmɒnəˌsɪləbəl/

monosyllable

mot monosyllabique
Meaning
A word consisting of only one syllable.
Example
Words like 'yes' and 'no' are monosyllables.
Des mots comme 'oui' et 'non' sont des monosyllabes.
C2 noun /ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən/

declamation

déclamation
Meaning
a formal speech delivered with rhetorical or dramatic effect
Example
Her declamation captivated the audience at the competition.
Sa déclamation a captivé le public lors de la compétition.
C2 noun /ˈbrɔːdˌsaɪd/

broadside

attaque violente
Meaning
a strong verbal attack or a sheet of paper printed on one side
Example
The politician launched a broadside against his opponent.
Le politicien a lancé une attaque violente contre son opposant.
C2 adjective /ˈmɒtli/

motley

hétérogène
Meaning
Made up of different, often incongruous or diverse elements.
Example
The festival attracted a motley crowd of artists, musicians, and tourists.
Le festival a attiré une foule hétérogène d'artistes, de musiciens et de touristes.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːθ.raɪt.nəs/

forthrightness

honnêteté
Meaning
The quality of being honest and straightforward; directness.
Example
Her forthrightness made her a respected journalist.
Sa forthrightness a fait d'elle une journaliste respectée.
C2 adjective /ˌmɛtəˈlɜrdʒɪkəl/

metallurgical

métallurgique
Meaning
Relating to metallurgy or the branch of science concerned with the properties of metals and their production.
Example
He studied metallurgical engineering at the university.
Il a étudié l'ingénierie métallurgique à l'université.
C2 noun /ˈkɒksweɪn/

coxswain

barreur
Meaning
the person in charge of navigating and steering a boat, especially a racing or small boat
Example
The coxswain shouted instructions to the rowing team.
Le coxswain a donné des instructions à l'équipe d'aviron.
C2 noun /ˈtælən/

talon

griffe
Meaning
A claw, especially one belonging to a bird of prey.
Example
The eagle gripped the fish with its sharp talons.
L'aigle a saisi le poisson avec ses griffes acérées.
C2 adjective /ˈmiːliˌmaʊðd/

mealymouthed

parler de manière évasive
Meaning
not willing to speak directly and honestly; evasive in speech
Example
The politician gave a mealymouthed response to the tough question.
Le politicien a donné une réponse évasive à la question difficile.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːr.nɪ.kəl/

Barnacle

balane
Meaning
a marine crustacean that attaches itself permanently to underwater surfaces
Example
The old ship's hull was covered with barnacles.
La coque du vieux navire était couverte de balanes.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɔːˈspɪʃəs/

Inauspicious

néfaste
Meaning
unlucky; showing signs that future success is unlikely; unfavorable
Example
The dark clouds seemed inauspicious for the wedding.
Les nuages sombres semblaient néfastes pour le mariage.
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 noun /ˈɑːm.lət/

Armlet

bracelet de bras
Meaning
a band worn around the upper arm as an ornament
Example
The traditional dancer wore golden armlets that gleamed in the spotlight.
La danseuse traditionnelle portait des bracelets dorés qui brillaient sous les projecteurs.
C2 noun /ˈmɒkəsɪn/

moccasin

mocassin
Meaning
A soft leather shoe, traditionally worn by Native Americans, often made from deerskin.
Example
He slipped on a pair of comfortable moccasins before going outside.
Il a mis des mocassins confortables avant de sortir.
C2 verb /mʌlkt/

mulct

amender / frauder
Meaning
to punish by a fine or to defraud someone of money
Example
The corrupt official was mulcted for his misconduct.
L'officiel corrompu a été condamné à une amende pour sa mauvaise conduite.
C2 noun /ˈpɜr.fɪ.di/

Perfidy

perfide
Meaning
deliberate breach of faith or trust; treachery; betrayal of trust
Example
His perfidy shocked all who had trusted him.
Sa perfidie choqua tous ceux qui lui avaient fait confiance.
C2 verb /əˈsɪdɪfaɪ/

acidify

acidifier
Meaning
to make something acidic or more acidic
Example
Farmers worry that pollution will acidify the soil.
Les agriculteurs craignent que la pollution acidifie le sol.
C2 noun /ˈfrɛʃɪt/

freshet

crue soudaine du fleuve
Meaning
A sudden overflow of a stream or river caused by heavy rain or melting snow.
Example
After the storm, the river turned into a raging freshet.
Après la tempête, la rivière est devenue un freshet furieux.
C2 noun /kəˈlɒsəti/

callosity

peau épaissie
Meaning
A thickened or hardened area of skin; insensitivity or hardness of character.
Example
Years of manual labor left callosity on his hands.
Des années de travail manuel ont laissé de la callosité sur ses mains.
C2 noun /ˈɛərəˌnɔːt/

aeronaut

aéronaute
Meaning
A person who travels in an airship, balloon, or other aircraft.
Example
The aeronaut skillfully guided the hot-air balloon across the valley.
L'aéronaute a habilement guidé le ballon à air chaud à travers la vallée.
C2 noun /ˈlev.ɪ.ti/

Levity

légèreté; frivolité; manque de respect
Meaning
humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect
Example
The levity in the courtroom was inappropriate.
La légèreté dans la salle d'audience était inappropriée.
C2 adjective /ˌæl.ɪˈmen.tər.i/

alimentary

relatif à la digestion
Meaning
relating to nourishment or the organs of digestion
Example
The doctor explained the role of the alimentary canal in digestion.
Le médecin a expliqué le rôle du canal alimentaire dans la digestion.
C2 noun /rɪˈpæst/

repast

repas
Meaning
A meal or the food eaten during a meal.
Example
They enjoyed a delicious repast by the riverside.
Ils ont apprécié un délicieux repas au bord de la rivière.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈfræntʃaɪz/

disenfranchise

priver des droits
Meaning
To deprive someone of the right to vote or other rights.
Example
The new law could disenfranchise thousands of voters.
La nouvelle loi pourrait priver des milliers d'électeurs de leurs droits.
C2 noun /ˈpɒliˌkreɪsi/

polycracy

policratie
Meaning
rule by many; government by multiple authorities
Example
The nation experienced a polycracy after decentralization reforms.
Le pays a connu une policratie après les réformes de décentralisation.
C2 noun /ˈrɛkjʊzənt/

recusant

réfractaire
Meaning
a person who refuses to submit to authority or comply with rules
Example
The recusant opposed the new law.
Le réfractaire s'est opposé à la nouvelle loi.
C2 noun /ˈɔːldər/

alder

Arbre d'aulne
Meaning
A type of tree from the birch family that typically grows in wet ground and has simple, serrated leaves.
Example
The alder trees grew thick along the riverbank.
Les arbres d'aulne poussaient épais le long de la rive du fleuve.
C2 adjective /ˈblæs.fə.məs/

blasphemous

blasphématoire
Meaning
showing disrespect or lack of reverence for God or sacred things
Example
The book was banned for its blasphemous content.
Le livre a été interdit pour son contenu blasphématoire.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflɛdʒd/

unfledged

inexpérimenté
Meaning
Inexperienced, immature, or not fully developed.
Example
The unfledged writer struggled to complete his first novel.
L'écrivain inexpérimenté a eu du mal à terminer son premier roman.
C2 adjective /ˈfrɒlɪksəm/

Frolicsome

enjoué; joyeux; gai
Meaning
joyful; playful; merry; cheerful
Example
The frolicsome children laughed and played in the park.
Les enfants joyeux riaient et jouaient dans le parc.
C2 noun /aɪər/

ire

colère, rage
Meaning
intense anger or rage
Example
The new policy provoked the ire of the employees.
La nouvelle politique a provoqué la colère des employés.
C2 noun /kaɪˈmɪərə/

chimera

chimère
Meaning
A mythical creature with parts from different animals; also used to mean a fanciful illusion or unattainable dream.
Example
The idea of a perfect society is often a chimera.
L'idée d'une société parfaite est souvent une chimère.
C2 adverb /ˈɡeɪmli/

gamely

avec courage
Meaning
in a brave, spirited, or determined manner
Example
She gamely accepted the challenge despite the difficulties.
Elle a accepté courageusement le défi malgré les difficultés.
C2 noun /ˈkæbəˌlɪzəm/

cabalism

cabalisme
Meaning
The doctrines, practices, or secretive dealings of a cabal.
Example
The historian wrote extensively about cabalism in the royal court.
L'historien a écrit abondamment sur le cabalisme à la cour royale.
C2 adverb /ˌsʌb ˈroʊzə/

sub rosa

en secret
Meaning
secretly, in confidence, or in private
Example
The deal was made sub rosa to avoid public scrutiny.
L'accord a été fait sub rosa pour éviter le contrôle public.
C2 noun /aɪˈdɒlətri/

idolatry

idolâtrie
Meaning
The worship of idols or extreme admiration for someone or something.
Example
The priest condemned the idolatry practiced in the village.
Le prêtre a condamné l'idolâtrie pratiquée dans le village.
C2 noun /rɪˈfɛkʃən/

refection

repas / alimentation
Meaning
a meal or the act of taking food and drink
Example
The monks gathered for their evening refection.
Les moines se sont réunis pour leur repas du soir.
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 noun /ˌɑːbdʒərˈɡeɪʃən/

objurgation

réprimande sévère
Meaning
a harsh scolding or strong rebuke
Example
His misconduct earned him a severe objurgation from the manager.
Sa mauvaise conduite lui a valu une réprimande sévère de la part du responsable.
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 noun /mjuːˈnɪfəsəns/

munificence

munificence
Meaning
great generosity or lavish giving
Example
The hospital was built thanks to the munificence of a wealthy donor.
L'hôpital a été construit grâce à la munificence d'un riche donateur.
C2 verb /ˈɑːskjʊleɪt/

osculate

embrasser
Meaning
To kiss.
Example
They osculated under the mistletoe during the party.
Ils se sont embrassés sous le gui pendant la fête.
C2 noun /dʒɔːnt/

jaunt

excursion courte
Meaning
A short journey or excursion, usually taken for pleasure.
Example
They went on a weekend jaunt to the countryside.
Ils sont partis en excursion courte à la campagne le week-end.
C2 noun /ˈræbəl/

Rabble

foule
Meaning
a disorderly crowd; the common people regarded as socially inferior
Example
The politician dismissed the protesters as mere rabble.
Le politicien a rejeté les manifestants comme une simple foule.
C2 adjective /ˌænθrəpəˈmɔːrfɪk/

anthropomorphic

anthropomorphique
Meaning
attributing human characteristics to non-human things, like animals or objects
Example
The cartoon shows an anthropomorphic cat walking on two legs.
Le dessin animé montre un chat anthropomorphique marchant sur deux pattes.
C2 adjective /ɪˈfiːt/

effete

efféminé
Meaning
Lacking vitality, strength, or effectiveness; weak and overrefined.
Example
The empire became effete after centuries of indulgence.
L'empire est devenu efféminé après des siècles de luxe.
C2 noun /ˈflɛkʃən/

flection

flexion
Meaning
The act of bending or the state of being bent, especially of a limb or joint.
Example
The doctor tested the patient's knee flection during the examination.
Le médecin a testé la flexion du genou du patient lors de l'examen.
C2 noun /proʊˈbɑːsɪs/

proboscis

trompe
Meaning
The long, flexible nose of some animals, especially an elephant, or a tubular feeding and sucking organ in insects.
Example
The elephant used its proboscis to grab food.
L'éléphant a utilisé sa trompe pour attraper de la nourriture.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːrtəbl/

partible

divisible
Meaning
capable of being divided or separated
Example
The estate was partible among the heirs.
Le bien était divisible entre les héritiers.
C2 adjective /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/

determinate

déterminé
Meaning
having exact and definite limits or form
Example
The contract is for a determinate period of two years.
Le contrat est pour une période déterminée de deux ans.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪndʒənsi/

stringency

rigueur
Meaning
the quality of being strict, precise, or severe
Example
The stringency of the new rules surprised everyone.
La rigueur des nouvelles règles a surpris tout le monde.
C2 noun ˌsʌb.dʒʊˈɡeɪ.ʃən

subjugation

soumission ou domination
Meaning
The action of bringing someone or something under domination or control, especially by force.
Example
The subjugation of weaker nations by colonial powers shaped history.
La soumission des nations plus faibles par les puissances coloniales a façonné l'histoire.
C2 adjective /prɪˈmɒnɪtəri/ or /ˌpriːməˈnɪtəri/

premonitory

prémonitoire
Meaning
giving a warning or prediction about something, especially something unpleasant
Example
He ignored the premonitory signs of illness.
Il a ignoré les signes prémonitoires de la maladie.
C2 adjective /ˈslæp.dæʃ/

slapdash

fait à la va-vite
Meaning
done too quickly and carelessly; hasty and careless
Example
The report was written in a slapdash manner, full of errors.
Le rapport a été rédigé à la va-vite, plein d'erreurs.
C2 noun /ˌpɛkjʊˈleɪʃən/

peculation

détournement
Meaning
The act of embezzling or stealing money, especially from public funds.
Example
The minister resigned after being accused of peculation.
Le ministre a démissionné après avoir été accusé de détournement.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊleɪtɪŋ/

undulating

ondulant
Meaning
Having a smoothly rising and falling form or motion like waves.
Example
We drove through undulating hills.
Nous avons conduit à travers des collines ondulantes.
C2 verb /ˈdʒɛsteɪt/

gestate

gestation
Meaning
to carry and develop in the womb during pregnancy; to develop an idea over a period of time
Example
The mother whale gestates her calf for over a year.
La baleine mère gestate son baleineau pendant plus d'un an.
C2 verb /ʌnˈfɛtər/

unfetter

délier
Meaning
to release from restraint or restriction; to free
Example
The new law will unfetter small businesses from excessive regulations.
La nouvelle loi libérera les petites entreprises des régulations excessives.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrljuː/

purlieu

zone périphérique
Meaning
The area near or surrounding a place; an outlying or neighboring district.
Example
They spent the afternoon exploring the purlieus of the ancient city.
Ils ont passé l'après-midi à explorer les purlieus de la ville ancienne.
C2 adjective /hɜːrˈbeɪʃəs/

herbaceous

herbacé
Meaning
Relating to or resembling herbs; plants with soft, non-woody stems.
Example
The garden was filled with herbaceous plants that thrived in the summer.
Le jardin était rempli de plantes herbacées qui ont prospéré pendant l'été.
C2 adjective /ˈɪnmoʊst/

inmost

le plus intime
Meaning
Situated at the very heart or deepest part; most private or secret.
Example
She revealed her inmost thoughts to her closest friend.
Elle a révélé ses pensées les plus intimes à son ami le plus proche.
C2 noun /bɪər/

bier

châssis funéraire
Meaning
a frame or stand on which a coffin or body is placed before burial or cremation
Example
The coffin was placed on the bier during the funeral service.
Le cercueil a été placé sur le châssis funéraire pendant le service funéraire.
C2 adjective /ˈfækʃəs/

factious

factionnel
Meaning
causing disagreement or division within a group; inclined to form factions
Example
The debate became factious, splitting the committee into rival camps.
Le débat est devenu factionnel, divisant le comité en camps rivaux.
C2 adverb /ˈwɪtɪŋli/

wittingly

délibérément
Meaning
Consciously and intentionally; on purpose.
Example
He wittingly withheld information from the police.
Il a délibérément retenu des informations à la police.
C2 noun /juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛəriənɪzəm/

utilitarianism

utilitarisme
Meaning
The ethical theory that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of the majority.
Example
Utilitarianism suggests that we should act to maximize overall happiness.
L'utilitarisme suggère que nous devrions agir pour maximiser le bonheur global.
C2 noun /ˈmɔɪəti/

moiety

moitié ou portion
Meaning
One of two equal parts; a half or portion.
Example
The estate was divided into two moieties between the heirs.
La propriété a été divisée en deux moitiés entre les héritiers.
C2 noun /ˈθiː.ɑːr.ki/

thearchy

théarchie
Meaning
Rule or government by the gods; divine sovereignty.
Example
In ancient cultures, some societies believed in thearchy where gods directly guided human affairs.
Dans les cultures anciennes, certaines sociétés croyaient en la théarchie où les dieux guidaient directement les affaires humaines.
C2 verb /kənˈtɔːrt/

contort

tordre
Meaning
to twist or bend out of the normal shape
Example
She contorted her face in pain after the injury.
Elle tordit son visage de douleur après la blessure.
C2 verb /ˈdʒaɪreɪt/

gyrate

tourner rapidement
Meaning
to move or spin quickly in circles
Example
The dancer gyrated wildly to the rhythm of the drums.
La danseuse a tourné frénétiquement au rythme des tambours.
C2 noun /kwɪˈɛsəns/

quiescence

quiescence
Meaning
A state of quietness, inactivity, or dormancy.
Example
The volcano has been in a state of quiescence for decades.
Le volcan est en état de quiescence depuis des décennies.
C2 adjective /æbˈhɔːr.ənt/

Abhorrent

abominable; détestable
Meaning
extremely unpleasant and causing disgust; detestable
Example
The idea of animal cruelty is abhorrent to most people.
L'idée de la cruauté animale est abominable pour la plupart des gens.
C2 noun /ˌjuːzɜːrˈpeɪʃən/

usurpation

usurpation
Meaning
The act of taking someone's power or property illegally or by force.
Example
The general's usurpation of the presidency led to political unrest.
L'usurpation de la présidence par le général a conduit à des troubles politiques.
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 adjective /ˌhæɡ.i.əˈɡræf.ɪk/

hagiographic

excessivement élogieux
Meaning
Excessively flattering or idealized, often in a biography or portrayal of someone.
Example
The documentary was criticized for its hagiographic portrayal of the leader.
Le documentaire a été critiqué pour sa représentation excessivement élogieuse du leader.
C2 noun /bɪˈtroʊðəl/

betrothal

fiançailles
Meaning
The formal engagement to be married.
Example
Their betrothal was announced to the whole village.
Leurs fiançailles ont été annoncées à tout le village.
C2 noun /skʌlˈdʌɡəri/

skulduggery

fraude
Meaning
underhanded or dishonest behavior
Example
The politician was accused of financial skulduggery.
Le politicien a été accusé de fraude financière.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkrɛpɪt/

decrepit

délabré
Meaning
worn out or weakened by age or neglect
Example
The decrepit old house was on the verge of collapse.
La vieille maison délabrée était sur le point de s'effondrer.
C2 adjective /ˈviːnəl/

venal

vénal
Meaning
willing to do dishonest things in return for money; corrupt
Example
The politician was accused of being venal and corrupt.
Le politicien a été accusé d'être vénal et corrompu.
C2 verb /ˈdʒɛn.juˌflɛkt/

genuflect

se prosterner en signe de révérence
Meaning
to bend one or both knees as a sign of reverence or worship
Example
The worshippers genuflect before the altar.
Les adorateurs se prosternent devant l'autel.
C2 adjective /pɔːrˈtɛntəs/

portentous

portentueux, grave
Meaning
Giving a sign or warning that something, often bad or serious, is going to happen; or overly solemn and pompous.
Example
His portentous tone made everyone nervous about the news.
Son ton porteur de présages a rendu tout le monde nerveux à propos des nouvelles.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːbəl/

hobble

boiter
Meaning
to walk awkwardly with difficulty, usually due to injury
Example
He hobbled across the room after twisting his ankle.
Il boitait à travers la pièce après s'être tordu la cheville.
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 noun /ˈfɜːrnəri/

fernery

fernière, endroit où les fougères sont cultivées
Meaning
a place or greenhouse where ferns are cultivated
Example
The garden's fernery was full of exotic plants.
La ferniére du jardin était pleine de plantes exotiques.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈskruːtəbl̩/

inscrutable

bonheur
Meaning
impossible to understand or interpret
Example
His inscrutable expression made it hard to know what he was thinking.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /kəˈkɒfəni/

cacophony

bruit discordant
Meaning
A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
Example
The cacophony of horns made it impossible to concentrate.
Le bruit discordant des klaxons rendait la concentration impossible.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈdɪstæf/

distaff

lié aux femmes, côté maternel
Meaning
Relating to women or the maternal side of a family; also a tool for spinning thread.
Example
She came from the distaff side of a noble family.
Elle venait du côté maternel d'une famille noble.
C2 noun /prɪˈzɛntmənt/

presentment

présentation formelle
Meaning
The act of presenting something formally or officially; a formal statement or document.
Example
The lawyer made a presentment of the evidence to the court.
L'avocat a fait une présentation des preuves devant le tribunal.