boll
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C2 noun /boʊl/

boll

capsule arrondie de graines (comme celles de coton ou de lin)
Meaning
The rounded seed capsule of plants such as cotton or flax.
Example
The farmer examined the cotton boll to check its quality.
L'agriculteur a examiné le bol de coton pour vérifier sa qualité.
C2 noun /ˈsɪkəfənt/

sycophant

flagorneur
Meaning
A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
Example
The manager was surrounded by sycophants who agreed with everything he said.
Le manager était entouré de flagorneurs qui étaient d'accord avec tout ce qu'il disait.
C2 noun /ˈnoʊmənˌkleɪtʃər/

nomenclature

nomenclature
Meaning
A system of names or terms used in a particular science, art, or field.
Example
The chemical nomenclature can be difficult for beginners to understand.
La nomenclature chimique peut être difficile à comprendre pour les débutants.
C2 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈmænd/

countermand

annuler un ordre
Meaning
to revoke or cancel an order or command
Example
The general countermanded the previous orders immediately.
Le général a annulé les ordres précédents immédiatement.
C2 adjective /ˈɡɔːki/

gawky

maladroit
Meaning
Awkward and clumsy in appearance or behavior.
Example
The teenager felt gawky in his oversized suit.
L'adolescent se sentait maladroit dans son costume trop grand.
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 noun /ˈɡæŋ.weɪ/

gangway

passerelle
Meaning
A narrow passage or walkway; also an exclamation used to clear the way.
Example
The sailors lowered the gangway for passengers to board.
Les marins ont abaissé la passerelle pour permettre aux passagers de monter.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛptɪv/

inceptive

initial
Meaning
Relating to or marking the beginning or initial stage of something.
Example
The inceptive phase of the project was marked by enthusiastic planning.
La phase inceptive du projet a été marquée par une planification enthousiaste.
C2 noun /ˈmaɪ.nə/

Mynah

maina
Meaning
a tropical bird with dark feathers that can mimic human speech
Example
The mynah bird repeated every word I said.
L'oiseau maina a répété chaque mot que j'ai dit.
C2 noun /ɡæsˈtraɪtɪs/

gastritis

gastrite
Meaning
Inflammation of the lining of the stomach.
Example
The doctor diagnosed him with gastritis after his endoscopy.
Le médecin a diagnostiqué une gastrite après sa coloscopie.
C2 noun /ɪnˈvɛstɪtʃər/

investiture

cérémonie d'investiture
Meaning
the formal ceremony of conferring authority, rank, or office
Example
The king held an investiture ceremony for the new knight.
Le roi a organisé une cérémonie d'investiture pour le nouveau chevalier.
C2 verb /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪə/

domineer

dominer
Meaning
to assert one's will over another in an arrogant way
Example
He tends to domineer over his younger colleagues.
Il a tendance à dominer ses collègues plus jeunes.
C2 adverb /əˈbæk/

Aback

surpris
Meaning
by surprise; unexpectedly
Example
I was taken aback by his sudden announcement.
J'ai été surpris par son annonce soudaine.
C2 noun /ˌæk.wiˈes.əns/

acquiescence

acceptation tacite
Meaning
The reluctant acceptance of something without protest.
Example
His silent acquiescence to unfair rules was surprising.
Son acceptation tacite des règles injustes a été surprenante.
C2 noun /bɛl/

belle

belle femme
Meaning
A beautiful woman, especially the most attractive woman at a gathering.
Example
She was the belle of the ball that evening.
Elle était la belle du bal ce soir-là.
C2 noun /ˈʌm.brə/

Umbra

ombre totale, région sombre d'une tache solaire
Meaning
the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object; the dark center of a sunspot
Example
During the eclipse, we stood in the moon's umbra.
Pendant l'éclipse, nous nous sommes tenus dans l'ombre de la lune.
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 adjective /ˈɑːrtləs/

artless

naturel, simple
Meaning
Without deception or pretentiousness; natural and simple.
Example
Her artless smile made everyone feel at ease.
Son sourire naturel a mis tout le monde à l'aise.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmjʊər/

demure

réservé
Meaning
reserved, modest, and shy
Example
She gave him a demure smile.
Elle lui donna un sourire réservé.
C2 adjective /ədˈmɒnɪtəri/

admonitory

d'avertissement
Meaning
giving or conveying a warning or reprimand
Example
She gave him an admonitory glance.
Elle lui a lancé un regard d'avertissement.
C2 adjective /æbˈhɔːr.ənt/

Abhorrent

abominable; détestable
Meaning
extremely unpleasant and causing disgust; detestable
Example
The idea of animal cruelty is abhorrent to most people.
L'idée de la cruauté animale est abominable pour la plupart des gens.
C2 noun /ˈænɪməs/

animus

hostilité / but
Meaning
A strong feeling of hostility; motivation or purpose behind an action.
Example
His speech was driven by animus against the policy.
Son discours était motivé par l'hostilité envers la politique.
C2 noun /lɔːˈdeɪʃən/

laudation

éloges
Meaning
The act of praising or expressing approval.
Example
The poet received much laudation for his moving verses.
Le poète a reçu de nombreux éloges pour ses vers émouvants.
C2 adjective /ænˈdrɒdʒɪnəs/

androgynous

androgyne
Meaning
Having both male and female characteristics; not clearly masculine or feminine.
Example
The fashion show featured models with an androgynous look.
Le défilé de mode a présenté des modèles avec un look androgyne.
C2 noun, verb /ˈbɛvəl/

bevel

biseau
Meaning
A sloping edge or surface; to cut or shape an edge at an angle.
Example
The carpenter beveled the edges of the table.
Le menuisier a biseauté les bords de la table.
C2 noun /ˌser.əˈbreɪ.ʃən/

cerebration

cérébration
Meaning
the process of thinking or using the brain actively
Example
The lecture sparked intense cerebration among the students.
La conférence a suscité une intense cérébration parmi les étudiants.
C2 adjective /ˌvɛrɪˈsɪmɪlər/

verisimilar

semblable à la vérité
Meaning
appearing to be true or real
Example
The story seemed verisimilar though it was entirely fictional.
L'histoire semblait semblable à la vérité bien qu'elle fût entièrement fictive.
C2 noun /ɪksˈtʃɛkər/

exchequer

trésorerie
Meaning
The treasury of a state or country.
Example
The government announced new measures to improve the exchequer.
Le gouvernement a annoncé de nouvelles mesures pour améliorer la trésorerie.
C2 noun /ˈseɪ.li.əns/

salience

saillance
Meaning
The quality of being particularly noticeable or important; prominence.
Example
The salience of the issue was highlighted in the debate.
La saillance de la question a été mise en évidence lors du débat.
C2 adjective /kəˈnaɪ.vɪŋ/

conniving

rusé
Meaning
secretly scheming or plotting to help in wrongdoing
Example
He is a conniving politician who manipulates people for power.
C'est un homme politique rusé qui manipule les gens pour le pouvoir.
C2 noun/verb /læˈsuː/

lasso

lasso
Meaning
a rope with a loop used to catch animals; to catch with such a rope
Example
The cowboy lassoed the horse quickly.
Le cowboy a lassoé le cheval rapidement.
C2 adjective /rɪˈmiːdiəbl/

remediable

réparable
Meaning
capable of being corrected or cured
Example
The mistake was serious but still remediable.
L'erreur était grave mais encore réparable.
C2 adjective /əˈluːviəl/

alluvial

alluvial
Meaning
Relating to or derived from alluvium (loose soil or sediment deposited by rivers).
Example
The farmers cultivate crops on the fertile alluvial plains.
Les agriculteurs cultivent des cultures sur les plaines alluviales fertiles.
C2 adjective /sɛnˈtrɪfjʊɡəl/

centrifugal

centrifuge
Meaning
Moving or tending to move away from a center.
Example
The centrifugal force pushes the clothes to the sides of the washing machine.
La force centrifuge pousse les vêtements vers les bords de la machine à laver.
C2 adjective /roʊn/

roan

roan
Meaning
denoting an animal, especially a horse, having a coat of mixed colors, typically reddish-brown and white
Example
The rider mounted a roan horse with a speckled coat.
Le cavalier monta un cheval roan avec un pelage tacheté.
C2 verb /ˈtʃeɪ.sən/

chasten

châtier / soumettre
Meaning
to correct or discipline; to humble or subdue
Example
The coach chastened the team after their poor performance.
L'entraîneur a châtié l'équipe après leur mauvaise performance.
C2 adjective /sʌbˈlɪŋɡwəl/

sublingual

sublingual
Meaning
situated or applied under the tongue
Example
The doctor prescribed a sublingual tablet for faster absorption.
Le médecin a prescrit un comprimé sublingual pour une absorption plus rapide.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛl.ɪˈtɪə.ri.əs/

deleterious

nuisible
Meaning
Causing physical or mental harm or damage.
Example
Smoking has deleterious effects on health.
Fumer a des effets nuisibles sur la santé.
C2 noun /ˌsuːpərɪnˈtɛndəns/

superintendence

supervision
Meaning
the act of overseeing, supervising, or managing
Example
The superintendence of the school is the principal’s duty.
La supervision de l'école est le devoir du principal.
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 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 /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 adjective /dɪˈkrɛpɪt/

decrepit

délabré
Meaning
worn out or weakened by age or neglect
Example
The decrepit old house was on the verge of collapse.
La vieille maison délabrée était sur le point de s'effondrer.
C2 adjective /səˈpʌlkrəl/

sepulchral

relatif à un tombeau, lugubre
Meaning
Relating to a tomb or burial; gloomy, dismal.
Example
The abandoned house had a sepulchral silence about it.
La maison abandonnée avait un silence sepulcral.
C2 adjective /əˈsɪdjʊləs/

acidulous

légèrement acide ou amer
Meaning
slightly sour or sharp in taste or manner
Example
The critic wrote an acidulous review of the movie.
Le critique a écrit une critique acide du film.
C2 noun /ˈpɛnjʊri/

penury

pauvreté extrême
Meaning
extreme poverty or destitution
Example
He grew up in penury but became successful later in life.
Il a grandi dans la pénurie, mais il est devenu prospère plus tard dans la vie.
C2 noun /ˌɪmpəˈtjuːəsəti/

impetuosity

impétuosité
Meaning
The quality of being rash or impulsive.
Example
His impetuosity often got him into trouble.
Son impétuosité le mettait souvent dans des ennuis.
C2 noun /ˈʃʊərəti/

surety

caution
Meaning
a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, such as appearing in court or paying a debt
Example
The landlord required a surety before renting the apartment.
Le propriétaire a exigé une caution avant de louer l'appartement.
C2 noun /prɪˈsɛntɪmənt/

presentiment

présentiment
Meaning
An intuitive feeling about the future, especially of something bad about to happen.
Example
He had a strong presentiment that the plan would fail.
Il avait un fort pressentiment que le plan échouerait.
C2 adjective /sɪˈnɒptɪk/

synoptic

synoptique
Meaning
giving a general overview or summary; presenting a broad view
Example
The report offers a synoptic view of climate trends over the past century.
Le rapport offre une vue synoptique des tendances climatiques du siècle dernier.
C2 adjective /ˈæpəzɪt/

apposite

approprié
Meaning
highly appropriate or relevant to what is being discussed
Example
Her remark was particularly apposite to the situation.
Son commentaire était particulièrement approprié à la situation.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈreɪndʒ/

disarrange

désorganiser
Meaning
to disturb the order or arrangement of something
Example
The wind disarranged her hair.
Le vent a désordonné ses cheveux.
C2 noun /pʌɡˈnæsɪti/

pugnacity

pugnacité
Meaning
A natural disposition to be combative or aggressive.
Example
The coach admired the player's pugnacity on the field.
L'entraîneur admirait la pugnacité du joueur sur le terrain.
C2 adjective /pərˈfɜrvɪd/

perfervid

extrêmement enthousiaste
Meaning
intensely passionate or fervent
Example
She gave a perfervid speech in defense of human rights.
Elle a fait un discours extrêmement enthousiaste en défense des droits de l'homme.
C2 verb /dɪsˈɡɔːrdʒ/

disgorge

vomir, déverser
Meaning
to discharge or pour out; to vomit; to give up reluctantly
Example
The broken pipe disgorged water all over the floor.
Le tuyau cassé a déversé de l'eau sur tout le sol.
C2 noun /ɔːl/

awl

alêne
Meaning
a small pointed tool used for making holes, especially in leather
Example
The cobbler used an awl to punch holes in the leather.
Le cordonnier a utilisé une alêne pour faire des trous dans le cuir.
C2 verb /əˈniːl/

anneal

durcir par la chaleur
Meaning
To heat and cool metal or glass to make it stronger or less brittle.
Example
The blacksmith annealed the steel to improve its durability.
Le forgeron a anilé l'acier pour améliorer sa durabilité.
C2 adjective /prɪˈpɒndərənt/

preponderant

prépondérant
Meaning
Having superior weight, force, influence, or importance.
Example
The preponderant influence of the media shapes public opinion.
L'influence prépondérante des médias façonne l'opinion publique.
C2 adjective /ˈdoʊlfəl/

Doleful

triste; lugubre;
Meaning
sorrowful; mournful; expressing grief or sadness
Example
She gave him a doleful look when he left.
Elle lui donna un regard triste lorsqu'il partit.
C2 adjective /ˈɪnˌbrɛd/

inbred

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

arability

arabilité
Meaning
The quality of land being suitable for growing crops.
Example
The arability of land depends on soil quality and water availability.
L'arabilité du sol dépend de la qualité du sol et de la disponibilité de l'eau.
C2 adjective /ʌkˈsɔːriəs/

uxorious

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

turgid

gonflé, pompeux
Meaning
Swollen or distended; (of language) pompous and overcomplicated.
Example
The professor’s lecture was so turgid that many students lost interest.
Le cours du professeur était si pompeux que beaucoup d’étudiants ont perdu leur intérêt.
C2 adjective /ˌmɛrəˈtrɪʃəs/

meretricious

artificiel
Meaning
apparently attractive but having no real value or integrity.
Example
The design was flashy but meretricious.
Le design était flashy mais artificiel.
C2 verb /ˈsɪbəleɪt/

sibilate

prononcer avec un sifflement
Meaning
To pronounce with a hissing sound.
Example
The actor sibilated his lines for dramatic effect.
L'acteur a prononcé ses répliques avec un sifflement pour un effet dramatique.
C2 noun /ˈtaɪroʊ/

tyro

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

expeditious

rapide
Meaning
Done with speed and efficiency.
Example
The expeditious delivery of the package was appreciated.
La livraison rapide du colis a été appréciée.
C2 verb /bɪˈnʌm/

benumb

engourdir
Meaning
to make physically numb or without sensation; to make mentally dull or insensitive
Example
The freezing wind seemed to benumb his fingers within minutes.
Le vent glacial semblait lui engourdir les doigts en quelques minutes.
C2 verb /ˈeksɪkreɪt/

execrate

détester
Meaning
To feel or express great loathing or hatred for something.
Example
The community execrated the corrupt politician.
La communauté a détesté le politicien corrompu.
C2 noun ˈsɒmnələns

somnolence

somnolence
Meaning
A state of drowsiness or sleepiness; inclination to sleep.
Example
The somnolence after a heavy meal made it hard to concentrate.
La somnolence après un repas copieux a rendu difficile la concentration.
C2 adverb /ˈprɒksɪmətli/

proximately

près
Meaning
In a near or close manner; nearly.
Example
The village lies proximately to the river.
Le village est près de la rivière.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

diacritical

diacritique
Meaning
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
Example
The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume.
Le mot 'résumé' a des marques diacritiques qui changent sa signification de 'resume'.
C2 verb /bɪˈfɪt/

befit

convenir à
Meaning
to be suitable for; to be appropriate to
Example
Formal attire befits the seriousness of the occasion.
Une tenue formelle convient au sérieux de l’occasion.
C2 noun /ˈɒbsɪkwiːz/

obsequies

rites funéraires
Meaning
Funeral rites or ceremonies.
Example
The obsequies for the late leader drew thousands of mourners.
Les rites funéraires du leader défunt ont attiré des milliers de personnes en deuil.
C2 adjective /ˈtʃɛəri/

chary

prudent
Meaning
cautious or wary about doing something
Example
She was chary of investing in the new business venture.
Elle était prudente à investir dans la nouvelle entreprise.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɡrɛsɪv/

digressive

tendance à s'écarter du sujet principal
Meaning
Tending to depart from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
The speaker's digressive style made the lecture difficult to follow.
Le style digressif de l'orateur a rendu la conférence difficile à suivre.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪɡræm/

epigram

épigramme
Meaning
A short, witty saying or poem that expresses an idea in a clever way.
Example
Oscar Wilde was famous for his sharp epigrams.
Oscar Wilde était célèbre pour ses épigrammes aiguisés.
C2 noun /ˈpɒlɪti/

polity

politique, système de gouvernement
Meaning
an organized society or form of government
Example
The ancient Greek polity had a system of city-states.
La politique grecque antique avait un système de cités-états.
C2 adjective /hɛkˈsæŋɡjələr/

hexangular

hexagonal
Meaning
Having six angles or corners.
Example
The artist designed a hexangular frame for the mirror.
L'artiste a conçu un cadre hexagonal pour le miroir.
C2 adjective /ˌsɛm.iˈkɒn.ʃəs/

semiconscious

semi-conscient
Meaning
Only partly conscious; not fully aware of surroundings.
Example
He was semiconscious after the accident and could barely respond.
Il était semi-conscient après l'accident et pouvait à peine répondre.
C2 noun /ˈɜːrtʃɪn/

urchin

gamin des rues
Meaning
a mischievous or poorly dressed child, often from the streets
Example
The ragged urchins played by the riverbank.
Les gamins en haillons jouaient au bord de la rivière.
C2 verb /ˈkrɪŋ.kəl/

crinkle

froncer
Meaning
To form small creases or wrinkles.
Example
She crinkled her nose at the strange smell.
Elle a froncé son nez à l'odeur étrange.
C2 noun /məˈnɪʃən/

monition

avertissement
Meaning
A warning or caution, often of a religious or moral nature.
Example
The priest gave a monition against dishonesty.
Le prêtre a donné un avertissement contre la malhonnêteté.
C2 verb /ɪˈnjʊər/

inure

habituer
Meaning
To become accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
Example
Soldiers quickly became inured to the harsh conditions.
Les soldats se sont rapidement habitués aux conditions difficiles.
C2 adjective /tʃəˈruːbɪk/

cherubic

angélique
Meaning
Innocent, sweet, and angelic, like a cherub.
Example
The baby had a cherubic smile that melted everyone’s heart.
Le bébé avait un sourire angélique qui faisait fondre le cœur de tout le monde.
C2 verb /trænˈspoʊz/

transpose

transposer
Meaning
to change the order or position of something
Example
The editor transposed two paragraphs in the article.
L'éditeur a transposé deux paragraphes dans l'article.
C2 noun /sɑːrˈkɒfəɡəs/

sarcophagus

cercueil en pierre
Meaning
A stone coffin, often decorated, used in ancient times.
Example
The museum displayed a beautifully carved sarcophagus from ancient Egypt.
Le musée a exposé un cercueil en pierre magnifiquement sculpté de l'Égypte ancienne.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːltˌfaɪndər/

faultfinder

chercheur de défauts
Meaning
a person who habitually finds fault with others
Example
He is such a faultfinder that nothing anyone does is ever good enough.
C'est un chercheur de défauts au point que rien de ce que fait quelqu'un n'est jamais assez bien.
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 adjective /ˌɪnkænˈdɛsənt/

incandescent

incandescent
Meaning
emitting light as a result of being heated; extremely bright or passionate
Example
The incandescent lamp lit up the entire hall.
La lampe incandescente a éclairé toute la salle.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrbɪtər/

arbiter

arbitre
Meaning
a person who has the authority to settle a dispute or decide an issue
Example
The principal acted as the arbiter in the conflict between the students.
Le principal a agi en tant qu'arbitre dans le conflit entre les élèves.
C2 noun /ˈrɪp.lɪt/

ripplet

petite ondulation
Meaning
a small or tiny ripple
Example
Tiny ripplets appeared on the lake as the fish moved.
De petites ondulations sont apparues sur le lac lorsque le poisson a bougé.
C2 noun /traɪˈʌmvɪrət/

triumvirate

triumvirat
Meaning
A political regime ruled or dominated by three powerful individuals.
Example
The Roman Republic was once governed by a triumvirate.
La République romaine était autrefois gouvernée par un triumvirat.
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 adjective /ˌvɪtriˈɑːlɪk/

vitriolic

critiqué acerbe
Meaning
filled with bitter criticism or malice
Example
His vitriolic remarks hurt everyone in the room.
Ses remarques acerbes ont blessé tout le monde dans la salle.
C2 noun /ˈfʊl.krəm/

fulcrum

point d'appui
Meaning
The point or support on which a lever pivots; a central or essential point of activity or support.
Example
The teacher became the fulcrum of change in the school.
Le professeur est devenu le fulcrum du changement à l'école.
C2 noun /əˈsɜːrbəti/

acerbity

acerbité
Meaning
bitterness or sharpness of tone, manner, or taste
Example
The acerbity of his remarks left everyone silent.
L'acerbité de ses remarques a laissé tout le monde en silence.
C2 noun /mɪˈtɒnɪmi/

metonymy

métaphore par substitution
Meaning
A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted with another closely related word or concept.
Example
In the phrase 'the crown will decide,' 'crown' is a metonymy for monarchy.
Dans l'expression 'la couronne décidera', 'couronne' est une métaphore par substitution pour la monarchie.
C2 adjective /daɪˈæfənəs/

diaphanous

diaphane
Meaning
Light, delicate, and translucent.
Example
She wore a diaphanous dress that shimmered in the sunlight.
Elle portait une robe diaphane qui scintillait sous la lumière du soleil.
C2 noun /ˌkɑːnfɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

conformation

conformation
Meaning
The shape, structure, or arrangement of something.
Example
The scientist studied the molecular conformation of the protein.
Le scientifique a étudié la conformation moléculaire de la protéine.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈmɪtɪɡeɪtɪd/

unmitigated

complet
Meaning
absolute; not lessened or moderated
Example
The meeting was an unmitigated disaster.
La réunion était un désastre complet.
C2 noun /ˈæf.ə.rɪ.zəm/

aphorism

aphorisme
Meaning
a short, witty saying that expresses a general truth or principle
Example
He began his speech with an aphorism about life and success.
Il a commencé son discours par un aphorisme sur la vie et le succès.
C2 noun /skɪf/

skiff

petit bateau
Meaning
a small, light boat usually for one person
Example
The fisherman paddled his skiff across the lake.
Le pêcheur a pagayé son petit bateau à travers le lac.
C2 noun /ˈɡeɪm.stər/

gamester

joueur
Meaning
A person who plays games, especially one who plays them skillfully or professionally.
Example
The old tavern was filled with gamesters competing in cards and dice.
L'ancienne taverne était remplie de joueurs qui se mesuraient dans des jeux de cartes et de dés.
C2 adjective /stəˈkɑː.təʊ/

staccato

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

Hotch potch

pot-au-feu
Meaning
A mixed dish; a hodgepodge of ingredients cooked together
Example
She made a delicious hotch potch with rice, lentils, and vegetables.
Elle a préparé un délicieux hôtch potch avec du riz, des lentilles et des légumes.
C2 adjective /ˈɡloʊboʊs/

globose

globulaire
Meaning
Spherical or nearly spherical in shape.
Example
The cactus has large globose fruits.
Le cactus a de gros fruits globulaires.
C2 verb /rɪˈkjʊə/

recure

soigner à nouveau
Meaning
to cure again; to remedy a second time
Example
The doctor had to recure the wound after it reopened.
Le médecin a dû recurer la blessure après qu'elle se soit rouverte.
C2 noun /ˈjɪərlɪŋ/

yearling

un animal d'un an, surtout un cheval
Meaning
an animal that is one year old, especially a horse
Example
The farmer sold the yearling at the livestock market.
Le fermier a vendu le yearling au marché du bétail.
C2 verb /məˈmɔːriəlaɪz/

memorialize

commémorer
Meaning
to preserve the memory of a person or event, often through a ceremony, monument, or record
Example
The city decided to memorialize the hero with a statue in the central square.
La ville a décidé de commémorer le héros avec une statue sur la place centrale.
C2 noun /ˈmɒrəlɪst/

moralist

moraliste
Meaning
A person who teaches or promotes moral principles and values.
Example
The author was known as a strict moralist in his writings.
L'auteur était connu comme un moraliste strict dans ses écrits.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkoʊətɪv/

inchoative

inchoatif
Meaning
relating to the beginning of something; in an initial stage
Example
The poet used inchoative expressions to depict the dawn of creation.
Le poète a utilisé des expressions inchoatives pour décrire l'aube de la création.
C2 adjective /dʒərˈmeɪn/

germane

pertinent
Meaning
Relevant and appropriate to the subject being considered.
Example
Her comments were not germane to the discussion.
Ses commentaires n'étaient pas pertinents pour la discussion.
C2 adjective, noun /ˈænθrəpɔɪd/

anthropoid

anthropoïde
Meaning
Resembling a human being in form; a primate such as apes and monkeys.
Example
The gorilla is considered an anthropoid ape.
Le gorille est considéré comme un anthropoïde.
C2 verb /ˈfʌdəl/

fuddle

embrouiller
Meaning
To confuse or stupefy, especially with alcohol or overwhelming information.
Example
The complicated instructions fuddled the new employees.
Les instructions compliquées ont embrouillé les nouveaux employés.
C2 verb /dɪsˈroʊb/

disrobe

se déshabiller
Meaning
to remove one's clothes
Example
The monk disrobed before entering the river.
Le moine s'est déshabillé avant d'entrer dans la rivière.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪɡ.ni.əs/

ligneous

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

schism

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

bacchanalia

fête débridée
Meaning
A Roman festival of Bacchus celebrated with dancing, drinking, and revelry; any occasion of wild and drunken revelry.
Example
The novel describes the party as a bacchanalia of excess and joy.
Le roman décrit la fête comme une bacchanale d'excès et de joie.
C2 noun /dɪˌlɪniˈeɪʃən/

delineation

délimitation
Meaning
the precise description, drawing, or outlining of something
Example
The artist’s delineation of the landscape was remarkably accurate.
La délimitation du paysage par l'artiste était remarquablement précise.
C2 noun /ˈrɛkjʊzənt/

recusant

réfractaire
Meaning
a person who refuses to submit to authority or comply with rules
Example
The recusant opposed the new law.
Le réfractaire s'est opposé à la nouvelle loi.