apophthegm
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C2 noun /ˈæpəfθɛm/

apophthegm

dicton ou maxime courte, concise et éducative
Meaning
A short, pithy, and instructive saying or maxim.
Example
She always had a witty apophthegm to share at meetings.
Elle avait toujours un apophtegme spirituel à partager lors des réunions.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtɛmpərəns/

intemperance

intempérance
Meaning
Lack of moderation or self-control, especially with drinking or eating.
Example
His intemperance in drinking ruined his health.
Son intempérance dans l'alcool a ruiné sa santé.
C2 noun /ˈɡʌl.i/

gully

ravin, fossé
Meaning
A narrow channel or ravine worn away by water.
Example
After the storm, the road was cut by a deep gully.
Après la tempête, la route a été coupée par un ravin profond.
C2 adjective ˌɪn.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs

inefficacious

inefficace
Meaning
Not producing any or the desired effect; ineffective.
Example
The treatment was inefficacious in curing the disease.
Le traitement a été inefficace pour guérir la maladie.
C2 noun /vɜːrv/

verve

énergie
Meaning
Great enthusiasm, spirit, or energy in expression or performance.
Example
The actor performed his role with remarkable verve.
L'acteur a joué son rôle avec une énergie remarquable.
C2 verb /əˈkɒst/

accost

aborder de manière agressive
Meaning
to approach and speak to someone boldly or aggressively
Example
The reporter was accosted by protesters outside the courthouse.
Le reporter a été abordé par des manifestants devant le tribunal.
C2 verb /breɪz/

braze

braser
Meaning
To join two pieces of metal by heating and melting a filler metal into the joint.
Example
The mechanic brazed the broken pipe to fix the leak.
Le mécanicien a brasé le tuyau cassé pour réparer la fuite.
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 /ˌpaɪroʊˈmeɪniæk/

pyromaniac

personne avec un désir incontrôlable d'incendier des choses
Meaning
A person with an uncontrollable desire to set things on fire.
Example
The pyromaniac was arrested for setting several buildings ablaze.
Le pyromane a été arrêté pour avoir incendié plusieurs bâtiments.
C2 noun /ˈdɛskænt/

descant

mélodie supplémentaire
Meaning
An additional melody or counterpoint sung or played above the main melody.
Example
The choir added a beautiful descant to the hymn.
Le chœur a ajouté une belle mélodie supplémentaire à l'hymne.
C2 verb /əˈlɪtəreɪt/

alliterate

répéter le même son consonantique au début des mots dans une phrase
Meaning
to repeat the same consonant sound at the beginning of words in a phrase or sentence
Example
The poet often alliterates words to create rhythm.
Le poète allite souvent les mots pour créer du rythme.
C2 adverb, noun /ˈwɛə.wɪð/

wherewith

moyens
Meaning
With which; the means or resources needed for something.
Example
He lacked the money wherewith to buy a new house.
Il n'avait pas l'argent avec lequel acheter une nouvelle maison.
C2 verb /səˈbɔːrn/

suborn

suborner
Meaning
to bribe or induce someone unlawfully to perform an act, especially to commit perjury
Example
The lawyer was accused of trying to suborn a witness.
L'avocat a été accusé d'avoir tenté de suborner un témoin.
C2 noun /foʊl fʊt/

Foal-foot

fleur de sabot de cheval
Meaning
a yellow flowering plant with leaves shaped like a horse's hoof, also known as coltsfoot
Example
The foal-foot plant grows wild in many meadows and is often the first flower to bloom in spring.
La plante de fleur de sabot de cheval pousse sauvagement dans de nombreuses prairies et est souvent la première à fleurir au printemps.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːbəlˌmaɪndɪd/

feebleminded

stupide ou à l'esprit faible
Meaning
lacking intelligence or mental capacity; foolish or weak-minded
Example
The feebleminded man struggled to understand basic instructions.
L'homme à l'esprit faible avait du mal à comprendre les instructions de base.
C2 noun /ˈpætrɪˌmoʊni/

patrimony

patrimoine
Meaning
Property or inheritance passed down from one's father or ancestors.
Example
The castle was part of his patrimony from his noble ancestors.
Le château faisait partie de son patrimoine provenant de ses ancêtres nobles.
C2 noun /ˈmɪsɪv/

missive

missive
Meaning
a written message, especially a formal or official letter
Example
He sent a long missive to the governor.
Il a envoyé une longue missive au gouverneur.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒrɪdʒəbəl/

incorrigible

incorrigible
Meaning
incapable of being corrected, improved, or reformed
Example
He is an incorrigible optimist who never loses hope.
C'est un optimiste incorrigible qui ne perd jamais espoir.
C2 noun /ˌpænəˈdʒɪrɪk/

panegyric

panégyrique, éloge
Meaning
a formal speech or piece of writing in praise of someone or something
Example
The author wrote a panegyric on the bravery of the soldiers.
L'auteur a écrit un panégyrique sur le courage des soldats.
C2 noun /ˈmɒnəɡræm/

monogram

monogramme
Meaning
A design consisting of two or more letters, typically a person's initials, combined or interwoven.
Example
The towel was embroidered with her monogram.
La serviette était brodée avec son monogramme.
C2 verb /ˈæsəneɪt/

assonate

asonner
Meaning
To correspond or agree in sound, especially by vowel sounds; to rhyme approximately.
Example
The lines assonate beautifully, giving the song a unique flow.
Les lignes asonnent magnifiquement, donnant à la chanson un flux unique.
C2 adjective /ˌæpəˈplɛktɪk/

apoplectic

apoplectique
Meaning
Extremely angry; furious.
Example
He was apoplectic when he heard about the unfair decision.
Il était apoplectique lorsqu'il a entendu parler de la décision injuste.
C2 adjective /ˈkrɛstˌfɔːlən/

crestfallen

abattu
Meaning
sad and disappointed
Example
He looked crestfallen after hearing the bad news.
Il avait l'air abattu après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C2 noun /rɪˈvaɪlər/

reviler

insulteur
Meaning
a person who criticizes or insults others abusively
Example
He was known as a reviler of all who opposed him.
Il était connu comme un insulteur de tous ceux qui s'opposaient à lui.
C2 noun /ˈdæl.i.əns/

Dalliance

flirt; aventure; liaison éphémère
Meaning
a casual romantic or sexual relationship; a brief involvement or experiment
Example
His dalliance with photography lasted only a few months before he lost interest.
Son flirt avec la photographie n'a duré que quelques mois avant qu'il perde de l'intérêt.
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 /ˈɛksplɪkeɪtər/

explicator

explicateur
Meaning
a person who explains or interprets something in detail
Example
The critic served as an explicator of the poet’s complex works.
Le critique a servi d'explicateur des œuvres complexes du poète.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkrɪˈdjuːləti/

incredulity

incrédulité
Meaning
the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something
Example
She looked at him with incredulity after hearing the strange story.
Elle le regarda avec incrédulité après avoir entendu l'histoire étrange.
C2 noun /sɪˈkwiːlə/

sequela

séquelle
Meaning
A condition that is the consequence of a previous disease or injury.
Example
Lung scarring can be a sequela of severe pneumonia.
Les cicatrices pulmonaires peuvent être une séquelle d'une pneumonie sévère.
C2 adjective /ˌmælˈoʊdərəs/

malodorous

malodorant
Meaning
Having a very unpleasant smell.
Example
The malodorous room made everyone leave quickly.
La pièce malodorante a fait partir tout le monde rapidement.
C2 adjective /ˌɪɡ.nəˈmɪn.i.əs/

ignominious

ignominieux
Meaning
Marked by shame, disgrace, or humiliation.
Example
The team suffered an ignominious defeat in the finals.
L'équipe a subi une défaite ignominieuse en finale.
C2 noun /ˌvælɪˌtjuːdɪˈnɛəriən/

valetudinarian

personne hypocondriaque
Meaning
A person who is unduly anxious about their health or constantly concerned with minor ailments.
Example
He was regarded as a valetudinarian, always worrying about his health.
Il était considéré comme un hypocondriaque, toujours préoccupé par sa santé.
C2 noun /ˈflæt.ər.ər/

Flatterer

flatteur
Meaning
a person who lavishes praise, often insincerely and in order to gain advantage
Example
The king was surrounded by flatterers who only told him what he wanted to hear.
Le roi était entouré de flatteurs qui lui disaient seulement ce qu'il voulait entendre.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈhɛrɪt/

disinherit

désinformer
Meaning
to deprive someone, especially a child, of inheritance or right to property
Example
The father threatened to disinherit his son for his reckless actions.
Le père a menacé de désinformer son fils à cause de ses actions imprudentes.
C2 verb /frɪz/

frizz

former les cheveux en boucles serrées ou rendre les cheveux éparse et emmêlés
Meaning
to form into small, tight curls or cause hair to become fuzzy and tangled
Example
The humid weather caused her hair to frizz.
Le temps humide a causé l'ondulation de ses cheveux.
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 /ˈklævɪkəl/

clavicle

clavicule
Meaning
the collarbone, a long bone that serves as a strut between the shoulder blade and the sternum
Example
He fractured his clavicle in the accident.
Il a fracturé sa clavicule dans l'accident.
C2 noun /miːd/

mead

hydromel
Meaning
An alcoholic drink made from fermented honey and water.
Example
The Vikings were known to drink large amounts of mead during feasts.
Les Vikings étaient connus pour boire de grandes quantités d'hydromel lors des festins.
C2 adjective /əbˈstrɛpərəs/

obstreperous

tapageur et difficile à contrôler
Meaning
Noisy and difficult to control.
Example
The obstreperous students disrupted the class.
Les étudiants tapageurs ont perturbé le cours.
C2 noun /ˌfoʊ.mənˈteɪ.ʃən/

fomentation

incitation, stimulation
Meaning
The action of instigating or stirring up; also the application of warm substances to the body to ease pain.
Example
His speech led to the fomentation of violence in the region.
Son discours a conduit à la fomentation de la violence dans la région.
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 /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 /ˈvɛləm/

vellum

parchemin
Meaning
a fine parchment made originally from the skin of a calf, used for writing or printing
Example
The ancient manuscript was written on vellum.
Le manuscrit ancien a été écrit sur du parchemin.
C2 adjective /ˌprɒfɪˈlæktɪk/

prophylactic

prophylactique
Meaning
intended to prevent disease or an unwanted outcome; protective
Example
The doctor prescribed a prophylactic treatment to prevent infection.
Le médecin a prescrit un traitement prophylactique pour prévenir l'infection.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌθɪŋkər/

freethinker

librepenseur
Meaning
A person who forms opinions based on reason and independent thought rather than tradition or authority.
Example
Voltaire was considered a great freethinker of his time.
Voltaire a été considéré comme un grand librepenseur de son époque.
C2 noun /ˈækəlaɪt/

acolyte

acolyte
Meaning
a follower or assistant, especially in a religious service or as a devoted supporter of a leader
Example
The senator arrived with a small group of acolytes who handled the press.
Le sénateur est arrivé avec un petit groupe d'acolytes qui s'occupaient de la presse.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːr.bər/

Barbar

coiffeur
Meaning
a person whose job is to cut men's hair and shave or trim beards
Example
The barber gave him a perfect haircut for his wedding.
Le coiffeur lui a donné une coupe de cheveux parfaite pour son mariage.
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 adjective ˌmɛɡəˈlɪθɪk

megalithic

mégalithique
Meaning
Relating to or denoting prehistoric monuments made of or containing large stones.
Example
The megalithic structures in ancient civilizations are fascinating.
Les structures mégalithiques dans les civilisations anciennes sont fascinantes.
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 /ˈrɛvəlri/

revelry

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

whelp

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

exculpate

exculper
Meaning
to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing
Example
The lawyer worked hard to exculpate his client.
L'avocat a travaillé dur pour exculper son client.
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 /ˌhaɪdrəˈstætɪks/

hydrostatics

hydrostatique
Meaning
The branch of science concerned with the mechanical properties of fluids at rest.
Example
Hydrostatics is essential in understanding how dams and reservoirs function.
L'hydrostatique est essentielle pour comprendre comment fonctionnent les barrages et les réservoirs.
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 noun, verb /ˈhæmstrɪŋ/

hamstring

tendon à l'arrière de la cuisse; en tant que verbe, rendre quelqu'un ou quelque chose inefficace ou l'empêcher de fonctionner efficacement
Meaning
a tendon at the back of the thigh; as a verb, to cripple or severely restrict the effectiveness of someone or something.
Example
Budget cuts hamstrung the organization’s plans.
Les réductions budgétaires ont affaibli les plans de l'organisation.
C2 noun ˈkɑː.dərz

cadres

cadres
Meaning
A small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession; a group of activists in a communist or other political organization.
Example
There are 26 cadres under BPSC.
Il y a 26 cadres sous BPSC.
C2 verb /fɔːrˈfɛnd/

forfend

protéger, défendre, prévenir
Meaning
to protect or defend against something undesirable; to prevent
Example
May good fortune forfend any danger from our journey.
Que la bonne fortune protège contre tout danger durant notre voyage.
C2 noun /ˌɛfləˈrɛsəns/

efflorescence

floraison
Meaning
the process of flowering or reaching an optimal stage of development
Example
The garden was at the peak of its efflorescence in spring.
Le jardin était au sommet de sa floraison au printemps.
C2 verb /ˈmæsəˌreɪt/

macerate

attendrir
Meaning
to soften or break up something, especially food, by soaking in liquid
Example
The chef macerated the fruit in wine before serving.
Le chef a macéré les fruits dans le vin avant de les servir.
C2 noun (plural) /ˌmæk.ɪˈneɪ.ʃənz/

machinations

machinations
Meaning
complicated and secret plans, often intended to cause harm
Example
The politician was brought down by his own machinations.
Le politicien a été abattu par ses propres machinations.
C2 adjective /ɒmˈnɪp.ə.tənt/

omnipotent

omnipotent
Meaning
Having unlimited power; able to do anything; all-powerful.
Example
In many religions, God is considered omnipotent.
Dans de nombreuses religions, Dieu est considéré comme omnipotent.
C2 noun /ˈæl.baɪt/

albite

albite
Meaning
A white or colorless mineral of the feldspar group, often found in igneous rocks.
Example
Geologists discovered albite crystals in the rock sample.
Les géologues ont découvert des cristaux d'albite dans l'échantillon de roche.
C2 noun /ˈsuːpsɒ̃/

soupcon

une petite quantité
Meaning
a very small quantity of something; a trace
Example
She added just a soupcon of spice to the dish.
Elle a ajouté juste une petite quantité d'épices au plat.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪz.ən.taɪn/ or /ˈbaɪ.zənˌtiːn/

byzantine

complexe
Meaning
Extremely complicated and detailed; relating to the Byzantine Empire or its style.
Example
The new tax regulations are so byzantine that few understand them.
Les nouvelles réglementations fiscales sont tellement complexes que peu de gens les comprennent.
C2 noun /ˌɑːrbəˈriːtəm/

arboretum

arborétum
Meaning
a place where trees, shrubs, and plants are grown for scientific study or public display
Example
We visited the city’s arboretum to learn about exotic trees.
Nous avons visité l'arborétum de la ville pour en apprendre davantage sur les arbres exotiques.
C2 noun /məˈnæʒəri/

menagerie

collection d'animaux sauvages
Meaning
a collection of wild animals kept for exhibition; a diverse or strange group of people or things
Example
The circus had a menagerie of exotic animals.
Le cirque avait une collection d'animaux exotiques.
C2 verb /ˈbɪloʊ/

billow

se gonfler comme des vagues
Meaning
To swell or rise in large waves or surges; to flow outward in a rolling motion.
Example
Smoke billowed from the burning building.
La fumée se gonflait comme des vagues depuis le bâtiment en feu.
C2 verb /dɪˈkænt/

decant

décanter
Meaning
To pour liquid gently from one container into another, especially without disturbing the sediment.
Example
She carefully decanted the wine into a clean glass.
Elle a soigneusement versé le vin dans un verre propre.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɑːrk/

debark

débarquer
Meaning
to disembark or get off a ship, aircraft, or vehicle
Example
The passengers debarked as soon as the ship docked.
Les passagers ont débarqué dès que le navire a accosté.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrvjuː/

purview

domaine
Meaning
the scope or range of authority, responsibility, or knowledge
Example
The case does not fall within the purview of this court.
L'affaire ne relève pas de la compétence de ce tribunal.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmjʊər/

demure

réservé
Meaning
reserved, modest, and shy
Example
She gave him a demure smile.
Elle lui donna un sourire réservé.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈsɒljʊbl/

indissoluble

Indissoluble
Meaning
Unable to be destroyed, broken, or dissolved.
Example
Marriage was once considered an indissoluble bond.
Le mariage était autrefois considéré comme un lien indissoluble.
C2 adverb /ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃəsli/

expeditiously

de manière rapide et efficace
Meaning
in a quick and efficient manner
Example
The application was processed expeditiously.
La demande a été traitée de manière rapide et efficace.
C2 noun /ˈspɒt.ɪd sneɪk hed/

Spotted snake head

poisson tête de serpent tachetée
Meaning
a type of freshwater fish with spotted markings and an elongated head resembling a snake
Example
The spotted snake head is a popular fish for aquaculture in South Asia.
Le poisson tête de serpent tachetée est populaire pour l'aquaculture en Asie du Sud.
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 adjective /ˈvɑːlətɪv/

volitive

volitif
Meaning
Relating to the will or the exercise of the will.
Example
The treaty was signed under volitive agreement between both nations.
Le traité a été signé sous un accord volitif entre les deux nations.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkənˈɡruːəti/

incongruity

incongruité
Meaning
The state of being inconsistent or out of place.
Example
The incongruity of his cheerful mood during the funeral shocked everyone.
L'incongruité de son humeur joyeuse pendant les funérailles a choqué tout le monde.
C2 noun /niːp/

neap

marée basse
Meaning
A tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when the difference between high and low tide is least.
Example
During a neap tide, the water level change is minimal.
Pendant une marée basse, le changement du niveau de l'eau est minimal.
C2 verb /ˈkælsɪfaɪ/

calcify

durcir par dépôt de sels de calcium
Meaning
To harden by deposition of calcium salts; to become rigid or inflexible.
Example
Over time, the tissue began to calcify and lose flexibility.
Avec le temps, le tissu a commencé à se calcifier et a perdu de la flexibilité.
C2 noun /ˈsɛpəlˌtʃər/

Sepulture

tombeau; sépulture;
Meaning
the act of burying a dead body; burial; a grave or tomb
Example
The ancient king's sepulture was discovered by archaeologists.
Le sépulcre du roi ancien a été découvert par les archéologues.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈfjuːzəbl/

fusible

fusionnable
Meaning
Capable of being melted or fused.
Example
The engineer used a fusible alloy in the experiment.
L'ingénieur a utilisé un alliage fusionnable dans l'expérience.
C2 noun /kəˈræf/

carafe

carafe en verre
Meaning
a glass container without handles used for serving drinks like water or wine
Example
The waiter brought a carafe of water to the table.
Le serveur a apporté une carafe d'eau à la table.
C2 adjective /ˈəʊ.dər.əs/

Odorous

parfumé; aromatique
Meaning
having a strong smell; fragrant; aromatic
Example
The garden was filled with odorous flowers.
Le jardin était rempli de fleurs parfumées.
C2 verb /ɪnˈkæmp/

encamp

camper
Meaning
to set up or establish a camp
Example
The soldiers encamped near the river for the night.
Les soldats ont campé près de la rivière pour la nuit.
C2 noun /ˈɡloʊmɪŋ/

gloaming

crépuscule
Meaning
The time of day after the sun has set and before it is completely dark; twilight.
Example
We walked home together in the quiet gloaming.
Nous avons marché chez nous ensemble dans le calme du crépuscule.
C2 adjective /kəˈnaɪ.vɪŋ/

conniving

rusé
Meaning
secretly scheming or plotting to help in wrongdoing
Example
He is a conniving politician who manipulates people for power.
C'est un homme politique rusé qui manipule les gens pour le pouvoir.
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 /ˈɔː.rɪ.fɪs/

orifice

orifice
Meaning
an opening or hole, especially in the body or a device
Example
The medicine was applied through a small orifice in the device.
Le médicament a été appliqué par un petit orifice dans l'appareil.
C2 noun /bəˈlɛəroʊ/

bolero

boléro (une danse espagnole ou une veste courte ouverte à l'avant)
Meaning
A Spanish dance in slow triple time, or a short jacket open at the front.
Example
The dancers performed a passionate bolero at the festival.
Les danseurs ont exécuté un boléro passionné lors du 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 noun /ˈhʌmbʌɡ/

humbug

foutaises, balivernes
Meaning
Deceptive or false talk or behavior; nonsense.
Example
He dismissed the idea as humbug.
Il a rejeté l'idée comme des foutaises.
C2 noun /ˌnɒvəˈlɛt/

novellette

novellette
Meaning
A short novel or long short story.
Example
The author published a novellette as a preview of her upcoming series.
L'auteur a publié une novellette en avant-première de sa prochaine série.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈɛk.wɪ.tə.bəl/

inequitable

inéquitable
Meaning
Not fair or just; lacking in fairness or equality.
Example
The distribution of resources was inequitable among the workers.
La distribution des ressources était inéquitable parmi les travailleurs.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛptɪv/

inceptive

initial
Meaning
Relating to or marking the beginning or initial stage of something.
Example
The inceptive phase of the project was marked by enthusiastic planning.
La phase inceptive du projet a été marquée par une planification enthousiaste.
C2 noun /məˈnɪʃən/

monition

avertissement
Meaning
A warning or caution, often of a religious or moral nature.
Example
The priest gave a monition against dishonesty.
Le prêtre a donné un avertissement contre la malhonnêteté.
C2 noun /ˌmɪn.ɪˈstreɪ.ʃən/

ministration

service
Meaning
The act of providing care, assistance, or religious service.
Example
She recovered thanks to the kind ministrations of the nurses.
Elle s'est rétablie grâce aux gentilles ministrations des infirmières.
C2 noun /ɪɡˈzɔːrbɪtəns/

exorbitance

exorbitance
Meaning
The quality of being excessive, unreasonable, or going beyond proper limits.
Example
The exorbitance of the hotel's prices shocked the tourists.
L’exorbitance des prix de l’hôtel a choqué les touristes.
C2 adjective /aɪˈtɪnərənt/

itinerant

itinérant
Meaning
Traveling from place to place, especially for work or duty.
Example
The itinerant teacher moved from village to village to educate children.
L'enseignant itinérant se déplaçait de village en village pour enseigner aux enfants.
C2 noun /ˈfɪl.ɪ.staɪn/

philistine

personne indifférente ou hostile à la culture et aux arts
Meaning
a person who is indifferent or hostile to culture and the arts
Example
He was criticized as a philistine for dismissing modern art.
Il a été critiqué comme un philistin pour avoir rejeté l'art moderne.
C2 noun /ˈblʌfər/

bluffer

bluffeur
Meaning
a person who pretends to be more confident, skilled, or knowledgeable than they really are; someone who deceives others by bluffing
Example
Everyone eventually realized that he was just a bluffer with no real experience.
Tout le monde a compris qu’il était un simple bluffeur.
C2 adverb /bɪˈtaɪmz/

betimes

tôt
Meaning
early; in good time
Example
She rose betimes to finish her work.
Elle s'est levée tôt pour finir son travail.
C2 adjective /ˈflʌməksd/

flummoxed

déconcerté
Meaning
Completely confused or bewildered.
Example
He looked flummoxed after hearing the strange question.
Il avait l'air déconcerté après avoir entendu la question étrange.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpræktɪkəbl/

impracticable

impraticable
Meaning
Not capable of being carried out or put into practice.
Example
The plan seemed impracticable due to limited resources.
Le plan semblait impraticable en raison des ressources limitées.
C2 noun /ˈlæriət/

lariat

lasso
Meaning
A long rope with a noose at one end used to catch animals such as cattle or horses.
Example
The cowboy threw his lariat to catch the stray horse.
Le cow-boy a lancé son lasso pour attraper le cheval errant.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪsə/

mesa

mesa
Meaning
An isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides, found in arid regions.
Example
The hikers stopped to admire the mesa rising above the desert floor.
Les randonneurs se sont arrêtés pour admirer la méssa qui s'élevait au-dessus du sol du désert.
C2 noun /ˌpɒl.iˈsɪl.ə.bəl/

polysyllable

mot polysyllabique
Meaning
a word with more than one syllable
Example
The word 'elephant' is a polysyllable because it has three syllables.
Le mot 'éléphant' est un mot polysyllabique car il a trois syllabes.
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 /ˈdʒʌɡjələr/

jugular

veine jugulaire
Meaning
A large vein in the neck that carries blood from the head back to the heart.
Example
The doctor checked the patient's jugular vein for signs of pressure.
Le médecin a examiné la veine jugulaire du patient à la recherche de signes de pression.
C2 adjective /stəˈkɑː.təʊ/

staccato

détaché
Meaning
short and detached in sound or style, often used in music
Example
The pianist played the notes in a staccato rhythm.
Le pianiste a joué les notes dans un rythme détaché.
C2 adjective /ˈnʌpʃəl/

nuptial

nuptial
Meaning
Relating to marriage or weddings.
Example
The couple prepared for their nuptial ceremony with great joy.
Le couple s'est préparé pour leur cérémonie nuptiale avec grande joie.
C2 noun /fækˈtoʊtəm/

factotum

homme à tout faire
Meaning
an employee who does many different types of work; a general servant
Example
He worked as a factotum, handling both clerical and maintenance duties.
Il travaillait comme un factotum, s'occupant à la fois des tâches administratives et de maintenance.
C2 adverb /ʌnˈɜːrɪŋli/

unerringly

sans erreur
Meaning
Without making any mistakes; always accurate
Example
The archer aimed unerringly at the target.
L'archer a visé sans erreur la cible.
C2 noun /loʊd/

lode

filons minéraux
Meaning
A rich source of something, often a vein of valuable metal in the earth.
Example
The miners discovered a rich lode of silver.
Les mineurs ont découvert un riche filon d'argent.
C2 noun /pəˈnʌmbrə/

penumbra

zone partiellement ombragée
Meaning
a partially shaded area around the shadow of an object, especially during an eclipse
Example
The moon’s penumbra created a dim shadow over the Earth.
La pénumbra de la lune a créé une ombre tamisée sur la Terre.
C2 noun /ˈmɪsəleɪni/

miscellany

panaché
Meaning
A collection or mixture of various things.
Example
The book is a miscellany of essays and poems.
Le livre est un panaché d'essais et de poèmes.
C2 noun /ˌdʒer.ɪˈmaɪ.æd/

Jeremiad

complainte prolongée; lamentation; liste de malheurs
Meaning
a long mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes; a prolonged expression of grief
Example
The newspaper editorial was a jeremiad about the decline of moral values in society.
L'éditorial du journal était un jeremiad sur le déclin des valeurs morales dans la société.
C2 noun /ˌkɑːnfɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

conformation

conformation
Meaning
The shape, structure, or arrangement of something.
Example
The scientist studied the molecular conformation of the protein.
Le scientifique a étudié la conformation moléculaire de la protéine.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpjuːɪsəns/

impuissance

impuissance
Meaning
inability to take effective action; helplessness
Example
The government’s impuissance in the face of crisis frustrated the people.
L’impuissance du gouvernement face à la crise a frustré la population.