buskin
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C2 noun /ˈbʌskɪn/

buskin

botte épaisse
Meaning
A type of thick-soled boot that reaches halfway to the knee; also associated with tragic drama in ancient times.
Example
The actor wore a buskin as part of his classical costume.
L'acteur portait un buskin comme partie de son costume classique.
C2 noun ˌæɡ.roʊˈiː.koʊˌsɪs.təm

agroecosystem

agrosystème
Meaning
An ecological system centered on agricultural activities and processes.
Example
A healthy agroecosystem improves soil fertility.
Un agroécosystème sain améliore la fertilité du sol.
C2 noun /fiːf/

fief

un terrain de terre détenu sous le système féodal ; un domaine ou une zone de contrôle
Meaning
an estate of land held under the feudal system; a domain or area of control
Example
The knight was granted a fief by the lord for his service.
Le chevalier a reçu un fief du seigneur pour ses services.
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 noun /ˈæpəplɛksi/

apoplexy

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

Touchstone

étalon; critère
Meaning
a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized; a test of genuineness
Example
His honesty became the touchstone by which all other employees were measured.
Son honnêteté est devenue l'étalon par lequel tous les autres employés étaient mesurés.
C2 verb /bɪˈdræɡəl/

bedraggle

rendre quelque chose mouillé, sale et en désordre en le traînant dans la boue ou l'eau
Meaning
to make something wet, dirty, and untidy by dragging it through mud or water
Example
The children came home bedraggled after playing in the rain.
Les enfants sont rentrés à la maison trempés et sales après avoir joué sous la pluie.
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 /sɪˈnɜːrdʒɪk/

synergic

synergique
Meaning
Working together in a cooperative and effective manner.
Example
The two departments have a synergic relationship that boosts productivity.
Les deux départements ont une relation synergique qui augmente la productivité.
C2 noun /ˈrɛvəlri/

revelry

fête
Meaning
Lively and noisy festivities, especially involving drinking and dancing.
Example
The sound of revelry could be heard throughout the night.
Le bruit de la fête se faisait entendre toute la nuit.
C2 adjective /ˈdʒɜːrmɪnəl/

germinal

germinal
Meaning
Relating to the earliest stage of development.
Example
The idea was still in its germinal stage.
L'idée était encore à son stade germinal.
C2 noun /ɪmˈprɑːvɪdəns/

improvidence

imprévoyance
Meaning
Lack of foresight or care for future needs.
Example
His improvidence led to financial difficulties.
Son imprévoyance l'a conduit à des difficultés financières.
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 /ˈsʌfrədʒɪst/

suffragist

suffragiste
Meaning
a person advocating the extension of suffrage, especially to women
Example
The suffragists organized rallies to demand voting rights for women.
Les suffragistes ont organisé des rassemblements pour revendiquer le droit de vote pour les femmes.
C2 verb /ɪnˈkʌmbər/

encumber

encombrer
Meaning
to burden or weigh down something, making it difficult to move or progress
Example
She was encumbered by the heavy luggage during her journey.
Elle était encombrée par les bagages lourds pendant son voyage.
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.
C2 noun ˌfjuːmɪˈɡeɪʃən

fumigation

fumigation
Meaning
The practice of disinfecting or purifying an area using gas or smoke.
Example
Fumigation is an effective method to control pest infestations.
La fumigation est une méthode efficace pour contrôler les infestations de parasites.
C2 noun /klaɪm/

clime

climat
Meaning
A region defined by its climate.
Example
He traveled to warmer climes during the winter.
Il a voyagé dans des climats plus chauds pendant l'hiver.
C2 adjective /dʒɛnˈtiːl/

genteel

raffiné
Meaning
Polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or exaggerated way
Example
She spoke in a genteel manner that impressed the guests.
Elle parlait d'une manière raffinée qui impressionnait les invités.
C2 noun /ˌkɛəriˈætɪd/

caryatid

colonne avec une figure féminine sculptée
Meaning
A stone carving of a draped female figure, used as a supporting column in architecture.
Example
The ancient temple featured a caryatid holding up the roof.
Le temple antique comportait une caryatide soutenant le toit.
C2 noun /riːm/

ream

rame
Meaning
A large quantity of paper (typically 500 sheets); informally, a large amount of something.
Example
The office ordered ten reams of paper.
Le bureau a commandé dix rames de papier.
C2 noun /ˈnes.lɪŋ/

Nestling

oisillon
Meaning
a young bird that has not yet left its nest
Example
The mother bird fed the hungry nestling with worms.
La mère oiseau a nourri le oisillon affamé avec des vers.
C2 adjective /ˈpeɪli/

paly

rayé
Meaning
striped with different colors, usually used in heraldry
Example
The knight’s shield was decorated with paly stripes of red and gold.
Le bouclier du chevalier était décoré de rayures rayées rouges et dorées.
C2 noun /wɜːrl/

whorl

spirale
Meaning
A pattern of spirals or concentric circles, often found in fingerprints, shells, or flowers.
Example
The fingerprint displayed a clear whorl pattern.
L'empreinte digitale affichait un motif clair de spirale.
C2 adjective /ˈmɒθ ˌiːtən/

moth-eaten

mangé par les mites
Meaning
Damaged or worn out, especially by moths or age.
Example
He wore a moth-eaten sweater on the cold day.
Il portait un pull mangé par les mites par une journée froide.
C2 adjective /ˌhɜːrkjʊˈliːən/

herculean

très difficile
Meaning
Requiring great strength or effort; very difficult to perform.
Example
It was a herculean task to rebuild the city after the disaster.
C'était une tâche très difficile de reconstruire la ville après la catastrophe.
C2 noun /ˌsæv.wɑːr ˈfeər/

savoir-faire

habileté sociale
Meaning
The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations; polished social skills.
Example
She handled the delicate situation with remarkable savoir-faire.
Elle a géré la situation délicate avec un remarquable savoir-faire.
C2 noun /blɑːtʃ/

blotch

tache
Meaning
a large, irregular spot or stain, often on skin or fabric
Example
His shirt had a red blotch from the spilled juice.
Sa chemise avait une tache rouge due au jus renversé.
C2 verb /pərˈtɪkjələrˌaɪz/

particularize

détailler
Meaning
to mention or describe something in detail
Example
The witness was asked to particularize the events of that night.
Le témoin a été demandé de détailler les événements de cette nuit.
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 /ˈsætər/

satyr

bonheur
Meaning
a creature from Greek mythology depicted as a lustful being, often half-man and half-goat; by extension, a lecherous man
Example
In the museum mural, a satyr plays the panpipes while dancing in the woods.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 adjective /ˌhæfˈhɑːr.tɪd/

halfhearted

démotivé
Meaning
lacking enthusiasm or determination; unenthusiastic
Example
His halfhearted attempt to study did not bring good results.
Son essai démotivé pour étudier n'a pas donné de bons résultats.
C2 noun /ˈnoʊzˌɡeɪ/

nosegay

bouquet de fleurs
Meaning
a small bunch of flowers, typically given as a gift or carried for decoration
Example
She carried a nosegay of fresh roses to the ceremony.
Elle a porté un bouquet de roses fraîches à la cérémonie.
C2 verb /ˈrævəl/

ravel

embrouiller / démêler
Meaning
to tangle or complicate; to untangle or unravel depending on context
Example
She began to ravel the loose threads of the sweater.
Elle a commencé à démêler les fils lâches du pull.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtræməld/

untrammeled

liberté illimitée
Meaning
Not restricted or hampered; free and unrestricted.
Example
She enjoyed untrammeled freedom in her new life abroad.
Elle a apprécié la liberté illimitée dans sa nouvelle vie à l'étranger.
C2 adjective /vaɪˈtjuːpərəbl̩/

vituperable

méprisable
Meaning
Deserving of blame, censure, or harsh criticism.
Example
His reckless actions made him vituperable in the eyes of his colleagues.
Ses actions imprudentes l'ont rendu méprisable aux yeux de ses collègues.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrsər/

courser

cheval rapide ou cheval de chasse
Meaning
a swift horse or a hunting horse
Example
The knight rode a fast courser into battle.
Le chevalier monta un coursier rapide au combat.
C2 verb /θrɛʃ/

thresh

battre
Meaning
to separate grain from the plant by beating or by using a machine
Example
Farmers used machines to thresh the wheat after harvest.
Les agriculteurs ont utilisé des machines pour battre le blé après la récolte.
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 noun /ˈfɪɡmənt/

figment

invention, imagination
Meaning
something invented or imaginary; a fabrication of the mind
Example
The story of the haunted house is just a figment of her imagination.
L'histoire de la maison hantée n'est qu'un produit de son imagination.
C2 verb /ˌsɜːrkəmˈnævɪɡeɪt/

circumnavigate

faire le tour du monde
Meaning
to travel all the way around something, especially the earth
Example
Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe.
Magellan fut le premier à faire le tour du monde.
C2 noun /ˈpɪnəs/

pinnace

petit bateau
Meaning
a small boat, often carried by a larger ship
Example
The sailors used a pinnace to reach the shore.
Les marins ont utilisé un petit bateau pour atteindre le rivage.
C2 noun /ˈɛnsaɪn/

ensign

drapeau
Meaning
A flag or standard, especially a military or naval one indicating nationality; also a junior officer in the navy or coast guard.
Example
The ship raised its national ensign before leaving the harbor.
Le navire a hissé son drapeau national avant de quitter le port.
C2 noun /ˈpaʊ.waʊ/

powwow

réunion informelle
Meaning
an informal meeting or conference to discuss something
Example
The team held a quick powwow before the presentation.
L'équipe a tenu une réunion rapide avant la présentation.
C2 adjective /ˈfluːtɪd/

fluted

strié
Meaning
having grooves or ridges, often for decoration
Example
The vase had a beautiful fluted design around the rim.
Le vase avait un beau design strié autour du bord.
C2 noun /ˈlæn.sɪt/

lancet

couteau chirurgical
Meaning
a small, sharp, two-edged surgical knife used for making small incisions
Example
The doctor used a lancet to prick the patient’s finger for a blood test.
Le médecin a utilisé un lancet pour piquer le doigt du patient pour un test sanguin.
C2 noun /əˈbaɪdəns/

abidance

obéissance
Meaning
the act of following, accepting, or complying with something
Example
Her abidance by the rules impressed the committee.
Son obéissance aux règles a impressionné le comité.
C2 noun /ɪˈlɛk.trə.taɪp/

electrotype

électrotype
Meaning
A duplicate printing plate made by electroplating a mold of the original.
Example
The printer used an electrotype to produce multiple copies of the page.
L'imprimeur a utilisé un électrotype pour produire plusieurs copies de la page.
C2 noun /ˈiːɡlət/

eaglet

aiglon
Meaning
A young eagle.
Example
The eaglet waited in the nest for its mother to return.
L'aiglon attendait dans le nid que sa mère revienne.
C2 noun /kəˈbɑːdi/

kabadi

ferrailleur
Meaning
a person who collects and sells scrap or recyclable materials, especially in South Asia
Example
The kabadi came every week to collect old newspapers and bottles.
Le ferrailleur collecte des objets usagés.
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 noun /daɪˈvʌldʒəns/

divulgence

divulgation
Meaning
the act of revealing or disclosing something secret or private
Example
The divulgence of company secrets caused a major scandal.
La divulgation des secrets de l'entreprise a provoqué un grand scandale.
C2 verb /ˈwɪni/

whinny

hennissement
Meaning
to make the high-pitched sound a horse makes
Example
The horse whinnied when it saw its rider.
Le cheval hennit quand il a vu son cavalier.
C2 noun /ˈsætræp/

satrap

satrape
Meaning
a governor of a province in ancient Persia; also used figuratively for a subordinate ruler
Example
The king appointed a satrap to oversee the distant province.
Le roi nomma un satrape pour superviser la province éloignée.
C2 noun /ˈpɒl.i.mæθ/

polymath

polymathe
Meaning
a person with knowledge of many different subjects
Example
Leonardo da Vinci was a true polymath, excelling in art, science, and engineering.
Leonardo da Vinci était un véritable polymathe, excellant dans l'art, la science et l'ingénierie.
C2 verb /trænsˈfɪɡjʊər/

transfigure

transfigurer
Meaning
To transform the outward appearance or form, often in a way that elevates or glorifies.
Example
The artist managed to transfigure simple clay into a beautiful sculpture.
L'artiste a réussi à transformer de l'argile simple en une belle sculpture.
C2 noun /ˈboʊsən/

boatswain

officier de bord
Meaning
a ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew
Example
The boatswain supervised the sailors on deck.
Le bôt-swên a supervisé les marins sur le pont.
C2 verb /ɪnˈveɪ/

inveigh

critiquer sévèrement
Meaning
To speak or write about something with great hostility and criticism.
Example
He inveighed against the corruption in government.
Il a critiqué sévèrement la corruption dans le gouvernement.
C2 adjective /pruːˈdɛnʃəl/

prudential

prudentiel
Meaning
involving or showing prudence, especially in financial or business matters
Example
The bank has set prudential rules to protect depositors.
La banque a mis en place des règles prudentielles pour protéger les déposants.
C2 adjective /ˈtjuːmɪd/

tumid

gonflé, enflé, ou pompeux dans le style
Meaning
Swollen, enlarged, or pompous in style.
Example
His tumid prose was difficult to read.
Sa prose gonflée était difficile à lire.
C2 noun /ˈdɒkɪt/

docket

registre
Meaning
a list or schedule of cases to be tried in a court or items to be done
Example
The judge reviewed the docket before starting the session.
Le juge a examiné le registre avant de commencer la séance.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsuːpərəbl/

insuperable

insurmontable
Meaning
Impossible to overcome or surpass.
Example
The team faced insuperable challenges during the expedition.
L'équipe a fait face à des défis insurmontables lors de l'expédition.
C2 noun /ˈsfɛrɔɪd/

spheroid

sphéroïde
Meaning
A three-dimensional shape that is almost spherical but slightly flattened or elongated.
Example
The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid.
La Terre n'est pas une sphère parfaite mais un sphéroïde oblat.
C2 verb /ˈlaɪ.ə.naɪz/

lionize

lioniser
Meaning
to treat someone as a celebrity or give a lot of public attention
Example
The press began to lionize the young scientist after his discovery.
La presse a commencé à lioniser le jeune scientifique après sa découverte.
C2 noun /bɪsk/

bisque

soupe de fruits de mer
Meaning
A rich, creamy soup made from shellfish.
Example
We ordered lobster bisque at the restaurant.
Nous avons commandé une bisque de homard au restaurant.
C2 adjective /ˈmiːliˌmaʊðd/

mealymouthed

parler de manière évasive
Meaning
not willing to speak directly and honestly; evasive in speech
Example
The politician gave a mealymouthed response to the tough question.
Le politicien a donné une réponse évasive à la question difficile.
C2 noun ˌpɜː.tɪˈnæs.ɪ.ti

pertinacity

détermination ferme et persévérance
Meaning
Firm determination and persistence in achieving something.
Example
His pertinacity in achieving his goals was inspiring.
Sa détermination inébranlable à atteindre ses objectifs était inspirante.
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 adjective /ˈpɛkəbl/

peccable

pécheur
Meaning
liable to sin or error; capable of doing wrong
Example
Humans are peccable, but they strive for goodness.
Les humains sont pécheurs, mais ils s'efforcent de faire le bien.
C2 noun /ˈkɒmɪti/

comity

courtoisie, respect mutuel
Meaning
Courtesy and considerate behavior towards others; mutual respect.
Example
The meeting was conducted with comity and respect.
La réunion s'est déroulée avec courtoisie et respect.
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 /ˌɔːrnɪˈθɑːlədʒi/

ornithology

ornithologie
Meaning
the scientific study of birds
Example
She pursued ornithology to understand the migration patterns of birds.
Elle a poursuivi l'ornithologie pour comprendre les schémas de migration des oiseaux.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌliːtər/

decaliter

dix litres
Meaning
A metric unit of capacity equal to ten liters.
Example
The container could hold up to one decaliter of water.
Le récipient peut contenir jusqu'à un décilitre d'eau.
C2 adjective /ˈfrɪski/

Frisky

vivant; énergique; joueur; espiègle
Meaning
lively; energetic; playful; mischievous
Example
The frisky puppy ran around the garden playfully.
Le chiot frisky courait autour du jardin de manière enjouée.
C2 noun /ˈhɒdʒ.pɒdʒ/

hodgepodge

mélange confus
Meaning
A confusing mixture of different things; a jumble.
Example
The essay was a hodgepodge of unrelated ideas.
L'essai était un mélange confus d'idées non liées.
C2 noun /kɒzˈmɒɡ.ə.ni/

cosmogony

cosmogonie
Meaning
the study or theory of the origin of the universe
Example
The book provides an overview of different cosmogonies throughout history.
Le livre présente un aperçu des différentes cosmogonies à travers l'histoire.
C2 adjective hjʊˈrɪs.tɪk

heuristic

heuristique
Meaning
Enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves; experimental learning approach.
Example
Teachers use heuristic techniques to encourage self-learning.
Les enseignants utilisent des techniques heuristiques pour encourager l'auto-apprentissage.
C2 adjective ˈen.də.krɪn

endocrine

endocrine
Meaning
Relating to or denoting glands that secrete hormones directly into the blood.
Example
The endocrine system regulates metabolism and growth.
Le système endocrinien régule le métabolisme et la croissance.
C2 adjective /paɪd/

pied

de couleurs variées
Meaning
having two or more different colors, typically in blotches
Example
The pied cat had black and white patches all over its body.
Le chat piebald avait des taches noires et blanches sur tout son corps.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡ roʊz/

Dog-rose

églantier
Meaning
A wild rose species with pink or white flowers and thorny stems, common in hedgerows
Example
The dog-rose bush grew wild along the countryside path.
Le buisson d'églantier a poussé sauvagement le long du chemin de campagne.
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 noun, adjective /pəˈtrɪʃən/

patrician

patricien
Meaning
A person of noble rank or high social standing; relating to aristocracy.
Example
The patrician families of Rome wielded great power in politics.
Les familles patriciennes de Rome exerçaient une grande puissance en politique.
C2 verb /ʧeɪf/

chafe

froter
Meaning
To make or become sore by rubbing; to feel irritation or impatience.
Example
The tight shoes began to chafe his heels.
Les chaussures serrées ont commencé à frotter ses talons.
C2 noun /ˈstiː.vəˌdɔːr/

stevedore

dockeur
Meaning
A person employed to load and unload cargo from ships.
Example
The stevedores worked tirelessly to unload the cargo before dawn.
Les dockeurs ont travaillé sans relâche pour décharger la cargaison avant l'aube.
C2 verb /ˈkænənaɪz/

canonize

canoniser
Meaning
To officially declare a dead person a saint; to regard as great or significant.
Example
The church canonized the martyr after years of investigation.
L'église a canonisé le martyr après des années d'enquête.
C2 noun /ˈsɛpəlˌtʃər/

Sepulture

tombeau; sépulture;
Meaning
the act of burying a dead body; burial; a grave or tomb
Example
The ancient king's sepulture was discovered by archaeologists.
Le sépulcre du roi ancien a été découvert par les archéologues.
C2 verb /rɪˈpruːv/

reprove

réprimander
Meaning
to criticize or correct someone gently or disapprove of their actions
Example
The teacher reproved the student for being late.
L'enseignant a réprimandé l'élève pour son retard.
C2 adjective /kənˈvɪviəl/

convivial

amical, animé et agréable; sociable
Meaning
friendly, lively, and enjoyable; sociable
Example
The party had a convivial atmosphere with music and laughter.
La fête avait une atmosphère conviviale avec de la musique et des rires.
C2 adjective /ˈtɛsəleɪtɪd/

tessellated

carrelé
Meaning
arranged in a pattern of repeated shapes fitting together without gaps
Example
The tessellated floor was made of colorful tiles arranged in perfect symmetry.
Le sol carrelé était composé de carreaux colorés disposés en parfaite symétrie.
C2 noun /ˈhoʊl.stər/

holster

étui
Meaning
A holder or case for carrying a gun, typically worn on a belt or shoulder.
Example
The sheriff kept his revolver in a leather holster.
Le shérif gardait son revolver dans un étui en cuir.
C2 noun /ˌnɒn ˈsɛkwɪtər/

non sequitur

commentaire hors sujet
Meaning
a statement or conclusion that does not logically follow from the previous statement
Example
His comment about the weather was a complete non sequitur during the budget discussion.
Son commentaire sur la météo était un véritable commentaire hors sujet pendant la discussion sur le budget.
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 /kənˈtrɪʃ.ən/

contrition

contrition
Meaning
the state of feeling remorseful and repentant
Example
His contrition was evident after the apology.
Sa contrition était évidente après des excuses.
C2 noun /ˈnɛkrəˌmænsər/

necromancer

Meaning
a person who practices necromancy; a wizard or magician who claims to communicate with the dead
Example
The villagers feared the old necromancer who lived at the edge of the forest.
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 verb /dɒf/

doff

ôter (un chapeau) en signe de respect
Meaning
to take off an item of clothing, especially a hat, as a sign of respect
Example
He doffed his hat as the procession passed.
Il ôta son chapeau tandis que la procession passait.
C2 adjective /roʊˈtʌnd/

rotund

rond
Meaning
round or plump in shape; full in sound
Example
The rotund cat struggled to climb the fence.
Le chat rond avait du mal à grimper la clôture.
C2 noun /ˌlɪt.əˈrɑː.ti/

literati

littérateurs
Meaning
well-educated, literary, or scholarly people
Example
The event was attended by poets, critics, and other members of the literati.
L'événement a été assisté par des poètes, des critiques et d'autres membres des littérateurs.
C2 adjective /ɪnhɑːrˈmoʊniəs/

Inharmonious

inharmonieux
Meaning
lacking harmony; discordant in sound; not in tune
Example
The inharmonious sounds from the broken piano made everyone cover their ears.
Les sons inharmonieux du piano cassé ont obligé tout le monde à se couvrir les oreilles.
C2 noun /ˈsʌbtərˌfjuːdʒ/

subterfuge

subterfuge
Meaning
Deceit used to achieve one's goal; a trick or excuse to evade something.
Example
They used subterfuge to avoid paying taxes.
Ils ont utilisé le subterfuge pour éviter de payer des impôts.
C2 noun /ˈkedʒ.ə.riː/

Kedgeree

kedgeree
Meaning
a European dish of cooked rice, fish, and hard-boiled eggs, originally from India
Example
The breakfast menu featured traditional kedgeree with smoked haddock and eggs.
Le menu du petit-déjeuner proposait un kedgeree traditionnel avec du haddock fumé et des œufs.
C2 noun ˈdɒɡ.ɪd.nəs

doggedness

persévérance
Meaning
Stubborn persistence in achieving something without giving up.
Example
His doggedness in pursuing his goals was inspiring.
Sa persévérance dans la poursuite de ses objectifs était inspirante.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊksl/

forecastle

forecastle
Meaning
The forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as living quarters for the crew.
Example
The sailors gathered in the forecastle after their shift.
Les marins se sont rassemblés dans le forecastle après leur quart.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪvəˈɡeɪʃən/

divagation

divagation
Meaning
digression; wandering from a path or subject
Example
His lecture was full of divagation, making it hard to follow the main point.
Sa conférence était pleine de divagations, ce qui rendait difficile de suivre le point principal.
C2 noun ˌæɡ.roʊˈfɔːr.ɪ.stri

agroforestry

agroforesterie
Meaning
A land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland.
Example
Agroforestry improves soil quality and crop yield.
L'agroforesterie améliore la qualité du sol et le rendement des cultures.
C2 verb /ˈblʌstər/

bluster

vantes
Meaning
to speak loudly in an aggressive or threatening way, often without real power
Example
The manager blustered about firing people but did nothing.
Le manager a menacé de renvoyer des gens mais n'a rien fait.
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 noun /ˈfɔːrˌseɪl/

foresail

voile de proue
Meaning
The principal sail set on the foremast of a sailing vessel.
Example
The crew adjusted the foresail to catch the wind.
L'équipage a ajusté la voile de proue pour attraper le vent.
C2 verb /ˌaʊtməˈnuːvər/

outmaneuver

surpasser habilement
Meaning
to gain an advantage over an opponent by skillful or clever action
Example
The smaller company managed to outmaneuver its larger rival.
La petite entreprise a réussi à surpasser habilement son grand concurrent.
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 noun /ˈkʌstərd ˈæpəl/

Custard Apple

pomme à la crème
Meaning
a tropical fruit with sweet creamy white flesh and black seeds
Example
The custard apple has a sweet and creamy texture.
La pomme à la crème a une texture douce et crémeuse.
C2 verb /ˈɑːblɪˌɡeɪt/

obligate

obliger
Meaning
to bind legally or morally; to compel someone to do something
Example
The contract obligates the company to provide timely service.
Le contrat oblige l'entreprise à fournir un service ponctuel.
C2 noun /ˈmædʒɪstrəsi/

magistracy

bureau judiciaire
Meaning
The office, authority, or district of a magistrate.
Example
He was proud to serve in the local magistracy for over a decade.
Il était fier de servir dans le bureau judiciaire local pendant plus d'une décennie.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmoʊniˌæk/

demoniac

démoniaque
Meaning
possessed, produced, or influenced by a demon; frenzied or violent
Example
The soldiers fought with demoniac fury.
Les soldats ont combattu avec une furie démoniaque.
C2 noun lɑːˈʒɛs

largesse

générosité
Meaning
Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others.
Example
His largesse towards the charity was greatly appreciated.
Sa largesse envers la charité a été grandement appréciée.
C2 noun /ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/

absolution

absolution
Meaning
formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment
Example
The priest granted him absolution for his sins.
Le prêtre lui a accordé l'absolution pour ses péchés.
C2 verb /dʒaɪb/

jibe

insulter / être en harmonie
Meaning
to make an insulting remark; to be in agreement or harmony with
Example
His actions did not jibe with his words.
Ses actions ne collaient pas avec ses mots.
C2 noun /ˌɑːbdʒərˈɡeɪʃən/

objurgation

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

atavism

atavisme
Meaning
The recurrence of traits or characteristics from a remote ancestor.
Example
The scientist noted atavism in the child’s physical features.
Le scientifique a noté de l'atavisme dans les caractéristiques physiques de l'enfant.
C2 noun /krɪpˈtɒɡ.rə.fi/

cryptography

pratique de sécuriser les informations par des techniques de cryptage ou de codage
Meaning
The practice of securing information through encryption or coding techniques
Example
Modern cryptography ensures secure online transactions.
La cryptographie moderne garantit des transactions en ligne sécurisées.
C2 adjective /ˈɛnərˌveɪtɪd/

enervated

épuisé
Meaning
Lacking energy, vitality, or strength; weakened or exhausted.
Example
After the long meeting, she felt completely enervated.
Après la longue réunion, elle s'est sentie complètement épuisée.