antedate
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 verb /ˈæntɪdeɪt/

antedate

antérioriser
Meaning
to be earlier in time; to assign a date earlier than the actual one
Example
The manuscript antedates the modern printing press.
Le manuscrit précède l'invention de l'imprimerie moderne.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrtnəs/

pertness

effronterie
Meaning
boldness or forwardness in speech or behavior; sauciness
Example
Her pertness during the meeting surprised everyone.
Son effronterie lors de la réunion a surpris tout le monde.
C2 noun /tɪlθ/

tilth

état du sol (aptitude à cultiver des cultures)
Meaning
The physical condition of soil in relation to its suitability for planting crops.
Example
The farmer checked the soil's tilth before planting the seeds.
Le fermier a vérifié l'état du sol avant de planter les graines.
C2 noun /ˌkɒnvəˈluːʃən/

convolution

convolution, courbe complexe ou structure
Meaning
a twist, coil, or a complex and intricate shape or arrangement
Example
The brain has many convolutions that increase its surface area.
Le cerveau a de nombreuses convolutions qui augmentent sa surface.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪfɒn/

antiphon

antienne
Meaning
a short chant or verse sung responsively in Christian worship, typically sung before or after a psalm or canticle
Example
The choir sang the antiphon before beginning the main hymn.
Le chœur a chanté l'antienne avant de commencer l'hymne principal.
C2 noun /ˈdɔɪən/

doyen

personne respectée
Meaning
The most respected or prominent person in a particular field.
Example
He is regarded as the doyen of modern literature in the country.
Il est considéré comme le doyen de la littérature moderne dans le pays.
C2 adjective /ˈmɛtrɪkəl/

metrical

métrique
Meaning
Relating to or composed in a regular rhythmic pattern of beats or meter, especially in poetry.
Example
The poet carefully followed metrical rules in his verses.
Le poète a suivi soigneusement les règles métriques dans ses vers.
C2 verb /ˈskærɪfaɪ/

scarify

scarifier
Meaning
to make shallow cuts or scratches; to loosen the surface of soil
Example
The farmer scarified the soil before planting seeds.
L'agriculteur a scarifié le sol avant de planter les graines.
C2 noun /ˈjuːʒəri/

usury

usure
Meaning
The practice of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates.
Example
The law strictly prohibits usury.
La loi interdit strictement l'usure.
C2 noun /ˈhɑː.mə.li/

Homily

homélie; discours religieux
Meaning
a religious discourse delivered as part of a church service; a tedious moralizing lecture
Example
The priest delivered an inspiring homily about compassion and forgiveness during Sunday service.
Le prêtre a prononcé une homélie inspirante sur la compassion et le pardon lors du service du dimanche.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkrʌˈsteɪʃən/

incrustation

croûte
Meaning
a crust or hard coating formed on the surface of something
Example
The old pipes were blocked due to heavy incrustation of minerals.
Les vieilles tuyauteries étaient bloquées en raison d'une incrustation importante de minéraux.
C2 noun /ˈpʌlkrɪˌtjuːd/

pulchritude

beauté
Meaning
physical beauty
Example
The actress was admired for her pulchritude as well as her talent.
L'actrice a été admirée pour sa beauté et son talent.
C2 adjective /ˌnɒnˈtrɪviəl/

nontrivial

non trivial
Meaning
Not simple or easy; requiring effort or significant thought.
Example
Solving the equation turned out to be a nontrivial task.
Résoudre l'équation s'est avéré être une tâche non triviale.
C2 noun /ˈvɜːrbiɪdʒ/

verbiage

verbosité
Meaning
Excessive use of words, often with little content or meaning; wordiness.
Example
The contract was filled with unnecessary legal verbiage.
Le contrat était rempli de verbosité juridique inutile.
C2 noun /ˈproʊbɪti/

probity

probité
Meaning
The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Example
The judge was admired for his integrity and probity.
Le juge a été admiré pour son intégrité et sa probité.
C2 noun /ˈkætəˌklɪzəm/

cataclysm

cataclysme
Meaning
A sudden and violent event that causes great destruction or upheaval.
Example
The earthquake was a cataclysm that reshaped the city.
Le tremblement de terre a été un cataclysme qui a redessiné la ville.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪ.ə.lɪz.əm/

sciolism

prétention de savoir superficiel
Meaning
pretentious show of superficial knowledge
Example
His speech was full of sciolism, impressing no one.
Son discours était rempli de sciolisme, sans impressionner personne.
C2 verb /ˌkɒmənˈdɪə/

commandeer

prendre par la force
Meaning
To take control or possession of something, often by force or authority.
Example
The soldiers commandeered the villagers’ homes during the war.
Pendant la guerre, les soldats ont pris possession des maisons des villageois.
C2 noun /ˈjuːfəni/

euphony

euphonie
Meaning
The quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through harmonious combination of words.
Example
The orator's speech was full of euphony and rhythm.
Le discours de l'orateur était plein d'euphonie et de rythme.
C2 verb /ˈstʌltɪfaɪ/

stultify

rendre quelqu'un ou quelque chose stupide ou nuire à l'efficacité et à l'enthousiasme
Meaning
to make someone or something appear foolish, or to hinder effectiveness and enthusiasm
Example
The repetitive tasks seemed to stultify the workers' creativity.
Les tâches répétitives semblaient rendre les travailleurs moins créatifs.
C2 noun /ˈsælvər/

salver

plateau en argent
Meaning
A tray, typically made of silver, used for serving food or drinks.
Example
The butler brought in the tea on a silver salver.
Le majordome a apporté le thé sur un plateau en argent.
C2 verb /prɪˈpɒndəreɪt/

preponderate

prépondérer
Meaning
To be greater in influence, weight, or number.
Example
In the debate, logical arguments preponderated over emotional appeals.
Dans le débat, les arguments logiques ont prépondéré sur les appels émotionnels.
C2 verb /ɪˈmjʊər/

immure

enfermer
Meaning
to confine or enclose someone against their will
Example
The prisoner was immured in a dark cell.
Le prisonnier a été enfermé dans une cellule sombre.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛnseɪt/

insensate

insensible
Meaning
lacking physical sensation or empathy; without feeling or sensitivity
Example
The dictator's insensate cruelty shocked the world.
La cruauté insensible du dictateur a choqué le monde.
C2 noun /ˈfænˌtæzəm/

phantasm

fantôme
Meaning
an illusion, ghost, or figment of the imagination
Example
The child claimed to see a phantasm in the old house.
L'enfant prétendait avoir vu un fantôme dans la vieille maison.
C2 adjective /ˈprɛʃənt/ or /ˈpriːʃənt/

prescient

prévoyant
Meaning
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place
Example
The prescient investor sold his shares just before the market crashed.
L'investisseur prévoyant a vendu ses actions juste avant que le marché ne s'effondre.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊmiːn/

bromine

brome
Meaning
a dark red, dense, toxic liquid element used in making dyes, flame retardants, and medications
Example
Bromine is commonly used in water treatment chemicals.
Le brome est couramment utilisé dans les produits chimiques pour le traitement de l'eau.
C2 noun /ˌdɪspjuːˈteɪʃən/

disputation

dispute
Meaning
a formal debate or argument
Example
The disputation between the two scholars lasted for hours.
La disputation entre les deux érudits a duré des heures.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪˌbraʊ/

highbrow

intellectuellement supérieur
Meaning
intellectually superior or cultured; often describing art, literature, or activities appealing to intellectual tastes
Example
The museum is known for its highbrow exhibitions.
Le musée est connu pour ses expositions intellectuelles.
C2 noun /ˈkærɪlɒn/

carillon

carillon
Meaning
A set of bells played using a keyboard, usually in a tower.
Example
The carillon bells rang across the town square.
Les cloches du carillon ont résonné à travers la place de la ville.
C2 adjective /ˈven.tʃər.əs/

Venturous

aventurier; audacieux
Meaning
willing to take risks; adventurous; bold
Example
The venturous explorer climbed the dangerous mountain.
L'explorateur audacieux a grimpé la montagne dangereuse.
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 /ˌfaɪ.təʊˈkem.ɪ.kəlz/

phytochemicals

phytocomposés
Meaning
Natural chemical compounds produced by plants that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, often having antioxidant properties.
Example
Phytochemicals in green tea help reduce inflammation.
Les phytocomposés dans le thé vert aident à réduire l'inflammation.
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 adjective /ˈfʌsti/

fusty

ranci
Meaning
smelling stale, damp, or stuffy; old-fashioned
Example
The room smelled fusty after being closed for months.
La pièce sentait le ranci après avoir été fermée pendant des mois.
C2 adverb /ˈbruːskli/ or /ˈbrʌskli/

brusquely

brusquement
Meaning
in a blunt, abrupt, or rude manner
Example
She brusquely dismissed the suggestion.
Elle a rejeté la suggestion brusquement.
C2 noun, verb /ɡəˈrɒt/

garrote

étrangler
Meaning
A method of execution by strangulation, or to strangle someone with a cord or wire.
Example
The assassin attempted to garrote his target in the alley.
L'assassin a tenté de garroter sa cible dans la ruelle.
C2 noun /səˈlɪsɪˌtuːd/

solicitude

préoccupation, soin
Meaning
Care or concern for someone or something.
Example
His mother showed great solicitude for his safety.
Sa mère a montré une grande préoccupation pour sa sécurité.
C2 verb /məˈrɔːd/

maraud

piller
Meaning
to roam in search of things to steal or attack
Example
The bandits marauded through the village at night.
Les bandits ont pillé le village la nuit.
C2 noun /ˈɡɪni/

guinea

guinée (ancienne monnaie britannique en or)
Meaning
A former British gold coin; also refers to Guinea, a country in West Africa
Example
The antique coin was worth one guinea.
La pièce antique valait une guinée.
C2 noun /dʒeɪp/

jape

blague, farce
Meaning
A practical joke or humorous remark.
Example
He enjoyed a harmless jape with his friends.
Il a apprécié une blague inoffensive avec ses amis.
C2 noun /ˈdʒaɪənt sneɪk hɛd/

Giant snake head

tête de serpent géant
Meaning
a large predatory freshwater fish with an elongated body and snake-like head
Example
The giant snake head is a fierce predator that can survive out of water for hours.
La tête de serpent géant est un prédateur féroce qui peut survivre hors de l’eau pendant des heures.
C2 noun /ˌθɜː.məʊˈdʒen.ɪ.sɪs/

thermogenesis

processus de production de chaleur
Meaning
The process of heat production in living organisms, often associated with burning calories and energy expenditure.
Example
Spicy foods can enhance thermogenesis and calorie burning.
Les aliments épicés peuvent améliorer la thermogenèse et la combustion des calories.
C2 noun /sʌnd raɪs/

Sunned rice

riz séché au soleil
Meaning
Rice that has been dried in the sun; parched rice
Example
The farmers spread the sunned rice on mats to dry completely.
Les agriculteurs ont étendu le riz séché au soleil sur des nattes pour le sécher complètement.
C2 noun /ˈnɛkrəˌmænsər/

necromancer

Meaning
a person who practices necromancy; a wizard or magician who claims to communicate with the dead
Example
The villagers feared the old necromancer who lived at the edge of the forest.
C2 noun /ɛmˈpɪrɪˌsɪzəm/

empiricism

empirisme
Meaning
the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience
Example
Empiricism argues that knowledge comes from experience and observation.
L'empirisme soutient que la connaissance provient de l'expérience et de l'observation.
C2 noun /ˈsɪmpəltən/

simpleton

imbécile
Meaning
a foolish or gullible person
Example
They treated him like a simpleton who could not understand anything complex.
Ils l'ont traité comme un imbécile qui ne pouvait rien comprendre de complexe.
C2 noun /ˈtʊrnɪkɪt/

tourniquet

garrot
Meaning
a device used to stop bleeding by compressing blood vessels
Example
The medic applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
Le médecin a appliqué un garrot pour arrêter le saignement.
C2 verb /trænˈspoʊz/

transpose

transposer
Meaning
to change the order or position of something
Example
The editor transposed two paragraphs in the article.
L'éditeur a transposé deux paragraphes dans l'article.
C2 noun /fɪˈlɒl.ə.dʒi/

philology

l'étude de la langue dans les sources historiques écrites ; linguistique
Meaning
the study of language in written historical sources; linguistics
Example
She devoted her career to philology, researching ancient manuscripts.
Elle a consacré sa carrière à la philologie, en recherchant des manuscrits anciens.
C2 noun /priːˈɛmɪnəns/

preeminence

prééminence
Meaning
The fact of surpassing all others; superiority.
Example
The university has gained preeminence in medical research.
L'université a gagné la prééminence dans la recherche médicale.
C2 verb /bɪˈstruː/

bestrew

répandre
Meaning
To scatter or cover something with objects or substances.
Example
The ground was bestrewn with autumn leaves.
Le sol était couvert de feuilles d'automne.
C2 noun /sɪlf/

sylph

sylphide
Meaning
A mythical spirit of the air; also refers to a slender, graceful woman.
Example
She moved across the stage like a sylph, light and graceful.
Elle se déplaçait sur la scène comme une sylphide, légère et gracieuse.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtəni/

litany

litanie
Meaning
a long, repetitive, or tedious account or list; originally a form of prayer
Example
The politician gave a litany of promises during the campaign.
Le politicien a donné une longue liste de promesses pendant la campagne.
C2 verb /dɪsˈteɪn/

distain

mépriser
Meaning
to treat with scorn or contempt (archaic form of disdain)
Example
He would never distain those who had less fortune than him.
Il ne méprisait jamais ceux qui avaient moins de fortune que lui.
C2 noun /ˌtɜːsənˈtɛnəri/

tercentenary

tercentenaire
Meaning
The 300th anniversary of an event.
Example
The city celebrated its tercentenary with a grand festival.
La ville a célébré son tercentenaire avec un grand festival.
C2 noun /hɜːrˈbɛəriəm/

herbarium

herbier
Meaning
A collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study.
Example
The university maintains a large herbarium for research and education.
L'université maintient un grand herbier pour la recherche et l'éducation.
C2 adjective /ˈɑːbdjʊrət/

obdurate

obstiné
Meaning
Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
Example
He remained obdurate despite everyone's pleas.
Il est resté obstiné malgré les suppliques de tout le monde.
C2 noun /loʊm/

loam

sol argileux fertile
Meaning
Fertile soil mixture of sand, clay, and organic matter.
Example
Loam soil is ideal for agriculture due to its nutrient content.
Le sol loameux est idéal pour l'agriculture en raison de sa teneur en nutriments.
C2 adjective /ˈlæm.ən.tə.bəl/

lamentable

lamentable
Meaning
deserving to be criticized or regretted; unfortunate
Example
The team’s lamentable performance disappointed their fans.
La performance lamentable de l'équipe a déçu ses fans.
C2 adjective /lʌɡˈʒʊəriənt/

luxuriant

luxuriant
Meaning
abundant in growth or richly abundant
Example
The luxuriant forest was teeming with life.
La forêt luxuriante regorgeait de vie.
C2 verb /baɪd/

bide

attendre
Meaning
to wait patiently for the right time or opportunity
Example
He decided to bide his time before making a move.
Il a décidé d'attendre son moment avant de faire un mouvement.
C2 noun /ˈstætɪks/

statics

statique
Meaning
The branch of mechanics dealing with bodies at rest and forces in equilibrium.
Example
She is studying statics as part of her engineering course.
Elle étudie la statique dans le cadre de son cours d'ingénierie.
C2 noun /riːm/

ream

rame
Meaning
A large quantity of paper (typically 500 sheets); informally, a large amount of something.
Example
The office ordered ten reams of paper.
Le bureau a commandé dix rames de papier.
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 /ˌræʃioʊsɪˈneɪʃən/

ratiocination

raisonnement
Meaning
the process of reasoning or logical thinking
Example
His ratiocination impressed the judges during the debate.
Son raisonnement a impressionné les juges pendant le débat.
C2 verb /əˈbɛt/

abet

encourager un crime
Meaning
to encourage or assist someone to commit a crime or wrongdoing
Example
He was accused of abetting the criminals in their escape.
Il a été accusé d'avoir aidé les criminels dans leur fuite.
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 noun /ˌbɒmbərˈdɪər/

bombardier

bombardier
Meaning
a member of a bomber crew responsible for releasing bombs
Example
The bombardier released the bombs with precision.
Le bombardier a largué les bombes avec précision.
C2 noun /ˈmæsəkɪst/

masochist

masochiste
Meaning
a person who derives pleasure from their own pain or humiliation
Example
He was called a masochist for enjoying tough challenges.
Il a été appelé masochiste pour apprécier les défis difficiles.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnprəˈpɪʃəs/

unpropitious

défavorable
Meaning
Not giving or indicating a good chance of success; unfavorable.
Example
The team began their journey under unpropitious weather conditions.
L'équipe a commencé son voyage sous des conditions météorologiques défavorables.
C2 adjective /ɪˈlɪbərəl/

illiberal

illibéral
Meaning
Opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior.
Example
The government was criticized for its illiberal policies.
Le gouvernement a été critiqué pour ses politiques illibérales.
C2 noun /ˈbiː.təl nʌt/

Betel-nut

noix de bétel
Meaning
seed of the areca palm tree, often chewed as a stimulant
Example
Betel-nut is commonly chewed in many South Asian countries.
La noix de bétel est couramment mâchée dans de nombreux pays d'Asie du Sud.
C2 verb /ɛksˈhjuːm/

exhume

exhumer
Meaning
to dig out something buried, especially a body from the ground
Example
The archaeologists decided to exhume the ancient remains.
Les archéologues ont décidé d'exhumer les restes anciens.
C2 adjective /ˈsmɑːrmi/

smarmy

flatteur / fausse politesse
Meaning
Excessively flattering or ingratiating, often insincerely.
Example
The salesman gave a smarmy pitch that felt fake.
Le vendeur a donné un discours flatteur qui semblait faux.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnrɪˈmɪtɪŋ/

unremitting

ininterrompu
Meaning
Never relaxing or stopping; persistent.
Example
Her unremitting efforts finally paid off.
Ses efforts ininterrompus ont finalement porté leurs fruits.
C2 verb /ɪkˈspɒstjʊleɪt/

expostulate

exprimer un désaccord
Meaning
to express strong disapproval or disagreement
Example
She expostulated with her friend about the risky decision.
Elle s'est opposée à son ami au sujet de la décision risquée.
C2 noun /ˈbriːzˌweɪ/

breezeway

passage couvert
Meaning
A roofed outdoor passage, often connecting two buildings.
Example
The breezeway connected the house to the garage.
Le passage couvert reliait la maison au garage.
C2 adjective /sɪˈlæbɪk/

syllabic

syllabique
Meaning
Relating to or based on syllables.
Example
The teacher explained the syllabic structure of the word.
Le professeur a expliqué la structure syllabique du mot.
C2 noun /kərˈmʌdʒən/

curmudgeon

râleur
Meaning
a bad-tempered, cranky, or irritable person, usually old
Example
The old curmudgeon complained about everything in the neighborhood.
Le vieux râleur se plaignait de tout dans le quartier.
C2 adjective /ˈbʊərɪʃ/

boorish

rude
Meaning
Rude, insensitive, and lacking manners or refinement.
Example
His boorish behavior ruined the dinner party.
Son comportement rude a ruiné la fête du dîner.
C2 noun /ˌæntiˈsaɪkloʊn/

anticyclone

anticyclone
Meaning
A weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its center, usually bringing calm and clear conditions.
Example
An anticyclone brought sunny weather across the region.
Un anticyclone a apporté du temps ensoleillé dans toute la région.
C2 adjective /lɪˈtɪdʒəs/

litigious

litigieux
Meaning
prone to engage in lawsuits or overly inclined to argue legally
Example
He is known as a litigious neighbor who often sues people.
Il est connu comme un voisin litigieux qui poursuit fréquemment les gens.
C2 noun /ˈwɪndbæɡ/

windbag

bavard
Meaning
a person who talks too much, especially in a boring or boastful way
Example
Everyone avoided the windbag at the party because he never let anyone else speak.
Tout le monde a évité le bavard à la fête parce qu'il ne laissait jamais les autres parler.
C2 noun /ˈlændˌhoʊl.dər/

landholder

propriétaire foncier
Meaning
a person who owns land, especially in large amounts
Example
The landholder leased part of his property to local farmers.
Le propriétaire foncier a loué une partie de sa propriété à des agriculteurs locaux.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɛnʃən/

dissension

dissension
Meaning
Strong disagreement or difference of opinion, especially leading to discord within a group.
Example
The meeting ended in dissension among the committee members.
La réunion s'est terminée par une dissension parmi les membres du comité.
C2 noun /ˌpɛrəɡrɪˈneɪʃən/

peregrination

pérégrination
Meaning
A long journey or wandering, especially on foot.
Example
Their peregrination across Asia lasted two years.
Leurs pérégrinations à travers l'Asie ont duré deux ans.
C2 noun /kænˈtɑː.tə/

cantata

cantate
Meaning
A vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
Example
The choir performed a beautiful cantata during the festival.
Le chœur a interprété une belle cantate pendant le festival.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnfəˈlɪsɪtəs/

infelicitous

inopportun
Meaning
not suitable or well chosen; awkward or unfortunate
Example
His infelicitous remark ruined the atmosphere of the meeting.
Sa remarque inopportune a gâché l'ambiance de la réunion.
C2 verb /ˈkɒsɪt/

cosset

choyer
Meaning
to care for and protect in an overindulgent way
Example
The little girl was cosseted by her grandparents.
La petite fille était choyée par ses grands-parents.
C2 noun /skæd/

scad

scad poisson
Meaning
A type of fish of the jack family; also informally means a large number or quantity.
Example
The fisherman caught a scad in the net.
Le pêcheur a attrapé un scad dans le filet.
C2 noun /kɔˈrɪkə soˈbɔrnə/

Corica soborna

poisson kachki
Meaning
a small silvery fish species found in South Asian rivers, commonly used in local cuisine
Example
Corica soborna is a popular ingredient in traditional Bengali fish curry.
Corica soborna est un ingrédient populaire dans le curry de poisson bengali traditionnel.
C2 adjective /ˌɪn.trəˈsɛl.jʊ.lər/

intracellular

à l'intérieur de la cellule
Meaning
Located or occurring within a cell.
Example
The drug works by targeting intracellular bacteria.
Le médicament agit en ciblant les bactéries intracellulaires.
C2 adjective /ˈlɔːdəˌtɔːri/

laudatory

élogieux
Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration.
Example
She wrote a laudatory review of the new book.
Elle a écrit une critique élogieuse du nouveau livre.
C2 verb /frɪsk/

frisk

fouiller
Meaning
To search a person by patting their clothing to check for concealed items.
Example
The security guard frisked the man at the entrance.
Le garde de sécurité a fouillé l'homme à l'entrée.
C2 noun /friːz/

frieze

frise
Meaning
a decorative horizontal band, often sculpted or painted, usually on a wall near the ceiling
Example
The frieze above the entrance depicts scenes from ancient mythology.
La frise au-dessus de l'entrée représente des scènes de la mythologie antique.
C2 noun /ˌmɛtəfɪˈzɪʃən/

metaphysician

métaphysicien
Meaning
A person who studies or is an expert in metaphysics.
Example
The metaphysician debated the essence of reality with his peers.
Le métaphysicien a débattu de l'essence de la réalité avec ses pairs.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪk.tʃər/

stricture

restriction, critique
Meaning
a restriction or limitation; a critical remark
Example
The new law placed a severe stricture on free speech.
La nouvelle loi a imposé une restriction sévère à la liberté d'expression.
C2 noun /ˈfiːæt/

fiat

décret, mandat
Meaning
an official order or decree; authoritative command
Example
The new policy was enacted by royal fiat.
La nouvelle politique a été mise en œuvre par un décret royal.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæpɪteɪt/

decapitate

bonheur
Meaning
To cut off the head of a person or animal.
Example
The ancient executioner decapitated the criminal.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur quand elle a reçu le prix.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnæprɪˈhɛnsəbl/

inapprehensible

incompréhensible
Meaning
not understandable; incomprehensible
Example
The concept was so abstract that it seemed inapprehensible to most students.
Le concept était si abstrait qu'il semblait incompréhensible pour la plupart des étudiants.
C2 verb /bɪˈdræɡəl/

bedraggle

rendre quelque chose mouillé, sale et en désordre en le traînant dans la boue ou l'eau
Meaning
to make something wet, dirty, and untidy by dragging it through mud or water
Example
The children came home bedraggled after playing in the rain.
Les enfants sont rentrés à la maison trempés et sales après avoir joué sous la pluie.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːrpɪŋ/

harping

se plaindre constamment
Meaning
continuously talking or complaining about something in a tiresome way
Example
She kept harping on about the mistakes I made.
Elle n'a cessé de se plaindre constamment des erreurs que j'ai faites.
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 /ˈkæriən/

carrion

charogne
Meaning
the decaying flesh of dead animals
Example
Vultures feed on carrion left in the fields.
Les vautours se nourrissent de la charogne laissée dans les champs.
C2 noun /ˈpælɪmpsɛst/

palimpsest

palimpseste
Meaning
a manuscript or document that has been written over but still bears traces of earlier writing; something reused or altered but still retaining traces of its earlier form
Example
The ancient manuscript was a palimpsest, showing faint traces of previous texts beneath the new writing.
Le manuscrit ancien était un palimpseste, montrant des traces subtiles de textes précédents sous la nouvelle écriture.
C2 noun /pruːd/

prude

personne excessivement prude
Meaning
A person who is easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity; someone overly modest.
Example
He was called a prude for blushing at the movie scenes.
Il a été traité de prude pour avoir rougi devant les scènes du film.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪlstrəm/

maelstrom

tourbillon
Meaning
A powerful whirlpool in the sea or a situation of confused movement and turmoil.
Example
The ship was caught in a maelstrom of waves and wind.
Le navire a été pris dans un tourbillon de vagues et de vent.
C2 verb /ɪˈfɛktʃueɪt/

effectuate

effectuer
Meaning
to put into force or cause to happen; to bring about
Example
The manager effectuated the changes to improve efficiency.
Le manager a effectué les changements pour améliorer l'efficacité.
C2 adjective /ˌfæntæzməˈɡɒrɪkəl/

phantasmagorical

fantasmagorique
Meaning
Having a fantastic, dreamlike, or surreal appearance, often shifting or illusory.
Example
The movie created a phantasmagorical vision of another world.
Le film a créé une vision fantasmagorique d'un autre monde.
C2 verb /kɒnˈkætəneɪt/

concatenate

concaténer
Meaning
To link things together in a series or chain.
Example
The program concatenates two strings into one.
Le programme concatène deux chaînes en une.
C2 noun ˈvaɪ.və ˈvəʊs

viva voce

examen oral
Meaning
An oral examination, typically for an academic qualification.
Example
Viva Voce tests communication skills.
Les épreuves de Viva Voce évaluent les compétences en communication.
C2 noun /ˈsfɛrɔɪd/

spheroid

sphéroïde
Meaning
A three-dimensional shape that is almost spherical but slightly flattened or elongated.
Example
The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid.
La Terre n'est pas une sphère parfaite mais un sphéroïde oblat.
C2 adjective /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/

bracing

revigorant
Meaning
Invigorating, refreshing, or providing strength and energy.
Example
The hikers enjoyed the bracing mountain air.
Les randonneurs ont apprécié l'air vivifiant de la montagne.
C2 adjective /ˌpærəˈdɪɡmətɪk/

paradigmatic

paradigmatique
Meaning
Serving as a typical example or model of something.
Example
Her success story is paradigmatic of the opportunities education can provide.
Son histoire de succès est paradigmatique des opportunités que l'éducation peut offrir.
C2 adjective /ˌprɒvɪˈdɛnʃəl/

providential

providentiel
Meaning
occurring at a favorable or opportune time, as if guided by divine intervention
Example
Their timely rescue was considered providential.
Leur sauvetage opportun a été considéré comme providentiel.
C2 noun /dɪˈprævɪti/

depravity

dégrégation morale
Meaning
moral corruption; wickedness
Example
The film portrays the moral depravity of a corrupt society.
Le film dépeint la dégradation morale d'une société corrompue.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

exceptionable

contestable
Meaning
Open to objection; causing disapproval.
Example
His rude remarks were considered exceptionable by everyone present.
Ses remarques grossières ont été jugées contestables par tous les présents.
C2 adjective /ˈwɜːkmənˌlaɪk/

workmanlike

professionnel
Meaning
Showing efficient, competent, and practical skill, but without flair or creativity.
Example
The carpenter delivered a workmanlike performance on the project.
Le charpentier a livré une performance de travail sur le projet.
C2 noun əˌmæl.ɡəˈmeɪ.ʃən

amalgamation

fusion, amalgame, intégration
Meaning
The action, process, or result of combining or uniting.
Example
The amalgamation of AI and big data is transforming industries.
La fusion de l'IA et des grandes données transforme les industries.
C2 verb /ɪˈreɪdieɪt/

irradiate

irradier
Meaning
to shine light on something; to expose to radiation; to illuminate or brighten
Example
The scientist used a lamp to irradiate the sample.
Le scientifique a utilisé une lampe pour irradier l'échantillon.