apothegm
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C2 noun /ˈæpəˌθɛm/

apothegm

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

bedaub

barbouiller
Meaning
to smear or cover with a sticky or dirty substance
Example
The children bedaubed the wall with paint.
Les enfants ont barbouillé le mur avec de la peinture.
C2 noun /ˈfæn.feər/

fanfare

grande pompe, publicité
Meaning
a short ceremonial tune or display of publicity to attract attention
Example
The new product was launched with much fanfare.
Le nouveau produit a été lancé avec beaucoup de fanfare.
C2 noun /ˈrɪɡməˌroʊl/

rigmarole

perte de temps
Meaning
a long, complicated, and confusing process or story
Example
Getting a visa was such a rigmarole of paperwork and interviews.
Obtenir un visa a été une perte de temps entre papiers et entretiens.
C2 noun /ˈnɪn.i/

Ninny

imbécile
Meaning
a silly or foolish person; someone who lacks common sense
Example
Don't be such a ninny, use your brain!
Ne sois pas un imbécile, utilise ton cerveau!
C2 noun /kɒŋk/

Conch

conque
Meaning
a large sea shell that can be used as a horn; the marine mollusk that lives in such a shell
Example
The fisherman blew the conch shell to signal the end of the day.
Le pêcheur a soufflé dans la conque pour signaler la fin de la journée.
C2 adjective /ˈtɪtjələr/

titular

titulaire
Meaning
holding a title or position in name only without real power; relating to the title of a work
Example
She is the titular head of the committee, but decisions are made by the coordinator.
Elle est la titulaire du comité, mais les décisions sont prises par le coordinateur.
C2 noun /draɪ ɡuːs ˈbɛri/

Dry goose berry

groseille séchée
Meaning
dehydrated amla fruit, rich in vitamin C and used for medicinal and culinary purposes
Example
Dry goose berry powder is excellent for hair growth.
La poudre de groseille séchée est excellente pour la croissance des cheveux.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkəmˈbʌstəbl/

incombustible

incombustible
Meaning
Not capable of catching fire or burning.
Example
This material is incombustible and safe for construction.
Ce matériau est incombustible et sûr pour la construction.
C2 adjective /ɔːrˈθɑːɡənl/

orthogonal

orthogonal
Meaning
at right angles; independent or unrelated
Example
In mathematics, two vectors are orthogonal if their dot product is zero.
En mathématiques, deux vecteurs sont orthogonaux si leur produit scalaire est nul.
C2 noun /ˈlæki/

lackey

domestique
Meaning
a person who is overly willing to serve or obey someone else
Example
He treated his assistant like a mere lackey.
Il a traité son assistant comme un simple domestique.
C2 adjective /vərˈmɪkjələr/

vermicular

comme un ver
Meaning
having a shape or appearance like a worm; worm-like
Example
The artist used a vermicular design to decorate the border of the manuscript.
L'artiste a utilisé un design vermiculaire pour décorer le bord du manuscrit.
C2 noun /dɪˈkrɛpɪˌtjuːd/

decrepitude

décadence
Meaning
the state of being old, weak, and worn out
Example
The once-great empire fell into decrepitude.
L'autrefois grand empire est tombé dans la décadence.
C2 noun /fluːk/

fluke

coup de chance
Meaning
A stroke of luck; an unexpected piece of good fortune.
Example
Winning the lottery was a complete fluke.
Gagner à la loterie était un véritable coup de chance.
C2 noun /ˌdɛspəˈrɑːdoʊ/

desperado

bandit
Meaning
A bold, reckless, or dangerous person, often a criminal.
Example
The sheriff was determined to capture the desperado who terrorized the town.
Le shérif était déterminé à capturer le bandit qui terrorisait la ville.
C2 verb /ˈtrʌŋkeɪt/

truncate

tronquer
Meaning
to shorten something by cutting off the top or the end
Example
The article was truncated to fit the limited space.
L'article a été tronqué pour tenir dans l'espace limité.
C2 verb /dɪˈstreɪn/

distrain

saisir
Meaning
to seize someone's property in order to obtain payment of rent or other money owed
Example
The landlord distrained the tenant's furniture for unpaid rent.
Le propriétaire a saisi les meubles du locataire pour loyer impayé.
C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛktɪbəl/

reflectible

réfléchissable
Meaning
capable of being reflected, as light or an image
Example
The surface of the lake is highly reflectible in the morning sun.
La surface du lac est hautement réfléchissable sous le soleil du matin.
C2 verb /kənˈvoʊk/

convoke

convocation
Meaning
to call together or summon a meeting or assembly
Example
The committee convoked an emergency session to discuss the crisis.
Le comité a convoqué une session d'urgence pour discuter de la crise.
C2 adjective /ˌpaɪroʊˈtɛknɪk/

pyrotechnic

pyrotechnique
Meaning
Relating to fireworks or spectacular displays involving fire.
Example
The city celebrated with a grand pyrotechnic display on New Year's Eve.
La ville a célébré avec un grand spectacle pyrotechnique lors de la veille du Nouvel An.
C2 noun /ˈhoʊl.stər/

holster

étui
Meaning
A holder or case for carrying a gun, typically worn on a belt or shoulder.
Example
The sheriff kept his revolver in a leather holster.
Le shérif gardait son revolver dans un étui en cuir.
C2 verb /bɪˈfɪt/

befit

convenir à
Meaning
to be suitable for; to be appropriate to
Example
Formal attire befits the seriousness of the occasion.
Une tenue formelle convient au sérieux de l’occasion.
C2 adjective /ɪˈnɪmɪkəl/

inimical

hostile / défavorable
Meaning
tending to obstruct or harm; unfriendly or hostile
Example
The policy was inimical to the country's economic growth.
La politique était défavorable à la croissance économique du pays.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɔːrˈdeɪn/

preordain

prédéterminer
Meaning
To decide or determine an outcome in advance, especially by fate or divine will.
Example
They believed their meeting was preordained by destiny.
Ils croyaient que leur rencontre était prédestinée par le destin.
C2 verb /həˈbɪtʃuˌeɪt/

habituate

habituer
Meaning
to make someone accustomed to something
Example
The monks habituated themselves to meditation.
Les moines se sont habitués à la méditation.
C2 noun /ˈhɛdʒɪrə/ or /hɪˈdʒaɪrə/

hegira

exode, migration
Meaning
a journey, especially when undertaken to escape from a dangerous or undesirable situation
Example
The refugees began their hegira across the desert.
Les réfugiés ont commencé leur exode à travers le désert.
C2 noun /ˈpaʊ.waʊ/

powwow

réunion informelle
Meaning
an informal meeting or conference to discuss something
Example
The team held a quick powwow before the presentation.
L'équipe a tenu une réunion rapide avant la présentation.
C2 noun /ˈteɪbər/

Tabour

tambour
Meaning
a small side drum or tambourine used especially in folk music
Example
The folk musician played a lively tune on his tabour.
Le musicien folklorique a joué une mélodie animée sur son tambour.
C2 noun /ˈlɛtʃ.əri/

lechery

lubie
Meaning
excessive or offensive sexual desire; lustfulness
Example
The novel depicted the lechery of corrupt nobles.
Le roman dépeignait la lubricité des nobles corrompus.
C2 noun /ˈvɪtrioʊl/

vitriol

critique acerbe
Meaning
harsh and bitter criticism
Example
The politician faced vitriol from the public.
Le politicien a fait face à une critique acerbe du public.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlrʌʃ/

bulrush

jonc
Meaning
A tall plant with long leaves that grows in or near water, also known as a cattail.
Example
The pond was surrounded by tall bulrushes swaying in the wind.
L'étang était entouré de hauts jonc swaying dans le vent.
C2 verb /diːˈmæɡnɪtaɪz/

demagnetize

démagnétiser
Meaning
To remove or reduce the magnetic properties of something.
Example
The technician demagnetized the old cassette tape.
Le technicien a démagnétisé la vieille cassette.
C2 noun /ˈkʌlvərt/

culvert

tunnel d'égout
Meaning
a tunnel or drain that carries water under a road or railway
Example
The heavy rainwater flowed through the culvert under the bridge.
L'eau de pluie lourde a coulé à travers le tunnel d'égout sous le pont.
C2 verb /kəˈmɪz.ə.reɪt/

commiserate

exprimer de la sympathie ou de la compassion pour la malchance de quelqu'un
Meaning
To express sympathy or compassion for someone's misfortune.
Example
She called her friend to commiserate after his loss.
Elle a appelé son ami pour compatir après sa perte.
C2 adjective /tɒnˈsɔːriəl/

tonsorial

relatif au barbier
Meaning
relating to barbers or hairdressing
Example
The town's new barber offered a wide range of tonsorial services.
Le nouveau barbier de la ville a offert une large gamme de services tonsoriaux.
C2 verb /ˌmɪskənˈsiːv/

misconceive

mal comprendre
Meaning
To misunderstand or form an incorrect idea about something.
Example
He misconceived the purpose of the project.
Il a mal compris l'objectif du projet.
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 /ˌsæpəˈneɪʃəs/

saponaceous

savonneux
Meaning
Soapy or having the qualities of soap.
Example
The plant has saponaceous leaves that produce foam when rubbed in water.
La plante a des feuilles savonneuses qui produisent de la mousse lorsqu'elles sont frottées dans l'eau.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪmbər/

limber

souple et agile
Meaning
Flexible and agile in body or movement.
Example
Dancers need to stay limber to perform well.
Les danseurs doivent rester souples pour bien performer.
C2 verb /ˈvɛdʒɪteɪt/

vegetate

végéter
Meaning
to live in a dull, inactive, or unchallenging way, often with little physical or mental effort
Example
He spent his vacation vegetating on the couch in front of the TV.
Il a passé ses vacances à végéter sur le canapé devant la télévision.
C2 verb /ˈrævəl/

ravel

embrouiller / démêler
Meaning
to tangle or complicate; to untangle or unravel depending on context
Example
She began to ravel the loose threads of the sweater.
Elle a commencé à démêler les fils lâches du pull.
C2 noun /ˈkɔː.seər/

corsair

pirate
Meaning
a pirate, especially one operating along the Mediterranean coasts
Example
The corsair plundered ships along the coast.
Le corsaire a pillé des navires le long de la côte.
C2 noun ˌæɡ.roʊˈiː.koʊˌsɪs.təm

agroecosystem

agrosystème
Meaning
An ecological system centered on agricultural activities and processes.
Example
A healthy agroecosystem improves soil fertility.
Un agroécosystème sain améliore la fertilité du sol.
C2 noun /tʊˈriːn/

tureen

terrine
Meaning
A large deep dish with a cover, used for serving soups or stews.
Example
She brought the hot soup to the table in a silver tureen.
Elle apporta la soupe chaude à la table dans une terrine argentée.
C2 noun /proʊˈsiː.ni.əm/

proscenium

proscénium
Meaning
the part of a theater stage in front of the curtain; the arch framing the stage
Example
The actors bowed at the proscenium before leaving the stage.
Les acteurs se sont inclinés devant le proscénium avant de quitter la scène.
C2 verb /ɪˈvɜːrt/

evert

retourner vers l'extérieur
Meaning
To turn inside out or outward.
Example
The surgeon had to evert the eyelid during the procedure.
Le chirurgien a dû retourner la paupière pendant la procédure.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪnsəbl/

vincible

vincible
Meaning
capable of being overcome or defeated
Example
The enemy seemed vincible after losing their main base.
L'ennemi semblait vincible après avoir perdu sa base principale.
C2 noun /ˌæk.rəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/

acrophobia

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

perusal

lecture attentive
Meaning
The action of reading or examining something carefully.
Example
The contract was given to the lawyer for perusal.
Le contrat a été remis à l'avocat pour une lecture attentive.
C2 noun /ˈbɪvuˌæk/

bivouac

bivouac
Meaning
a temporary camp without tents or cover, usually used by soldiers or mountaineers
Example
The climbers set up a bivouac on the mountainside.
Les grimpeurs ont installé un bivouac sur le flanc de la montagne.
C2 noun /ˌlɪk.wəˈfeɪ.ʃənt/

liquefacient

liquéfiant
Meaning
a substance that causes something to become liquid
Example
The chemist explained how the liquefacient worked in the experiment.
Le chimiste a expliqué comment le liquide fonctionnait dans l'expérience.
C2 noun /ˌpraɪmoʊˈdʒɛnɪtʃər/

primogeniture

primogéniture
Meaning
The right of the firstborn child to inherit the family estate or title.
Example
Under primogeniture, the eldest son inherited the entire estate.
Sous la primogéniture, le fils aîné a hérité de l'ensemble du domaine.
C2 noun /ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən/

declamation

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

Disputable

discutable; douteux
Meaning
open to debate or argument; questionable
Example
The facts in the case are disputable and need further investigation.
Les faits dans l'affaire sont discutables et nécessitent une enquête plus approfondie.
C2 adjective /beɪˈkoʊniən/

baconian

baconien
Meaning
Relating to the philosopher Francis Bacon or his method of scientific reasoning.
Example
The researcher followed a Baconian approach to observation and experimentation.
Le chercheur a suivi une approche baconienne de l'observation et de l'expérimentation.
C2 adjective /ˈswɔːrði/

swarthy

bronzé
Meaning
Having a dark complexion or skin tone.
Example
The sailor had a swarthy face from years under the sun.
Le marin avait le visage bronzé après des années sous le soleil.
C2 verb /əˈbæʃ/

abash

déconcerter
Meaning
to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
Example
Her sudden question seemed to abash him.
Sa question soudaine semblait le déstabiliser.
C2 adjective /ɪˈbʊliənt/

ebullient

exubérant
Meaning
cheerful and full of energy
Example
She was ebullient after receiving the good news.
Elle était exubérante après avoir reçu la bonne nouvelle.
C2 noun /ræŋˈɡuːn ˈkriːpər/

Rangoon creeper

Rangoon creeper
Meaning
A climbing vine with fragrant flowers that change color from white to pink to red
Example
The Rangoon creeper covered the entire fence with its sweet-smelling flowers.
Le Rangoon creeper a couvert toute la clôture avec ses fleurs parfumées.
C2 noun /əˈbrɪdʒmənt/

abridgment

abrégé
Meaning
A shortened version of a larger work, such as a book or speech.
Example
The publisher released an abridgment of the lengthy novel for students.
L'éditeur a publié un abrégé du long roman pour les étudiants.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrbɪtər/

arbiter

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

pachyderm

grand mammifère à peau épaisse
Meaning
a large mammal with thick skin, such as an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus
Example
The zoo had several pachyderms, including elephants and rhinos.
Le zoo avait plusieurs pachydermes, y compris des éléphants et des rhinocéros.
C2 verb /aɪˈdɒləˌtraɪz/

idolatrize

idolâtrer
Meaning
To worship idols; to regard with excessive devotion or admiration.
Example
They began to idolatrize the statue as a deity.
Ils ont commencé à idolâtrer la statue comme une divinité.
C2 noun /ˈoʊvərlɔːrd/

overlord

seigneur
Meaning
A ruler, master, or person of great power and authority over others.
Example
The peasants were forced to pay taxes to their overlord.
Les paysans ont été forcés de payer des impôts à leur seigneur.
C2 noun /pʌɡˈnæsɪti/

pugnacity

pugnacité
Meaning
A natural disposition to be combative or aggressive.
Example
The coach admired the player's pugnacity on the field.
L'entraîneur admirait la pugnacité du joueur sur le terrain.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkɔːrˈpɔːriəl/

incorporeal

incorporel
Meaning
lacking a physical body; not composed of matter; intangible
Example
Ghosts are often described as incorporeal beings.
Les fantômes sont souvent décrits comme des êtres incorporels.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɪmjʊˌleɪt/

dissimulate

dissimuler
Meaning
To disguise or conceal one's true feelings or intentions.
Example
He tried to dissimulate his fear with a smile.
Il a essayé de dissimuler sa peur avec un sourire.
C2 noun /ˈsaʊər wʊd ˈæp.əl/

Sour wood apple

pomme d'éléphant
Meaning
a tropical fruit with hard shell and tangy flesh; elephant apple
Example
The sour wood apple has a unique taste that many people enjoy.
La pomme d'éléphant a un goût unique que beaucoup de gens apprécient.
C2 verb /rɪˈsɪnd/

rescind

résilier
Meaning
to revoke, cancel, or repeal a law, order, or agreement
Example
The company decided to rescind the job offer.
L'entreprise a décidé de résilier l'offre d'emploi.
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 /ˈpɑːmi/

palmy

prospère / glorieux
Meaning
prosperous, flourishing, or relating to palm trees
Example
He often reminisced about the palmy days of his youth.
Il se souvenait souvent des jours prospères de sa jeunesse.
C2 noun /pɪˈdɒl.ə.dʒi/

pedology

science des sols
Meaning
The study of soils in their natural environment.
Example
Pedology helps scientists understand soil fertility.
La pédologie aide les scientifiques à comprendre la fertilité du sol.
C2 adjective /roʊˈtʌnd/

rotund

rond
Meaning
round or plump in shape; full in sound
Example
The rotund cat struggled to climb the fence.
Le chat rond avait du mal à grimper la clôture.
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 adjective /ɪmˈplaɪəbl/

impliable

impliquable
Meaning
Capable of being implied or suggested.
Example
The meaning of the statement is not directly clear but is impliable from the context.
Le sens de la déclaration n'est pas directement clair, mais il est impliquable à partir du contexte.
C2 noun /ˌluːkjʊˈbreɪʃən/

lucubration

étude nocturne
Meaning
study or meditation, especially at night
Example
His novel was the result of long lucubration.
Son roman était le résultat de longues études nocturnes.
C2 verb /stɑːntʃ/

stanch

arrêter le flux de sang
Meaning
to stop the flow of blood or liquid from a wound or source
Example
The nurse quickly stanched the bleeding from the cut.
l'infirmière a rapidement arrêté le saignement de la coupure.
C2 noun /moʊt/

mote

particule
Meaning
A tiny particle or speck, especially of dust.
Example
A mote of dust floated in the sunlight.
Une particule de poussière flottait dans la lumière du soleil.
C2 noun /ˈeɪ.pi.ˌɛr.i/

apiary

ruche
Meaning
A place where beehives are kept, especially for commercial purposes.
Example
The farmer built a new apiary to produce organic honey.
L'agriculteur a construit une nouvelle ruche pour produire du miel biologique.
C2 noun /ʃiːt fɪʃ/

Sheat-fish

silure
Meaning
A large freshwater catfish with a broad flat head and long barbels
Example
The sheat-fish is one of the largest freshwater fish in South Asia.
Le silure est l’un des plus grands poissons d’eau douce d’Asie du Sud.
C2 noun /drɛɡz/

dregs

dregs
Meaning
the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment or grounds; the most worthless part of something
Example
He drank the dregs of the coffee before leaving.
Il a bu les dregs du café avant de partir.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtɜːr/

disinter

désenterrer
Meaning
to dig up something buried, especially a body
Example
The archaeologists disinterred ancient remains from the site.
Les archéologues ont désenterré des restes anciens du site.
C2 noun /ˈbuːbi/

booby

idiot
Meaning
a foolish or gullible person; a silly individual
Example
He felt like a booby after making such a simple mistake.
Il s'est senti idiot après avoir fait une erreur si simple.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪfəni/

antiphony

antiphonie
Meaning
a form of music in which two or more groups or choirs sing alternately in response to each other
Example
The cathedral's architecture was designed to enhance the effect of antiphony.
L'architecture de la cathédrale a été conçue pour améliorer l'effet de l'antiphonie.
C2 verb /ˈwiːdəl/

wheedle

flatter pour convaincre
Meaning
to persuade or coax someone by using flattery or smooth talk
Example
She managed to wheedle extra pocket money from her father.
Elle a réussi à obtenir de l'argent de poche supplémentaire de son père.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːdreɪ/

padre

prêtre
Meaning
A title for a priest, especially in the Roman Catholic Church; also used informally for 'father'.
Example
The soldiers attended mass led by the padre.
Les soldats ont assisté à la messe dirigée par le prêtre.
C2 verb /ˈwaŋɡl/

wangle

obtenir quelque chose par astuce
Meaning
To achieve something by clever or sometimes dishonest persuasion or trickery.
Example
He wangled a free ticket to the concert.
Il a obtenu un billet gratuit pour le concert par astuce.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪt.ləs/

Witless

imbécile; stupide; sans intelligence
Meaning
lacking intelligence or wisdom; foolish
Example
His witless remarks during the meeting embarrassed everyone present.
Ses remarques stupides pendant la réunion ont embarrassé tous les présents.
C2 noun /kəmˈpleɪsəns/

complacence

Meaning
a feeling of quiet pleasure or self-satisfaction, often without awareness of potential danger
Example
His complacence prevented him from noticing the risks.
C2 adjective /ˌɛkstrəˌdʒuːˈdɪʃəl/

extrajudicial

extrajudiciaire
Meaning
done outside the authority of the legal system or judicial process
Example
The activists condemned the extrajudicial killings.
Les militants ont condamné les meurtres extrajudiciaires.
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 noun /ˈɡeɪm.stər/

gamester

joueur
Meaning
A person who plays games, especially one who plays them skillfully or professionally.
Example
The old tavern was filled with gamesters competing in cards and dice.
L'ancienne taverne était remplie de joueurs qui se mesuraient dans des jeux de cartes et de dés.
C2 verb /ˈeksɪkreɪt/

execrate

détester
Meaning
To feel or express great loathing or hatred for something.
Example
The community execrated the corrupt politician.
La communauté a détesté le politicien corrompu.
C2 noun /ˈrɛlɪkwɛri/

reliquary

reliquaire
Meaning
a container for holy relics
Example
The ancient reliquary was decorated with gold and precious stones.
Le reliquaire ancien était décoré d'or et de pierres précieuses.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪəri/

leery

méfiant
Meaning
Cautious or wary due to suspicion or distrust.
Example
She was leery of investing in the new business.
Elle était méfiante à l'idée d'investir dans le nouveau business.
C2 verb /ˈbækˌslaɪd/

backslide

rétrograder
Meaning
To relapse into bad habits, undesirable practices, or moral decline.
Example
After months of progress, he began to backslide into old habits.
Après des mois de progrès, il a commencé à revenir à ses anciennes habitudes.
C2 noun /ˌsɪɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

signification

signification
Meaning
the meaning or sense conveyed by a word, action, or symbol
Example
The signification of the gesture was misunderstood.
La signification du geste a été mal comprise.
C2 noun /ˌær.əˈbesk/

arabesque

design orné
Meaning
a complex, ornate design featuring intertwined flowing lines, often used in architecture or ballet poses
Example
The ceiling was decorated with delicate arabesque patterns.
Le plafond était décoré de délicats motifs arabesques.
C2 verb /ˌækwiˈɛs/

acquiesce

accepter sans protester
Meaning
to accept something reluctantly but without protest
Example
She decided to acquiesce to her parents’ wishes.
Elle a décidé d'accepter sans protester les souhaits de ses parents.
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 /ˈɛskwaɪər/

esquire

esquire
Meaning
A title of respect often used after a man's name, especially for lawyers in the United States.
Example
John Smith, Esquire, will be representing the client in court.
John Smith, Esquire, représentera le client au tribunal.
C2 noun /nɑːrˈsɪsəs/

narcissus

fleur de narcisse
Meaning
A type of flowering plant with yellow or white blooms, often associated with self-love from Greek mythology.
Example
A narcissus bloomed in the garden during spring.
Un narcisse a fleuri dans le jardin au printemps.
C2 noun /prɔːŋ/

prong

dent de fourchette
Meaning
a projecting pointed part, such as one of the pointed ends of a fork
Example
The fork has four prongs.
La fourchette a quatre dents.
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 adjective /kənˈvɪviəl/

convivial

amical, animé et agréable; sociable
Meaning
friendly, lively, and enjoyable; sociable
Example
The party had a convivial atmosphere with music and laughter.
La fête avait une atmosphère conviviale avec de la musique et des rires.
C2 verb /hjuː/

hew

couper
Meaning
To chop or cut something, especially wood or stone, with a tool.
Example
The workers hewed logs to build the cabin.
Les travailleurs ont coupé des bûches pour construire la cabane.
C2 adjective /ʌpˈrɔːr.i.əs/

uproarious

extrêmement drôle
Meaning
Extremely funny or noisy; causing loud laughter or commotion.
Example
The comedian's jokes were absolutely uproarious.
Les blagues du comédien étaient absolument extrêmement drôles.
C2 noun /dɪˌlɪniˈeɪʃən/

delineation

délimitation
Meaning
the precise description, drawing, or outlining of something
Example
The artist’s delineation of the landscape was remarkably accurate.
La délimitation du paysage par l'artiste était remarquablement précise.
C2 noun /blæk biː/

Black-bee

abeille noire
Meaning
a large dark-colored bee that makes a loud buzzing sound
Example
The black-bee was buzzing around the flowers in the garden.
L'abeille noire bourdonnait autour des fleurs dans le jardin.
C2 noun /ɪkˈspiːdiənsi/

expediency

opportunisme
Meaning
the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral
Example
He acted out of political expediency rather than principle.
Il a agi par opportunisme politique plutôt que par principe.
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 /spliːn/

spleen

rate; colère
Meaning
an organ in the body that produces lymphocytes and filters blood; also refers to bad temper or spite
Example
He vented his spleen on his coworkers after the meeting.
Il a exprimé sa colère sur ses collègues après la réunion.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsɪnklɪˈneɪʃən/

disinclination

désintérêt
Meaning
a lack of willingness or desire to do something
Example
She showed a clear disinclination to join the meeting.
Elle a montré un désintérêt évident à rejoindre la réunion.
C2 noun /ˌɔːltərˈkeɪʃən/

altercation

altercation, dispute
Meaning
a noisy argument or quarrel
Example
There was a brief altercation between the two drivers.
Il y a eu une brève altercation entre les deux conducteurs.
C2 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 adjective ˌvɪz.ju.oʊˈspeɪ.ʃəl

visuospatial

Relatif à la compréhension de la relation entre l'espace et les objets à travers la vision
Meaning
Related to understanding the relationship between space and objects through vision.
Example
Good visuospatial skills are important for architecture and design.
De bonnes compétences visuospatiales sont importantes pour l'architecture et le design.
C2 adjective /ˌpəʊstˈprændɪəl/

postprandial

postprandial
Meaning
Occurring after a meal.
Example
He went for a postprandial walk after dinner.
Il est allé faire une promenade postprandiale après le dîner.
C2 noun /ˌsuːpərɪnˈtɛndəns/

superintendence

supervision
Meaning
the act of overseeing, supervising, or managing
Example
The superintendence of the school is the principal’s duty.
La supervision de l'école est le devoir du principal.
C2 noun /bɪər/

bier

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

bigamy

bigamie
Meaning
The act of marrying one person while still legally married to another.
Example
He was charged with bigamy after his second marriage was discovered.
Il a été accusé de bigamie après que son second mariage ait été découvert.
C2 adjective /ˈsɛpərəbəl/

separable

séparable
Meaning
Capable of being separated or divided.
Example
The two issues are separable and should be discussed independently.
Les deux problèmes sont séparables et doivent être discutés indépendamment.