betrothal
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C2 noun /bɪˈtroʊðəl/

betrothal

fiançailles
Meaning
The formal engagement to be married.
Example
Their betrothal was announced to the whole village.
Leurs fiançailles ont été annoncées à tout le village.
C2 noun /ˌæfɛkˈteɪʃən/

affectation

affectation
Meaning
an unnatural behavior or speech intended to impress others
Example
Her British accent was just an affectation to sound sophisticated.
Son accent britannique n'était qu'une affectation destinée à paraître sophistiquée.
C2 adjective /mɔːrˈdeɪʃəs/

mordacious

acerbe ou sarcastique
Meaning
Sharp or biting in style, tone, or remark; sarcastic.
Example
The critic’s mordacious review offended the author.
La critique mordante du critique a offensé l'auteur.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒɪg.ərd/

Jiggered

étonné; stupéfait;
Meaning
surprised or astonished; confused or puzzled
Example
I'll be jiggered if I know what happened here.
Je serais étonné si je savais ce qui s'est passé ici.
C2 noun /ˈʃæd.ək/

Shaddock

pomelo
Meaning
a large citrus fruit similar to grapefruit; pomelo
Example
The shaddock is the largest citrus fruit in the world.
Le shadok est le plus grand fruit agrume du monde.
C2 noun /ɜːrˈbænɪti/

urbanity

urbanité
Meaning
refined courtesy, elegance, and sophistication in manner
Example
Her urbanity made her popular among diplomats and leaders.
Son urbanité la rendait populaire parmi les diplomates et les dirigeants.
C2 verb /ɪmˈpɛnd/

impend

se profiler
Meaning
to be about to happen; to loom threateningly
Example
Dark clouds suggested that a storm was impeding.
Les nuages sombres suggéraient qu'une tempête était imminente.
C2 adjective /ˌhaɪpərˈbɔːriən/

hyperborean

hyperboréen
Meaning
Relating to the extreme north; very cold or frigid.
Example
The explorers prepared for the hyperborean climate of the Arctic.
Les explorateurs se sont préparés pour le climat hyperboréen de l'Arctique.
C2 noun /ɡæf/

gaff

gaffe
Meaning
A social blunder or mistake; also a hook or device used in fishing or theater.
Example
He made a major gaff during the meeting by forgetting the client's name.
Il a fait une grosse gaffe pendant la réunion en oubliant le nom du client.
C2 noun /sɪˈkwiːlə/

sequela

séquelle
Meaning
A condition that is the consequence of a previous disease or injury.
Example
Lung scarring can be a sequela of severe pneumonia.
Les cicatrices pulmonaires peuvent être une séquelle d'une pneumonie sévère.
C2 adjective /ˈsʌpliənt/

suppliant

suppliant
Meaning
Humbly or earnestly asking for something, especially from a person in authority.
Example
The suppliant man begged for mercy at the king's feet.
L'homme suppliant a supplié pour miséricorde aux pieds du roi.
C2 adjective /tɒnˈsɔːriəl/

tonsorial

relatif au barbier
Meaning
relating to barbers or hairdressing
Example
The town's new barber offered a wide range of tonsorial services.
Le nouveau barbier de la ville a offert une large gamme de services tonsoriaux.
C2 adjective /ˈkeəwɔːn/

careworn

fatigué et préoccupé
Meaning
Showing signs of worry, stress, or exhaustion.
Example
His careworn face revealed years of struggle.
Son visage fatigué révélait des années de lutte.
C2 noun /ˌɪdiəˈsɪŋkrəsi/

idiosyncrasy

idiosyncrasie
Meaning
A distinctive or peculiar characteristic, habit, or mannerism unique to an individual.
Example
One of her idiosyncrasies was humming while working.
L'une de ses idiosyncrasies était de fredonner en travaillant.
C2 verb /bɪˈsiːtʃ/

beseech

supplier
Meaning
To ask someone urgently and fervently to do something; to beg.
Example
He beseeched the judge for mercy.
Il supplia le juge pour la clémence.
C2 noun /kəˈdʒoʊləri/

cajolery

flatterie
Meaning
Flattering or coaxing talk intended to persuade someone.
Example
Through cajolery, he convinced his boss to grant him a raise.
Grâce à la flatterie, il convainquit son patron de lui accorder une augmentation.
C2 noun /ɪnˈfrækʃən/

infraction

infraction
Meaning
A violation or breach of a rule, law, or agreement.
Example
The student was punished for a minor infraction of the school rules.
L'étudiant a été puni pour une infraction mineure aux règles de l'école.
C2 noun /ˈheɪ.deɪ/

Hey day

l'âge d'or; la période de gloire; le sommet
Meaning
the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor; prime time
Example
During her heyday as a singer, she performed in sold-out concerts around the world.
Pendant son âge d'or en tant que chanteuse, elle a performé dans des concerts à guichets fermés à travers le monde.
C2 noun /ˈnɪn.i/

Ninny

imbécile
Meaning
a silly or foolish person; someone who lacks common sense
Example
Don't be such a ninny, use your brain!
Ne sois pas un imbécile, utilise ton cerveau!
C2 noun /ˈplætɪtjuːd/

platitude

platitude, lieu commun
Meaning
a remark or statement that is overused and unoriginal
Example
He kept repeating the same platitudes during the speech.
Il n'a cessé de répéter les mêmes platitudes pendant son discours.
C2 noun /ˈɡɪbən/

gibbon

gibbon
Meaning
a small to medium-sized tailless ape with long arms, native to the forests of Southeast Asia
Example
The gibbon swung gracefully through the trees using its long arms.
Le gibbon se balançait gracieusement entre les arbres avec ses longs bras.
C2 adjective /pʌɡˈneɪʃəs/

pugnacious

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

deadpan

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

muggy

étouffant et humide
Meaning
uncomfortably warm and humid
Example
It was a muggy afternoon in July.
C'était un après-midi étouffant en juillet.
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 /ɒkˈteɪvoʊ/

octavo

octavo (taille de livre obtenue en pliant une feuille en huit parties)
Meaning
A size of book page resulting from folding a sheet of paper into eight leaves (sixteen pages).
Example
The old library contained rare octavo editions of Shakespeare.
La vieille bibliothèque contenait des éditions rares en octavo de Shakespeare.
C2 noun /ˈsɛntɔːr/

centaur

centaure
Meaning
A mythological creature with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse.
Example
The centaur is a well-known figure in Greek mythology.
Le centaure est une figure bien connue de la mythologie grecque.
C2 noun /ˌvælɪˈdɪkʃən/

valediction

discours d'adieu
Meaning
The act of saying farewell; a formal goodbye.
Example
The professor gave a touching valediction at his retirement ceremony.
Le professeur a prononcé un discours émouvant d'adieu lors de sa cérémonie de retraite.
C2 noun /ˌmɑːrtəˈnɛt/

martinet

un tyran
Meaning
A strict disciplinarian who demands rigid adherence to rules.
Example
The new manager was such a martinet that even minor infractions were punished.
Le nouveau gestionnaire était un martinet au point que même les infractions mineures étaient punies.
C2 noun prəˈklɪv.ə.ti

proclivity

propension
Meaning
A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing.
Example
She has a proclivity for learning new languages.
Elle a une propension pour apprendre de nouvelles langues.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɒlɪti/

jollity

allégresse
Meaning
lively and cheerful activity or celebration
Example
The wedding was full of jollity and laughter.
Le mariage était plein de joie et de rires.
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 noun /ˈel.ɪ.fənt ˈæp.əl/

Elephant Apple

pomme éléphant
Meaning
a tropical fruit with a hard shell and acidic flesh
Example
Elephant apple is used to make delicious jams and pickles.
La pomme éléphant est utilisée pour faire des confitures et des pickles délicieux.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkʌmfɪtɪŋ/

discomfiting

gênant
Meaning
Causing unease, embarrassment, or discomfort.
Example
His discomfiting questions made everyone shift uncomfortably in their seats.
Ses questions gênantes ont fait en sorte que tout le monde se déplace mal à l'aise dans leurs sièges.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪtərəl/

littoral

littoral
Meaning
Related to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake.
Example
The littoral zone is home to many unique marine species.
La zone littorale est le domicile de nombreuses espèces marines uniques.
C2 verb /ˈdɒdə/

dodder

trembler en marchant
Meaning
To move in a weak and unsteady way, especially due to old age.
Example
The old man doddered across the street with a cane.
Le vieil homme marchait en tremblant dans la rue avec une canne.
C2 verb /ˈdɔːd(ə)l/

dawdle

traîner
Meaning
to waste time by being slow or idle
Example
Stop dawdling and finish your homework.
Arrête de traîner et finis tes devoirs.
C2 noun /ˈʃɪbəˌlɛθ/

shibboleth

expression ou croyance distinctive d'un groupe particulier
Meaning
A custom, phrase, or belief distinguishing a particular group of people, often used to identify outsiders.
Example
The phrase became a political shibboleth during the campaign.
La phrase est devenue un chibboleth politique pendant la campagne.
C2 noun ˈtræn.zi.əns

transience

éphémérité
Meaning
The state or fact of lasting only for a short time; impermanence.
Example
The transience of youth makes it more precious.
La transience de la jeunesse la rend plus précieuse.
C2 adjective /ˈɛkstənt/

extant

existent
Meaning
Still in existence; surviving.
Example
Only a few manuscripts from the ancient library are extant.
Seules quelques manuscrits de l'ancienne bibliothèque sont encore existants.
C2 noun /məˈlɛvələns/

malevolence

malveillance
Meaning
The state or condition of being malevolent; having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
Example
His malevolence was clear in the cruel way he treated his rivals.
Sa malveillance était évidente dans la manière cruelle dont il traitait ses rivaux.
C2 noun /ˈpɒtˌbɔɪlə/

potboiler

livre de série B
Meaning
a book, play, or film produced quickly to make money rather than for artistic value
Example
The novel was dismissed by critics as a mere potboiler.
Le roman a été rejeté par les critiques comme un simple livre de série B.
C2 adjective /ˌɛfəˈvɛsənt/

effervescent

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

acrimonious

amer et en colère
Meaning
Bitter and angry, often involving harsh words.
Example
The debate turned acrimonious after the controversial remark.
Le débat est devenu acrimonieux après le commentaire controversé.
C2 noun /pəˈtiːnə/

patina

un film ou une brillance sur le métal, la pierre ou le bois dû à l'âge ou à l'usage; aussi, une apparence superficielle
Meaning
a surface film or sheen on metal, stone, or wood due to age or use; also, a superficial appearance
Example
The bronze statue developed a green patina after years in the sea air.
La statue en bronze a développé une patine verte après des années passées dans l'air marin.
C2 adjective /ˌkloʊs ˈhɔːld/

close-hauled

naviguer aussi près que possible du vent
Meaning
of a sailing ship, sailing as nearly as possible towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Example
The yacht was close-hauled as it cut through the waves.
Le yacht était naviguant aussi près que possible du vent en coupant les vagues.
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 /ˈbʌksəm/

buxom

femme ronde et attrayante
Meaning
Plump, with a full figure and often large-breasted, especially used to describe women.
Example
The actress was described as a cheerful and buxom woman.
L'actrice a été décrite comme une femme joyeuse et ronde.
C2 noun /əˈdɛpt.nəs/

adeptness

aptitude et habileté
Meaning
Skill and dexterity in a task.
Example
His adeptness in negotiations helped close the deal successfully.
Son aptitude dans les négociations a permis de conclure l'accord avec succès.
C2 verb /lɪr/

leer

regard lubrique
Meaning
To look at someone in an unpleasant, sly, or sexually suggestive way.
Example
He leered at her in a way that made her uncomfortable.
Il l'a regardée d'une manière qui l'a rendue mal à l'aise.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪloʊɪŋ/

billowing

ondulant
Meaning
Describing something that swells or surges outward in waves or large masses.
Example
She walked through the billowing curtains.
Elle marcha à travers les rideaux ondulants.
C2 noun /ˌkɒntrəpəˈzɪʃən/

contraposition

contraposition
Meaning
the act of placing two things in opposition for contrast or comparison
Example
The contraposition of the two theories highlighted their differences.
La contraposition des deux théories a mis en lumière leurs différences.
C2 noun /ˌniːoʊˈdɑːrwɪnɪzəm/

neo-darwinism

néo-darwinisme
Meaning
A modern interpretation of Darwin's theory of evolution, integrating genetics and natural selection.
Example
Neo-Darwinism combines Darwin’s theory of natural selection with modern genetics.
Le néo-darwinisme combine la théorie de la sélection naturelle de Darwin avec la génétique moderne.
C2 adjective /ˈbiːstiəl/

bestial

bestial
Meaning
Relating to beasts; showing savagery, brutality, or lacking human sensibility.
Example
The prisoners were treated in a bestial manner.
Les prisonniers ont été traités de manière bestiale.
C2 noun /brɪˈtæniə/

britannia

Britannia
Meaning
the personification of Britain, often shown as a woman with a helmet and shield
Example
Britannia has been a symbol of Britain since Roman times.
Britania est un symbole de la Grande-Bretagne depuis l'époque romaine.
C2 noun /ˌfjuːzɪˈleɪd/

fusillade

rafale
Meaning
A series of shots fired or missiles thrown all at the same time or in quick succession.
Example
The soldiers advanced under a fusillade of bullets.
Les soldats ont avancé sous un rafale de balles.
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 /tɛkˈnɒɡrəfi/

technography

technographie
Meaning
the descriptive study or writing about the practical arts, technologies, or technical methods of a society
Example
The anthropologist specialized in technography to understand indigenous tool-making traditions.
L'anthropologue s'est spécialisé en technographie pour comprendre les traditions autochtones de fabrication d'outils.
C2 noun /ɪˈluːʒən/

elusion

élusion
Meaning
The act of escaping or avoiding something, especially by cleverness or trickery.
Example
His constant elusion of responsibility frustrated his colleagues.
Sa constante élusion de responsabilité a frustré ses collègues.
C2 adjective /tʃeɪst/

Chaste

chaste; vertueux
Meaning
pure and morally good; abstaining from sexual activity
Example
She lived a chaste and virtuous life.
Elle a vécu une vie chaste et vertueuse.
C2 adjective /ɑːrˈbɔːr.i.əl/

arboreal

relatif aux arbres
Meaning
Relating to trees or living in trees; tree-dwelling.
Example
Monkeys are arboreal animals that spend most of their time in trees.
Les singes sont des animaux arboricoles qui passent la majeure partie de leur temps dans les arbres.
C2 noun /ˈvɛrɪti/

verity

vérité
Meaning
a true principle or belief; the state of being true
Example
The verity of his statement was confirmed by evidence.
La véracité de sa déclaration a été confirmée par des preuves.
C2 noun/adjective /ɪˈmɒliənt/

emollient

substance qui adoucit la peau
Meaning
a substance that softens or soothes the skin
Example
She used an emollient cream to treat her dry skin.
Elle a utilisé une crème émolliente pour traiter sa peau sèche.
C2 noun /ˌɛfləˈrɛsəns/

efflorescence

floraison
Meaning
the process of flowering or reaching an optimal stage of development
Example
The garden was at the peak of its efflorescence in spring.
Le jardin était au sommet de sa floraison au printemps.
C2 noun /oʊf/

Oaf

une personne maladroite, stupide ou insensible
Meaning
a clumsy, stupid, or insensitive person
Example
Don't be such an oaf - handle the dishes carefully!
Ne sois pas un oaf - manipule les plats avec soin !
C2 verb /ˈtɪtəleɪt/

titillate

exciter
Meaning
To excite or amuse, especially in a slightly sexual or playful way.
Example
The comedian's jokes titillated the audience.
Les blagues du comédien excitaient le public.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈplækəbl/

implacable

implacable
Meaning
unable to be appeased, calmed, or pacified
Example
The soldiers faced an implacable enemy who refused to surrender.
Les soldats ont affronté un ennemi implacable qui a refusé de se rendre.
C2 adjective /fjuːˈɡeɪʃəs/

fugacious

éphémère
Meaning
Lasting only a short time; fleeting or ephemeral.
Example
Youth is beautiful but fugacious.
La jeunesse est belle mais éphémère.
C2 noun /ˈsteɪtkraft/

statecraft

art de gouverner
Meaning
The art of governing and managing state affairs effectively.
Example
The leader was praised for his exceptional statecraft in handling international relations.
Le leader a été félicité pour son art de gouverner exceptionnel dans la gestion des relations internationales.
C2 noun /ˈlæɡ.ərd/

Laggard

personne qui fait des progrès lents et qui reste derrière les autres
Meaning
a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others; someone who is slow to act
Example
The laggard student finally submitted his assignment after the deadline.
L'étudiant en retard a finalement soumis son devoir après la date limite.
C2 verb /ˌriː.kəˈpɪtʃ.ə.leɪt/

recapitulate

récapituler
Meaning
To summarize and state again the main points of something.
Example
The teacher asked the student to recapitulate the lesson.
Le professeur a demandé à l'étudiant de récapituler la leçon.
C2 noun /rɪˈdʒɔɪndər/

rejoinder

réplique
Meaning
a quick or witty reply; a response to a remark or argument
Example
His sharp rejoinder silenced the crowd.
Sa réplique acérée a fait taire la foule.
C2 noun /ˌtrænspəˈzɪʃən/

transposition

transposition
Meaning
the act of changing the order or position of something
Example
The transposition of digits caused an error in the calculation.
La transposition des chiffres a causé une erreur dans le calcul.
C2 noun /ˈɪəri/

eyry

nid d'oiseau de proie
Meaning
an alternative spelling of eyrie; a nest of a bird of prey
Example
The falcon guarded its eyry fiercely.
Le faucon a défendu son nid férocement.
C2 verb /ˈɪmprɛɡneɪt/

impregnate

imprégner / rendre enceinte
Meaning
To make pregnant; to fill or saturate with something.
Example
The scientist used a method to impregnate the material with resin.
Le scientifique a utilisé une méthode pour imprégner le matériau de résine.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪɡˈzɪst/

preexist

exister au préalable
Meaning
to exist beforehand or before something else
Example
These customs preexist the arrival of modern technology.
Ces coutumes existaient avant l'arrivée de la technologie moderne.
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 /ˈpɜr.kwɪ.zɪt/

Perquisite

avantage
Meaning
an additional benefit or privilege given to an employee beyond their regular salary; a special right or advantage
Example
Company car was one of the perquisites of his executive position.
La voiture de fonction etait l'un des avantages lies a son poste de cadre.
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 noun /ˈlæsɪtjuːd/

lassitude

lassitude
Meaning
a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy
Example
After the long hike, a feeling of lassitude swept over the group.
Après la longue randonnée, un sentiment de lassitude a envahi le groupe.
C2 verb /kɒnˈkætəneɪt/

concatenate

concaténer
Meaning
To link things together in a series or chain.
Example
The program concatenates two strings into one.
Le programme concatène deux chaînes en une.
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 /əbˈtruːsɪv/

obtrusive

intrusif
Meaning
noticeable in an unpleasant or unwelcome way; intrusive
Example
The advertisement was so obtrusive that it ruined the user’s experience.
La publicité était tellement intrusive qu'elle a ruiné l'expérience de l'utilisateur.
C2 noun /sɒp/

sop

compromis
Meaning
a concession or appeasement to pacify someone; also a piece of bread dipped in liquid
Example
The manager offered a bonus as a sop to the unhappy employees.
Le directeur a offert une prime comme une concession aux employés mécontents.
C2 noun /ˈmɛndɪkənt/

mendicant

mendiant
Meaning
a beggar; a person who lives by asking for alms
Example
The mendicant asked for food at the monastery gate.
Le mendiant a demandé de la nourriture à la porte du monastère.
C2 noun /ˈdʒæɡ.ər.i/

Jaggary

sucre de canne non raffiné
Meaning
unrefined sugar made from sugarcane or palm sap; a traditional sweetener
Example
My grandmother uses jaggery instead of white sugar in her recipes.
Ma grand-mère utilise du sucre de canne non raffiné à la place du sucre blanc dans ses recettes.
C2 verb /əbˈvɜːrt/

obvert

inverser
Meaning
To turn something so as to face in a different direction; in logic, to convert a proposition by negating both subject and predicate.
Example
The teacher asked the students to obvert the statement for practice.
Le professeur a demandé aux étudiants de convertir la déclaration pour s'exercer.
C2 verb /ˈmɒrəlaɪz/

moralize

moraliser
Meaning
To comment on issues of right and wrong, often with an air of superiority.
Example
He tends to moralize about other people's choices.
Il a tendance à moraliser sur les choix des autres.
C2 noun /ˈtʃɜː.nɪŋ stɪk/

Churning stick

bâton de barattage
Meaning
a wooden stick used for stirring and churning butter, milk, or other liquids
Example
Grandmother used a churning stick to make fresh butter.
La grand-mère a utilisé un bâton de barattage pour faire du beurre frais.
C2 noun /ˈbɪɡ.ə.mi/

bigamy

bigamie
Meaning
The act of marrying one person while still legally married to another.
Example
He was charged with bigamy after his second marriage was discovered.
Il a été accusé de bigamie après que son second mariage ait été découvert.
C2 noun /əˌpɒθiˈoʊsɪs/

apotheosis

apothéose, point culminant
Meaning
The highest point of development; the perfect example of something; the elevation of someone to divine status.
Example
Many see the Renaissance as the apotheosis of art and culture in Europe.
Beaucoup considèrent la Renaissance comme l'apothéose de l'art et de la culture en Europe.
C2 noun /ˈɑb.lə.kwi/

Obloquy

critique acerbe ou abus verbal; condamnation publique
Meaning
harsh criticism or verbal abuse; strong public condemnation
Example
The politician faced obloquy after the scandal.
Le politicien a fait face à l'obloquie après le scandale.
C2 noun /ɪˌpɪstəˈmɒlədʒi/

epistemology

épistémologie
Meaning
The branch of philosophy that studies the nature, origin, and scope of knowledge.
Example
Epistemology explores the difference between justified belief and opinion.
L'épistémologie explore la différence entre la croyance justifiée et l'opinion.
C2 noun /ˌpɜːrtərˈbeɪʃn/

perturbation

perturbation
Meaning
A state of anxiety, disturbance, or disorder.
Example
The announcement caused a perturbation in the financial markets.
L'annonce a causé une perturbation sur les marchés financiers.
C2 noun /ˌɪkθiˈɒlədʒɪst/

ichthyologist

ichtyologiste
Meaning
A scientist who studies fish.
Example
The ichthyologist discovered a new species of fish in the river.
L'ichtyologiste a découvert une nouvelle espèce de poisson dans la rivière.
C2 noun /ˈɪd.i.ə.si/

Idiocy

idiotie
Meaning
extremely stupid behavior or actions; foolishness
Example
The decision to ignore safety protocols was pure idiocy that endangered everyone.
La décision d'ignorer les protocoles de sécurité était une pure idiotie qui mettait tout le monde en danger.
C2 adjective /ˈnɒti/

knotty

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

acquiesce

accepter sans protester
Meaning
to accept something reluctantly but without protest
Example
She decided to acquiesce to her parents’ wishes.
Elle a décidé d'accepter sans protester les souhaits de ses parents.
C2 noun /praɪˈveɪʃən/

privation

privation, manque
Meaning
A state in which things essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are lacking.
Example
The refugees suffered great privation during the harsh winter.
Les réfugiés ont souffert de grande privation pendant l'hiver rigoureux.
C2 noun /ˌkɒnvəˈluːʃən/

convolution

convolution, courbe complexe ou structure
Meaning
a twist, coil, or a complex and intricate shape or arrangement
Example
The brain has many convolutions that increase its surface area.
Le cerveau a de nombreuses convolutions qui augmentent sa surface.
C2 conjunction /ˌɪnəzˈmʌtʃ æz/

inasmuch-as

puisque
Meaning
Because; since.
Example
He cannot attend, inasmuch as he is unwell.
Il ne peut pas assister, puisque qu'il est malade.
C2 verb /ˈɡɑːrbəl/

garble

brouiller
Meaning
To reproduce a message in a confused, distorted, or unclear way.
Example
The poor phone connection garbled his words.
La mauvaise connexion téléphonique a brouillé ses mots.
C2 verb /ɜːrk/

irk

agacer
Meaning
to annoy or irritate someone
Example
It irks me when people are late without calling.
Ça m'agace quand les gens arrivent en retard sans appeler.
C2 verb /ˈwaŋɡl/

wangle

obtenir quelque chose par astuce
Meaning
To achieve something by clever or sometimes dishonest persuasion or trickery.
Example
He wangled a free ticket to the concert.
Il a obtenu un billet gratuit pour le concert par astuce.
C2 adjective /dɛˈspɒtɪk/

despotic

despote
Meaning
exercising power in a cruel, oppressive, or authoritarian way
Example
The king’s despotic rule left the people in misery.
Le règne despote du roi a laissé le peuple dans la misère.
C2 noun /ˈæbɪs/

abbess

abbesse (femme responsable d'un couvent)
Meaning
the woman in charge of a convent of nuns
Example
The abbess welcomed the visitors to the convent.
L'abbesse a accueilli les visiteurs au couvent.
C2 noun /ˌpriːpəˈzɛʃən/

prepossession

préjugé
Meaning
An opinion or feeling formed beforehand; a prejudice or preoccupation.
Example
His prepossession in favor of tradition made him resist change.
Son préjugé en faveur de la tradition l'a fait résister au changement.
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 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 noun /ˈmɛtələ(r)dʒi/

metallurgy

métallurgie
Meaning
The science and technology of metals, including their extraction from ores and their processing.
Example
Metallurgy plays a vital role in industrial development.
La métallurgie joue un rôle essentiel dans le développement industriel.
C2 noun /feɪnt/

feint

feinte, mouvement trompeur
Meaning
a deceptive or pretended movement, especially in fighting or sports
Example
The boxer made a feint to the left before striking to the right.
Le boxeur fit une feinte à gauche avant de frapper à droite.
C2 noun /dəˈɡerəˌtaɪp/

daguerreotype

photographie ancienne
Meaning
An early type of photograph produced on a silver or silver-covered copper plate.
Example
The museum displayed a rare daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln.
Le musée a exposé un daguérotype rare d'Abraham Lincoln.
C2 noun /dɪˈbɛntʃər/

debenture

obligation
Meaning
a type of debt instrument not secured by physical assets or collateral
Example
The company raised capital by issuing debentures to investors.
L'entreprise a levé des fonds en émettant des obligations auprès des investisseurs.
C2 adjective /ˌoʊpəˈlɛsənt/

opalescent

opalescent
Meaning
showing or reflecting a milky, iridescent light like an opal
Example
The opalescent sky glowed with shades of pink and blue.
Le ciel opalescent brillait avec des nuances de rose et de bleu.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈdɪstæf/

distaff

lié aux femmes, côté maternel
Meaning
Relating to women or the maternal side of a family; also a tool for spinning thread.
Example
She came from the distaff side of a noble family.
Elle venait du côté maternel d'une famille noble.
C2 adjective /ˈɪn.dɪ.dʒənt/

indigent

indigent
Meaning
lacking the necessities of life due to poverty; very poor
Example
The hospital offers free care to indigent patients.
L'hôpital offre des soins gratuits aux patients indigents.
C2 verb /ɪnˈvaɪərən/

environ

entourer
Meaning
to surround or enclose; to encircle
Example
Mountains environ the small valley.
Les montagnes entourent la petite vallée.
C2 adjective /ˈpɪrɪk/

pyrrhic

victoire pyrrhique
Meaning
A victory won at such a great cost that it is almost equivalent to defeat.
Example
The general declared the battle a pyrrhic victory due to heavy losses.
Le général a déclaré la bataille comme une victoire pyrrhique en raison des lourdes pertes.
C2 noun /bɪˈhiː.mɒθ/

behemoth

colosse
Meaning
Something enormous, especially a large and powerful organization.
Example
The company grew into a corporate behemoth.
L'entreprise est devenue un colosse corporatif.
C2 adjective /ˈroʊziət/

roseate

rosé, optimiste
Meaning
Having a pink color; optimistic or idealistic.
Example
She looked at the future with roseate optimism.
Elle regarda l'avenir avec un optimisme rose.