biennial
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN Anglais BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Espagnol FR Français DE Allemand RU Russe ZH Chinois JA Japonais
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C2 adjective /baɪˈɛniəl/

biennial

biannuel
Meaning
happening every two years
Example
The biennial festival attracts thousands of visitors.
Le festival biannuel attire des milliers de visiteurs.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɪpɪd/

insipid

insipide
Meaning
lacking flavor, interest, or excitement; dull
Example
The soup was insipid and needed more seasoning.
La soupe était insipide et avait besoin de plus d'assaisonnement.
C2 noun /ˈbaɪpɛd/

biped

bipède
Meaning
An animal that walks on two feet.
Example
Humans are examples of biped creatures.
Les humains sont des exemples d'êtres bipèdes.
C2 verb /ænˈtɪpəθaɪz/

antipathize

antipathiser
Meaning
to feel or express a strong dislike or aversion toward something or someone
Example
He seemed to antipathize with the new management's approach.
Il semblait antipathiser avec l'approche de la nouvelle direction.
C2 noun ˌæm.ɔː.tɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

amortization

amortissement
Meaning
The process of paying off debt with regular payments over time.
Example
The amortization schedule showed a 10-year repayment plan.
Le calendrier d'amortissement a montré un plan de remboursement sur 10 ans.
C2 adjective /həˈrɛtɪkəl/

heretical

hérétique
Meaning
Relating to or characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards, especially in religion.
Example
The priest condemned the book as heretical.
Le prêtre a condamné le livre comme hérétique.
C2 adjective /ˈhoʊm.spʌn/

homespun

fait maison
Meaning
Simple and unsophisticated; made at home rather than in a factory.
Example
She wore a homespun dress to the village festival.
Elle portait une robe faite maison au festival du village.
C2 noun /blæk biː/

Black-bee

abeille noire
Meaning
a large dark-colored bee that makes a loud buzzing sound
Example
The black-bee was buzzing around the flowers in the garden.
L'abeille noire bourdonnait autour des fleurs dans le jardin.
C2 verb /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪt/

exhilarate

exalter
Meaning
To make someone feel very happy, animated, or excited.
Example
The mountain view exhilarated the travelers.
La vue des montagnes a exalté les voyageurs.
C2 noun/verb /ˈkʌdʒ.əl/

cudgel

matraque
Meaning
A short, thick stick used as a weapon; to beat with a cudgel.
Example
The guard used a cudgel to chase away the thief.
Le garde a utilisé une matraque pour chasser le voleur.
C2 noun /ˌbrɪɡ.əˈdɪər/

brigadier

brigadier
Meaning
A military officer rank, usually commanding a brigade.
Example
The brigadier inspected the troops before the parade.
Le brigadier a inspecté les troupes avant le défilé.
C2 noun /kəˈtæb.ə.lɪ.zəm/

catabolism

catabolisme
Meaning
The breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones together with the release of energy; destructive metabolism.
Example
Catabolism plays a crucial role in cellular energy production.
Le catabolisme joue un rôle crucial dans la production d'énergie cellulaire.
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 verb /ˈsnɪvəl/

snivel

pleurer ou se plaindre d'une manière faible ou agaçante
Meaning
to cry or complain in a weak or annoying way
Example
He began to snivel when he didn’t get his way.
Il a commencé à pleurer quand il n'a pas obtenu ce qu'il voulait.
C2 noun /ˈdəʊ.lər/

dolor

douleur
Meaning
A state of great sorrow or distress.
Example
The nation was in deep dolor after the tragedy.
La nation était dans une grande douleur après la tragédie.
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 verb /kɔːk/

calk

calfeutrer les fissures d'un bateau
Meaning
To make a boat or ship watertight by filling seams or cracks.
Example
The workers calked the seams of the old boat to prevent leaks.
Les ouvriers ont calfeutré les coutures du vieux bateau pour éviter les fuites.
C2 noun /ˈslʌɡərd/

sluggard

paresseux
Meaning
A lazy, sluggish person.
Example
The sluggard refused to get out of bed even at noon.
Le paresseux a refusé de sortir du lit même à midi.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒɔːnti/

jaunty

gai
Meaning
Having a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner or appearance.
Example
He walked into the room with a jaunty step.
Il est entré dans la pièce d'un pas gai.
C2 adjective /ˌmækɪəˈvɛliən/

machiavellian

astucieux, machiavélique et sans scrupules, en particulier en politique ou pour faire progresser sa carrière
Meaning
cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or in advancing one's career
Example
The politician was known for his Machiavellian tactics.
Le politicien était connu pour ses tactiques machiavéliques.
C2 adjective /ˌɛvəˈnɛsənt/

evanescent

éphémère
Meaning
Quickly fading or disappearing; lasting for only a very short time.
Example
The beauty of the sunset was evanescent, fading within minutes.
La beauté du coucher du soleil était éphémère, disparaissant en quelques minutes.
C2 noun /ˈmɔːreɪz/

mores

mœurs
Meaning
the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community
Example
Social mores often dictate how people behave in public.
Les mœurs sociales dictent souvent comment les gens se comportent en public.
C2 adjective /ˈhed.i/

Heady

enivrant
Meaning
having a strong or exhilarating effect; intoxicating; exciting
Example
The heady perfume of jasmine filled the garden.
Le parfum enivrant du jasmin remplit le jardin.
C2 noun /məˈʃiː.nɪst/

machinist

machiniste
Meaning
a person who operates machine tools or makes and repairs machines
Example
The machinist carefully adjusted the gears on the lathe.
Le machiniste a ajusté soigneusement les engrenages sur le tour.
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 /draɪd ˈfɛnjʊˌɡriːk livz/

Dried Fenugreek Leaves

feuilles séchées de fenugrec
Meaning
dehydrated leaves of the fenugreek plant used as a herb in cooking
Example
Add dried fenugreek leaves to the curry for extra flavor.
Ajoutez des feuilles séchées de fenugrec au curry pour plus de saveur.
C2 adjective /ˈkreɪvən/

craven

lâche
Meaning
cowardly; lacking courage
Example
He was too craven to stand up for his beliefs.
Il était trop lâche pour défendre ses croyances.
C2 noun /ˈsɪʒ.ən/

scission

scission
Meaning
the act of cutting or dividing something
Example
The political party suffered a scission over ideological disputes.
Le parti politique a subi une scission en raison de différends idéologiques.
C2 verb /bɪˈtaɪd/

betide

arriver
Meaning
to happen or occur, usually of something that befalls someone
Example
Woe betide anyone who breaks the rules.
Quiconque enfreint les règles, subira les conséquences.
C2 verb /ˈpɛkjʊˌleɪt/

peculate

détourner
Meaning
To embezzle or steal money, especially public funds.
Example
The corrupt official was found guilty of peculating government funds.
Le fonctionnaire corrompu a été reconnu coupable d'avoir détourné des fonds publics.
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 verb /əˈsɪdɪfaɪ/

acidify

acidifier
Meaning
to make something acidic or more acidic
Example
Farmers worry that pollution will acidify the soil.
Les agriculteurs craignent que la pollution acidifie le sol.
C2 adjective, adverb /əˈfʊt/

afoot

en cours
Meaning
In progress; happening or being prepared.
Example
There are several new projects afoot in the company.
Il y a plusieurs nouveaux projets en cours dans l'entreprise.
C2 verb /ˈek.stər.peɪt/

extirpate

extirper
Meaning
to completely remove or destroy something unwanted
Example
The government launched a program to extirpate corruption from public offices.
Le gouvernement a lancé un programme pour extirper la corruption des bureaux publics.
C2 adjective /ˈæn.ə.daɪn/

anodyne

inoffensif, analgésique
Meaning
Not likely to cause offense; bland or harmless. Also refers to something that relieves pain.
Example
The speaker’s anodyne remarks avoided controversy.
Les remarques anodines de l'orateur ont évité la controverse.
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 /məˈlɛfɪsənt/

maleficent

maléfique
Meaning
Causing harm or destruction, especially by supernatural means.
Example
The maleficent witch cursed the young princess.
La sorcière maléfique a maudit la jeune princesse.
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 /ˈɛksplətɪv/

expletive

gros mot
Meaning
a word or phrase used as an exclamation, often offensive or profane
Example
He shouted an expletive when he dropped the hammer on his foot.
Il a crié un gros mot lorsqu'il a laissé tomber le marteau sur son pied.
C2 adjective /ˈliːənaɪn/

leonine

léonin
Meaning
Of or resembling a lion.
Example
His leonine hair made him stand out in the crowd.
Ses cheveux léonins le faisaient ressortir dans la foule.
C2 noun brəˈvɑː.dəʊ

bravado

un geste de courage ou de confiance qui n'est pas réel
Meaning
Show of courage or confidence that is not real.
Example
His bravado masked his nervousness before the performance.
Son bravado masquait son nervosité avant la performance.
C2 noun /ˈsɒfɪst/

sophist

sophiste
Meaning
a person who uses clever but misleading arguments
Example
He was dismissed as a sophist who twisted facts to win debates.
Il a été rejeté comme un sophiste qui déformait les faits pour gagner des débats.
C2 noun ˌmɛtəkɒɡˈnɪʃən

metacognition

penser à la pensée
Meaning
Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes
Example
Metacognition enhances problem-solving abilities.
La métacognition améliore les capacités de résolution de problèmes.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒs.ɪ.tɪd/

cosseted

choyé
Meaning
pampered, treated with excessive care and attention
Example
The cosseted child always got what he wanted.
L'enfant choyé a toujours obtenu ce qu'il voulait.
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 adjective /ˈruːmi/

rheumy

larmoyant
Meaning
Watery, especially referring to the eyes.
Example
His rheumy eyes showed signs of age and fatigue.
Ses yeux larmoyants montraient des signes de vieillesse et de fatigue.
C2 adjective /ˌɛlɪˈfæntaɪn/

elephantine

éléphantin
Meaning
Huge, clumsy, or resembling an elephant in size or movement.
Example
The man moved with an elephantine grace.
L'homme se déplaçait avec une grâce éléphantine.
C2 adjective /ˌeθ.noʊˈsen.trɪk/

ethnocentric

ethnocentrique
Meaning
evaluating other cultures according to the standards of one's own culture
Example
His ethnocentric attitude made it hard for him to appreciate foreign traditions.
Son attitude ethnocentrique lui rendait difficile d'apprécier les traditions étrangères.
C2 verb /pəˈræmbjʊˌleɪt/

perambulate

flâner
Meaning
To walk through or travel around, especially for leisure.
Example
They perambulated the old town, enjoying the sights.
Ils ont flâné dans la vieille ville, profitant des vues.
C2 adjective /ˈɑːsɪˌfaɪd/

ossified

transformé en os, rigide
Meaning
Turned into bone or become rigid; unwilling to change.
Example
The company had an ossified management structure that resisted innovation.
L'entreprise avait une structure de gestion rigide qui résistait à l'innovation.
C2 verb /ˈɑːskjʊleɪt/

osculate

embrasser
Meaning
To kiss.
Example
They osculated under the mistletoe during the party.
Ils se sont embrassés sous le gui pendant la fête.
C2 noun /ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvər/

quicksilver

mercure
Meaning
Mercury; a liquid metal, or something that is quick and unpredictable.
Example
His mood was as changeable as quicksilver.
Son humeur était aussi changeante que le mercure.
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 /ˌsaɪ.kəʊˈɡræf.ɪks/

Psychographics

L'étude et la classification des personnes en fonction de leurs attitudes, aspirations et autres critères psychologiques
Meaning
The study and classification of people according to their attitudes, aspirations, and other psychological criteria.
Example
Psychographics reveal consumer buying motives.
Les psychographies révèlent les motifs d'achat des consommateurs.
C2 noun /trʌs/

truss

treillis
Meaning
a framework, typically consisting of rafters, posts, and struts, supporting a roof, bridge, or other structure
Example
The engineer designed a strong truss for the new bridge.
L'ingénieur a conçu un solide treillis pour le nouveau pont.
C2 noun /ɛnˈsɪklɪkəl/

encyclical

Lettre encyclique
Meaning
a formal letter sent by the Pope to Catholic churches, usually addressing important issues
Example
The Pope issued an encyclical on climate change and moral responsibility.
Le Pape a publié une lettre encyclique sur le changement climatique et la responsabilité morale.
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 /fez/

Fez

fèze
Meaning
a cone-shaped red hat with a tassel, traditionally worn by men in some Middle Eastern countries
Example
The traditional costume included a red fez with a black tassel.
Le costume traditionnel comprenait un fez rouge avec un gland noir.
C2 verb /dɪˈfreɪ/

defray

financer
Meaning
to provide money to pay the costs of something
Example
The grant will help defray the cost of education.
La bourse aidera à financer le coût de l'éducation.
C2 noun /ˈʌndərlɪŋ/

underling

subordonné
Meaning
a person of low rank or importance; a subordinate
Example
The manager ordered his underlings to finish the task quickly.
Le directeur a ordonné à ses subordonnés de terminer rapidement la tâche.
C2 noun ˈɒpjʊləns

opulence

opulence
Meaning
Great wealth or luxuriousness.
Example
The opulence of the mansion was evident in its ornate furnishings.
L'opulence du manoir était évidente dans ses meubles ornés.
C2 noun /ˈɡɜːrdər/

girder

poutre (en acier)
Meaning
a large, strong beam used to support buildings or bridges
Example
The steel girders held the weight of the bridge.
Les poutres en acier ont soutenu le poids du pont.
C2 noun /ˈɒksɪdənt/

occident

occident
Meaning
The countries of the West, especially Europe and America.
Example
The Occident has a long history of philosophical thought.
L'Occident a une longue histoire de pensée philosophique.
C2 noun /ˈspæŋɡəl/

spangle

paillettes
Meaning
A small shiny piece of metal or plastic used for decoration on clothes.
Example
Her dress was covered with silver spangles that glittered in the light.
Sa robe était couverte de paillettes argentées qui brillaient à la lumière.
C2 noun /ɪˈlɪziəm/

elysium

élysée
Meaning
A place or state of perfect happiness; in Greek mythology, the afterlife paradise.
Example
For her, the garden was a personal elysium.
Pour elle, le jardin était un élysée personnel.
C2 adjective /juːˈfoʊniəs/

euphonious

son harmonieux
Meaning
Pleasing to the ear; having a sweet sound.
Example
The poet's euphonious language made the verse a delight to read.
Le langage euphonieux du poète rendait le vers un plaisir à lire.
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 /dɪˌsɪdəˈreɪtəm/

desideratum

bien nécessaire
Meaning
something that is desired or considered necessary
Example
For many students, financial aid is a desideratum.
Pour de nombreux étudiants, l'aide financière est un bien nécessaire.
C2 adjective /ˈæbdʒɛkt/

abject

abject
Meaning
extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading
Example
They lived in abject poverty.
Ils vivaient dans une pauvreté abjecte.
C2 noun /æbˈsɪʒən/

abscission

chute des feuilles
Meaning
The natural detachment of parts of a plant, typically leaves or fruit.
Example
The autumn season is marked by the abscission of leaves from trees.
La saison automnale est marquée par la chute des feuilles des arbres.
C2 noun /əˈpɒθəˌkɛri/

apothecary

apothicaire
Meaning
A historical term for a person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs.
Example
The village apothecary provided remedies for many common illnesses.
L'apothicaire du village a fourni des remèdes pour de nombreuses maladies courantes.
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 adjective /ˌdeɪ.kɒlˈteɪ/

decollete

vêtement à décolleté profond
Meaning
of a woman's dress or top, cut low so as to reveal the neck and upper chest
Example
She wore a decollete gown to the party.
Elle portait une robe décolletée à la fête.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkoʊˈɜːrsəbl̩/

incoercible

incoercible
Meaning
Not capable of being forced, compelled, or restrained.
Example
Her incoercible spirit inspired others to fight for justice.
Son esprit incoercible a inspiré les autres à lutter pour la justice.
C2 verb /ˈwɔːbəl/

warble

chanter ou siffler avec une voix tremblante ou des trilles
Meaning
To sing or whistle with a quavering voice or with trills.
Example
The bird warbled a sweet tune in the morning.
L'oiseau a chanté une douce mélodie le matin.
C2 adjective /ˈplændʒənt/

plangent

son plaintif ou résonnant
Meaning
having a loud, mournful sound; resonant
Example
The plangent toll of the church bell echoed through the village.
Le son plaintif de la cloche de l'église résonnait à travers le village.
C2 verb /ˌdɪspəˈzɛs/

dispossess

déposséder
Meaning
to deprive someone of land, property, or other possessions
Example
The new law threatened to dispossess many farmers of their land.
La nouvelle loi menaçait de déposséder de nombreux agriculteurs de leurs terres.
C2 noun /ˈθɝː.moʊ.klaɪn/

thermocline

thermocline
Meaning
A layer in a body of water in which temperature changes rapidly with depth.
Example
The thermocline separates warm surface water from cold deep water.
La thermocline sépare l'eau chaude de la surface de l'eau froide en profondeur.
C2 noun /ˈper.ɪ.dʒiː/

perigee

le point le plus proche dans l'orbite de la lune ou d'un satellite de la Terre
Meaning
the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest to the Earth
Example
The moon appeared much larger during its perigee.
La lune apparaissait beaucoup plus grande pendant son périgée.
C2 adjective /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/

pejorative

péjoratif
Meaning
Expressing contempt or disapproval.
Example
He used pejorative terms to insult his opponents.
Il a utilisé des termes péjoratifs pour insulter ses adversaires.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/

disrepute

mépris
Meaning
the state of being held in low esteem or having a bad reputation
Example
The scandal brought the politician into disrepute.
Le scandale a mis le politicien dans le mépris.
C2 noun /dɪˈdʒɛkʃən/

dejection

dépression
Meaning
a state of sadness, depression, or low spirits
Example
She sat in a state of dejection after hearing the bad news.
Elle était assise dans un état de dépression après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C2 noun /ˈdɛvɪltrɪ/

deviltry

mauvais tours
Meaning
Cruel or malicious behavior; mischief with an evil aspect.
Example
The villain’s deviltry terrified the townsfolk.
Les mauvais tours du méchant ont terrifié les habitants du village.
C2 adjective /ˌæd.vɛnˈtɪʃ.əs/

adventitious

accidentel
Meaning
Happening by chance or accident, not planned.
Example
His success was partly due to adventitious circumstances.
Son succès était en partie dû à des circonstances accidentelles.
C2 noun /ˌlæs.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

laceration

coupure profonde
Meaning
a deep cut or tear in skin or flesh
Example
He needed stitches for a laceration on his leg.
Il avait besoin de points pour une coupure profonde à sa jambe.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊɡən/

brogan

chaussure lourde
Meaning
A heavy, sturdy shoe, often made of leather.
Example
The farmer wore old brogans while working in the field.
Le fermier portait de vieux brogans pendant qu'il travaillait dans le champ.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪstrəfi/

antistrophe

antistrophé (un dispositif rhétorique)
Meaning
A rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is repeated at the end of successive clauses; in Greek choral poetry, the part of the ode sung by the chorus in return movement.
Example
The poet used antistrophe to emphasize the repeated phrase.
Le poète a utilisé l'antistrophé pour souligner la phrase répétée.
C2 verb /foʊˈmɛnt/

foment

fomenter
Meaning
To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).
Example
The rebel leader tried to foment unrest among the people.
Le leader rebelle a tenté de fomenter des troubles parmi les gens.
C2 adjective /ˈfʊl.səm/

fulsome

éloges excessifs
Meaning
Excessively flattering or insincere; abundant or generous in amount.
Example
He offered fulsome praise to his boss.
Il a offert des éloges excessifs à son patron.
C2 noun /ˈmɪsəleɪni/

miscellany

panaché
Meaning
A collection or mixture of various things.
Example
The book is a miscellany of essays and poems.
Le livre est un panaché d'essais et de poèmes.
C2 adjective /dɪˈsɛnʃənt/

dissentient

dissident
Meaning
Expressing or holding opinions that are opposed to the majority or official view.
Example
Only a few dissentient voices were heard during the debate.
Seules quelques voix dissidentes ont été entendues lors du débat.
C2 verb /ˈfrɪtər/

fritter

gaspiller
Meaning
To waste time, money, or energy on trivial matters.
Example
He frittered away his savings on unnecessary gadgets.
Il a gaspillé ses économies sur des gadgets inutiles.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈprɛɡnəbl̩/

impregnable

imprenable
Meaning
Unable to be captured, broken into, or defeated.
Example
The fortress was considered impregnable by the enemy.
La forteresse était considérée comme imprenable par l'ennemi.
C2 noun /ˈpruːdəri/

prudery

pruderie
Meaning
the behavior or attitude of people who are too easily shocked or offended by sexual matters
Example
His prudery often made others uncomfortable during open discussions.
Sa pruderie rendait souvent les autres mal à l'aise lors des discussions ouvertes.
C2 noun /ˌrɛtəˈrɪʃən/

rhetorician

rhéteur
Meaning
A person who is skilled in the art of rhetoric or persuasive speaking/writing.
Example
The rhetorician captivated the audience with his eloquence.
Le rhéteur a captivé l'auditoire avec son éloquence.
C2 noun /ˈæn.oʊd/

anode

électrode positive
Meaning
The positive electrode in a device such as a battery, where current flows into a polarized electrical device.
Example
The anode of the battery was corroded after long use.
L'électrode positive de la batterie a été corrodée après une longue utilisation.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈlæpɪˌdɛri/

lapidary

lapidaire
Meaning
As noun: a person who cuts, polishes, or engraves precious stones; As adjective: relating to such work.
Example
The museum displayed lapidary tools used in ancient times.
Le musée a exposé des outils lapidaires utilisés dans les temps anciens.
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 adjective /ˌsʌb.əˈkwɒt.ɪk/

subaquatic

subaquatique
Meaning
Existing, living, or located under water.
Example
Divers explored the subaquatic cave system filled with rare fish.
Les plongeurs ont exploré le système de grottes subaquatiques remplies de poissons rares.
C2 noun /pɪks/

pyx

petit récipient pour conserver l'hostie consacrée
Meaning
a small container, often used in Christian liturgy to carry the consecrated host
Example
The priest placed the consecrated host into the pyx before visiting the sick.
Le prêtre a placé l'hostie consacrée dans le pyx avant de rendre visite aux malades.
C2 adjective /ɔːrˈθɑːɡənl/

orthogonal

orthogonal
Meaning
at right angles; independent or unrelated
Example
In mathematics, two vectors are orthogonal if their dot product is zero.
En mathématiques, deux vecteurs sont orthogonaux si leur produit scalaire est nul.
C2 noun /naɪt ˈdʒæz.mɪn/

Night-jesmine

jasmin de nuit
Meaning
a fragrant flowering tree that blooms at night with small white flowers
Example
The night-jasmine tree blooms only after sunset with its tiny white flowers.
Le jasmin de nuit fleurit seulement après le coucher du soleil avec ses petites fleurs blanches.
C2 noun /ˈhæk.ni ˈkær.ɪdʒ/

Hackney carriage

voiture de location
Meaning
A taxi; a car licensed to carry passengers for hire
Example
I called a hackney carriage to get to the airport.
J'ai appelé une voiture de location pour aller à l'aéroport.
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 /breɪz/

braze

braser
Meaning
To join two pieces of metal by heating and melting a filler metal into the joint.
Example
The mechanic brazed the broken pipe to fix the leak.
Le mécanicien a brasé le tuyau cassé pour réparer la fuite.
C2 adjective /raɪˈpɛə.ri.ən/

riparian

relatif ou situé sur les rives d'un fleuve ou d'un autre cours d'eau
Meaning
Relating to or situated on the banks of a river or other watercourse.
Example
Riparian vegetation helps prevent soil erosion along rivers.
La végétation riparienne aide à prévenir l'érosion des sols le long des rivières.
C2 noun /ˌɡaɪnəˈkɒkrəsi/

gynecocracy

gynécocratie
Meaning
a society or government ruled by women
Example
The ancient tribe was known for its gynecocracy, where women held all positions of power.
La tribu ancienne était connue pour sa gynécocratie, où les femmes détenaient toutes les positions de pouvoir.
C2 noun mʌnˈdeɪ.nɪ.ti

mundanity

banalité
Meaning
The quality of being ordinary, routine, or lacking excitement.
Example
The mundanity of office life can be exhausting.
La banalité de la vie au bureau peut être épuisante.
C2 adjective /ˈfɪt.fəl/

fitful

par intermittence
Meaning
occurring in irregular bursts; not continuous or steady
Example
He had a fitful sleep due to the storm.
Il a eu un sommeil par intermittence à cause de la tempête.
C2 adjective /ˈslʌvənli/

slovenly

négligé
Meaning
Untidy or careless in appearance, habits, or work.
Example
His slovenly appearance made a bad impression at the interview.
Son apparence négligée a laissé une mauvaise impression lors de l'entretien.
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 adjective /rɪˈmɪs/

remiss

négligent
Meaning
Negligent in performing a duty or responsibility.
Example
The manager was remiss in not checking the financial reports carefully.
Le gestionnaire a été négligent en ne vérifiant pas soigneusement les rapports financiers.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪər.brænd/

firebrand

un agitateur
Meaning
a person who is passionate about a cause, often inciting change or action
Example
The activist was a true firebrand, inspiring everyone around him to join the protest.
L'activiste était un véritable agitateur, inspirant tout le monde autour de lui à rejoindre la protestation.
C2 adjective /ˈkɪŋ.ki/

Kinky

pratiques sexuelles non conventionnelles; cheveux frisés ou bouclés
Meaning
having or involving unconventional sexual practices; having tight curls or bends
Example
His kinky hair made him look unique.
Ses cheveux frisés le rendaient unique.
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 noun /ˈpiːs ɡʊdz/

Piece-goods

tissu au mètre
Meaning
textiles or fabrics sold by the yard or meter; cloth materials
Example
The tailor bought piece-goods from the wholesale market to make custom dresses.
Le tailleur a acheté des tissus au mètre au marché de gros pour fabriquer des robes sur mesure.
C2 verb /əbˈskɒnd/

abscond

fuir
Meaning
to leave secretly and quickly, often to avoid arrest or punishment
Example
The thief tried to abscond with the stolen jewelry.
Le voleur a essayé de fuir avec les bijoux volés.
C2 adjective /ˌhɪstriˈɒnɪk/

histrionic

excessivement dramatique
Meaning
Overly dramatic or theatrical in behavior or style.
Example
Her histrionic reaction to the small problem surprised everyone.
Sa réaction histrionique au petit problème a surpris tout le monde.
C2 adjective /səˈluːtəˌtɔri/

salutatory

discours de salutation
Meaning
Relating to or expressing a greeting or an address, especially at the beginning of a speech.
Example
She delivered a salutatory address at the graduation ceremony.
Elle a prononcé un discours de salutation lors de la cérémonie de remise des diplômes.
C2 noun /ˌɪkθiˈɒlədʒi/

ichthyology

ichtyologie
Meaning
The branch of zoology that deals with fish.
Example
He pursued a degree in ichthyology at the university.
Il a poursuivi un diplôme en ichtyologie à l'université.
C2 noun /ˈoʊ.kəm/

oakum

fibre de corde usée
Meaning
loose fibers obtained by untwisting old ropes, used for caulking ships
Example
The shipbuilders used oakum to seal the gaps in the wooden planks.
Les charpentiers de marine ont utilisé de l'okum pour sceller les fissures dans les planches en bois.