Barbarian
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C1 noun /bɑːrˈbeəriən/

Barbarian

barbare; sauvage;
Meaning
a person from an uncivilized group; someone who is cruel or brutal
Example
The ancient Romans considered anyone outside their empire to be barbarians.
Les anciens Romains considéraient comme des barbares tous ceux qui étaient hors de leur empire.
C1 noun /ˈɑn.set/

Onset

début; commencement
Meaning
the beginning or early stages of something; the start of a medical condition
Example
The onset of winter brought heavy snowfall.
Le début de l'hiver a apporté de fortes chutes de neige.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɪd.ju.əs/

deciduous

décidu
Meaning
Referring to trees that shed their leaves seasonally, typically in autumn.
Example
Oak and maple trees are deciduous, shedding leaves in autumn.
Les chênes et les érables sont des arbres décidues, perdant leurs feuilles en automne.
C1 verb /ɪkˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/

extinguish

éteindre
Meaning
to put out a fire, light, or to end something
Example
The firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze within an hour.
Les pompiers ont réussi à éteindre l'incendie en une heure.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈsɪstənt/

insistent

insistant
Meaning
demanding something firmly and refusing to accept no
Example
The child was insistent on getting a new toy.
L'enfant était insistant pour obtenir un nouveau jouet.
C1 verb /aʊtˈlɪv/

outlive

survivre
Meaning
to live longer than someone or something else
Example
She outlived all her siblings.
Elle a vécu plus longtemps que tous ses frères et sœurs.
C1 noun /ˈmæksɪm/

maxim

maxime
Meaning
a short, well-known statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct
Example
Honesty is a timeless maxim valued in every culture.
L'honnêteté est une maxime intemporelle valorisée dans toutes les cultures.
C1 verb /kwɛl/

quell

réprimer
Meaning
To suppress or put an end to something, usually by force.
Example
The police were called to quell the violent protest.
La police a été appelée pour réprimer la manifestation violente.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɛntɪd/

demented

dément / irrationnel
Meaning
behaving irrationally due to mental illness or extreme excitement
Example
He looked demented after hearing the shocking news.
Il avait l'air dément après avoir entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C1 noun /dɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/

denunciation

dénonciation / accusation publique
Meaning
the public condemnation or accusation of someone or something
Example
The journalist's article was a strong denunciation of corruption.
L'article du journaliste était une forte dénonciation de la corruption.
C1 adjective /kəmˈpleɪsənt/

complacent

complaisant
Meaning
showing self-satisfaction and a lack of concern about potential dangers or problems
Example
The team grew complacent after a few victories and stopped practicing hard.
L'équipe est devenue complaisante après quelques victoires et a arrêté de s'entraîner dur.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfaɪənt/

Defiant

défiant; rebelle
Meaning
boldly resistant or challenging; disobedient
Example
The defiant student refused to follow the rules.
L'étudiant défiant a refusé de suivre les règles.
C1 noun /dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃən/

denomination

dénomination, valeur
Meaning
a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church; a unit of value or currency
Example
The church belongs to a Protestant denomination.
L'église appartient à une dénomination protestante.
C1 adjective /ˈven.ə.məs/

Venomous

venimeux; malveillant;
Meaning
secreting venom; full of malice or spite; extremely hostile
Example
The venomous snake struck quickly at its prey.
Le serpent venimeux a frappé rapidement sa proie.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈruːli/

Unruly

désordonné; indiscipliné;
Meaning
difficult to control or manage; disorderly and disruptive
Example
The unruly crowd refused to follow the safety instructions.
La foule indisciplinée a refusé de suivre les instructions de sécurité.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.li.ə/

Dahlia

dahlia
Meaning
a garden plant with brightly colored flowers that bloom in summer and autumn
Example
She planted colorful dahlias in her garden last summer.
Elle a planté des dahlias colorés dans son jardin l'été dernier.
C1 noun ˈpraʊ.es

prowess

compétence
Meaning
Skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.
Example
Prowess in sports enhances team strength.
La compétence dans les sports renforce la force de l'équipe.
C1 noun dʒəˈnɛt.ɪk ˌmɒd.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən

genetic modification

modification génétique
Meaning
The process of altering the genetic code of plants or animals.
Example
Genetic modification enhances crop resistance to pests and diseases.
La modification génétique améliore la résistance des cultures aux ravageurs et aux maladies.
C1 verb /ˈheɪsən/

hasten

hâter
Meaning
To move or act quickly; to cause something to happen sooner.
Example
He hastened to finish his work before the deadline.
Il s'est dépêché de finir son travail avant la date limite.
C1 verb əˈkruː

accrue

accumuler
Meaning
To accumulate or receive (payments or benefits) over time.
Example
Interest accrues on the savings account every month.
Les intérêts s'accumulent chaque mois sur le compte d'épargne.
C1 adjective /ˈnæs.ənt/

nascent

naissant
Meaning
Emerging, developing, or in the early stages of formation
Example
The nascent technology is revolutionizing industries.
La technologie naissante révolutionne les industries.
C1 adjective /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/

estranged

éloigné
Meaning
no longer close or affectionate with someone; alienated
Example
She felt estranged from her family after the long dispute.
Elle se sentait éloignée de sa famille après le long différend.
C1 adjective /ˌeɪsɪˈmɛtrɪk/

asymmetric

asymétrique
Meaning
Not having equal or corresponding parts; lacking symmetry.
Example
The design of the building is asymmetric and unusual.
Le design du bâtiment est asymétrique et inhabituel.
C1 noun /ˈrɛt.ər.ɪk/

rhetoric

l'art de parler ou d'écrire de manière efficace ou persuasive
Meaning
The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing; skillful use of language to influence others.
Example
Political leaders often use rhetoric to influence people.
Les leaders politiques utilisent souvent la rhétorique pour influencer les gens.
C1 noun /swiːt.laɪm/

Sweetlime

citron doux
Meaning
a citrus fruit that is sweeter and less acidic than regular lime
Example
The sweetlime juice was refreshing on a hot day.
Le jus de citron doux était rafraîchissant lors d'une journée chaude.
C1 noun /ˌæn.əˈnɪm.ə.ti/

anonymity

anonymat
Meaning
The state of being anonymous; having one's identity kept secret or unknown.
Example
Online anonymity protects users from cyber threats.
L'anonymat en ligne protège les utilisateurs des menaces informatiques.
C1 noun /ˈtrɪnɪti/

trinity

trinité
Meaning
a group of three closely related things; in Christianity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Example
The museum’s exhibit focused on a trinity of themes: memory, identity, and power.
L'exposition du musée s'est concentrée sur une trinité de thèmes : mémoire, identité et pouvoir.
C1 adjective /ˌiːɡəˈtɪstɪkəl/

egotistical

égocentrique
Meaning
Excessively self-absorbed or conceited.
Example
Her egotistical behavior made it difficult for her to maintain friendships.
Son comportement égocentrique rendait difficile le maintien de ses amitiés.
C1 adjective /əbˈnɒkʃəs/

Obnoxious

odieux
Meaning
extremely unpleasant; offensive; annoying
Example
His obnoxious behavior at the party annoyed everyone.
Son comportement odieux à la fête a agacé tout le monde.
C1 verb /əˈsæsɪneɪt/

assassinate

assassiner
Meaning
To murder someone important, often a political or religious leader, usually by surprise attack.
Example
The rebels planned to assassinate the king.
Les rebelles ont planifié d'assassiner le roi.
C1 noun ˌes.kəˈleɪ.ʃən

escalation

augmentation rapide; une montée.
Meaning
A rapid increase; a rise.
Example
The escalation of production costs impacts profitability.
L'escalade des coûts de production impacte la rentabilité.
C1 noun /sɪˈnɪləti/

senility

sénilité
Meaning
The state of being old and showing the weaknesses of age, especially mental decline.
Example
His forgetfulness was attributed to senility.
Sa perte de mémoire a été attribuée à la sénilité.
C1 verb /dɪˈmɔrəˌlaɪz/

demoralize

démoraliser
Meaning
to cause someone to lose confidence or hope
Example
The constant criticism demoralized the young athlete.
La critique constante a démoralisé le jeune athlète.
C1 verb /dʒəʊlt/

jolt

secousse
Meaning
to push or shake someone or something abruptly and roughly
Example
The sudden stop jolted all the passengers forward.
L'arrêt soudain a fait avancer tous les passagers.
C1 noun /plʊəˈrælɪti/

plurality

pluralité ou majorité
Meaning
the state of being multiple; the greater part or majority
Example
In the election, she won by a plurality of votes.
Lors de l'élection, elle a gagné par une pluralité de voix.
C1 adjective /ˌeɪθiˈɪstɪk/

atheistic

athéiste
Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of atheists or atheism.
Example
She grew up in an atheistic household with no religious rituals.
Elle a grandi dans une maison athée sans rituels religieux.
C1 noun, verb /ˈfrænʧaɪz/

franchise

franchise
Meaning
A legal right to sell or distribute goods or services in a specific area; to grant such a right.
Example
He opened a new fast-food franchise in the city.
Il a ouvert une nouvelle franchise de restauration rapide dans la ville.
C1 adjective /ˈweɪwərd/

wayward

rebelle
Meaning
Difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior.
Example
The teacher struggled to manage the wayward students.
L'enseignant avait du mal à gérer les élèves rebelles.
C1 noun /ˌræm.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

ramification

conséquence
Meaning
a consequence of an action or event, often complex or unwelcome.
Example
The new law has serious social ramifications.
La nouvelle loi a de graves conséquences sociales.
C1 adjective /ˌʌndərɪkˈspoʊzd/

underexposed

peu exposé, négligé
Meaning
insufficiently exposed to light (in photography) or not given enough attention
Example
The photo was underexposed and looked too dark.
La photo était sous-exposée et paraissait trop sombre.
C1 noun /ˈnɛktəriːn/

nectarine

nectarine (variété de pêche à peau lisse)
Meaning
A smooth-skinned variety of peach.
Example
She bought a basket of fresh nectarines from the market.
Elle a acheté un panier de nectarines fraîches au marché.
C1 adjective /ˌʌn.əˈdʌl.tə.reɪ.tɪd/

Unadulterated

pur
Meaning
not mixed or diluted with any different or extra elements; pure
Example
She felt unadulterated joy when she heard the news.
Elle a ressenti une joie pure lorsqu'elle a entendu la nouvelle.
C1 noun /ˌprɒk.ləˈmeɪ.ʃən/

Proclamation

proclamation
Meaning
an official public announcement, especially one made by someone in authority
Example
The king issued a proclamation declaring peace.
Le roi a publié une proclamation déclarant la paix.
C1 adjective /ˈmænɪfoʊld/

Manifold

multiples
Meaning
many and of several different types; multiple; various
Example
The project has manifold benefits for the community.
Le projet présente de multiples avantages pour la communauté.
C1 noun /ɪnˈfɜːməri/

infirmary

infirmerie
Meaning
A hospital or place where the sick or injured are cared for.
Example
The school had an infirmary for minor injuries.
L'école avait une infirmerie pour les blessures mineures.
C1 verb /ˈvɪktɪmaɪz/

victimize

victimiser
Meaning
To make someone a victim, often by treating them unfairly or cruelly.
Example
The corrupt officials victimized the poor villagers.
Les fonctionnaires corrompus ont victimisé les pauvres villageois.
C1 verb /nɪp/

nip

pincer
Meaning
to pinch or bite lightly; to move quickly
Example
The cold wind nipped at my face.
Le vent froid m’a pincé le visage.
C1 noun /ˈtem.pər.ə.mənt/

Temperament

tempérament; humeur; disposition naturelle
Meaning
a person's natural disposition or mood; characteristic behavior patterns
Example
She has a calm temperament that helps her handle stress well.
Elle a un tempérament calme qui l'aide à bien gérer le stress.
C1 noun /ˌvɜːrtʃuˈoʊsoʊ/

virtuoso

artiste virtuose
Meaning
A person highly skilled in music, art, or another artistic pursuit.
Example
The pianist is a true virtuoso, captivating audiences worldwide.
Le pianiste est un véritable artiste virtuose, captivant les auditoires du monde entier.
C1 noun kəˈlæt.ər.əl

collateral

garantie, bien offert comme sécurité pour un prêt
Meaning
Something pledged as security for repayment of a loan, to be forfeited in the event of a default.
Example
The bank requires collateral for loan approval.
La banque exige une garantie pour l'approbation du prêt.
C1 adjective /kənˈtɛmptʃuəs/

contemptuous

méprisant, dédaigneux
Meaning
showing or expressing contempt; scornful
Example
She gave him a contemptuous glance.
Elle lui lança un regard méprisant.
C1 adjective /ˈdaɪ.si/

dicey

risqué
Meaning
Risky or unpredictable; potentially dangerous.
Example
Investing in that company looks pretty dicey right now.
Investir dans cette entreprise semble assez risqué en ce moment.
C1 noun /weɪ/

Whey

lactosérum
Meaning
the watery part of milk that separates from the curds when making cheese
Example
Whey protein is popular among athletes and bodybuilders.
La protéine de lactosérum est populaire parmi les athlètes et les culturistes.
C1 noun /prəˈpɛlənt/

propellant

propulseur
Meaning
A substance that drives or pushes something forward, especially fuel in rockets or engines.
Example
The rocket uses a liquid propellant to launch into space.
La fusée utilise un propulseur liquide pour se lancer dans l'espace.
C1 adjective /ˌfɑːrˈfɛtʃt/

far-fetched

farfelu
Meaning
unlikely to happen or be true; improbable
Example
His explanation for being late was a bit far-fetched.
Son explication pour être en retard était un peu farfelue.
C1 verb /ɪnˈdaɪt/

indict

inculper
Meaning
to formally accuse someone of committing a serious crime
Example
The grand jury decided to indict the politician for corruption.
Le grand jury a décidé d'inculper le politicien pour corruption.
C1 noun /ˈwɪmzi/

whimsy

fantaisie
Meaning
playful or fanciful behavior or humor
Example
Her stories were full of whimsy and imagination.
Ses histoires étaient pleines de fantaisie et d'imagination.
C1 noun /ˈpen.əns/

Penance

pénitence; châtiment pour avoir fait quelque chose de mal
Meaning
punishment that you accept for doing something wrong; an act of showing that you are sorry for sin
Example
The monk performed penance for his past mistakes.
Le moine a fait pénitence pour ses erreurs passées.
C1 adjective /tɔːt/

taut

tendu
Meaning
stretched or pulled tight; tense
Example
The rope was pulled taut between the two poles.
La corde était tendue entre les deux poteaux.
C1 noun ˈdɪl.ɪ.dʒəns

diligence

diligence
Meaning
Careful and persistent work or effort.
Example
Success requires patience and diligence.
Le succès nécessite de la patience et de la diligence.
C1 noun /dɪˈstɔːrʃən/

distortion

distorsion, déformation
Meaning
the action of twisting, changing, or misrepresenting the shape, sound, or truth of something
Example
There was a distortion in the radio signal.
Il y avait une distorsion dans le signal radio.
C1 verb /prɪˈzaɪd/

preside

présider
Meaning
to be in charge of a meeting, event, or organization
Example
She will preside over the meeting tomorrow.
Elle présidera la réunion demain.
C1 verb /ˈsɪn.θə.saɪz/

synthesize

synthétiser
Meaning
To combine a number of things into a coherent whole.
Example
Scientists synthesize new compounds for medical research.
Les scientifiques synthétisent de nouveaux composés pour la recherche médicale.
C1 adjective /nɪˈɡlɛktfʊl/

neglectful

négligent
Meaning
Failing to give proper care or attention.
Example
The neglectful parent left the child alone for hours.
Le parent négligent a laissé l'enfant seul pendant des heures.
C1 adjective /ˌmɒnəˈlɪθɪk/

monolithic

monolithique
Meaning
Massive, uniform, and indivisible; resembling a large single stone or structure.
Example
The company maintained a monolithic structure resistant to change.
L'entreprise a maintenu une structure monolithique résistante au changement.
C1 verb /dɪˈmiːn/

demean

dévaloriser
Meaning
to cause someone to lose dignity or respect
Example
The manager demeaned his employees with rude remarks.
Le gestionnaire a dévalorisé ses employés avec des remarques grossières.
C1 adjective /ˈkæni/

canny

astucieux
Meaning
Having good judgment, especially in business or practical matters; shrewd.
Example
She made a canny investment in real estate.
Elle a fait un investissement astucieux dans l'immobilier.
C1 noun /ˌloʊ.kəˈmoʊ.tɪv/

locomotive

locomotive
Meaning
A powered rail vehicle used for pulling trains.
Example
The old steam locomotive was restored for the museum.
L'ancienne locomotive à vapeur a été restaurée pour le musée.
C1 noun /ˈmoʊ.tər ˈlɔː.ri/

Motor lorry

camion motorisé
Meaning
a large motor vehicle used for transporting goods; truck
Example
The motor lorry delivered fresh vegetables to the market.
Le camion motorisé a livré des légumes frais au marché.
C1 adjective /ˈsaʊnd.pruːf/

Sound-proof

insonorisé; empêchant le son d'entrer ou de sortir
Meaning
impervious to sound; preventing sound from entering or leaving
Example
The recording studio has sound-proof walls.
Le studio d'enregistrement a des murs insonorisés.
C1 noun /ˈdʒɒt.ər/

Jotter

cahier
Meaning
a small notebook for writing quick notes or reminders
Example
The student carried a jotter to write down important points during lectures.
L'étudiant a emporté un cahier pour noter des points importants pendant les cours.
C1 noun /ˈæntlɚ/

antler

corne de cerf
Meaning
The branched horns on the head of a deer or similar animal, usually shed and regrown annually.
Example
The deer’s antlers grew larger each year.
Les cornes de cerf devenaient plus grandes chaque année.
C1 noun /ˈhɒrəˌskoʊp/

horoscope

horoscope
Meaning
A forecast of a person's future based on the positions of the stars and planets at their birth.
Example
She read her horoscope every morning to see what the stars predicted.
Elle lisait son horoscope chaque matin pour voir ce que les étoiles prédisaient.
C1 noun /ˈsɜːr.vɪ.tuːd/

Servitude

servitude
Meaning
the state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful
Example
Many people fought to escape the servitude imposed by the colonial system.
De nombreuses personnes se sont battues pour échapper à la servitude imposée par le système colonial.
C1 noun/verb mælˈfʌŋk.ʃən

malfunction

panne
Meaning
A failure to function normally or satisfactorily; a defect or breakdown.
Example
The engine malfunctioned due to overheating.
Le moteur a dysfonctionné à cause de la surchauffe.
C1 noun /ʃraɪn/

Shrine

sanctuaire; temple; lieu sacré
Meaning
a holy or sacred place dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, or saint
Example
Pilgrims visit the shrine to pray for good health.
Les pèlerins visitent le sanctuaire pour prier pour une bonne santé.
C1 noun /siˈɛrə klʌb/

Sierra Club

Sierra Club
Meaning
An American environmental organization founded in 1892 by John Muir, focused on promoting conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions.
Example
John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892 to protect wild areas.
John Muir a fondé le Sierra Club en 1892 pour protéger les zones sauvages.
C1 adjective /ˌrɛtroʊˈæktɪv/

retroactive

rétroactif
Meaning
applying to a period before it was enacted or established
Example
The new law was made retroactive to cover past cases.
La nouvelle loi a été rendue rétroactive pour couvrir les affaires passées.
C1 adverb /ˈhʌŋ.ɡrə.li/

Hungrily

affamé; avidement; avec impatience
Meaning
in a way that shows hunger; greedily; eagerly
Example
The dog ate hungrily after not eating for hours.
Le chien a mangé affamé après ne pas avoir mangé pendant des heures.
C1 noun /ˈmæl.ɪt/

Mallet

maillet
Meaning
a hammer with a large head, typically made of wood
Example
The carpenter used a rubber mallet to avoid damaging the wood.
Le charpentier a utilisé un maillet en caoutchouc pour éviter d'endommager le bois.
C1 verb /mæʃ/

mash

écraser
Meaning
to crush or mix food into a soft mass, usually by pressing or beating
Example
She mashed the potatoes before serving dinner.
elle a écrasé les pommes de terre avant de servir le dîner.
C1 adjective /ˌjuːnɪˈsɛljʊlər/

unicellular

unicellulaire
Meaning
Consisting of a single cell.
Example
Amoebas are unicellular organisms.
Les amibes sont des organismes unicellulaires.
C1 noun /ˈtɛknɪk/

technic

technique
Meaning
A method, skill, or art in a particular field, especially in the arts or sciences.
Example
The artist’s technic in watercolor impressed the judges.
La technique de l'artiste en aquarelle a impressionné les juges.
C1 noun /ˌpiːdiˈætrɪks/

pediatrics

pédiatrie
Meaning
the branch of medicine dealing with the health and medical care of children
Example
She decided to specialize in pediatrics after medical school.
Elle a décidé de se spécialiser en pédiatrie après l'école de médecine.
C1 noun /tiː ˈstreɪnər/

Tea-strainer

passoire à thé
Meaning
a small perforated device used to strain tea leaves from brewed tea
Example
I always use a tea-strainer when pouring tea into cups.
J'utilise toujours une passoire à thé lorsque je verse le thé dans des tasses.
C1 noun /ˈtem.pɚ.əns/

temperance

tempérance
Meaning
Moderation in action, thought, or feeling; restraint.
Example
Temperance is essential for a balanced life.
La tempérance est essentielle pour une vie équilibrée.
C1 verb /ˈmæsəkər/

massacre

massacre
Meaning
to kill a large number of people brutally; to defeat decisively
Example
The army massacred the innocent civilians.
L'armée a massacré les innocents civils.
C1 verb /rɪˈbʌf/

rebuff

rejeter
Meaning
to reject or refuse in a sharp or abrupt way
Example
She rebuffed his invitation to dinner.
Elle a rejeté son invitation au dîner.
C1 adjective /rɪˈflek.sɪv/

Reflexive

réflexif; introspectif
Meaning
directed back on itself; showing deep thought about oneself
Example
She became more reflexive about her behavior after the feedback.
Elle est devenue plus réflexive sur son comportement après les retours.
C1 adjective /ˈflæɡɪŋ/

flagging

faiblir, se fatiguer ou perdre de l'enthousiasme
Meaning
becoming tired, weaker, or less enthusiastic
Example
After hours of work, his energy was flagging.
Après des heures de travail, son énergie était en baisse.
C1 noun fɔːlt ˈtɒl.ər.əns

fault-tolerance

tolérance aux pannes
Meaning
The ability of a system to continue operating properly in the event of the failure of some of its components.
Example
Fault-tolerance ensures dependable systems.
La tolérance aux pannes assure des systèmes fiables.
C1 adjective /ˈevər ˈlæstɪŋ/

Ever-lasting

éternel; permanent;
Meaning
eternal; permanent; enduring forever
Example
Their love is ever-lasting and will never fade.
Leur amour est éternel et ne s'éteindra jamais.
C1 verb /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/

impinge

affecter
Meaning
to have an effect or impact on something; to encroach or infringe
Example
The noise from the construction site impinges on our daily activities.
Le bruit du chantier impacte nos activités quotidiennes.
C1 noun, adjective /dɪˈfiːtɪst/

defeatist

défaitiste
Meaning
A person who expects or is excessively ready to accept failure; showing a tendency to expect defeat.
Example
His defeatist attitude discouraged the rest of the team.
Son attitude défaitiste a découragé le reste de l'équipe.
C1 noun /ɪnˈdaɪtmənt/

indictment

acte d'accusation
Meaning
a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime
Example
The indictment accused the company of multiple violations.
L'acte d'accusation a accusé l'entreprise de multiples violations.
C1 verb /rɪˈkɔɪl/

recoil

reculer
Meaning
To suddenly spring back in fear, horror, or from force such as a gun's kickback.
Example
She recoiled at the sight of the snake.
Elle a reculé en voyant le serpent.
C1 adjective /tɛmˈpɛstjuəs/

tempestuous

tempétueux, agité
Meaning
Characterized by strong and turbulent emotions or stormy conditions.
Example
Their tempestuous relationship often swung between love and anger.
Leurs relations tempétueuses oscillaient souvent entre l'amour et la colère.
C1 noun /ˈbɔɪənsi/ or /ˈbuːjənsi/

buoyancy

flottabilité, gaieté
Meaning
The ability to float in a liquid; cheerfulness and optimism.
Example
Her natural buoyancy lifted the mood of the group.
Sa flottabilité naturelle a remonté le moral du groupe.
C1 adjective kəˈlɒs.əl

Colossal

colossal
Meaning
Extremely large, gigantic, enormous in size or extent.
Example
The colossal pyramids of Egypt are a marvel of architecture.
Les pyramides colossales d'Égypte sont un miracle de l'architecture.
C1 adjective /ɪnˈlaɪ.tənd/

Enlightened

éclairé; illuminé; sage;
Meaning
having or showing a rational, modern outlook; having spiritual knowledge or understanding
Example
The enlightened teacher shared wisdom with all her students.
Le professeur éclairé a partagé la sagesse avec tous ses étudiants.
C1 adjective /ˌɛpɪˈsɒdɪk/

episodic

épisodique
Meaning
Happening occasionally or in separate parts; related to episodes.
Example
Her interest in art was episodic, coming and going over the years.
Son intérêt pour l'art était épisoidique, venant et allant au fil des années.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnstənˈteɪniəs/

instantaneous

instantané
Meaning
Happening immediately, without any delay.
Example
The change in temperature was almost instantaneous.
Le changement de température a été presque instantané.
C1 verb /dɪsˈkleɪm/

disclaim

démentir
Meaning
to deny responsibility or connection with something
Example
The company disclaimed responsibility for the accident.
L'entreprise a démenti toute responsabilité pour l'accident.
C1 noun proʊˈæktɪv ˈseɪvɪŋ

proactive saving

épargne proactive
Meaning
Actively planning and setting aside money in advance to prepare for future financial needs
Example
Proactive saving ensures financial stability in old age.
L'épargne proactive garantit la stabilité financière à un âge avancé.
C1 adjective ɪmˈpɪr.ɪ.kəl

empirical

empirique ou basé sur l'expérience
Meaning
Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.
Example
Scientific research relies on empirical evidence.
La recherche scientifique repose sur des preuves empiriques.
C1 noun /ɪkˈstrækʃən/

extraction

extraction
Meaning
the act of removing something, especially by pulling it out
Example
The extraction of oil from the ground requires special equipment.
L'extraction de pétrole du sol nécessite des équipements spéciaux.
C1 noun /ˈmɔːr.ɡɪʤ/

Mortgage

hypothèque
Meaning
a legal agreement by which a bank lends money to buy property
Example
They took out a mortgage to buy their first house.
Ils ont pris une hypothèque pour acheter leur première maison.
C1 verb/adjective /dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt/

degenerate

dégénérer
Meaning
To decline or deteriorate in quality, character, or condition; or someone with low moral standards.
Example
The once thriving empire began to degenerate into chaos.
L'empire autrefois prospère a commencé à dégénérer en chaos.
C1 noun /əˈliː.dʒəns/

allegiance

allégeance
Meaning
Loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause.
Example
Soldiers take an oath of allegiance to their country.
Les soldats prêtent un serment d'allégeance à leur pays.
C1 noun nɪˈmɒnɪks

mnemonics

technique mnémotechnique, aide-mémoire
Meaning
A technique to aid memory; a device such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations
Example
Mnemonics help in remembering complex concepts easily.
Les mnémoniques aident à se souvenir des concepts complexes facilement.
C1 verb /ˈʃɪmər/

shimmer

scintiller
Meaning
To shine with a soft, wavering light.
Example
The lake shimmered under the moonlight.
Le lac scintillait sous la lumière de la lune.
C1 verb /ˈænɪmeɪt/

animate

animer
Meaning
to bring to life or make lively; to create animation for films or cartoons
Example
The artist will animate the characters for the movie.
L'artiste animera les personnages pour le film.
C1 verb /səbˈstænʃieɪt/

substantiate

substantier
Meaning
To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something.
Example
The lawyer worked to substantiate the claims with solid evidence.
L'avocat a travaillé pour substancier les affirmations avec des preuves solides.
C1 adjective /ˈpoʊləraɪzd/

polarized

polarisé
Meaning
divided into two sharply contrasting groups or opinions
Example
The debate polarized the community on the issue of climate change.
Le débat a polarisé la communauté sur la question du changement climatique.
C1 noun /ˈmoʊldɪŋ/

molding

moulure décorative
Meaning
A decorative strip or design, often used on walls, ceilings, or furniture.
Example
The wooden molding gave the room a classic look.
La moulure en bois a donné à la pièce un aspect classique.
C1 noun /ɪmˈpjʊərəti/

impurity

impureté
Meaning
the state of being unclean or contaminated; a substance that makes something impure
Example
The scientist removed every impurity from the water sample.
Le scientifique a éliminé chaque impureté de l’échantillon d’eau.
C1 verb /ˈskwɒbəl/

squabble

se disputer bruyamment pour quelque chose de trivial
Meaning
To argue noisily over something small or unimportant.
Example
The children squabbled over the last piece of cake.
Les enfants se disputaient pour le dernier morceau de gâteau.
C1 verb /dʒæb/

jab

piquer
Meaning
To poke or thrust quickly, often with a finger or something pointed.
Example
He jabbed his finger at the map to show the location.
Il a pointé son doigt sur la carte pour indiquer l'emplacement.
C1 adjective ˌsɪmbɪˈɒtɪk

symbiotic

symbiotique
Meaning
Involving interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.
Example
The relationship between the bee and the flower is symbiotic.
La relation entre l'abeille et la fleur est symbiotique.
C1 adjective /təˈrɛstriəl/

terrestrial

terrestre
Meaning
Relating to the Earth or land as opposed to the sea or air; living or growing on land.
Example
Humans are terrestrial beings who live on land.
Les humains sont des êtres terrestres qui vivent sur la terre.
C1 adjective /ɒmˈnɪv.ər.əs/

Omnivorous

omnivore
Meaning
eating both plants and animals; feeding on various kinds of food
Example
Bears are omnivorous animals that eat both plants and meat.
Les ours sont des animaux omnivores qui mangent à la fois des plantes et de la viande.