Bastard teak
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C2 noun /ˈbæs.tərd tiːk/

Bastard teak

teck bâtard
Meaning
A flowering tree with bright orange-red flowers, also known as flame of the forest
Example
The bastard teak tree blooms with vibrant orange flowers in spring.
L'arbre de teck bâtard fleurit avec des fleurs orange vibrantes au printemps.
C2 noun /əˈkjuːtnəs/

acuteness

acuité; intensité
Meaning
sharpness of mind or senses; severity or intensity of a condition
Example
Her acuteness allowed her to notice details others missed.
Son acuité lui a permis de remarquer des détails que les autres ont manqués.
C2 noun /ˈænɪ siːd/

Ani seed

anis
Meaning
Small aromatic seeds used as a spice and for medicinal purposes, with a sweet licorice-like flavor
Example
Anise seeds are often used in traditional desserts and teas.
Les graines de fenouil sont souvent utilisées dans des desserts et des thés traditionnels.
C2 noun /kəˈpærɪsən/

caparison

revêtement orné pour un cheval ; vêtements ou décoration riche et élaborée
Meaning
an ornamental covering for a horse; rich and elaborate clothing or decoration
Example
The king’s horse was adorned with a golden caparison.
Le cheval du roi était décoré d'un caparison en or.
C2 noun /rɪˈfɛkʃən/

refection

repas / alimentation
Meaning
a meal or the act of taking food and drink
Example
The monks gathered for their evening refection.
Les moines se sont réunis pour leur repas du soir.
C2 noun /ˈhæŋ.kər/

Hanker

désir ardent, envie
Meaning
a feeling of yearning or craving; a strong desire for something
Example
After years abroad, she developed a deep hanker for her homeland's traditional cuisine.
Après des années à l'étranger, elle a développé un profond désir pour la cuisine traditionnelle de sa patrie.
C2 noun /ˈvaɪnəri/

vinery

vignoble
Meaning
A place where vines are cultivated, especially a vineyard or greenhouse for vines.
Example
The old vinery was filled with grapevines.
Le vieux vignoble était rempli de vignes.
C2 adjective /ˈtjuːtɪlɑːr/

tutelar

tutélaire
Meaning
Serving as a guardian or protector.
Example
The tutelar spirit of the forest was believed to protect travelers.
On croyait que l'esprit tutélaire de la forêt protégeait les voyageurs.
C2 noun /ˈfʌstɪən/

fustian

discours pompeux
Meaning
pompous or pretentious speech or writing; originally a type of thick cloth
Example
The politician's speech was filled with fustian and empty promises.
Le discours du politicien était rempli de fustian et de promesses vides.
C2 verb /ʧeɪf/

chafe

froter
Meaning
To make or become sore by rubbing; to feel irritation or impatience.
Example
The tight shoes began to chafe his heels.
Les chaussures serrées ont commencé à frotter ses talons.
C2 adjective /prɪˈhɛnsɪbəl/

prehensible

préhensible
Meaning
capable of being grasped or seized
Example
The tool has a prehensible handle that improves safety.
L'outil a une prise préhensible qui améliore la sécurité.
C2 noun /mɪˈsænθrəpi/

misanthropy

misanthropie
Meaning
a general dislike, distrust, or hatred of humankind
Example
His misanthropy was evident in the way he avoided people.
Sa misanthropie était évidente dans la façon dont il évitait les gens.
C2 adjective /ˌɔːfˈkiː/

off-key

fausse note
Meaning
out of tune; not in accordance with expected standards
Example
The singer was slightly off-key during the performance.
Le chanteur était légèrement hors de ton pendant la performance.
C2 verb /ˈvaʊtʃ.seɪf/

vouchsafe

octroyer
Meaning
to grant or give something in a gracious or condescending manner
Example
He vouchsafed them a rare smile.
Il leur a octroyé un rare sourire.
C2 noun /ˈbiːlaɪn/

beeline

ligne droite
Meaning
a straight, direct route to a destination
Example
He made a beeline for the food table as soon as he entered the party.
Il a fait une ligne droite vers la table de nourriture dès qu'il est entré à la fête.
C2 noun /pɜːrtʃt raɪs/

Perched rice

riz soufflé
Meaning
puffed rice; rice that has been heated and puffed into light, crispy grains
Example
I enjoy eating puffed rice as a healthy snack.
J'aime manger du riz soufflé comme collation saine.
C2 noun /ˈproʊtoʊˌplæzəm/

protoplasm

protoplasme
Meaning
The living substance inside a cell, including the cytoplasm and nucleus.
Example
Scientists observed the movement of protoplasm under the microscope.
Les scientifiques ont observé le mouvement du protoplasme sous le microscope.
C2 noun /tɪlθ/

tilth

état du sol (aptitude à cultiver des cultures)
Meaning
The physical condition of soil in relation to its suitability for planting crops.
Example
The farmer checked the soil's tilth before planting the seeds.
Le fermier a vérifié l'état du sol avant de planter les graines.
C2 verb /ˈmiːliəˌreɪt/

meliorate

améliorer
Meaning
To make something better or improve a condition.
Example
The new policies aim to meliorate the living conditions of the poor.
Les nouvelles politiques visent à améliorer les conditions de vie des pauvres.
C2 verb /əˈfaɪəns/

affiance

fiancer
Meaning
to promise or pledge marriage; to formally engage
Example
They decided to affiance after years of friendship.
Ils ont décidé de se fiancer après des années d’amitié.
C2 adjective /kəˈdævərəs/

cadaverous

cadavérique
Meaning
Resembling a corpse; very pale, thin, or bony.
Example
His cadaverous appearance shocked everyone at the party.
Son apparence cadavérique a choqué tout le monde à la fête.
C2 noun /nəˈkrɒpəlɪs/

necropolis

nécropole
Meaning
a large ancient cemetery with elaborate tombs
Example
The archaeologists discovered artifacts in the necropolis of the ancient city.
Les archéologues ont découvert des artefacts dans la nécropole de l'ancienne ville.
C2 adjective /əˈmɔːrfəs/

amorphous

amorphe
Meaning
Lacking a clear shape or form; without a defined structure.
Example
The plan remained amorphous and lacked concrete details.
Le plan est resté amorphe et manquait de détails concrets.
C2 noun /ˈændaɪərn/

andiron

support en métal pour bois
Meaning
a metal support used in a fireplace to hold logs
Example
The logs rested on the andirons in the old fireplace.
Les bûches reposaient sur les andirons dans l'ancienne cheminée.
C2 adjective /ɔːˈrɔːrəl/

auroral

relatif à l'aurore
Meaning
Relating to or resembling the aurora, especially the northern lights.
Example
The scientists observed auroral activity in the night sky.
Les scientifiques ont observé une activité aurorale dans le ciel nocturne.
C2 adjective /ˈkrɛdʒʊləs/

credulous

crédule
Meaning
Having or showing too great a readiness to believe things.
Example
The credulous child believed every story she heard.
L'enfant crédule croyait chaque histoire qu'elle entendait.
C2 noun /ˈmæləprɒˌpɪzəm/

malapropism

malapropisme
Meaning
the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with amusing effect
Example
He is famous for his malapropism when speaking in public.
Il est célèbre pour son malapropisme lorsqu'il parle en public.
C2 verb /ˈbeɪɪŋ/

baying

aboyer
Meaning
making a loud, prolonged barking or howling sound, especially of dogs
Example
The baying of the hounds echoed through the forest.
Les aboiements des chiens résonnaient à travers la forêt.
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 /ˈsætræp/

satrap

satrape
Meaning
a governor of a province in ancient Persia; also used figuratively for a subordinate ruler
Example
The king appointed a satrap to oversee the distant province.
Le roi nomma un satrape pour superviser la province éloignée.
C2 noun /rɪˈfrækʃən/

refraction

réfraction
Meaning
The bending of light, sound, or other waves when they pass from one medium to another of different density.
Example
The refraction of light in water makes objects appear bent.
La réfraction de la lumière dans l'eau fait apparaître les objets comme courbés.
C2 verb /ˈæbnɪˌɡeɪt/

abnegate

abnéguer
Meaning
to deny or renounce something, especially a right or desire
Example
She chose to abnegate her personal interests for the sake of the team.
Elle a choisi d'abnéguer ses intérêts personnels pour le bien de l'équipe.
C2 adjective /fjuːˈnɪəriəl/

funereal

funéraire
Meaning
having the mournful, somber character of a funeral
Example
The room was filled with a funereal silence after the announcement.
La pièce était remplie d'un silence funéraire après l'annonce.
C2 noun, adjective /ˈɡɒsəmər/

gossamer

quelque chose de délicat
Meaning
Something light, thin, and delicate, like a fine fabric or cobweb.
Example
The bride's veil was made of delicate gossamer fabric.
Le voile de la mariée était fait de tissu délicat de gossamer.
C2 verb /prəˈpaʊnd/

propound

proposer
Meaning
To put forward an idea, theory, or point for consideration.
Example
The professor propounded a new theory on climate change.
Le professeur a proposé une nouvelle théorie sur le changement climatique.
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 verb /ˈlɛvɪteɪt/

levitate

léviter
Meaning
to rise or float in the air, usually without visible support.
Example
The magician made the table levitate during the show.
Le magicien a fait léviter la table pendant le spectacle.
C2 verb /ˌænɪmədˈvɜːt/

animadvert

critiquer
Meaning
To comment critically or unfavorably.
Example
The teacher animadverted on the student's careless mistakes.
Le professeur a critiqué les erreurs négligentes de l'élève.
C2 noun /ˈsɛnʃəns/

sentience

sensibilité
Meaning
The capacity to feel, perceive, or experience subjectively.
Example
Many argue that animals possess sentience.
Beaucoup soutiennent que les animaux possèdent la sensibilité.
C2 noun /ˈbʊljən/

bullion

or ou argent en vrac
Meaning
Gold or silver in bulk before being coined or made into jewelry.
Example
The bank stores gold bullion in its vaults.
La banque conserve de l'or en vrac dans ses coffres.
C2 adjective ˌnjʊə.rəʊ.prəˈtek.tɪv

neuroprotective

neuroprotecteur
Meaning
Having the ability to protect nerve cells from damage, degeneration, or impaired function.
Example
Omega-3 fatty acids have neuroprotective benefits.
Les acides gras oméga-3 ont des bienfaits neuroprotecteurs.
C2 verb /ˈproʊtjuːbəreɪt/

protuberate

gonfler
Meaning
To swell out or bulge.
Example
The roots began to protuberate from the ground.
Les racines ont commencé à gonfler du sol.
C2 verb /ˌæntɪˈsiːd/

antecede

précéder
Meaning
to come before in time or order
Example
A short introduction usually antecedes the main text.
Une courte introduction précède généralement le texte principal.
C2 verb /miːt/

mete

distribuer
Meaning
To dispense or allot justice, punishment, or harsh treatment.
Example
The judge will mete out punishment according to the crime.
Le juge distribuera la punition en fonction du crime.
C2 noun /ˈmiːliərɪzəm/

meliorism

méliorisme
Meaning
The belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment.
Example
Her philosophy of meliorism kept her hopeful during difficult times.
Sa philosophie du méliorisme l'a maintenue pleine d'espoir pendant les moments difficiles.
C2 noun /ˈspuːnərɪzəm/

spoonerism

spounérisme
Meaning
A verbal error in which the initial sounds of words are swapped to create a humorous effect.
Example
He made a spoonerism by saying 'queer old dean' instead of 'dear old queen'.
Il a fait un spounérisme en disant 'vieux doyen bizarre' au lieu de 'vieille reine chère'.
C2 adjective /əˈprəʊ.bri.əs/

opprobrious

désobligeant
Meaning
Expressing strong criticism or scorn.
Example
He made opprobrious remarks about his opponent.
Il a fait des remarques désobligeantes sur son adversaire.
C2 adjective /ˈæməˌtɔːri/

amatory

amoureux
Meaning
Relating to or expressing sexual love.
Example
The poet’s verses were filled with amatory themes.
Les vers du poète étaient remplis de thèmes amoureux.
C2 noun /ˈaɪdɪl/

idyll

scène idyllique
Meaning
An extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, often idealized.
Example
Their honeymoon was an idyll on a tropical island.
Leur lune de miel était une scène idyllique sur une île tropicale.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌɡræm/

decagram

décagramme
Meaning
A metric unit of mass equal to ten grams.
Example
The package weighed exactly one decagram.
Le paquet pesait exactement un décagramme.
C2 verb /dɪˈtruːd/

detrude

pousser vers le bas ou vers l'extérieur
Meaning
To thrust or force something downward or outward.
Example
The violent waves detruded rocks from the cliff.
Les vagues violentes ont poussé les roches de la falaise.
C2 adjective /ɡoʊʃ/

gauche

gauche
Meaning
lacking social grace, sensitivity, or tact; awkward
Example
His gauche remarks embarrassed everyone at the dinner party.
Ses remarques gauches ont embarrassé tout le monde à la soirée.
C2 adjective /ləˈkɒnɪk/

laconic

laconiques
Meaning
using very few words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious
Example
His laconic reply ended the conversation quickly.
Sa réponse laconiques a rapidement mis fin à la conversation.
C2 verb /bɪˈliːɡər/

beleaguer

assiéger, harceler
Meaning
to cause difficulties, troubles, or harassment; to surround with military forces
Example
The company was beleaguered by constant complaints from its customers.
L'entreprise était assiégée par des plaintes constantes de ses clients.
C2 adjective /ˈlaʊtɪʃ/

loutish

grossier
Meaning
Clumsy, rude, or aggressive in behavior.
Example
His loutish remarks offended everyone at the meeting.
Ses remarques grossières ont offensé tout le monde à la réunion.
C2 noun /ˈæl.ɪ.mənt/

aliment

aliment
Meaning
food or nourishment that sustains life
Example
Fruits and vegetables are important aliments for a healthy body.
Les fruits et légumes sont des aliments importants pour un corps sain.
C2 adjective /kəˈkɒfənəs/

cacophonous

cacophonique
Meaning
Producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
Example
The cacophonous sounds of the city kept her awake all night.
Les bruits cacophoniques de la ville l'ont empêchée de dormir toute la nuit.
C2 verb /əˈvɜːr/

aver

affirmer
Meaning
to state or assert something confidently and strongly
Example
She averred that she was innocent.
Elle affirmait qu'elle était innocente.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪsənənt/

dissonant

dissonant
Meaning
Harsh and lacking harmony; conflicting.
Example
The orchestra produced a dissonant sound during rehearsal.
L'orchestre a produit un son dissonant pendant la répétition.
C2 noun ˈvaɪ.və ˈvəʊs

viva voce

examen oral
Meaning
An oral examination, typically for an academic qualification.
Example
Viva Voce tests communication skills.
Les épreuves de Viva Voce évaluent les compétences en communication.
C2 noun /roʊˈtʌn.də.ti/

rotundity

rondeur
Meaning
the quality of being round or plump
Example
The rotundity of the balloon made it float gracefully.
La rondeur du ballon l'a fait flotter gracieusement.
C2 verb /ˈbaɪfərˌkeɪt/

bifurcate

diviser en deux parties
Meaning
to divide into two branches or parts
Example
The road bifurcates into two separate paths at the hill.
La route bifurque en deux chemins séparés au sommet de la colline.
C2 noun /ˌbʌkəˈnɪər/

buccaneer

pirate
Meaning
a pirate, especially one active in the Caribbean during the 17th and 18th centuries
Example
The buccaneer sailed across the Caribbean in search of treasure.
Le pirate a navigué à travers les Caraïbes à la recherche de trésors.
C2 noun /ˈtælɪzmən/

talisman

talisman
Meaning
An object believed to have magical powers or bring good luck.
Example
He always carried a small talisman in his pocket for luck.
Il portait toujours un petit talisman dans sa poche pour la chance.
C2 adjective /ˈrævənɪŋ/

ravening

affamé et avide
Meaning
Extremely hungry and greedy; voracious.
Example
The ravening wolves circled the camp.
Les loups affamés ont encerclé le camp.
C2 noun /ˌmɛtəmˌsaɪˈkoʊsɪs/

metempsychosis

réincarnation de l'âme
Meaning
The supposed transmigration of the soul, especially its reincarnation after death.
Example
Ancient philosophers often debated the idea of metempsychosis.
Les anciens philosophes débattaient souvent de la réincarnation de l'âme.
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 /ˈɔːspɪs/

auspice

augure, patronage
Meaning
A sign, omen, or divine token; also refers to protection or support.
Example
The project was launched under the auspice of the government.
Le projet a été lancé sous l'auspice du gouvernement.
C2 noun /ˈkætɪtʃuː/

Catechu

catechu
Meaning
an extract from a tropical Asian plant, used in tanning and dyeing
Example
Catechu extract is commonly used in traditional medicine.
L'extrait de catechu est couramment utilisé dans la médecine traditionnelle.
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 noun /ˈbrɪtɪˌsɪzəm/

briticism

mot ou caractéristique de l'anglais britannique
Meaning
a word, phrase, or characteristic feature of British English
Example
The word 'lorry' is a well-known Briticism.
Le mot 'lorry' est un briticisme bien connu.
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 verb /ˈʌndərˌraɪt/

underwrite

garantir un soutien financier
Meaning
To guarantee financial support, especially by agreeing to cover losses or risks; in insurance, to assess and accept risks.
Example
The bank agreed to underwrite the company's new bond issue.
La banque a accepté de souscrire à la nouvelle émission d'obligations de l'entreprise.
C2 adjective /dʒʊˈrɪdɪkəl/

juridical

juridique
Meaning
Relating to judicial proceedings or the administration of law.
Example
The case raised important juridical questions.
L'affaire a soulevé des questions juridiques importantes.
C2 noun /ˌmɪnəˈrɛt/

minaret

minaret
Meaning
A tall, slender tower of a mosque, from which the call to prayer is announced.
Example
The minaret of the mosque could be seen from miles away.
Le minaret de la mosquée était visible à des kilomètres à la ronde.
C2 noun /təˈmɛrɪti/

temerity

témérité
Meaning
Excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
Example
He had the temerity to challenge the professor’s argument.
Il a eu la témérité de défier l'argument du professeur.
C2 noun ˌɒbfəsˈkeɪʃən

obfuscation

obfuscation, confusion
Meaning
The action of making something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
Example
The obfuscation of the data made it difficult to interpret.
L'obfuscation des données a rendu leur interprétation difficile.
C2 noun /ˈseɪ.ɡoʊ/

Sago

sago
Meaning
starchy foodstuff obtained from the pith of various tropical palm stems
Example
She prepared sago pudding for dessert.
Elle a préparé du pudding de sago pour le dessert.
C2 adjective /ˈɡɛə.rɪʃ/

garish

excessivement brillant et voyant
Meaning
Excessively bright and showy, often in a tasteless or unattractive way.
Example
The room was decorated with garish neon lights.
La pièce était décorée avec des lumières néon excessivement brillantes.
C2 adjective /ˈvoʊtɪv/

votive

votif
Meaning
Offered or dedicated in fulfillment of a vow.
Example
She lit a votive candle in the church as a prayer.
Elle a allumé une bougie votive dans l'église comme prière.
C2 noun /kəmˈpɒz.ɪ.tər/

Compositor

compositeur
Meaning
a person who arranges type for printing or creates musical compositions
Example
The compositor carefully arranged the text for the newspaper.
Le compositeur a soigneusement organisé le texte pour le journal.
C2 noun /breɪ/

brae

versant
Meaning
A hillside or slope, especially in Scotland.
Example
They climbed up the grassy brae to see the sunset.
Ils ont grimpé la lisière herbeuse pour voir le coucher du soleil.
C2 noun /ˈtaɪroʊ/

tyro

débutant
Meaning
A beginner or novice in a field or activity.
Example
As a tyro in programming, she needed constant guidance.
En tant que débutant en programmation, elle avait besoin d'une orientation constante.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪndʒənsi/

stringency

rigueur
Meaning
the quality of being strict, precise, or severe
Example
The stringency of the new rules surprised everyone.
La rigueur des nouvelles règles a surpris tout le monde.
C2 verb /məˈkadəˌmaɪz/

macadamize

recouvrir une route avec des pierres cassées
Meaning
to construct or cover a road with broken stone
Example
The government decided to macadamize the old rural roads.
Le gouvernement a décidé de macadamiser les vieilles routes rurales.
C2 adjective /ˈmɪn.ɪ.skjuːl/

miniscule

minuscule
Meaning
Extremely small or tiny.
Example
The error was so miniscule that nobody noticed it.
L'erreur était si minuscule que personne ne l'a remarquée.
C2 noun /ɪˈmɒdəsti/

immodesty

immodestie
Meaning
lack of modesty or decency; behavior or attitude that is overly bold or improper
Example
The article was criticized for its tone of immodesty.
L’article a été critiqué pour son ton d’immodestie.
C2 verb /rɛnd/

rend

déchirer
Meaning
to tear something apart violently or forcefully
Example
The explosion rent the air with a deafening noise.
L'explosion déchira l'air avec un bruit assourdissant.
C2 adjective /ʌkˈsɔːriəs/

uxorious

excessivement dévoué à sa femme
Meaning
excessively fond of or submissive to one's wife
Example
He was so uxorious that he agreed with everything his wife said.
Il était tellement uxorien qu'il était d'accord avec tout ce que sa femme disait.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːrpɪd/

torpid

léthargique
Meaning
Mentally or physically inactive; sluggish or lethargic.
Example
After the long hike, he felt torpid and unmotivated.
Après la longue randonnée, il se sentait léthargique et démotivé.
C2 noun /ˈiːsθiːt/ or /ˈɛsθiːt/

aesthete

esthète
Meaning
A person who has a special appreciation of art and beauty.
Example
The aesthete admired the subtle details of the painting.
L'esthète admirait les détails subtils de la peinture.
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 noun /ˈfriːˌmeɪsən/

freemason

franc-maçon membre
Meaning
A member of an international fraternity known as Freemasonry, focused on moral and spiritual values.
Example
His grandfather was a respected freemason in the community.
Son grand-père était un franc-maçon respecté dans la communauté.
C2 adjective /ˈflæs.ɪd/

Flaccid

flasque; mou; tombant;
Meaning
soft and limp; lacking firmness; drooping
Example
The plant's leaves became flaccid after days without water.
Les feuilles de la plante sont devenues flasques après plusieurs jours sans eau.
C2 noun /kəˈrɒn.də/

Karonda

karonda
Meaning
a small dark purple berry-like fruit that is sour and used in pickles
Example
Karonda is often used to make pickles and preserves.
Le karonda est souvent utilisé pour préparer des cornichons et des confitures.
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 /kaɪˈmɪərə/

chimera

chimère
Meaning
A mythical creature with parts from different animals; also used to mean a fanciful illusion or unattainable dream.
Example
The idea of a perfect society is often a chimera.
L'idée d'une société parfaite est souvent une chimère.
C2 noun /ˈhjuːməs/

humus

humus
Meaning
The dark, organic material in soil formed from decayed plants and animals.
Example
The gardener enriched the soil with humus to improve plant growth.
Le jardinier a enrichi le sol avec du humus pour améliorer la croissance des plantes.
C2 verb /ˈɑːbvieɪt/

obviate

éliminer
Meaning
To remove a need or difficulty; to prevent or avoid something.
Example
This new system obviates the need for manual data entry.
Ce nouveau système supprime la nécessité de saisir des données manuellement.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪvəˈɡeɪʃən/

divagation

divagation
Meaning
digression; wandering from a path or subject
Example
His lecture was full of divagation, making it hard to follow the main point.
Sa conférence était pleine de divagations, ce qui rendait difficile de suivre le point principal.
C2 noun /bəˈfuːn/

buffoon

bouffon
Meaning
A ridiculous but amusing person; a clown or jester.
Example
He acted like a buffoon at the party, making everyone laugh.
Il a agi comme un bouffon à la fête, faisant rire tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈʒɑːndɑːrm/

gendarme

gendarme
Meaning
A French police officer, especially a member of a military-style police force.
Example
The gendarme stopped the car for a routine check.
Le gendarme a arrêté la voiture pour un contrôle de routine.
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 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 adjective /ˈpaɪbɔːld/

piebald

à taches de deux couleurs
Meaning
having irregular patches of two colors, especially black and white
Example
The farmer owns a piebald horse with black and white spots.
Le fermier possède un cheval piebald avec des taches noires et blanches.
C2 noun ˈdɒɡ.ɪd.nəs

doggedness

persévérance
Meaning
Stubborn persistence in achieving something without giving up.
Example
His doggedness in pursuing his goals was inspiring.
Sa persévérance dans la poursuite de ses objectifs était inspirante.
C2 adjective /ˈneb.jə.ləs/

Nebulous

vague; flou; nébuleux
Meaning
vague or unclear; lacking definite form; hazy
Example
His plans for the future remain nebulous and unclear.
Ses projets pour l'avenir restent nébuleux et flous.
C2 adjective /ɪˈmɪsəbl/

immiscible

immiscible
Meaning
Describes liquids that do not mix together.
Example
Oil and water are immiscible liquids.
L'huile et l'eau sont des liquides immiscibles.
C2 noun /ˈkɒkskoʊm/

Cockscomb

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

chiffon

chiffon
Meaning
A lightweight, sheer fabric often used in dresses or scarves.
Example
She wore a beautiful chiffon dress at the party.
Elle portait une belle robe en chiffon à la fête.
C2 noun /ˈɡlæsi fɪʃ/

Glassy fish

poisson de verre
Meaning
a transparent freshwater fish with a glassy appearance, popular in aquariums
Example
The glassy fish is known for its transparent body and peaceful nature.
Le poisson de verre est connu pour son corps transparent et sa nature paisible.
C2 noun /ˈbriːtʃɪz/

Breeckes

pantalons jusqu'aux genoux
Meaning
knee-length trousers; short pants
Example
He wore riding breeches for the equestrian event.
Il portait des pantalons jusqu'aux genoux pour l'événement équestre.
C2 adjective /rɪˈfrɪndʒənt/

refringent

réfringent
Meaning
Capable of refracting light or other waves.
Example
The refringent properties of the crystal bent the light into a spectrum.
Les propriétés réfringentes du cristal ont courbé la lumière en un spectre.
C2 adjective /bruːsk/ or /brʌsk/

brusque

brusque
Meaning
abrupt or blunt in manner or speech, often seen as rude
Example
His brusque reply ended the conversation.
Sa réponse brusque a mis fin à la conversation.
C2 noun /ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪti/

catholicity

universalité, ouverture d'esprit
Meaning
Universality; broad-mindedness; acceptance of a wide variety of things.
Example
Her catholicity of interests makes her a fascinating person.
Sa catholicité d'intérêts fait d'elle une personne fascinante.
C2 noun /foʊˈtɑːmɪtri/

photometry

science de la mesure de la lumière
Meaning
the science of measuring visible light in terms of its perceived brightness to human eyes
Example
Photometry helps in designing efficient lighting systems.
La photométrie aide à concevoir des systèmes d'éclairage efficaces.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈwiːldi/

unwieldy

difficile à manipuler
Meaning
Difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight.
Example
The box was too unwieldy to carry up the stairs.
La boîte était trop difficile à manipuler pour être montée dans les escaliers.
C2 verb /ˈblʌdʒən/

bludgeon

frapper avec un gourdin
Meaning
to hit someone with a heavy object; to force someone into doing something
Example
The guard was bludgeoned by the attacker in the alley.
Le garde a été frappé avec un gourdin par l'attaquant dans la ruelle.
C2 verb /fɪˈlɪsɪˌteɪt/

felicitate

féliciter
Meaning
to congratulate; to express good wishes
Example
We felicitated the graduating students at the ceremony.
Nous avons félicité les étudiants diplômés lors de la cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsədˈvɛntʃər/

misadventure

mésaventure
Meaning
An unlucky accident, mishap, or unfortunate event.
Example
He broke his leg during a skiing misadventure.
Il s'est cassé la jambe lors d'une mésaventure en ski.
C2 noun /paɪər/

pyre

bûcher funéraire
Meaning
A heap of combustible material, especially one used for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony.
Example
The villagers built a pyre to honor the deceased.
Les villageois ont construit un bûcher pour honorer le défunt.