apocryphal
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C2 adjective /əˈpɒ.krɪ.fəl/

apocryphal

douteux
Meaning
Of doubtful authenticity, though widely circulated as true.
Example
The story about him saving the village is probably apocryphal.
L'histoire de lui sauvant le village est probablement douteuse.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpæsɪbəl/

impassible

impassible
Meaning
Incapable of suffering or feeling pain (used mainly in theological or philosophical contexts).
Example
Some philosophers argue that God is impassible and cannot experience human emotions.
Certains philosophes affirment que Dieu est impassible et ne peut pas éprouver les émotions humaines.
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 noun /ˈkɔːrmərənt/

cormorant

un grand oiseau marin noir qui attrape des poissons
Meaning
a large black sea bird that catches fish by diving
Example
The cormorant perched on the rock, drying its wings after a dive.
Le cormoran était perché sur la roche, séchant ses ailes après un plongeon.
C2 noun /kæd/

Cad

scélérat; grossier
Meaning
a man who behaves dishonorably, especially toward women
Example
Everyone at the party avoided him because he was known to be a cad.
Tout le monde à la fête l'a évité parce qu'il était connu pour être un scélérat.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtɪɡənt/

litigant

plaignant
Meaning
a person involved in a lawsuit
Example
The court summoned both litigants for the hearing.
Le tribunal a convoqué les deux plaignants pour l'audience.
C2 verb /slʌf/ or /sluː/

slough

mue de peau / zone marécageuse
Meaning
To shed or cast off (like dead skin); also a swampy or muddy area.
Example
The snake sloughed off its old skin.
Le serpent s'est débarrassé de sa vieille peau.
C2 noun /ˈɡlʌt.ən/

Glutton

glouton
Meaning
a person who regularly eats or drinks more than is necessary; someone who has an excessive appetite
Example
He was known as a glutton who could finish three large pizzas in one sitting.
Il était connu comme un glouton capable de finir trois grandes pizzas en une seule fois.
C2 adjective /kənˌtɛmpəˈreɪniəs/

contemporaneous

contemporané
Meaning
existing, happening, or occurring at the same time
Example
The two artists were contemporaneous and often influenced each other.
Les deux artistes étaient contemporains et se sont souvent influencés mutuellement.
C2 verb /pɜːrl/

purl

couler avec un bruit de murmure
Meaning
To knit with a purl stitch; to flow with a murmuring sound (as a stream).
Example
The brook purled softly through the meadow.
Le ruisseau purla doucement à travers la prairie.
C2 noun /ɪˈmɒdəsti/

immodesty

immodestie
Meaning
lack of modesty or decency; behavior or attitude that is overly bold or improper
Example
The article was criticized for its tone of immodesty.
L’article a été critiqué pour son ton d’immodestie.
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 /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 /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 /lɔːd/

laud

louer
Meaning
To praise someone or something highly, especially in public.
Example
The critic lauded the actor's performance as a masterpiece.
Le critique a loué la performance de l'acteur comme un chef-d'œuvre.
C2 verb /kəˈvɔrt/

cavort

danser avec enthousiasme
Meaning
to jump or dance around excitedly
Example
The children cavorted happily in the garden.
Les enfants sautaient joyeusement dans le jardin.
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 adjective /mɛnˈdeɪʃəs/

mendacious

mensonger
Meaning
not telling the truth; lying
Example
The politician was known for his mendacious statements.
Le politicien était connu pour ses déclarations mensongères.
C2 adjective /ˈtɪmərəs/

timorous

craintif
Meaning
showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or lack of confidence
Example
The timorous student hesitated to ask the teacher a question.
L'étudiant craintif a hésité à poser une question au professeur.
C2 noun /ˈnʌnəri/

nunnery

couvent
Meaning
A convent or building where nuns live and work.
Example
She decided to join the nunnery to devote her life to spiritual practice.
Elle a décidé de rejoindre le couvent pour consacrer sa vie à la pratique spirituelle.
C2 adjective /ˈfæl.oʊ/

fallow

jachère
Meaning
Describing land that is left unplanted for a period to restore its fertility, allowing soil to recover nutrients and break pest and disease cycles.
Example
Farmers leave their fields fallow to restore soil fertility.
Les agriculteurs laissent leurs champs en jachère pour restaurer la fertilité du sol.
C2 adjective /prəˈpʌlsɪv/

propulsive

propulsif
Meaning
Having the power to drive or push something forward.
Example
The propulsive force of the rocket lifted it off the ground.
La force propulsive de la fusée l'a soulevée du sol.
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 adjective /ˈdɪsəluːt/

dissolute

dissolu
Meaning
lacking moral restraint; indulging excessively in sensual pleasures
Example
He led a dissolute life filled with parties and gambling.
Il a mené une vie dissolue remplie de fêtes et de jeux d'argent.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛkənt/

peccant

coupable
Meaning
Guilty of a moral offense or wrongdoing; sinful.
Example
The judge declared the peccant official unfit for office.
Le juge a déclaré l'officiel coupable inapte à son poste.
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 verb /əˈbɑː.mə.neɪt/

abominate

abominer
Meaning
to feel hatred or loathing for something
Example
She abominates cruelty to animals.
Elle abhorre la cruauté envers les animaux.
C2 noun /fluː/

flue

conduit de fumée
Meaning
A pipe or channel for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire, gas heater, or power station.
Example
The chimney flue needs to be cleaned regularly.
Le conduit de fumée de la cheminée doit être nettoyé régulièrement.
C2 noun /ɪmˈprɑːvɪdəns/

improvidence

imprévoyance
Meaning
Lack of foresight or care for future needs.
Example
His improvidence led to financial difficulties.
Son imprévoyance l'a conduit à des difficultés financières.
C2 noun /ˈplænɪsfɪr/

planisphere

planisphère
Meaning
a rotating star chart used to display the visible stars for any time and date
Example
The astronomer used a planisphere to identify the constellations.
L'astronome a utilisé un planisphère pour identifier les constellations.
C2 adjective /rɪˈsplɛndənt/

resplendent

resplendissant
Meaning
Shining brilliantly; dazzling in appearance or effect
Example
The bride looked resplendent in her wedding gown.
La mariée semblait resplendissante dans sa robe de mariée.
C2 noun /ɪnˈvɛktɪv/

invective

langage injurieux
Meaning
Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.
Example
The politician’s speech was filled with invective against his opponents.
Le discours du politicien était rempli d'invectives contre ses adversaires.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɛvəˈrɛnʃəl/

irreverential

irrévérencieux
Meaning
Showing a lack of respect for things that are generally taken seriously.
Example
His irreverential humor often shocked traditional audiences.
Son humour irrévérencieux choquait souvent les spectateurs traditionnels.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrɡoʊ/

argot

argot spécialisé
Meaning
the specialized vocabulary or jargon of a particular group, especially one with a common interest or occupation
Example
The thieves communicated in an argot that outsiders could not understand.
Les voleurs ont communiqué dans un argot que les étrangers ne pouvaient pas comprendre.
C2 adjective /vɪˈtjuːpərətɪv/

vituperative

vitupératif
Meaning
Characterized by abusive or harsh language.
Example
The teacher’s vituperative remarks left the students in tears.
Les remarques vitupératives du professeur ont laissé les élèves en larmes.
C2 adjective /ˈɡæŋ.ɡli/

gangly

grand et maladroit
Meaning
Tall, thin, and awkward in movement or appearance.
Example
The gangly teenager stumbled while trying to dance.
Le garçon maladroit trébucha en essayant de danser.
C2 noun /ˌmɒnəˈmeɪniə/

monomania

monomanie
Meaning
Excessive concentration or obsession with a single subject or idea.
Example
His monomania for collecting stamps worried his family.
Sa monomanie pour collectionner des timbres inquiétait sa famille.
C2 adjective /pərˈsuːənt/

pursuant

conformément
Meaning
in accordance with or following something, especially a law or rule
Example
The decision was made pursuant to the regulations.
La décision a été prise conformément aux règlements.
C2 adjective /ˈmjuːtɪnəs/

mutinous

mutin
Meaning
refusing to obey authority; rebellious
Example
The soldiers grew mutinous after months without pay.
Les soldats sont devenus mutins après des mois sans salaire.
C2 verb /beɪst/

baste

verser ou badigeonner de la graisse fondue, du jus ou du liquide sur la viande pendant la cuisson pour la garder humide
Meaning
to pour or brush melted fat, juices, or liquid over meat during cooking to keep it moist
Example
She basted the turkey every 30 minutes to keep it juicy.
Elle a badigeonné la dinde toutes les 30 minutes pour la garder juteuse.
C2 noun /ˈmækɪntɒʃ/

mackintosh

manteau imperméable
Meaning
a waterproof raincoat, originally made from rubberized fabric
Example
He wore a mackintosh to stay dry in the rain.
Il portait un mackintosh pour rester au sec sous la pluie.
C2 adjective /ˈvɛndɪbəl/

vendible

vendable
Meaning
Capable of being sold; marketable.
Example
Only vendible products were displayed at the trade fair.
Seuls les produits vendables ont été exposés à la foire commerciale.
C2 noun /ɡɜːrθ/

girth

circonférence
Meaning
the measurement around the middle of something, especially a person's waist or a tree trunk
Example
The tree's girth measured nearly five feet.
La circonférence de l'arbre mesurait près de cinq pieds.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndaɪˈdʒestəbəl/

Indigestible

indigeste; difficile à digérer
Meaning
difficult or impossible to digest; hard to process in the stomach
Example
The old bread became hard and indigestible.
Le vieux pain est devenu dur et indigeste.
C2 noun /pəˈveɪʒən/

pervasion

pervasion
Meaning
the act of spreading through or being present everywhere in something
Example
There was a pervasion of hope throughout the community.
Il y avait une pervasion d'espoir dans toute la communauté.
C2 adjective /ɜːrˈbeɪn/

urbane

urbain
Meaning
showing polished manners, refinement, and sophistication
Example
He was an urbane gentleman who charmed everyone at the party.
C'était un gentleman urbain qui a charmé tout le monde à la fête.
C2 noun /ˌtrænsfəˈriː/

transferee

cessionnaire
Meaning
A person to whom a right, property, or responsibility is transferred.
Example
The transferee must sign the contract before taking ownership.
Le cessionnaire doit signer le contrat avant de prendre possession.
C2 adjective /ˈwæɡ.ɪʃ/

waggish

espiègle ou taquin
Meaning
playfully humorous or mischievous
Example
His waggish remarks made everyone laugh.
Ses remarques espiègles ont fait rire tout le monde.
C2 verb /ˈpʌlvəraɪz/

pulverize

pulvériser
Meaning
To crush or grind something into a fine powder; to completely defeat or destroy.
Example
The machine can pulverize stones into dust.
La machine peut pulvériser des pierres en poussière.
C2 adjective /fəˈloʊniəs/

felonious

relatif à un crime grave
Meaning
relating to or involved in serious criminal activity
Example
He was charged with felonious assault after the incident.
Il a été accusé d'agression grave après l'incident.
C2 adjective /njuːˈmætɪk/

pneumatic

pneumatique
Meaning
operated by air or gas under pressure
Example
The factory uses pneumatic tools for assembly.
L'usine utilise des outils pneumatiques pour l'assemblage.
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.
C2 verb /trəˈdjuːs/

traduce

diffamer
Meaning
To speak badly of someone or tell lies to damage their reputation.
Example
He was furious when he found out that his rivals had traduced him.
Il était furieux quand il a découvert que ses rivaux l'avaient diffamé.
C2 noun /ˌθiːəˈloʊdʒən/

theologian

théologien
Meaning
A person who studies or is an expert in theology.
Example
Theologians often debate complex questions of faith and morality.
Les théologiens débattent souvent de questions complexes de foi et de moralité.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌliːtər/

decaliter

dix litres
Meaning
A metric unit of capacity equal to ten liters.
Example
The container could hold up to one decaliter of water.
Le récipient peut contenir jusqu'à un décilitre d'eau.
C2 noun /brəˈkeɪd/

brocade

tissu brodé
Meaning
a rich fabric woven with a raised pattern, often in gold or silver thread
Example
She wore a beautiful brocade dress to the wedding.
Elle portait une belle robe en brocart au mariage.
C2 noun /ˈɒn.rʌʃ/

onrush

ruée
Meaning
A sudden powerful forward or downward rush or flow.
Example
The onrush of water swept away the bridge.
La ruée d'eau emporta le pont.
C2 noun /kənˈtrɪʃ.ən/

contrition

contrition
Meaning
the state of feeling remorseful and repentant
Example
His contrition was evident after the apology.
Sa contrition était évidente après des excuses.
C2 adjective /əˈsɪdjʊləs/

acidulous

légèrement acide ou amer
Meaning
slightly sour or sharp in taste or manner
Example
The critic wrote an acidulous review of the movie.
Le critique a écrit une critique acide du film.
C2 verb /kənˈdʒɔɪn/

conjoin

joindre
Meaning
to join together or unite; to combine
Example
The two rivers conjoin just before reaching the sea.
Les deux rivières se rejoignent juste avant d'atteindre la mer.
C2 noun /ˈtoʊ.di/

Toady

lèche-bottes
Meaning
a person who acts obsequiously to gain favor; a sycophant
Example
He was known as a toady who always agreed with the boss.
Il était connu comme un lèche-bottes qui était toujours d'accord avec le patron.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈdɛsənt/

iridescent

iridescent
Meaning
showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles
Example
She wore an iridescent dress that sparkled in the light.
Elle portait une robe iridescente qui scintillait à la lumière.
C2 adjective ˌpɜː.spɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs

perspicacious

perspicace
Meaning
Having keen insight and understanding; showing acute mental discernment.
Example
The detective's perspicacious nature helped solve the mystery.
La nature perspicace du détective a aidé à résoudre le mystère.
C2 noun /kwɑːˈfjʊr/

coiffure

coiffure
Meaning
A person's hairstyle, typically an elaborate one.
Example
Her elegant coiffure impressed everyone at the party.
Sa coiffure élégante a impressionné tout le monde à la fête.
C2 noun /proʊˈskrɪp.ʃən/

proscription

interdiction
Meaning
the act of forbidding something, especially by law
Example
The proscription of child labor is an important human rights achievement.
L'interdiction du travail des enfants est une réalisation importante des droits humains.
C2 noun ˈɛn.ɡræm

Engram

Signaux physiques dans le cerveau pour le stockage et la récupération de la mémoire
Meaning
Physical signs or patterns in the brain for memory storage and retrieval
Example
Scientists study engrams to understand how memories are stored.
Les scientifiques étudient les engrammes pour comprendre comment les souvenirs sont stockés.
C2 noun /ˈwɔːrˌmʌŋɡər/

warmonger

belliciste
Meaning
A person who advocates or promotes war or conflict.
Example
The leader was criticized as a warmonger by his opponents.
Le leader a été critiqué comme un belliciste par ses opposants.
C2 noun /ˈsɪnəd/

synod

synode
Meaning
An assembly of the clergy in a Christian church convened to decide on issues of doctrine or administration.
Example
The synod gathered to discuss reforms in the church.
Le synode s'est réuni pour discuter des réformes dans l'église.
C2 noun /ˈzɛfər/

zephyr

brise douce
Meaning
A soft gentle breeze.
Example
A warm zephyr blew through the valley.
Une brise douce soufflait à travers la vallée.
C2 noun /ˈræp.aɪn/

rapine

pillages
Meaning
the violent seizure of someone's property
Example
The war was marked by rapine and destruction.
La guerre a été marquée par des pillages et des destructions.
C2 adjective /ˈmoʊtaɪl/

motile

mobile
Meaning
Capable of movement or locomotion.
Example
Certain bacteria are motile and can swim toward nutrients.
Certaines bactéries sont mobiles et peuvent nager vers les nutriments.
C2 noun /ˌɪdiəˈsɪŋkrəsi/

idiosyncrasy

idiosyncrasie
Meaning
A distinctive or peculiar characteristic, habit, or mannerism unique to an individual.
Example
One of her idiosyncrasies was humming while working.
L'une de ses idiosyncrasies était de fredonner en travaillant.
C2 verb /ɪˈmɛnd/

emend

corriger
Meaning
to correct or revise a text, especially for errors
Example
The editor emended the manuscript before publication.
L'éditeur a corrigé le manuscrit avant la publication.
C2 noun /dɪˈmʌrɪdʒ/

demurrage

démurrage
Meaning
a charge payable to the owner of a ship or vehicle for not loading or unloading on time
Example
The company had to pay demurrage for delaying the unloading of goods.
L'entreprise a dû payer des frais de démurrage pour avoir retardé le déchargement des marchandises.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒes.tɪŋ/

Jesting

taquin
Meaning
joking or teasing in a playful manner
Example
He was only jesting when he said he would quit his job.
Il plaisantait seulement quand il a dit qu'il allait quitter son travail.
C2 adjective əˈsɪd.ju.əs

assiduous

assidu ou appliqué
Meaning
Showing great care and perseverance; diligent and hardworking.
Example
His assiduous efforts led to a successful career.
Ses efforts assidus l'ont conduit à une carrière réussie.
C2 noun /ˈkɒkskoʊm/

Cockscomb

fleur de crête de coq
Meaning
a tropical plant with bright, velvety flowers that resemble a rooster's comb
Example
The bright red cockscomb flowers added vibrant color to the garden bed.
Les fleurs rouges de crête de coq ont ajouté une couleur vibrante au parterre de jardin.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmjʊər/

demure

réservé
Meaning
reserved, modest, and shy
Example
She gave him a demure smile.
Elle lui donna un sourire réservé.
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 verb /sʌbˈtɛnd/

subtend

sous-tendre
Meaning
To extend across or form an angle at a particular point, often used in geometry.
Example
The arc subtends a 60-degree angle at the center of the circle.
L'arc sous-tend un angle de 60 degrés au centre du cercle.
C2 noun/verb /ˈkætˌkɔːl/

catcall

sifflements ou cris de désapprobation ou de harcèlement sexuel
Meaning
A loud whistle or shout of disapproval or sexual harassment directed at someone.
Example
The actress ignored the catcalls from the crowd.
L'actrice a ignoré les catcalls de la foule.
C2 adjective /dɪˈsɛnʃəs/

dissentious

diviseur
Meaning
Causing or likely to cause disagreement and conflict.
Example
His dissentious remarks divided the group further.
Ses remarques divisives ont encore plus divisé le groupe.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈplækəbl/

implacable

implacable
Meaning
unable to be appeased, calmed, or pacified
Example
The soldiers faced an implacable enemy who refused to surrender.
Les soldats ont affronté un ennemi implacable qui a refusé de se rendre.
C2 adjective /veɪnˈɡlɔːriəs/

vainglorious

vaniteux
Meaning
Excessively proud of oneself or one’s achievements; boastful.
Example
The vainglorious leader boasted about his minor achievements.
Le leader vaniteux se vantait de ses petites réalisations.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfɪdəns/

diffidence

manque de confiance en soi
Meaning
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
Example
Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public.
Son manque de confiance en elle rendait difficile de parler en public.
C2 adjective /ˈmiː.di.eɪ.tɪv/

mediative

relatif à la médiation
Meaning
Related to mediation, helping to resolve conflicts through diplomatic means.
Example
His mediative skills helped resolve the conflict.
Ses compétences médiatrices ont aidé à résoudre le conflit.
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 /eɪˈklɑː/

eclat

grand succès
Meaning
Brilliant success, acclaim, or great public approval.
Example
The artist's debut performance was met with great éclat.
La première performance de l'artiste a été accueillie avec un grand succès.
C2 noun /ˈkɒnk.leɪv/

conclave

conclave secret
Meaning
a private meeting, especially a secret or important one
Example
The leaders met in a secret conclave to discuss the strategy.
Les dirigeants se sont réunis dans un conclave secret pour discuter de la stratégie.
C2 noun /ˈpæn.θi.ɪ.zəm/

pantheism

panthéisme
Meaning
The belief that God and the universe are identical, or that everything is a manifestation of God.
Example
Spinoza’s philosophy is often associated with pantheism.
La philosophie de Spinoza est souvent associée au panthéisme.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒɔːnti/

jaunty

gai
Meaning
Having a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner or appearance.
Example
He walked into the room with a jaunty step.
Il est entré dans la pièce d'un pas gai.
C2 adjective /ˈstɪdʒiən/

stygian

sombre
Meaning
extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding
Example
They walked through the stygian cave with torches.
Ils marchaient à travers la grotte sombre avec des torches.
C2 noun /ˈdɛvɪlri/

devilry

diablerie
Meaning
Wicked or cruel behavior; mischievous actions.
Example
The children were full of devilry on Halloween night.
Les enfants étaient pleins de diablerie lors de la nuit d'Halloween.
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 noun /ˈnæfθə/

naphtha

naphta
Meaning
A flammable oil containing hydrocarbons, obtained from petroleum or coal tar, used as fuel or solvent.
Example
The factory stored barrels of naphtha for industrial use.
L'usine stockait des barils de naphta pour un usage industriel.
C2 adjective /ˌpɪkəˈjuːn/

picayune

insignifiant, trivial
Meaning
of little value or importance; trivial
Example
He complained about the picayune details of the contract.
Il se plaignait des détails triviaux du contrat.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/

diabolic

diabolique
Meaning
Extremely evil or cruel; characteristic of the devil.
Example
The villain devised a diabolic scheme.
Le méchant a imaginé un plan diabolique.
C2 noun /ˌbɪbliəʊˈmeɪniə/

bibliomania

bibliomanie
Meaning
An extreme obsession with collecting or possessing books.
Example
His bibliomania led him to fill every room with books.
Sa bibliomanie l'a poussé à remplir chaque pièce de livres.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkoʊətɪv/

inchoative

inchoatif
Meaning
relating to the beginning of something; in an initial stage
Example
The poet used inchoative expressions to depict the dawn of creation.
Le poète a utilisé des expressions inchoatives pour décrire l'aube de la création.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈrɛɡnəm/

interregnum

interrègne
Meaning
A period between rulers or governments when normal leadership is suspended.
Example
The country faced instability during the interregnum after the king’s death.
Le pays a connu de l’instabilité pendant l’interrègne après la mort du roi.
C2 noun /ˌniːoʊˈpeɪɡənɪzəm/

neopaganism

néopaganisme
Meaning
Modern religious movements influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe.
Example
Neopaganism has gained popularity as people seek spiritual alternatives to mainstream religions.
Le néopaganisme a gagné en popularité à mesure que les gens recherchent des alternatives spirituelles aux religions dominantes.
C2 verb /ˈfɛtər/

fetter

entraver, restreindre
Meaning
to restrain or restrict someone’s freedom
Example
The strict rules fettered the creativity of the students.
Les règles strictes ont limité la créativité des étudiants.
C2 adjective /ˌhɑːrdˈbɪtn̩/

hard-bitten

endurci et expérimenté
Meaning
tough and experienced, not easily affected by emotions or hardship
Example
The hard-bitten detective showed no sign of surprise at the crime scene.
Le détective expérimenté n'a montré aucun signe de surprise sur la scène du crime.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːrməkəˈpiːə/

pharmacopoeia

pharmacopée
Meaning
An official book listing medicinal drugs, their effects, and directions for use.
Example
The doctor referred to the pharmacopoeia to check the drug's proper dosage.
Le médecin a consulté la pharmacopée pour vérifier la dose correcte du médicament.
C2 noun /ˌkɒl.əˈneɪd/

colonnade

colonnade
Meaning
A row of evenly spaced columns supporting a roof, often in classical architecture.
Example
The visitors admired the grand colonnade at the entrance of the temple.
Les visiteurs ont admiré la grande colonnade à l'entrée du temple.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlwərk/

bulwark

rempart
Meaning
A strong wall or defensive structure; something that provides protection or support.
Example
The fortress walls served as a bulwark against enemy attacks.
Les murs du fort ont servi de rempart contre les attaques ennemies.
C2 noun /ˈdʒuː.dɪˌkeɪ.tʃər/

judicature

système judiciaire
Meaning
the administration of justice or the system of courts
Example
The judicature ensures that laws are fairly applied.
Le système judiciaire veille à ce que les lois soient appliquées de manière équitable.
C2 noun /ˈeɪʒən swɒmp iːl/

Asian swamp eel

anguille des marais asiatique
Meaning
a snake-like freshwater fish that can survive in muddy waters and is considered a delicacy in South Asian cuisine
Example
Asian swamp eel can breathe air and survive in shallow muddy waters.
L’anguille des marais asiatique peut respirer de l’air et survivre dans des eaux peu profondes et boueuses.
C2 noun /ˌprɒdɪˈɡæləti/

prodigality

prodigalité
Meaning
the quality of being wastefully extravagant
Example
His prodigality with money left him bankrupt.
Sa prodigalité avec l'argent l'a laissé en faillite.
C2 noun /ˈɛpənɪm/

eponym

personne dont le nom a été donné à une invention ou un lieu
Meaning
A person after whom a discovery, invention, place, or other thing is named.
Example
Sandwich is an eponym named after the Earl of Sandwich.
Sandwich est un éponyme nommé d'après le comte de Sandwich.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnˈekspɜːrt/

inexpert

inexpérimenté
Meaning
not skilled or experienced; lacking expertise
Example
The inexpert handling of the machine caused several mistakes.
La manipulation inexpérimentée de la machine a causé plusieurs erreurs.
C2 noun /ˈflɛdʒlɪŋ/

fledgeling

oiseau débutant
Meaning
A young bird that has just developed its feathers and is learning to fly; a beginner.
Example
The fledgeling was trying hard to take its first flight.
L'oiseau débutant essayait de prendre son premier envol.
C2 verb /ˌweɪˈleɪ/

waylay

arrêter / attaquer de manière inattendue
Meaning
to stop or interrupt someone unexpectedly, often to attack or detain them
Example
He was waylaid by reporters as he left the courthouse.
Il a été attaqué par des journalistes alors qu'il quittait le tribunal.
C2 noun /ˌɛksɪˈɡjuːɪti/

exiguity

insuffisance
Meaning
the quality of being scanty or meager in amount
Example
The exiguity of resources made the project difficult to complete.
L'insuffisance des ressources a rendu le projet difficile à terminer.
C2 noun /ˈθɝː.moʊ.klaɪn/

thermocline

thermocline
Meaning
A layer in a body of water in which temperature changes rapidly with depth.
Example
The thermocline separates warm surface water from cold deep water.
La thermocline sépare l'eau chaude de la surface de l'eau froide en profondeur.
C2 verb /ɪˈluːmɪn/

illumine

illuminer
Meaning
to light up or make clear
Example
The rising sun illumined the mountain peaks.
Le soleil levant illumina les cimes des montagnes.
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 noun /ˈfɔːrˌnɑːlɪdʒ/

foreknowledge

prémonition
Meaning
Awareness of something before it happens or exists.
Example
The prophet claimed to have foreknowledge of the event.
Le prophète a affirmé avoir la prémonition de l'événement.
C2 adjective /ˈɛrənt/

errant

errant
Meaning
behaving wrongly or straying from the proper course or standards
Example
The teacher disciplined the errant student.
Le professeur a discipliné l'étudiant errant.
C2 noun /ˈkæθoʊd/

cathode

électrode négative
Meaning
The negative electrode in a device such as a battery or tube, where electrons enter.
Example
The cathode emits electrons in the tube.
Le cathode émet des électrons dans le tube.
C2 adjective /dʒɪˈdʒuːn/

jejune

naïf / superficiel / insipide
Meaning
Naive, simplistic, and superficial; also dull or uninteresting.
Example
The professor dismissed the essay as jejune and lacking depth.
Le professeur a rejeté l'essai comme naïf et sans profondeur.