befuddle
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C2 verb /bɪˈfʌdəl/

befuddle

embrouiller
Meaning
to confuse someone completely; to make someone unable to think clearly
Example
The complex instructions befuddled the students.
Les instructions complexes ont embrouillé les étudiants.
C2 noun /ˈɛdi/

eddy

tourbillon
Meaning
A circular movement of water, air, or smoke, counter to the main current, causing a small whirlpool or turbulence.
Example
The canoe was caught in an eddy near the rocks.
Le canoë a été pris dans un tourbillon près des rochers.
C2 noun /ˈbrɒŋkəs/

bronchus

bronche
Meaning
either of the two main branches of the trachea that lead directly into the lungs
Example
The left bronchus carries air into the left lung.
Le bronchus gauche transporte l'air dans le poumon gauche.
C2 noun /ˈætəmaɪzər/

atomizer

atomiseur
Meaning
A device that sprays liquid into a fine mist.
Example
She used an atomizer to apply the perfume evenly.
Elle a utilisé un atomiseur pour appliquer le parfum uniformément.
C2 noun /ˌhæŋ.ki ˈpæŋ.ki/

Hanky-Panky

escroquerie; activité suspecte; comportement malhonnête; tromperie
Meaning
dishonest or suspicious activity; unethical behavior; trickery or deception
Example
The audit revealed some hanky-panky in the company's financial records.
L'audit a révélé de la fraude dans les registres financiers de l'entreprise.
C2 noun /ˈkɒn.tjʊ.mə.li/

contumely

insulte, mépris
Meaning
insulting or humiliating treatment
Example
He endured the contumely of his colleagues with patience.
Il a supporté le mépris de ses collègues avec patience.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz/

disabuse

désabuser
Meaning
To free someone from a false belief or misconception.
Example
The teacher tried to disabuse the students of their misunderstanding.
Le professeur a essayé de désabuser les étudiants de leur malentendu.
C2 adjective /ˈtɪtjələr/

titular

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

fanciless

sans imagination, ordinaire
Meaning
without imagination or creativity; plain or ordinary
Example
His drawings were simple and fanciless.
Ses dessins étaient simples et sans imagination.
C2 adjective /ˈfrɒlɪksəm/

Frolicsome

enjoué; joyeux; gai
Meaning
joyful; playful; merry; cheerful
Example
The frolicsome children laughed and played in the park.
Les enfants joyeux riaient et jouaient dans le parc.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsəˈvaʊəl/

disavowal

désaveu
Meaning
the denial of any responsibility, connection, or support
Example
The politician issued a firm disavowal of the controversial remarks.
Le politicien a émis un ferme désaveu des remarques controversées.
C2 noun /waɪl/

wile

ruse, tromperie
Meaning
A trick or clever scheme meant to deceive or outwit someone.
Example
He used every wile to win her trust.
Il a utilisé toutes ses ruses pour gagner sa confiance.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/

discomfit

déconcerter
Meaning
to make someone feel uneasy, embarrassed, or confused
Example
The interviewer’s tough questions discomfited the candidate.
Les questions difficiles de l'intervieweur ont déstabilisé le candidat.
C2 adjective /ˈtɛnɪbrəs/

tenebrous

ténébreux
Meaning
dark, shadowy, or obscure
Example
The cave was damp and tenebrous, filled with eerie sounds.
La grotte était humide et ténébreuse, remplie de bruits étranges.
C2 adjective /ˈmɒtld/

mottled

tacheté
Meaning
Marked with spots, streaks, or blotches of different shades or colors.
Example
The snake's mottled skin helped it blend into the forest floor.
La peau tachetée du serpent l'a aidé à se fondre dans le sol de la forêt.
C2 noun /ˌkʌl.pəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

culpability

culpabilité
Meaning
responsibility for a fault or wrong; blameworthiness
Example
The jury considered his level of culpability in the crime.
Le jury a considéré son niveau de culpabilité dans le crime.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒr.ə.ɡeɪ.tɪd/

corrugated

ondulé ou plié
Meaning
shaped into ridges and grooves; wrinkled or folded
Example
The roof was made of corrugated metal sheets.
Le toit était fait de feuilles de métal ondulé.
C2 adjective /fækˈtɪʃəs/

factitious

artificiel, non authentique
Meaning
artificial or fabricated; not natural or genuine
Example
The excitement in his story seemed factitious and forced.
L'excitation dans son histoire semblait factice et forcée.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈlɒk/

interlock

emboîter
Meaning
to fit or connect together securely so that two or more things are joined
Example
The gears interlock to ensure smooth movement of the machine.
Les engrenages s'emboîtent pour assurer un mouvement fluide de la machine.
C2 adjective ˌpɜː.spɪˈkeɪ.ʃəs

perspicacious

perspicace
Meaning
Having keen insight and understanding; showing acute mental discernment.
Example
The detective's perspicacious nature helped solve the mystery.
La nature perspicace du détective a aidé à résoudre le mystère.
C2 noun /ˈæk.rɪ.moʊ.ni/

acrimony

acrimonie
Meaning
Bitterness and anger, especially in speech or behavior.
Example
The divorce was filled with acrimony and disputes.
Le divorce était rempli d'acrimonie et de disputes.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrnɪs/

cornice

corniche
Meaning
an ornamental molding around the wall of a room just below the ceiling
Example
The elegant cornice added a classical touch to the living room.
La corniche élégante a ajouté une touche classique au salon.
C2 noun /ˌdɛd ˈhiːt/

dead-heat

égalité parfaite
Meaning
a race or contest in which two or more competitors finish exactly equal
Example
The race ended in a dead-heat between the two runners.
La course s'est terminée par une égalité parfaite entre les deux coureurs.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌɡɒn/

decagon

décagone
Meaning
A polygon with ten sides and ten angles.
Example
The geometry teacher drew a perfect decagon on the board.
Le professeur de géométrie a dessiné un parfait décagone au tableau.
C2 verb /ˌoʊvərˈstraɪd/

overstride

franchir en faisant de grands pas
Meaning
To stride over something; to step across with long steps.
Example
He managed to overstride the narrow stream with ease.
Il a réussi à franchir le ruisseau étroit avec facilité.
C2 verb /ɛnˈfiːbəl/

enfeeble

affaiblir
Meaning
To make weak or feeble; to deprive of strength.
Example
The long illness enfeebled the old man.
La longue maladie a affaibli le vieil homme.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrtɪˌtjuːd/

certitude

certitude
Meaning
Absolute certainty or conviction about something.
Example
She spoke with certitude about the outcome of the case.
Elle a parlé avec certitude du résultat de l'affaire.
C2 noun /ˈæmɪti/

amity

amitié
Meaning
A friendly relationship between people or countries.
Example
The treaty helped maintain amity between the neighboring nations.
Le traité a aidé à maintenir l'amitié entre les nations voisines.
C2 noun /pɪˈnɒlədʒi/

penology

pénologie
Meaning
The study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation.
Example
He decided to specialize in penology to help improve the prison system.
Il a décidé de se spécialiser en pénologie pour améliorer le système pénitentiaire.
C2 noun /dɜːrdʒ/

dirge

élégie
Meaning
A mournful song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief, often for the dead.
Example
The choir sang a solemn dirge at the funeral.
La chorale a chanté une élégie solennelle lors des funérailles.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛndrɔɪd/

dendroid

en forme d'arbre
Meaning
tree-shaped or branching like a tree
Example
The coral has a dendroid structure.
Le corail a une structure dendroïde.
C2 noun /ˌfoʊˈtɑːmɪtər/

photometer

photomètre
Meaning
an instrument for measuring the intensity of light
Example
The scientist used a photometer to measure the light in the laboratory.
Le scientifique a utilisé un photomètre pour mesurer la lumière dans le laboratoire.
C2 noun /ˌmælˈoʊdər/

malodor

mauvaise odeur
Meaning
An unpleasant smell; bad odor.
Example
The garbage bin gave off a terrible malodor.
La poubelle dégageait une terrible mauvaise odeur.
C2 adjective /prɪˈzʌmptɪv/

presumptive

présumé
Meaning
Based on probability or assumption rather than proof.
Example
She is the presumptive nominee for the party.
Elle est la candidate présumée pour le parti.
C2 adjective /aɪˈtɪnərənt/

itinerant

itinérant
Meaning
Traveling from place to place, especially for work or duty.
Example
The itinerant teacher moved from village to village to educate children.
L'enseignant itinérant se déplaçait de village en village pour enseigner aux enfants.
C2 adjective /eɪˈsɛfələs/

acephalous

sans tête
Meaning
having no leader or head; headless
Example
The acephalous group soon fell into disorganization.
Le groupe sans tête tomba bientôt dans la désorganisation.
C2 adjective /rɪˈmjuːnərətɪv/

remunerative

rémunérateur
Meaning
Financially rewarding or profitable.
Example
He chose a remunerative career in medicine.
Il a choisi une carrière rémunératrice en médecine.
C2 noun /ɪnˌtɜːrpəˈleɪʃən/

interpolation

interpolation
Meaning
The act of inserting something into a text or estimating values within a sequence of data.
Example
The scientist used interpolation to predict the missing data points.
Le scientifique a utilisé l'interpolation pour prédire les points de données manquants.
C2 verb /ˈblækˌbɔːl/

blackball

exclure
Meaning
to exclude someone socially or vote against their membership in a group or club
Example
He was blackballed from the club after the controversy.
Il a été exclu du club après la controverse.
C2 noun /ˈsɒfɪstri/

sophistry

sophistique
Meaning
the use of clever but false arguments, often to deceive
Example
The politician's speech was full of sophistry.
Le discours du politicien était plein de sophistique.
C2 noun /ˈɡɪni/

guinea

guinée (ancienne monnaie britannique en or)
Meaning
A former British gold coin; also refers to Guinea, a country in West Africa
Example
The antique coin was worth one guinea.
La pièce antique valait une guinée.
C2 noun /ˈəʊpəs/

opus

œuvre créative
Meaning
A creative work, especially a large and important piece of music or art.
Example
The composer considered the symphony his greatest opus.
Le compositeur considérait la symphonie comme sa plus grande œuvre créative.
C2 noun /lænˈtɑː.nə/

Lantana

lantana
Meaning
a tropical flowering plant with clusters of small colorful flowers
Example
The lantana flowers attract butterflies to the garden.
Les fleurs de lantana attirent les papillons dans le jardin.
C2 noun /ɪˈfluːviəm/

effluvium

effluve
Meaning
an unpleasant or harmful odor, secretion, or discharge
Example
The effluvium from the factory spread across the neighborhood.
L'effluve de l'usine s'est répandu dans tout le quartier.
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 /ˈnʌnəri/

nunnery

couvent
Meaning
A convent or building where nuns live and work.
Example
She decided to join the nunnery to devote her life to spiritual practice.
Elle a décidé de rejoindre le couvent pour consacrer sa vie à la pratique spirituelle.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌltɪfɔːrm/

multiform

multiforme
Meaning
Having many different forms or appearances.
Example
The festival was a multiform celebration of art, music, and culture.
Le festival était une célébration multiforme de l'art, de la musique et de la culture.
C2 noun /ˈkriːməri/

creamery

crèmerie
Meaning
a place where milk and cream are processed and dairy products are made
Example
The local creamery produces fresh butter and cheese daily.
La crèmerie locale produit du beurre et du fromage frais tous les jours.
C2 adjective /ˈdekərəs/

decorous

décoratif
Meaning
showing proper and polite behavior; marked by good taste
Example
The audience gave a decorous applause after the performance.
Le public a applaudi de manière décorative après la performance.
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 verb /əˈbɑː.mə.neɪt/

abominate

abominer
Meaning
to feel hatred or loathing for something
Example
She abominates cruelty to animals.
Elle abhorre la cruauté envers les animaux.
C2 verb /ɪnˈθrɔːl/

enthral

captiver
Meaning
To captivate or hold someone’s full attention.
Example
The magician’s performance enthralled the audience.
La performance du magicien a captivé l'audience.
C2 verb /kwɒf/

quaff

boire d'un coup
Meaning
to drink something heartily or in large gulps, especially an alcoholic drink
Example
He quaffed a mug of ale after the long day.
Il a bu d'un coup une chope de bière après une longue journée.
C2 noun /miːn/

mien

mine
Meaning
A person's appearance or manner, especially as an indication of their character or mood.
Example
His serious mien made everyone fall silent.
Son air sérieux fit taire tout le monde.
C2 noun /rɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/

renunciation

renonciation
Meaning
the formal rejection or giving up of something, usually a belief, claim, or way of life
Example
His renunciation of worldly pleasures impressed the monks.
Sa renonciation aux plaisirs mondains a impressionné les moines.
C2 adjective /ˈmæk.jʊˌleɪ.tɪd/

maculated

maculé
Meaning
Spotted or stained; marked with blemishes.
Example
The maculated surface of the old mirror gave it a unique charm.
La surface maculée du vieux miroir lui donna un charme unique.
C2 noun /ˈdʒes.tər/

Jester

bouffon; comique
Meaning
a professional joker or fool at a medieval court; someone who jokes a lot
Example
The court jester entertained the king with witty remarks and amusing tricks.
Le bouffon de la cour divertissait le roi avec des remarques pleines d'esprit et des tours amusants.
C2 noun /bɪˈnɪɡnɪti/

Benignity

bonté; douceur; la qualité d'être bienveillant ou gracieux
Meaning
kindness; gentleness; the quality of being benign or gracious
Example
Her benignity towards all people made her beloved by everyone.
Sa bonté envers tous les gens l'a rendue aimée de tous.
C2 adjective /ˈtɪd.li/

Tiddley

légèrement ivre; petit ou minuscule
Meaning
slightly drunk; small or tiny
Example
After a few drinks, he felt a bit tiddley.
Après quelques verres, il se sentit un peu tiddley.
C2 noun /ˈɪkθiəˌsɔːrz/

ichthyosaurs

ichtyosaures (un type de reptile marin éteint)
Meaning
Extinct marine reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins, dominant during the Mesozoic era.
Example
Ichthyosaurs were swift predators of the ancient seas.
Les ichtyosaures étaient des prédateurs rapides des mers anciennes.
C2 verb /sʌbˈtɛnd/

subtend

sous-tendre
Meaning
To extend across or form an angle at a particular point, often used in geometry.
Example
The arc subtends a 60-degree angle at the center of the circle.
L'arc sous-tend un angle de 60 degrés au centre du cercle.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈdjuːsəbl/

irreducible

irréductible
Meaning
impossible to reduce or simplify further
Example
The fraction 3/7 is irreducible.
La fraction 3/7 est irréductible.
C2 noun /mjuːz/

mews

impasse/rue étroite
Meaning
A row or street of houses or apartments that have been converted from stables or built to look like former stables.
Example
They rented a small flat in a quiet London mews.
Ils ont loué un petit appartement dans un mews tranquille de Londres.
C2 noun /səˈlɪsɪˌtuːd/

solicitude

préoccupation, soin
Meaning
Care or concern for someone or something.
Example
His mother showed great solicitude for his safety.
Sa mère a montré une grande préoccupation pour sa sécurité.
C2 noun /ˌdʒer.ɪˈmaɪ.æd/

Jeremiad

complainte prolongée; lamentation; liste de malheurs
Meaning
a long mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes; a prolonged expression of grief
Example
The newspaper editorial was a jeremiad about the decline of moral values in society.
L'éditorial du journal était un jeremiad sur le déclin des valeurs morales dans la société.
C2 verb /ɪˈniː.bri.eɪt/

inebriate

enivrer
Meaning
to intoxicate; to make someone drunk
Example
The strong wine was enough to inebriate even the most experienced drinker.
Le vin fort était suffisant pour enivrer même le buveur le plus expérimenté.
C2 verb ˈɑːb.fə.skeɪt

obfuscate

obscurcir, embrouiller, mystifier
Meaning
Render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
Example
Politicians often obfuscate facts to mislead people.
Les politiciens obfusquent souvent les faits pour induire les gens en erreur.
C2 noun /ˈæpəˌsteɪt/

apostate

apostat
Meaning
A person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.
Example
He was labeled an apostate after abandoning the faith of his community.
Il a été étiqueté comme apostat après avoir abandonné la foi de sa communauté.
C2 noun /prəˈtɛktərət/

protectorate

protectorat
Meaning
A state that is controlled and protected by another.
Example
The small country became a protectorate of the empire.
Le petit pays est devenu un protectorat de l'empire.
C2 noun /kæd/

Cad

scélérat; grossier
Meaning
a man who behaves dishonorably, especially toward women
Example
Everyone at the party avoided him because he was known to be a cad.
Tout le monde à la fête l'a évité parce qu'il était connu pour être un scélérat.
C2 noun /ˌdɪspjuːˈteɪʃən/

disputation

dispute
Meaning
a formal debate or argument
Example
The disputation between the two scholars lasted for hours.
La disputation entre les deux érudits a duré des heures.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪlətɔːri/

dilatory

dilatoire
Meaning
Tending to cause delay; slow to act.
Example
The committee was criticized for its dilatory response to the crisis.
Le comité a été critiqué pour sa réponse dilatoire à la crise.
C2 verb /ɪkˈstɛnjueɪt/

extenuate

excuser
Meaning
to make an offense, fault, or situation seem less serious by providing an excuse or explanation
Example
The lawyer tried to extenuate his client's actions by highlighting his difficult childhood.
L'avocat a essayé d'excuser les actions de son client en mettant en lumière son enfance difficile.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈtriːvəbl/

irretrievable

irrécupérable
Meaning
impossible to recover or regain
Example
The documents were lost in an irretrievable way after the fire.
Les documents ont été perdus de manière irrécupérable après l'incendie.
C2 noun /fɪˈlændərər/

philanderer

volage
Meaning
a man who habitually engages in casual romantic or sexual affairs
Example
The politician was exposed as a notorious philanderer.
Le politicien a été exposé comme un célèbre volage.
C2 verb /haɪ/

hie

se hâter
Meaning
to go quickly; hasten
Example
He hied to the station to catch the train.
Il se hâta à la gare pour attraper le train.
C2 verb /ˈfrʌktɪˌfaɪ/

fructify

fructifier
Meaning
To make fruitful or productive; to bear fruit.
Example
The new policies will help fructify the economic potential of the region.
Les nouvelles politiques aideront à fructifier le potentiel économique de la région.
C2 noun/verb /ˈkætˌkɔːl/

catcall

sifflements ou cris de désapprobation ou de harcèlement sexuel
Meaning
A loud whistle or shout of disapproval or sexual harassment directed at someone.
Example
The actress ignored the catcalls from the crowd.
L'actrice a ignoré les catcalls de la foule.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈdʒɛnjuəs/

ingenuous

ingénu
Meaning
Innocent, naive, and unsuspecting; showing childlike simplicity and sincerity.
Example
Her ingenuous smile revealed her genuine kindness.
Son sourire ingénu révélait sa véritable gentillesse.
C2 noun /ˈdɛvɪlri/

devilry

diablerie
Meaning
Wicked or cruel behavior; mischievous actions.
Example
The children were full of devilry on Halloween night.
Les enfants étaient pleins de diablerie lors de la nuit d'Halloween.
C2 adjective /ˌrɛpərˈtɔːriəl/

repertorial

répertorial
Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of a repertoire, especially in journalism or performance contexts.
Example
The journalist's repertorial style captured every detail of the unfolding story.
Le style répertorial du journaliste a capturé chaque détail de l'histoire en cours.
C2 noun /əˈmɛrɪkəˌnɪzəm/

americanism

américanisme
Meaning
A word, phrase, or practice characteristic of American English or culture.
Example
The term 'sidewalk' is an Americanism, while 'pavement' is used in British English.
Le terme « sidewalk » est un américanisme, tandis que « pavement » est utilisé dans l'anglais britannique.
C2 noun /buːb/

boob

idiot; sein (familier)
Meaning
a foolish or clumsy person; an informal and sometimes rude term for a woman's breast
Example
He felt like a complete boob after forgetting the meeting.
Il s'est senti comme un idiot complet après avoir oublié la réunion.
C2 verb /ˈfæmɪʃ/

famish

mourir de faim
Meaning
to suffer or cause to suffer from extreme hunger
Example
The stranded hikers began to famish after several days without food.
Les randonneurs bloqués ont commencé à mourir de faim après plusieurs jours sans nourriture.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɛmbəl/

dissemble

dissimuler
Meaning
to conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs; to pretend
Example
He tried to dissemble his anger with a forced smile.
Il a essayé de dissimuler sa colère avec un sourire forcé.
C2 noun /ˈbaɪəˌɡræf/

biograph

biographie
Meaning
A written account of a person's life; an early motion-picture projector (historical use).
Example
The library holds an old biograph of the poet.
La bibliothèque possède une ancienne biographie du poète.
C2 verb /ɪnˈɡreɪʃiˌeɪt/

ingratiate

se faire bien voir
Meaning
To gain favor or approval by deliberate effort, often in a flattering way.
Example
She tried to ingratiate herself with her boss by complimenting him often.
Elle a essayé de s'ingratiser auprès de son patron en le complimentant souvent.
C2 verb /ˈræm.ɪ.faɪ/

ramify

se ramifier
Meaning
to spread or branch out into divisions or subdivisions.
Example
The river ramifies into several smaller streams.
Le fleuve se ramifie en plusieurs petits ruisseaux.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪˌtʃeɪmbər/

antechamber

antichambre
Meaning
a small room serving as an entry to a larger one
Example
The guests waited in the antechamber before being admitted to the hall.
Les invités ont attendu dans l'antichambre avant d'être admis dans la salle.
C2 noun /ˈmɒkəsɪn/

moccasin

mocassin
Meaning
A soft leather shoe, traditionally worn by Native Americans, often made from deerskin.
Example
He slipped on a pair of comfortable moccasins before going outside.
Il a mis des mocassins confortables avant de sortir.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌlsɪt/

dulcet

doux
Meaning
sweet and soothing (often used ironically)
Example
She was enchanted by his dulcet voice.
Elle était enchantée par sa voix douce.
C2 adjective /djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/

duplicitous

fourbe
Meaning
Deceitful; deliberately deceptive or dishonest.
Example
The politician was criticized for his duplicitous statements.
Le politicien a été critiqué pour ses déclarations trompeuses.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪspi/

wispy

fins et fragiles
Meaning
Thin, delicate, and weak in appearance or form.
Example
Her wispy hair blew gently in the breeze.
Ses cheveux fins soufflaient doucement dans la brise.
C2 noun /ˈɪsməs/ or /ˈɪsθməs/

isthmus

isthme
Meaning
A narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas, often with water on either side.
Example
The Panama Canal cuts through the Isthmus of Panama.
Le canal de Panama traverse l'isthme de Panama.
C2 verb /ɪˈdjuːs/

educe

extraire
Meaning
To draw out or bring forth something latent or hidden.
Example
The teacher tried to educe a response from the shy student.
Le professeur a essayé d'éduire une réponse de l'étudiant timide.
C2 noun /ɪnˈfriːkwəns/

infrequence

infréquence
Meaning
The state of occurring rarely or at long intervals.
Example
The infrequence of their meetings made it hard to maintain close ties.
L'infréquence de leurs réunions rendait difficile le maintien de liens étroits.
C2 noun /ˈrɛv.ər.i/

reverie

rêverie; rêverie éveillée
Meaning
A state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream.
Example
Lost in reverie, he didn't hear his name being called.
Perdu dans la rêverie, il n’entendit pas son nom être appelé.
C2 noun /ˈpjuːdʒɪlɪzəm/

pugilism

boxe
Meaning
The practice or sport of boxing.
Example
He studied the art of pugilism in his youth.
Il a étudié l'art de la boxe dans sa jeunesse.
C2 noun /ˈsɪlvər kɑrp/

Silver carp

carpe argentée
Meaning
a large freshwater fish with silvery scales, commonly farmed for food
Example
Silver carp is widely cultivated in fish farms across Asia.
La carpe argentée est largement cultivée dans les fermes piscicoles à travers l’Asie.
C2 adjective /ˈstɪdʒiən/

stygian

sombre
Meaning
extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding
Example
They walked through the stygian cave with torches.
Ils marchaient à travers la grotte sombre avec des torches.
C2 noun /ˌtɜːdʒɪvərˈseɪʃən/

tergiversation

évasion, retournement
Meaning
Evasion of straightforward action or speech; changing sides or being inconsistent.
Example
The politician’s tergiversation frustrated his supporters.
La tergiversation du politicien a frustré ses partisans.
C2 /laɪð/

lithe

souple et gracieux
Meaning
thin, supple, and graceful in movement
Example
The lithe dancer captivated the audience with her graceful spins.
La danseuse souple a captivé le public avec ses pirouettes gracieuses.
C2 noun /ˌpɜː.spɪˈkæs.ɪ.ti/

perspicacity

perspicacité
Meaning
Sharp insight, keen understanding and discernment.
Example
Her perspicacity in business decisions led to success.
Sa perspicacité dans les décisions commerciales a mené au succès.
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 /ˈfɔːnɪŋ/

fawning

flatterie exagérée
Meaning
displaying exaggerated flattery or affection
Example
Her fawning compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
Ses compliments exagérés ont mis tout le monde mal à l'aise.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈperɪʃəbəl/

Imperishable

imperissable; éternel; immortel
Meaning
not subject to decay; lasting forever; eternal
Example
The imperishable beauty of classical art continues to inspire generations.
La beauté impérissable de l'art classique continue d'inspirer les générations.
C2 noun /proʊˈskrɪp.ʃən/

proscription

interdiction
Meaning
the act of forbidding something, especially by law
Example
The proscription of child labor is an important human rights achievement.
L'interdiction du travail des enfants est une réalisation importante des droits humains.
C2 adjective /əˈɡɒɡ/

agog

Meaning
Highly excited by eagerness, curiosity, or anticipation.
Example
The children were agog with excitement as they waited for the magician to appear.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːrtən/

hearten

donner du courage
Meaning
To give courage, confidence, or hope.
Example
The teacher’s encouragement heartened the students.
L'encouragement de l'enseignant a donné du courage aux étudiants.
C2 adjective /ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətəri/

interrogatory

interrogatif
Meaning
expressed in the form of a question; relating to questioning
Example
The lawyer’s interrogatory tone made the witness uncomfortable.
Le ton interrogatif de l'avocat a rendu le témoin mal à l'aise.
C2 verb /ˈvæsɪleɪt/

vacillate

bonheur
Meaning
to waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive
Example
He vacillated between studying law and becoming a writer.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher sa joie lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˈnɛkrəˌmænsi/

necromancy

nécromancie
Meaning
the practice of communicating with the dead, often to predict the future
Example
Ancient texts described rituals of necromancy performed by priests.
Les anciens textes décrivent les rituels de nécromancie pratiqués par les prêtres.
C2 adjective /ˈsɜːrkəmskraɪbd/

circumscribed

circonscrit
Meaning
restricted or limited in scope or freedom
Example
Her freedom of choice was circumscribed by social rules.
Sa liberté de choix était circonscrite par les règles sociales.
C2 noun /fɪˈlæt.əl.i/

philately

philatélie
Meaning
the collection and study of postage stamps
Example
Philately is a hobby enjoyed by people of all ages.
La philatélie est un passe-temps apprécié des personnes de tous âges.
C2 noun /ˈkaʊntɪŋˌhaʊs/

counting-house

bureau de comptabilité
Meaning
a business office where accounts are kept and financial transactions are managed
Example
The merchant spent most of his day in the counting-house reviewing ledgers.
Le marchand passait la majeure partie de sa journée dans le bureau de comptabilité à examiner les livres de comptes.
C2 noun /prɪˈsɛʃən/

precession

précession
Meaning
The slow movement of the axis of a spinning body around another axis, often referring to Earth's rotation.
Example
Astronomers study the precession of the equinoxes.
Les astronomes étudient la précession des équinoxes.
C2 adjective /ˌsæpəˈneɪʃəs/

saponaceous

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

Voluble

bavard; volubile
Meaning
speaking fluently and readily; talkative; having a continuous flow of words
Example
The voluble salesman talked for hours about his products.
Le vendeur bavard a parlé pendant des heures de ses produits.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrpəskəl/

corpuscle

petite particule ou cellule, en particulier cellule sanguine
Meaning
a small particle or cell, especially a blood cell
Example
Red corpuscles carry oxygen throughout the body.
Les globules rouges transportent l'oxygène dans tout le corps.
C2 verb /məˈlɪŋɡər/

malinger

feindre la maladie
Meaning
to exaggerate or fake illness in order to escape duty or work
Example
He tried to malinger to avoid going to school.
Il a essayé de feindre une maladie pour éviter d'aller à l'école.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdəˌɡɒɡ/

pedagogue

enseignant
Meaning
a teacher, especially a strict or formal one
Example
The old pedagogue insisted on discipline in the classroom.
Le vieux pédagogue insista sur la discipline dans la classe.