befool
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C2 verb /bɪˈfuːl/

befool

tromper
Meaning
to deceive or trick someone into believing something false; to make someone appear foolish
Example
The scammer tried to befool innocent people with fake promises.
L'escroc a essayé de tromper des personnes innocentes avec de fausses promesses.
C2 noun, adjective /ˌæntiˌspæzˈmɒdɪk/

antispasmodic

antispasmodique
Meaning
A drug or agent that relieves or prevents muscle spasms.
Example
The doctor prescribed an antispasmodic to ease the pain.
Le médecin a prescrit un antispasmodique pour soulager la douleur.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

unexceptionable

irréprochable
Meaning
Not open to objection; acceptable and unobjectionable
Example
His behavior was unexceptionable throughout the event.
Son comportement était irréprochable tout au long de l'événement.
C2 noun /oʊd/

ode

ode
Meaning
a lyrical poem, often expressing praise or strong emotions
Example
The poet wrote an ode to the beauty of nature.
Le poète a écrit une ode à la beauté de la nature.
C2 adverb /ɪnˈdjuːbɪtəbli/

indubitably

indubitablement
Meaning
Without a doubt; certainly.
Example
She is indubitably the best candidate for the job.
Elle est indubitablement la meilleure candidate pour le poste.
C2 verb /ˈbraʊˌbiːt/

browbeat

intimider / contraindre
Meaning
To intimidate or bully someone into doing something
Example
The lawyer tried to browbeat the witness.
L'avocat a essayé d'intimider le témoin.
C2 verb /bɪˈfaʊl/

befoul

souiller
Meaning
to make dirty or polluted; to disgrace or corrupt
Example
The factory waste befouled the river.
Les déchets de l’usine ont souillé la rivière.
C2 noun /hɜːrˈbɛəriəm/

herbarium

herbier
Meaning
A collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study.
Example
The university maintains a large herbarium for research and education.
L'université maintient un grand herbier pour la recherche et l'éducation.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlwərk/

bulwark

rempart
Meaning
A strong wall or defensive structure; something that provides protection or support.
Example
The fortress walls served as a bulwark against enemy attacks.
Les murs du fort ont servi de rempart contre les attaques ennemies.
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 /ˈkrɪsəndəm/

christendom

christendom
Meaning
the worldwide body or community of Christians
Example
The news spread quickly across Christendom.
La nouvelle s'est rapidement propagée à travers le christendom.
C2 noun /ˈvɜːrdɪɡriːs/

verdigris

dépôt vert ou bleu
Meaning
A green or bluish deposit that forms on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces due to oxidation.
Example
The old statue was covered in verdigris after years of exposure to the rain.
La vieille statue était couverte de verdigris après des années d'exposition à la pluie.
C2 noun /ˈbriːzˌweɪ/

breezeway

passage couvert
Meaning
A roofed outdoor passage, often connecting two buildings.
Example
The breezeway connected the house to the garage.
Le passage couvert reliait la maison au garage.
C2 adjective /ˌmædʒɪˈstɪəriəl/

magisterial

magistériel
Meaning
Having the characteristics of a master or authority; commanding and dignified.
Example
The professor spoke in a magisterial tone during the lecture.
Le professeur a parlé d'une manière magistérielle pendant la conférence.
C2 noun /ɪnˈkwɪzɪtər/

inquisitor

inquisiteur
Meaning
A person who asks many questions, often in an official or harsh manner.
Example
The inquisitor demanded detailed answers from the witness.
L'inquisiteur a exigé des réponses détaillées du témoin.
C2 noun /ˌkæstɪˈɡeɪʃən/

castigation

critique sévère ou punition
Meaning
Severe criticism or punishment for wrongdoing.
Example
The manager’s harsh castigation shocked the entire team.
La sévère castigation du manager a choqué toute l'équipe.
C2 adjective /ˈɪnˌbrɛd/

inbred

inné
Meaning
existing naturally in a person or animal; also related to reproduction within a limited community
Example
He has an inbred sense of loyalty.
Il a un sens inné de la loyauté.
C2 noun /səˈvɑːnt/

savant

bonheur
Meaning
a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist or scholar; sometimes used in the phrase ‘savant syndrome’ for someone with exceptional abilities alongside developmental differences
Example
The conference keynote was delivered by a linguistic savant who studies endangered languages.
Elle ne pouvait cacher sa bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 verb /əbˈtruːd/

obtrude

intruser
Meaning
to force oneself or one's ideas into a situation uninvited or inappropriately
Example
He didn’t want to obtrude into their private conversation.
Il ne voulait pas intruser dans leur conversation privée.
C2 noun /ˈsʌplɪkənt/

supplicant

suppliant
Meaning
A person who humbly or earnestly asks for something, usually from a person of authority.
Example
The temple was filled with supplicants seeking blessings.
Le temple était rempli de suppliants cherchant des bénédictions.
C2 noun /əˈdjuː/

adieu

adieu
Meaning
A farewell or goodbye, often used in a formal or poetic sense.
Example
She bid her friends adieu before leaving for France.
Elle fit ses adieux à ses amis avant de partir pour la France.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːlsəm/

Balsam

fleur de baume
Meaning
a flowering plant with colorful blooms that often open in the evening; also refers to aromatic resin
Example
The garden balsam flowers bloomed beautifully in various shades of pink and purple.
Les fleurs de baume du jardin ont fleuri magnifiquement dans des nuances de rose et de violet.
C2 noun /ˈkriːdoʊ/

credo

crédo
Meaning
A statement of the beliefs or aims that guide someone's actions.
Example
Honesty has always been the central credo of his life.
L'honnêteté a toujours été le crédo central de sa vie.
C2 adjective /ˈluːsənt/

lucent

lumineux
Meaning
shining or glowing with light
Example
The lucent stars brightened the night sky.
Les étoiles lumineuses ont illuminé le ciel nocturne.
C2 adjective /ˌaɪdəˈlɑːtrɪəs/

idolatrious

idolâtre
Meaning
Excessively devoted or reverent towards idols or false gods.
Example
The ancient tribe was known for its idolatrious practices.
La tribu ancienne était connue pour ses pratiques idolâtres.
C2 noun /ˈθɔːməˌtɜrdʒɪst/

thaumaturgist

thaumaturge
Meaning
A worker of miracles or magician.
Example
The thaumaturgist amazed the audience with his tricks.
Le thaumaturge a émerveillé le public avec ses tours.
C2 noun /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnʃən/

reprehension

réprimande
Meaning
The act of rebuking or criticizing severely.
Example
The teacher’s reprehension of the student’s behavior was justified.
La réprimande du comportement de l'élève par le professeur était justifiée.
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 /ˈɡæŋ.ɡriːn/

gangrene

gangrène
Meaning
The death of body tissue due to lack of blood supply or infection.
Example
If untreated, the wound may lead to gangrene.
Si elle n'est pas traitée, la plaie peut conduire à la gangrène.
C2 verb /ˈstɪp.əl/

stipple

couvrir de petits points
Meaning
to cover a surface with numerous small dots or specks, often in drawing or painting
Example
The artist stippled the canvas to create a textured effect.
L'artiste a couvert la toile de petits points pour créer un effet texturé.
C2 noun /səˈnɛs.əns/

senescence

vieillissement
Meaning
The process of growing old or the condition of aging.
Example
The biologist studied senescence in plants to understand aging.
Le biologiste a étudié la sénescence des plantes pour comprendre le vieillissement.
C2 noun /ˈneɪvəri/

knavery

fourberie
Meaning
dishonest or deceitful behavior; trickery
Example
The politician’s knavery was exposed by the media.
La fourberie du politicien a été exposée par les médias.
C2 noun /ˈkær.ə.weɪ siːdz/

Caraway seeds

graines de carvi
Meaning
aromatic seeds of the caraway plant used as a spice in cooking and baking
Example
The bread was flavored with caraway seeds.
Le pain était parfumé aux graines de carvi.
C2 noun /niːp/

neap

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

Open-handed

généreux; libéral
Meaning
Generous; liberal; giving freely;
Example
He is very open-handed with his money and always helps those in need.
Il est très généreux avec son argent et aide toujours ceux qui en ont besoin.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkɒnsələt/

disconsolate

désespéré
Meaning
very unhappy and unable to be comforted
Example
She was disconsolate after hearing the bad news.
Elle était désespérée après avoir entendu la mauvaise nouvelle.
C2 noun /ˈɪɡ.nəˌmɪn.i/

ignominy

ignominie
Meaning
Public shame, disgrace, or dishonor.
Example
He lived the rest of his life in ignominy after the scandal.
Il a vécu le reste de sa vie dans l'ignominie après le scandale.
C2 verb /ɪnˈdɒktrɪˌneɪt/

indoctrinate

endoctriner
Meaning
To teach someone to fully accept a set of beliefs or ideas without question.
Example
The regime tried to indoctrinate the youth with propaganda.
Le régime a tenté d'endoctriner la jeunesse avec de la propagande.
C2 noun /ˈpælɪmpsɛst/

palimpsest

palimpseste
Meaning
a manuscript or document that has been written over but still bears traces of earlier writing; something reused or altered but still retaining traces of its earlier form
Example
The ancient manuscript was a palimpsest, showing faint traces of previous texts beneath the new writing.
Le manuscrit ancien était un palimpseste, montrant des traces subtiles de textes précédents sous la nouvelle écriture.
C2 adverb /ˈwɪtɪŋli/

wittingly

délibérément
Meaning
Consciously and intentionally; on purpose.
Example
He wittingly withheld information from the police.
Il a délibérément retenu des informations à la police.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmɪtər/

decameter

décamètre
Meaning
A metric unit of length equal to ten meters.
Example
The field was measured in decameters for accuracy.
Le terrain a été mesuré en décamètres pour plus de précision.
C2 noun /ˈklɪpər/

clipper

tondeuse / bateau rapide du XIXe siècle
Meaning
a tool used for cutting, or a fast sailing ship of the 19th century
Example
The barber used clippers to trim his hair.
Le barbier a utilisé des tondeuses pour couper ses cheveux.
C2 adjective /ˌjuːləˈdʒɪstɪk/

eulogistic

élogieux
Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration, often formally.
Example
The speaker gave a eulogistic account of the leader’s achievements.
L'orateur a donné un compte rendu élogieux des réalisations du leader.
C2 adjective /ˈvækjuəs/

vacuous

vide
Meaning
Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
Example
She gave a vacuous smile during the serious discussion.
Elle a souri de façon vide pendant la discussion sérieuse.
C2 adjective /tɛnˈdɛnʃəs/

tendentious

partisan
Meaning
Expressing or promoting a particular cause or point of view, often biased.
Example
The article was criticized for its tendentious tone.
L'article a été critiqué pour son ton partisan.
C2 noun /ˈduːti/

Dhuti

dhuti
Meaning
a traditional Indian garment for men consisting of a piece of unstitched cloth worn around the waist and legs
Example
The elderly man wore a white dhuti during the religious ceremony.
L'homme âgé portait un dhuti blanc lors de la cérémonie religieuse.
C2 noun /ˌɒpəˈrɛtə/

operetta

opéra léger
Meaning
a short opera with light and humorous themes
Example
The theater staged a famous operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Le théâtre a présenté une célèbre opérette de Gilbert et Sullivan.
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 /ˈdʒɛtsəm/

jetsam

matériaux indésirables ou biens jetés par-dessus bord depuis un navire et échoués sur le rivage
Meaning
Unwanted material or goods thrown overboard from a ship and washed ashore.
Example
The beach was littered with jetsam after the storm.
La plage était couverte de jetsam après la tempête.
C2 adjective /dɪˈstreɪ/

distrait

distrait
Meaning
deeply distracted or absent-minded, often due to worry or grief
Example
He looked distrait after hearing the sad news.
Il avait l'air distrait après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C2 noun /ˌɛksaɪˈteɪʃən/

excitation

excitation
Meaning
a state of great excitement or the process of stimulating activity
Example
The news created great excitation among the fans.
Les nouvelles ont créé une grande excitation parmi les fans.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒnfluənt/

confluent

confluant
Meaning
Flowing together or merging; coming together at one point.
Example
The confluent streams formed a mighty river.
Les ruisseaux confluent pour former une grande rivière.
C2 noun /ˌmæləˈdɪkʃən/

Malediction

malédiction
Meaning
A magical word used to invoke a curse; an evil spell
Example
The witch uttered a terrible malediction upon her enemies.
La sorcière a prononcé une terrible malédiction sur ses ennemis.
C2 verb /kəmˈpɔːrt/

comport

se comporter
Meaning
to behave or conduct oneself in a particular way
Example
She comported herself with grace during the ceremony.
Elle s'est comportée avec grâce lors de la cérémonie.
C2 verb /ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːrt/

controvert

contredire
Meaning
to dispute or argue against; to contradict
Example
The scientist controversed the previous research findings.
Le scientifique a contredit les résultats de la recherche précédente.
C2 noun /juːˌtɪlɪˈtɛəriənɪzəm/

utilitarianism

utilitarisme
Meaning
The ethical theory that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of the majority.
Example
Utilitarianism suggests that we should act to maximize overall happiness.
L'utilitarisme suggère que nous devrions agir pour maximiser le bonheur global.
C2 noun /æmˈbroʊʒə/

ambrosia

ambroisie
Meaning
The food of the gods in classical mythology; something extremely pleasing to taste or smell.
Example
The dessert was so delicious that it tasted like ambrosia.
Le dessert était tellement délicieux qu'il avait le goût d'ambrosia.
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 adjective /ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt/

incontinent

incontinent
Meaning
lacking control over urination or defecation; lacking self-restraint
Example
The patient was incontinent after surgery.
Le patient était incontinent après l'opération.
C2 verb /ɪˈreɪdieɪt/

irradiate

irradier
Meaning
to shine light on something; to expose to radiation; to illuminate or brighten
Example
The scientist used a lamp to irradiate the sample.
Le scientifique a utilisé une lampe pour irradier l'échantillon.
C2 noun /ˈɒlɪv bɑːb/

Olive barb

barbe olive
Meaning
A small freshwater fish with olive-colored body and barbels
Example
The olive barb is commonly found in South Asian rivers.
La barbe olive se trouve couramment dans les rivières d’Asie du Sud.
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 /dʒɔːnt/

jaunt

excursion courte
Meaning
A short journey or excursion, usually taken for pleasure.
Example
They went on a weekend jaunt to the countryside.
Ils sont partis en excursion courte à la campagne le week-end.
C2 noun /əkˈsɛʃən/

accession

accession au trône / acceptation d'un traité
Meaning
the attainment of a position of rank or power, especially a monarch or president; the formal acceptance of an agreement or treaty
Example
The king's accession to the throne was celebrated with great ceremony.
L'accession du roi au trône a été célébrée avec grande cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfər/

lexicographer

lexicographe
Meaning
A person who compiles, writes, or edits dictionaries.
Example
The lexicographer spent years compiling the dictionary.
Le lexicographe a passé des années à compiler le dictionnaire.
C2 noun /ˈskɪz.əm/ or /ˈsɪz.əm/

schism

bonheur
Meaning
A division or split between strongly opposed parties, often in religion or organizations.
Example
The schism in the church led to the formation of two separate groups.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /nɛl/

knell

glas
Meaning
The sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral; a signal of the end or failure of something.
Example
The knell of the church bell echoed through the valley at dusk.
Le glas de l'église résonnait à travers la vallée au crépuscule.
C2 noun /ˈpjuːɪsəns/

puissance

puissance
Meaning
Great power, strength, or influence.
Example
The empire showed its puissance through vast armies.
L'empire a montré sa puissance à travers de vastes armées.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtɪɡənt/

litigant

plaignant
Meaning
a person involved in a lawsuit
Example
The court summoned both litigants for the hearing.
Le tribunal a convoqué les deux plaignants pour l'audience.
C2 noun /ˌhoʊmə.dʒəˈniːəti/

homogeneity

homogénéité
Meaning
The quality or state of being all the same or all of the same kind.
Example
The cultural homogeneity of the village made it feel unified.
L'homogénéité culturelle du village donnait l'impression qu'il était uni.
C2 adjective /ˌɪn.ɪˈlʌk.tə.bəl/

ineluctable

inéluctable
Meaning
Impossible to avoid or escape; inevitable.
Example
Death is an ineluctable part of human existence.
La mort est une partie inéluctable de l'existence humaine.
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

langage grossier ou abusif
Meaning
Coarse or abusive language; vulgar or offensive speech.
Example
The heated argument quickly descended into billingsgate.
La discussion animée est rapidement descendue dans un langage grossier.
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 /ˈpɔːrfəri/

porphyry

une roche ignée dure
Meaning
A hard igneous rock containing crystals, often used for decorative or building purposes.
Example
The ancient Romans used porphyry to make columns and statues.
Les anciens Romains ont utilisé le porphyre pour fabriquer des colonnes et des statues.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪmpɪd/

limpid

limpide
Meaning
Clear and transparent, easily understood.
Example
The limpid water of the lake reflected the sky perfectly.
L'eau limpide du lac reflétait parfaitement le ciel.
C2 noun /voʊˈsɪfərəns/

vociferance

crier fort
Meaning
the act of shouting or making a loud outcry
Example
The vociferance of the protesters filled the streets.
La vocifération des manifestants a rempli les rues.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈseɪʃiət/

insatiate

insatiable
Meaning
impossible to satisfy; always wanting more
Example
He had an insatiate desire for power.
Il avait un désir insatiable de pouvoir.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪsɪd/

viscid

visqueux
Meaning
Having a thick, sticky consistency.
Example
The sap had a viscid texture that stuck to his hands.
La sève avait une texture visqueuse qui collait à ses mains.
C2 adjective /ɡrʌf/

gruff

rude
Meaning
Rough or stern in manner, speech, or voice.
Example
Despite his gruff manner, he was very kind-hearted.
Malgré son comportement rude, il était très gentil.
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 /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 verb /ˈhɑːrpɪŋ/

harping

se plaindre constamment
Meaning
continuously talking or complaining about something in a tiresome way
Example
She kept harping on about the mistakes I made.
Elle n'a cessé de se plaindre constamment des erreurs que j'ai faites.
C2 adjective /krəˈmætɪk/

chromatic

chromatique
Meaning
Relating to colors or, in music, notes outside the standard scale.
Example
The artist used a chromatic palette to create vibrant contrasts.
L'artiste a utilisé une palette chromatique pour créer des contrastes vibrants.
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 /ˈæd.ʌm.breɪt/

adumbrate

préfigurer
Meaning
to foreshadow or suggest something in an unclear or indirect way
Example
The report adumbrates future economic challenges.
Le rapport préfigure les défis économiques futurs.
C2 adjective /trænzˈmɪsəbl/

transmissible

transmissible
Meaning
able to be passed or spread from one person or thing to another
Example
COVID-19 is a highly transmissible disease.
COVID-19 est une maladie hautement transmissible.
C2 adjective/verb /ɪnˈkɑːrneɪt/

incarnate

incarné
Meaning
to embody or represent in human form; in flesh
Example
She is kindness incarnate.
Elle est la bonté incarnée.
C2 phrase ˌdʒʊə.rɪs.pruːˈden.ʃəl ˈbentʃ.mɑːk

jurisprudential benchmark

repère juridique
Meaning
A legal standard or precedent that serves as a reference point for future legal decisions.
Example
The decision set a jurisprudential benchmark.
La décision a établi un repère juridique.
C2 adjective /ˈθrɛdˌbɛr/

threadbare

usé et mince à cause d'une utilisation excessive
Meaning
Worn out and thin from too much use; shabby.
Example
His threadbare coat could not keep him warm in winter.
Son manteau usé ne pouvait pas le garder au chaud en hiver.
C2 noun /ˌɑːbdʒərˈɡeɪʃən/

objurgation

réprimande sévère
Meaning
a harsh scolding or strong rebuke
Example
His misconduct earned him a severe objurgation from the manager.
Sa mauvaise conduite lui a valu une réprimande sévère de la part du responsable.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈtɛmpərət/

intemperate

intempérant
Meaning
Lacking self-control; immoderate, especially in indulgence.
Example
The politician's intemperate remarks caused controversy.
Les remarques intempérantes du politicien ont causé la controverse.
C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛksəbl/

reflexible

réfléchissable
Meaning
Capable of being reflected or bent back.
Example
The surface was highly reflexible, bouncing light in different directions.
La surface était très réfléchissable, renvoyant la lumière dans différentes directions.
C2 noun /ˈtɜːrnkoʊt/

turncoat

traître
Meaning
a person who switches allegiance, often betraying a cause or group
Example
He was branded a turncoat after joining the rival political party.
Il a été qualifié de traître après avoir rejoint le parti politique rival.
C2 noun /ruːˈeɪ/

roue

un homme dédié à une vie de plaisirs sensuels
Meaning
A man devoted to a life of sensual pleasure; a debauched man.
Example
The old roue squandered his fortune on gambling and women.
Le vieux roue a gaspillé sa fortune dans les jeux d'argent et les femmes.
C2 noun /bəˈnæləti/

banality

banalité
Meaning
The condition of being unoriginal, boring, or obvious; trite remark or quality.
Example
The speech was criticized for its banality and lack of originality.
Le discours a été critiqué pour sa banalité et son manque d'originalité.
C2 adjective ɪˈnɛfəbl

ineffable

ineffable
Meaning
Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
Example
The beauty of the landscape was ineffable.
La beauté du paysage était ineffable.
C2 noun /ˈræɡəmʌfɪn/

ragamuffin

enfant négligé
Meaning
A person, typically a child, in ragged, dirty clothes.
Example
The little ragamuffin begged for food on the street.
Le petit enfant négligé mendiait de la nourriture dans la rue.
C2 noun /ˈtʃælɪs/

chalice

calice
Meaning
A large cup or goblet, typically used for drinking wine in religious ceremonies.
Example
The priest lifted the golden chalice during the ceremony.
Le prêtre a levé le calice en or pendant la cérémonie.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmərən/

decameron

Décaméron (recueil de contes de Boccaccio)
Meaning
A collection of 100 tales written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century, told by a group of people over ten days.
Example
The Decameron is considered a masterpiece of classical Italian literature.
Le Décaméron est considéré comme un chef-d'œuvre de la littérature italienne classique.
C2 noun /ˈvɪtəlz/

victuals

vivres
Meaning
Food or provisions, especially for human consumption.
Example
The travelers packed enough victuals for their long journey.
Les voyageurs ont emballé suffisamment de vivres pour leur long voyage.
C2 adjective /stəˈkɑː.təʊ/

staccato

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

apoplexy

Perte soudaine de conscience ou de contrôle due à un AVC ou à une colère extrême
Meaning
A sudden loss of consciousness or control due to stroke or extreme anger.
Example
The old man nearly had apoplexy when he heard the shocking news.
Le vieil homme a failli avoir une apoplexie lorsqu'il a entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪɡ.ni.əs/

ligneous

boisé
Meaning
having the texture or appearance of wood; woody
Example
The ligneous stem supported the heavy flowers.
La tige boisée soutenait les fleurs lourdes.
C2 noun /ˈlɪɡ.ə.tʃər/

ligature

ligature
Meaning
A thing used for tying or binding tightly; in music/printing, two or more notes or letters joined together.
Example
The doctor used a ligature to stop the bleeding.
Le médecin a utilisé une ligature pour arrêter le saignement.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛsɪkeɪtɪd/

desiccated

desséché
Meaning
completely dried, having had all moisture removed
Example
The museum displayed desiccated specimens of plants.
Le musée a exposé des spécimens desséchés de plantes.
C2 noun /ˈnoʊmənˌkleɪtʃər/

nomenclature

nomenclature
Meaning
A system of names or terms used in a particular science, art, or field.
Example
The chemical nomenclature can be difficult for beginners to understand.
La nomenclature chimique peut être difficile à comprendre pour les débutants.
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 /ɪnˈɡrætɪˌtjuːd/

ingratitude

ingratitude
Meaning
Lack of gratitude; failure to show thanks or appreciation.
Example
His ingratitude hurt her feelings after all she had done for him.
Son ingratitude lui a fait mal après tout ce qu'elle avait fait pour lui.
C2 adverb /bɪˈtaɪmz/

betimes

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

peerage

noblesse
Meaning
the title or rank of a peer; the nobility as a group
Example
He was elevated to the peerage by the king.
Il a été élevé à la noblesse par le roi.
C2 noun /mæn əv wɔːr/

Man of war

navire de guerre
Meaning
a warship; a naval vessel equipped with weapons for warfare
Example
The man of war sailed across the ocean to defend the coast.
Le navire de guerre a traversé l'océan pour défendre la côte.
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 adjective /bjuːˈkɒlɪk/

bucolic

bucolique
Meaning
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
Example
They enjoyed a bucolic picnic by the river.
Ils ont apprécié un pique-nique bucolique au bord de la rivière.
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 /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 noun /ɪˈbʊliəns/

ebullience

exubérance
Meaning
the quality of being cheerful, enthusiastic, and full of energy
Example
The teacher's ebullience inspired her students.
L'enthousiasme de l'enseignante a inspiré ses élèves.
C2 verb /bɪˈsmɜːrtʃ/

besmirch

ternir
Meaning
to damage someone's reputation; to make dirty or stained
Example
He tried to besmirch her good name with false rumors.
Il a essayé de ternir son bon nom avec de fausses rumeurs.
C2 noun /prɒɡˌnɒstɪˈkeɪʃən/

prognostication

prédiction
Meaning
The act of foretelling or predicting future events.
Example
The astrologer's prognostication fascinated the audience.
La prédiction de l'astrologue a fasciné l'audience.
C2 verb /ɪˈluːmɪn/

illumine

illuminer
Meaning
to light up or make clear
Example
The rising sun illumined the mountain peaks.
Le soleil levant illumina les cimes des montagnes.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflɛdʒd/

unfledged

inexpérimenté
Meaning
Inexperienced, immature, or not fully developed.
Example
The unfledged writer struggled to complete his first novel.
L'écrivain inexpérimenté a eu du mal à terminer son premier roman.
C2 noun /ˈɔːrɪkl̩/

auricle

partie externe de l'oreille
Meaning
The external part of the ear; also an upper chamber of the heart in anatomy.
Example
The doctor examined the patient’s auricle for signs of infection.
Le médecin a examiné la partie externe de l'oreille du patient à la recherche de signes d'infection.