ascetic
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C2 adjective /əˈsɛt.ɪk/

ascetic

ascétique
Meaning
Practicing strict self-denial and abstaining from worldly pleasures, often for religious reasons.
Example
He lived an ascetic life in the mountains, far from worldly comforts.
Il vivait une vie ascétique dans les montagnes, loin des conforts mondains.
C2 adjective /rɪˈmɪs/

remiss

négligent
Meaning
Negligent in performing a duty or responsibility.
Example
The manager was remiss in not checking the financial reports carefully.
Le gestionnaire a été négligent en ne vérifiant pas soigneusement les rapports financiers.
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 verb /ˈmɪlɪˌteɪt/

militate

entraver
Meaning
to have a strong effect against something; to work as a powerful factor in preventing or influencing an outcome
Example
His lack of experience will militate against his promotion.
Son manque d'expérience nuira à sa promotion.
C2 adjective /ænˈhaɪdrəs/

anhydrous

anhydre
Meaning
Containing no water.
Example
The chemist used anhydrous ammonia for the experiment.
Le chimiste a utilisé de l'ammoniac anhydre pour l'expérience.
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 noun /loʊm/

loam

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

sobriquet

surnom
Meaning
a person's nickname or descriptive name
Example
The famous leader was known by the sobriquet 'The Iron Lady'.
Le célèbre leader était connu sous le surnom de 'La Dame de Fer'.
C2 noun /dʒenˈtɪl.ə.ti/

Gentility

gentillesse; raffinement
Meaning
social superiority as demonstrated by polite and refined manners; the quality of being well-mannered and refined
Example
Her natural gentility and grace made her popular among high society circles.
Sa gentillesse et sa grâce naturelles l'ont rendue populaire parmi les cercles de la haute société.
C2 adjective /ˈæʒər/

azure

azur
Meaning
A bright blue color like that of a clear sky.
Example
The clear sky was painted in a deep shade of azure.
Le ciel clair était peint d'une teinte profonde d'azur.
C2 noun /mɪf/

miff

petite querelle
Meaning
A petty quarrel or annoyance.
Example
They had a slight miff over the seating arrangement.
Ils ont eu une petite querelle à propos de l'arrangement des sièges.
C2 adjective ˌlæb.əˈrɪn.θaɪn

labyrinthine

labyrinthique
Meaning
Like a labyrinth; complicated and confusing; having many interconnected paths or passages.
Example
The old city streets were labyrinthine.
Les rues de la vieille ville étaient labyrinthiques.
C2 adjective /ˈnɒti/

knotty

compliqué
Meaning
Complicated, difficult to solve or full of knots.
Example
He faced a knotty legal issue.
Il a fait face à un problème juridique compliqué.
C2 noun /ɡiː/

Ghee

ghee
Meaning
clarified butter used in South Asian cooking
Example
She used ghee instead of butter for cooking the rice.
Elle a utilisé du ghee au lieu du beurre pour cuisiner le riz.
C2 noun /əˈpɒfəsɪs/

apophasis

apophase
Meaning
A rhetorical device where the speaker brings up a subject by denying it or pretending to pass over it.
Example
The politician used apophasis by saying, 'I won’t even mention my opponent’s scandals.'
Le politicien a utilisé l'apophase en disant : « Je ne mentionnerai même pas les scandales de mon adversaire. »
C2 noun /ˌɪrɪˈdɛsəns/

iridescence

brillance iridescente
Meaning
a play of lustrous, changing colors like those of a rainbow
Example
The butterfly's wings shimmered with iridescence.
Les ailes du papillon brillaient d'une brillance iridescente.
C2 noun /ˌrɛtroʊˈɡrɛʃən/

retrogression

rétrogradation
Meaning
a return to a worse or less developed state
Example
The country experienced economic retrogression after the crisis.
Le pays a connu une rétrogradation économique après la crise.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊltɪs/

poultice

cataplasme chaud aux herbes
Meaning
a soft, moist mass of material applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation
Example
The nurse applied a warm poultice to his injured leg.
L'infirmière a appliqué un cataplasme chaud sur sa jambe blessée.
C2 verb /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/

prevaricate

échapper à dire la vérité
Meaning
to avoid telling the truth by not giving a direct answer
Example
The politician began to prevaricate when asked about the scandal.
Le politicien a commencé à éviter lorsqu'on lui a posé des questions sur le scandale.
C2 noun /ˌɔːrnɪˈθɒlədʒɪst/

ornithologist

ornithologue
Meaning
a scientist who studies birds
Example
The ornithologist spent years studying migratory birds.
L'ornithologue a passé des années à étudier les oiseaux migrateurs.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊˈfoʊbiə/

hydrophobia

hydrophobie
Meaning
Extreme or irrational fear of water; historically, another name for rabies.
Example
After being bitten by a stray dog, the man was treated for hydrophobia.
Après avoir été mordu par un chien errant, l'homme a été traité pour l'hydrophobie.
C2 noun /məˈʃiː.nɪst/

machinist

machiniste
Meaning
a person who operates machine tools or makes and repairs machines
Example
The machinist carefully adjusted the gears on the lathe.
Le machiniste a ajusté soigneusement les engrenages sur le tour.
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 adjective /əˈluːviəl/

alluvial

alluvial
Meaning
Relating to or derived from alluvium (loose soil or sediment deposited by rivers).
Example
The farmers cultivate crops on the fertile alluvial plains.
Les agriculteurs cultivent des cultures sur les plaines alluviales fertiles.
C2 verb /fɔːrˈboʊd/

forebode

présager
Meaning
To predict or have a strong inner feeling of a future misfortune or evil.
Example
Dark clouds forebode a coming storm.
Les nuages sombres présagent une tempête à venir.
C2 noun /kjuːˈpɪdəti/

cupidity

cupidité
Meaning
Excessive desire for wealth or possessions; greed.
Example
The king's downfall was caused by his cupidity.
La chute du roi a été causée par sa cupidité.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvɪdiəs/

invidious

envieux
Meaning
likely to arouse resentment, envy, or anger in others
Example
The manager's invidious remarks created tension among the employees.
Les remarques envieuses du manager ont créé des tensions parmi les employés.
C2 verb /ænˈtɪpəθaɪz/

antipathize

antipathiser
Meaning
to feel or express a strong dislike or aversion toward something or someone
Example
He seemed to antipathize with the new management's approach.
Il semblait antipathiser avec l'approche de la nouvelle direction.
C2 adjective /pʌɡˈneɪʃəs/

pugnacious

agressif
Meaning
Having a quarrelsome or combative nature; eager to fight.
Example
His pugnacious attitude often got him into trouble.
Son attitude agressive le mettait souvent dans des ennuis.
C2 verb /kənˈdʒiːl/

congeal

congeler
Meaning
to become thick or solid, especially from cooling
Example
The soup began to congeal after being left on the table.
La soupe a commencé à se congeler après avoir été laissée sur la table.
C2 verb /ˈɔːreɪt/

orate

prêcher
Meaning
To speak in a formal, often pompous manner
Example
He began to orate at the ceremony.
Il a commencé à prêcher lors de la cérémonie.
C2 adjective /dɪˈstɛnsəbl̩/

distensible

distensible
Meaning
Capable of being stretched or expanded.
Example
The stomach is a distensible organ that can expand after eating.
L'estomac est un organe distensible qui peut se dilater après avoir mangé.
C2 verb /ˈrævɪʃ/

ravish

envoûter
Meaning
To fill with intense delight; to captivate or enchant.
Example
The beauty of the sunset ravished the travelers.
La beauté du coucher du soleil envoûta les voyageurs.
C2 noun /ˈfiːæt/

fiat

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

dupe

tromper
Meaning
To deceive or trick someone into believing or doing something.
Example
He was duped into buying a fake watch.
Il a été dupé en achetant une montre contrefaite.
C2 verb /ˈʌndərˌmæn/

underman

manquer de personnel
Meaning
to supply with fewer workers or personnel than needed
Example
The hospital was undermanned during the flu outbreak.
L'hôpital était sous-effectif pendant l'épidémie de grippe.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈvɜːrtɪbəl/

indivertible

indivertible
Meaning
Not able to be turned aside or diverted.
Example
The judge's indivertible attention was on the case.
L'attention indivertible du juge était sur l'affaire.
C2 adjective /ˈhed.i/

Heady

enivrant
Meaning
having a strong or exhilarating effect; intoxicating; exciting
Example
The heady perfume of jasmine filled the garden.
Le parfum enivrant du jasmin remplit le jardin.
C2 adjective /juːˈfoʊniəs/

euphonious

son harmonieux
Meaning
Pleasing to the ear; having a sweet sound.
Example
The poet's euphonious language made the verse a delight to read.
Le langage euphonieux du poète rendait le vers un plaisir à lire.
C2 noun /ˈæpədʒiː/

apogee

apogée
Meaning
the highest or most distant point; the climax or peak of something
Example
The empire reached its apogee during the 18th century.
L'empire a atteint son apogée au XVIIIe siècle.
C2 adjective /ˈɡɔːki/

gawky

maladroit
Meaning
Awkward and clumsy in appearance or behavior.
Example
The teenager felt gawky in his oversized suit.
L'adolescent se sentait maladroit dans son costume trop grand.
C2 noun /sfɪˈrɒmɪtər/

spherometer

sphéromètre
Meaning
An instrument used for measuring the curvature of spherical surfaces.
Example
The scientist used a spherometer to measure the lens curvature.
Le scientifique a utilisé un sphéromètre pour mesurer la courbure de la lentille.
C2 noun /tʃəˈmeɪ.li/

Chameli

jasmin
Meaning
a variety of jasmine flower with small white fragrant petals
Example
The chameli flowers are commonly used to make garlands and perfumes.
Les fleurs de jasmin sont couramment utilisées pour faire des guirlandes et des parfums.
C2 adjective /ˈɡʌstəˌtɔːri/

gustatory

gustatif
Meaning
relating to the sense of taste
Example
The restaurant offered a gustatory experience unlike any other.
Le restaurant a offert une expérience gustative unique.
C2 noun /ˈprɒsɪlaɪt/

proselyte

prosélyte
Meaning
A person who has converted from one belief, opinion, or religion to another.
Example
She became a proselyte after converting to a new faith.
Elle est devenue un prosélyte après s'être convertie à une nouvelle foi.
C2 noun /ˈskɪnˌflɪnt/

skinflint

avare
Meaning
a person who spends as little money as possible; a miser
Example
The landlord was such a skinflint that he never repaired anything.
Le propriétaire était tellement avare qu'il n'a jamais réparé quoi que ce soit.
C2 noun /ˌdɪʃəˈbiːl/

dishabille

déshabillé
Meaning
The state of being only partly or loosely dressed; casual or careless attire.
Example
She answered the door in a state of dishabille, wearing just a robe.
Elle a répondu à la porte dans un état de déshabillé, portant seulement un peignoir.
C2 verb (archaic/rare) /rɛk/

reck

se soucier
Meaning
To care about or be concerned with (something); to have regard for.
Example
He does not reck the dangers of his actions.
Il ne se soucie pas des dangers de ses actions.
C2 noun /ɪˈmɒljʊmənt/

emolument

salaire
Meaning
payment for work or services; salary or fees
Example
The professor received his annual emolument from the university.
Le professeur a reçu son salaire annuel de l'université.
C2 noun /ˈɡɜːrdər/

girder

poutre (en acier)
Meaning
a large, strong beam used to support buildings or bridges
Example
The steel girders held the weight of the bridge.
Les poutres en acier ont soutenu le poids du pont.
C2 noun ˌæɡ.roʊˈfɔːr.ɪ.stri

agroforestry

agroforesterie
Meaning
A land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland.
Example
Agroforestry improves soil quality and crop yield.
L'agroforesterie améliore la qualité du sol et le rendement des cultures.
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 noun /lɑːrˈʒes/

largess

générosité
Meaning
Generosity in giving gifts or money.
Example
The foundation survived thanks to the largess of wealthy donors.
La fondation a survécu grâce à la générosité des donateurs fortunés.
C2 noun /ˈhʌvəl/

hovel

taudis
Meaning
a small, poorly built, and dirty house
Example
The refugees lived in a makeshift hovel.
Les réfugiés vivaient dans un taudis improvisé.
C2 noun /məˈdɒn.ə/

madonna

madonna (Vierge Marie)
Meaning
An artistic representation of the Virgin Mary; also used as a respectful form of address for a woman in Italian culture.
Example
The Renaissance painting depicts a Madonna holding child Jesus.
La peinture de la Renaissance dépeint une Madonna tenant l'enfant Jésus.
C2 adjective /ˈdaʊti/

doughty

courageux
Meaning
brave, valiant, courageous
Example
The doughty soldier never backed down from a challenge.
Le soldat courageux n'a jamais reculé face à un défi.
C2 noun /ˈtrɪmnəs/

trimness

ordre
Meaning
the quality of being neat, orderly, or slender and well-proportioned
Example
Her room’s trimness reflected a habit of putting everything back in its place.
L'ordre dans sa chambre reflétait l'habitude de tout remettre à sa place.
C2 adjective /əˌnækrəˈnɪstɪk/

anachronistic

anachronique
Meaning
belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; old-fashioned or outdated
Example
His views on gender roles are considered anachronistic.
Ses opinions sur les rôles de genre sont considérées comme anachroniques.
C2 adjective /mæɡˈnɪləkwənt/

magniloquent

langage pompeux
Meaning
using high-flown or pompous language
Example
The politician’s magniloquent speech impressed the crowd.
Le discours pompeux du politicien a impressionné la foule.
C2 verb /dɪsˈteɪn/

distain

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

sophist

sophiste
Meaning
a person who uses clever but misleading arguments
Example
He was dismissed as a sophist who twisted facts to win debates.
Il a été rejeté comme un sophiste qui déformait les faits pour gagner des débats.
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 /ˌɛfəˈvɛsənt/

effervescent

effervescent
Meaning
Giving off bubbles; lively, enthusiastic, and full of energy.
Example
She had an effervescent personality that brightened every room.
Elle avait une personnalité effervescente qui éclairait chaque pièce.
C2 noun /ˌɛksɪˈkreɪʃən/

execration

malédiction
Meaning
An act of cursing or denouncing someone or something with hatred.
Example
The dictator’s name was spoken with execration after his fall.
Le nom du dictateur a été prononcé avec malédiction après sa chute.
C2 noun /ˈtjuːtɪlɪdʒ/

tutelage

tutelle
Meaning
The act of guarding, protecting, or guiding; instruction or teaching.
Example
She studied painting under the tutelage of a famous artist.
Elle a étudié la peinture sous la tutelle d'un artiste célèbre.
C2 noun /ˈkɪŋɡlɪŋ/

kingling

petit roi
Meaning
A minor or petty king; a ruler of small importance.
Example
The kingling demanded respect from his people despite his small realm.
Le petit roi exigeait le respect de son peuple malgré son petit royaume.
C2 noun /bɛl/

belle

belle femme
Meaning
A beautiful woman, especially the most attractive woman at a gathering.
Example
She was the belle of the ball that evening.
Elle était la belle du bal ce soir-là.
C2 adjective /ɪˈrɛfrəɡəbəl/

irrefragable

irréfutable
Meaning
Impossible to refute, deny, or break
Example
The lawyer presented irrefragable evidence that proved his client’s innocence.
L'avocat a présenté des preuves irréfutables qui ont prouvé l'innocence de son client.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪˌbraʊ/

highbrow

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

plenteous

abondant
Meaning
existing in great quantity; abundant
Example
The harvest was plenteous, providing enough food for the entire village.
La récolte était abondante, fournissant suffisamment de nourriture pour tout le village.
C2 noun /leɪð/

lathe

tour
Meaning
A machine for shaping wood, metal, or other material by rotating it against a cutting tool.
Example
The carpenter used a lathe to shape the wooden bowl.
Le menuisier a utilisé un tour pour façonner le bol en bois.
C2 verb /vɪˈtjuːpəreɪt/

vituperate

vitupérer
Meaning
To criticize harshly or abuse verbally.
Example
The politician was quick to vituperate his opponents during the debate.
Le politicien a vite vitupéré ses opposants pendant le débat.
C2 noun /ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən/

depredation

pillage
Meaning
An act of attacking or plundering; damage caused by such acts.
Example
The villagers feared the depredation of wild animals at night.
Les villageois craignaient le pillage des animaux sauvages la nuit.
C2 noun /mjuːˈnɪfəsəns/

munificence

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

connote

connoter
Meaning
To suggest or imply an additional meaning beyond the literal one.
Example
The word 'youthful' connotes energy and vitality.
Le mot 'juvénile' connoté énergie et vitalité.
C2 verb /dɪsˈroʊb/

disrobe

se déshabiller
Meaning
to remove one's clothes
Example
The monk disrobed before entering the river.
Le moine s'est déshabillé avant d'entrer dans la rivière.
C2 adjective, noun /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/

grating

son désagréable / grille métallique
Meaning
Harsh and unpleasant to the senses, especially sound; a framework of bars covering an opening.
Example
The teacher's grating voice made it hard to concentrate.
La voix désagréable de l'enseignant rendait la concentration difficile.
C2 verb /əˈbrɪdʒ/

abridge

abréger
Meaning
to shorten a text without losing its meaning
Example
The editor decided to abridge the long novel for young readers.
L'éditeur a décidé d'abréger le long roman pour les jeunes lecteurs.
C2 noun /ˈlɪbərˌtiːn/

libertine

personne immorale
Meaning
A person who behaves without moral principles, especially in sexual matters.
Example
The novel depicted the reckless life of a libertine in 18th century France.
Le roman décrivait la vie débridée d'un libertin dans la France du XVIIIe siècle.
C2 noun /ˈkɪzmɛt/

kismet

destin
Meaning
Destiny or fate.
Example
Meeting her on that day felt like pure kismet.
La rencontrer ce jour-là a ressemblé à un pur destin.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəˈmoʊd/

discommode

déranger
Meaning
To cause inconvenience or trouble to someone.
Example
I hope my request does not discommode you.
J'espère que ma demande ne vous dérangera pas.
C2 adjective /ˌhaɪpəˈdɜːrmɪk/

hypodermic

hypodermique
Meaning
relating to the region immediately beneath the skin; also refers to a type of needle or syringe used to inject drugs beneath the skin.
Example
The doctor used a hypodermic needle to administer the vaccine.
Le médecin a utilisé une aiguille hypodermique pour administrer le vaccin.
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 verb /ˈmɒtl/

mottle

moucheté
Meaning
To mark with spots or patches of color.
Example
The leaves were mottled with shades of yellow and brown.
Les feuilles étaient marquées de taches jaunes et brunes.
C2 noun /ˈvæsəl/

vassal

vassal
Meaning
A person or country in a subordinate position to another, especially in feudal times under a lord.
Example
The king granted land to his vassal in return for loyalty and service.
Le roi a accordé des terres à son vassal en échange de loyauté et de service.
C2 adjective /ˈblæs.fə.məs/

blasphemous

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

grantee

bénéficiaire
Meaning
A person or organization that receives a grant or benefit.
Example
The grantee must submit a progress report every six months.
Le bénéficiaire doit soumettre un rapport d'avancement tous les six mois.
C2 noun /ˈmædrɪɡəl/

madrigal

madrigal
Meaning
A short, lyrical poem set to music, typically from the Renaissance period.
Example
The choir performed a beautiful madrigal from the 16th century.
Le chœur a interprété un magnifique madrigal du XVIe siècle.
C2 noun /ˈɒkjʊlɪst/

oculist

ophtalmologiste
Meaning
An old-fashioned term for an eye doctor or ophthalmologist.
Example
The village oculist was known for treating various eye diseases.
L'oculiste du village était connu pour traiter diverses maladies des yeux.
C2 noun /ˈɪn.fɪ.del/

Infidel

infidèle
Meaning
a person who does not believe in religion or whose religious beliefs differ from one's own
Example
In historical contexts, crusaders often referred to their enemies as infidels.
Dans des contextes historiques, les croisés se référaient souvent à leurs ennemis comme des infidèles.
C2 noun /ˈnɪk.næk/

knickknack

bonheur
Meaning
A small decorative object, especially in a house.
Example
The shelf was full of little knickknacks collected from their travels.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˈsfɛrɔɪd/

spheroid

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

obeisance

révérence
Meaning
A gesture of respect such as a bow or curtsy.
Example
They bowed in obeisance to the king.
Ils se sont inclinés en révérence au roi.
C2 noun /ˈɔːldərmən/

alderman

membre du conseil municipal
Meaning
An elected member of a municipal council in certain cities and towns.
Example
The alderman proposed a new plan for community parks.
L'adjoint au maire a proposé un nouveau plan pour les parcs communautaires.
C2 noun /ˌsɪləbɪˈkeɪʃən/

syllabication

syllabation
Meaning
The division of words into syllables.
Example
Proper syllabication helps in correct pronunciation.
Une bonne syllabation aide à une prononciation correcte.
C2 adjective /ˈsækərɪn/

saccharine

bonheur
Meaning
Excessively sweet or sentimental.
Example
His saccharine smile seemed insincere.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˈfeɪlæŋks/

phalanx

phalanx
Meaning
A group of people or things arranged in a compact, close formation; also an ancient Greek military formation.
Example
A phalanx of reporters waited outside the courthouse.
Un groupe de journalistes attendait devant le tribunal.
C2 noun /ˈoʊ.kəm/

oakum

fibre de corde usée
Meaning
loose fibers obtained by untwisting old ropes, used for caulking ships
Example
The shipbuilders used oakum to seal the gaps in the wooden planks.
Les charpentiers de marine ont utilisé de l'okum pour sceller les fissures dans les planches en bois.
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 /ˈdrʌmɪt/

Drumet

drumet
Meaning
a small drum used in military or marching bands
Example
The drummer played a steady beat on the drumet during the parade.
Le batteur a joué un rythme constant sur le drumet pendant le défilé.
C2 noun /ɪmp/

imp

petit diablotin espiègle
Meaning
a small mischievous devil or sprite; a playful troublemaker
Example
The child was acting like a little imp, hiding his toys everywhere.
L'enfant agissait comme un petit diablotin, cachant ses jouets partout.
C2 verb /diːˈfrɑːk/

defrock

révoquer un prêtre de sa fonction
Meaning
to officially remove a priest or minister from their position and authority
Example
The church decided to defrock the priest after the scandal.
L'église a décidé de démettre le prêtre après le scandale.
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 noun /əbˈstɛtrɪks/

obstetrics

obstétrique
Meaning
The branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and care of women giving birth.
Example
She is studying obstetrics to become a specialist in childbirth.
Elle étudie l'obstétrique pour devenir spécialiste de l'accouchement.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊ.li.oʊ/

folio

grand livre ou manuscrit
Meaning
A sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves (four pages) of a book; also a term for a large book or manuscript.
Example
The library houses an ancient Shakespeare folio.
La bibliothèque abrite un ancien folio de Shakespeare.
C2 noun /ˈsɪʒ.ən/

scission

scission
Meaning
the act of cutting or dividing something
Example
The political party suffered a scission over ideological disputes.
Le parti politique a subi une scission en raison de différends idéologiques.
C2 noun /ˈprɪvɪti/

privity

relation privée, relation contractuelle
Meaning
A close, private, or special relationship; in law, the direct connection between parties to a contract.
Example
There was no privity of contract between the supplier and the customer.
Il n'y avait pas de relation contractuelle entre le fournisseur et le client.
C2 verb /ˈkʌzən/

cozen

tromper, arnaquer
Meaning
to deceive, cheat, or trick someone
Example
He cozened the old man out of his money.
Il a trompé le vieil homme et lui a pris son argent.
C2 verb /ˈlɪk.wɪ.faɪ/

liquefy

liquéfier
Meaning
to make or become liquid
Example
The heat will liquefy the butter in a few minutes.
La chaleur liquéfiera le beurre en quelques minutes.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛdˌpæn/

deadpan

impassible
Meaning
Deliberately impassive or expressionless in manner.
Example
She delivered the joke in a completely deadpan voice.
Elle a livré la blague avec une voix complètement impassible.
C2 noun /ˌbɒmbərˈdɪər/

bombardier

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

translucence

semi-transparence
Meaning
the quality of allowing light to pass through but not detailed shapes
Example
The translucence of the curtains filled the room with soft light.
La semi-transparence des rideaux remplissait la pièce de lumière douce.
C2 noun /səbˈdʌk.ʃən/

subduction

Le mouvement latéral et vers le bas d'une couche de la croûte terrestre dans le manteau sous une autre plaque.
Meaning
The lateral and downward movement of the edge of a plate of the earth's crust into the mantle beneath another plate.
Example
The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area of intense subduction.
La ceinture de feu du Pacifique est une zone de subduction intense.
C2 noun juːˈbɪkwɪti

ubiquity

ubiquité
Meaning
The fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common.
Example
The ubiquity of smartphones has transformed communication.
L'ubiquité des smartphones a transformé la communication.
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 adjective /ˈdɛsəlˌtɔːri/

desultory

désordonné
Meaning
lacking a clear plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
Example
His desultory conversation bored the audience.
Sa conversation désordonnée ennuyait le public.
C2 noun /dɪˈklɪvɪti/

declivity

pente
Meaning
a downward slope of ground
Example
They carefully climbed down the declivity of the hill.
Ils ont grimpé prudemment la pente de la colline.
C2 adjective /ˈɪrˌsplɪtɪŋ/

earsplitting

assourdissant
Meaning
extremely loud or piercing sound
Example
The earsplitting noise of the fire alarm startled everyone.
Le bruit assourdissant de l'alarme incendie a surpris tout le monde.
C2 noun /tʃɜːrl/

churl

rustre
Meaning
A rude, boorish, or ill-mannered person.
Example
The waiter was such a churl that customers left unhappy.
Le serveur était un tel rustre que les clients sont partis mécontents.
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.