cataclysm
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 noun /ˈkætəˌklɪzəm/

cataclysm

cataclysme
Meaning
A sudden and violent event that causes great destruction or upheaval.
Example
The earthquake was a cataclysm that reshaped the city.
Le tremblement de terre a été un cataclysme qui a redessiné la ville.
C2 noun /ˌkɒnfəˈriː/

conferee

participant à la conférence
Meaning
a person who takes part in a conference
Example
Each conferee received a badge at the registration desk.
Chaque participant à la conférence a reçu un badge au comptoir d'inscription.
C2 noun /ˈklærɪən/

Clarion

clairon
Meaning
a shrill narrow-tubed war trumpet; a medieval trumpet with a clear piercing tone
Example
The clarion sounded across the battlefield to signal the charge.
Le clairon a retenti à travers le champ de bataille pour signaler l'attaque.
C2 verb /ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːrt/

controvert

contredire
Meaning
to dispute or argue against; to contradict
Example
The scientist controversed the previous research findings.
Le scientifique a contredit les résultats de la recherche précédente.
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 verb /ˈtʃeɪfɪŋ/

chafing

irriter par frottement
Meaning
To make sore by rubbing; to become irritated.
Example
The rough shoes were chafing his heels.
Les chaussures rugueuses lui frottaient les talons.
C2 adjective /kəmˈbʌstɪbəl/

combustible

combustible
Meaning
Capable of catching fire and burning easily.
Example
Dry leaves are highly combustible.
Les feuilles sèches sont hautement combustibles.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrnɪs/

cornice

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

cadge

quémander
Meaning
To beg or obtain something, especially food or money, without paying for it.
Example
He tried to cadge a free meal from the restaurant.
Il a essayé de quémander un repas gratuit au restaurant.
C2 verb /kənˈdʒɔɪn/

conjoin

joindre
Meaning
to join together or unite; to combine
Example
The two rivers conjoin just before reaching the sea.
Les deux rivières se rejoignent juste avant d'atteindre la mer.
C2 noun /ˌkæstɪˈɡeɪʃən/

castigation

critique sévère ou punition
Meaning
Severe criticism or punishment for wrongdoing.
Example
The manager’s harsh castigation shocked the entire team.
La sévère castigation du manager a choqué toute l'équipe.
C2 noun/verb /ˈkætˌkɔːl/

catcall

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

contrite

contrit
Meaning
feeling or showing remorse or guilt
Example
She was contrite after realizing her mistake.
Elle était contrite après avoir réalisé son erreur.
C2 noun /ˌkʌl.pəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

culpability

culpabilité
Meaning
responsibility for a fault or wrong; blameworthiness
Example
The jury considered his level of culpability in the crime.
Le jury a considéré son niveau de culpabilité dans le crime.
C2 noun /ˈkɒn.tjʊ.mə.si/

contumacy

désobéissance, entêtement
Meaning
stubborn refusal to obey authority
Example
His contumacy led to his suspension from the council.
Sa désobéissance a conduit à sa suspension du conseil.
C2 noun /ˈkærɪt/

caret

caret (^)
Meaning
A proofreading symbol (^) used to indicate where something should be inserted.
Example
The editor placed a caret to show where the missing word should go.
L'éditeur a placé un caret pour montrer où le mot manquant devrait aller.
C2 noun, verb /ˈkaʊntərˌtʃɑːrdʒ/

countercharge

contre-accusation
Meaning
an opposing charge or accusation; to make an opposing attack
Example
The lawyer filed a countercharge against the accuser.
L'avocat a déposé une contre-accusation contre l'accusateur.
C2 noun /kɒn.tɪˈɡjuː.ɪ.ti/

contiguity

contiguïté
Meaning
the state of being in direct contact or next to each other
Example
The contiguity of the two countries facilitates trade.
La contiguïté des deux pays facilite le commerce.
C2 noun /ˈklæpər/

clapper

pièce métallique à l'intérieur d'une cloche qui la frappe pour produire un son
Meaning
The free-swinging metal piece inside a bell that strikes it to produce sound.
Example
The clapper inside the bell was broken.
La pièce métallique à l'intérieur de la cloche était cassée.
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 verb /ˈtʃæfɪŋ/

chaffing

taquiner
Meaning
Teasing or joking in a lighthearted way.
Example
They were chaffing each other during lunch.
Ils se taquinaient pendant le déjeuner.
C2 verb /kənˈstrɪndʒ/

constringe

contracter
Meaning
to cause to shrink or contract; to constrict
Example
The medicine helped constringe the swollen tissues.
Le médicament a aidé à contracter les tissus enflés.
C2 noun /ˈkæm.fər/

Camphor

camphre
Meaning
a white crystalline substance with a strong aromatic smell, used in medicine and religious ceremonies
Example
The temple was filled with the fragrant smoke of burning camphor.
Le temple était rempli de la fumée parfumée du camphre en combustion.
C2 adjective /ˈkɔːpjʊlənt/

corpulent

corpulent, obèse
Meaning
fat or obese; having a large bulky body
Example
The corpulent man struggled to fit into the small chair.
L'homme corpulent avait du mal à tenir dans la petite chaise.
C2 noun /krəˈnɒmɪtər/

chronometer

chronomètre
Meaning
An instrument for measuring time precisely, especially used in navigation.
Example
The sailor relied on the chronometer to determine his position at sea.
Le marin a compté sur le chronomètre pour déterminer sa position en mer.
C2 noun /ˈkæriən/

carrion

charogne
Meaning
the decaying flesh of dead animals
Example
Vultures feed on carrion left in the fields.
Les vautours se nourrissent de la charogne laissée dans les champs.
C2 noun /ˈkɒŋ.kɔː.dæt/

concordat

concordat
Meaning
An agreement or treaty, especially between the Vatican and a secular government.
Example
The concordat established the rights of the church within the country.
Le concordat a établi les droits de l'église dans le pays.
C2 noun /ˈkæl.əm.ni/

Calumny

calomnie
Meaning
the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation
Example
The politician sued the newspaper for spreading calumny about his personal life.
Le politicien a poursuivi le journal pour avoir propagé des calomnies sur sa vie personnelle.
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 /ˈkɒlərɪk/

choleric

colérique
Meaning
Easily angered; irritable and hot-tempered.
Example
His choleric nature often got him into arguments.
Sa nature colérique le mettait souvent dans des disputes.
C2 adjective /ˌkɒnsæŋˈɡwɪniəs/

consanguineous

consanguin
Meaning
Related by blood; descended from the same ancestor.
Example
The study focused on genetic disorders in consanguineous families.
L'étude s'est concentrée sur les troubles génétiques dans les familles consanguines.
C2 noun /kəˈmɛstɪbəl/

comestible

comestible
Meaning
An item of food that can be eaten.
Example
The picnic basket was full of delicious comestibles.
Le panier de pique-nique était plein de délicieuses comestibles.
C2 noun /koʊˈædʒətər/

coadjutor

adjoint
Meaning
a person who helps or assists another, especially in a religious or official capacity
Example
The bishop appointed a coadjutor to assist him with his duties.
L'évêque a nommé un adjoint pour l'aider dans ses devoirs.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrmərənt/

cormorant

un grand oiseau marin noir qui attrape des poissons
Meaning
a large black sea bird that catches fish by diving
Example
The cormorant perched on the rock, drying its wings after a dive.
Le cormoran était perché sur la roche, séchant ses ailes après un plongeon.
C2 verb /kəˈmɪz.ə.reɪt/

commiserate

exprimer de la sympathie ou de la compassion pour la malchance de quelqu'un
Meaning
To express sympathy or compassion for someone's misfortune.
Example
She called her friend to commiserate after his loss.
Elle a appelé son ami pour compatir après sa perte.
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 /kəmˈpleɪzənt/

complaisant

trop complaisant
Meaning
willing to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest
Example
He was too complaisant to refuse their demands.
Il était trop complaisant pour refuser leurs demandes.
C2 noun /koʊˈæɡjələnt/

coagulant

coagulant
Meaning
a substance that causes blood or another liquid to clot
Example
The doctor applied a coagulant to stop the bleeding quickly.
Le médecin a appliqué un coagulant pour arrêter rapidement le saignement.
C2 adjective /krəˈmætɪk/

chromatic

chromatique
Meaning
Relating to colors or, in music, notes outside the standard scale.
Example
The artist used a chromatic palette to create vibrant contrasts.
L'artiste a utilisé une palette chromatique pour créer des contrastes vibrants.
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 adjective /ˈklɔɪ.ɪŋ/

cloying

écoeurant
Meaning
too sweet, rich, or sentimental, making it unpleasant
Example
The dessert was so cloying that I couldn't finish it.
Le dessert était tellement écoeurant que je n'ai pas pu le finir.
C2 adjective /kəˈmɛnʃərət/

commensurate

proportionnel
Meaning
corresponding in size, degree, or extent; proportionate
Example
Salary will be commensurate with experience.
Le salaire sera proportionnel à l'expérience.
C2 verb /kruːn/

croon

chanter ou fredonner d'une voix douce, basse et délicate
Meaning
to sing or hum in a soft, low, and gentle voice
Example
She crooned a lullaby to help the baby fall asleep.
Elle chantait une berceuse pour aider le bébé à s'endormir.
C2 verb /ˈsɜːrkəmskraɪb/

circumscribe

circonscrire
Meaning
to limit or restrict something within boundaries
Example
The rules circumscribe the powers of the committee.
Les règles circonscrivent les pouvoirs du comité.
C2 noun /ˈkeɪsiːn/

Casein

caséine
Meaning
the main protein found in milk and cheese, used in food production and supplements
Example
Casein protein powder is popular among athletes for muscle recovery.
La poudre de protéine de caséine est populaire parmi les athlètes pour la récupération musculaire.
C2 noun /ˈkɑr.mɪn/

Carmine

carmine
Meaning
a vivid crimson color; a red pigment obtained from cochineal
Example
The artist mixed carmine with white to create a beautiful pink shade.
L'artiste a mélangé le carmine avec du blanc pour créer une belle teinte rose.
C2 noun /kənˈtjuː.ʒən/

contusion

contusion, ecchymose
Meaning
a bruise or injury without breaking the skin
Example
The boxer had several contusions after the match.
Le boxeur avait plusieurs contusions après le match.
C2 noun /ˈkuː.li/

Cooly

coolie
Meaning
a laborer who does physical work for wages
Example
The cooly carried heavy bags at the railway station.
Le coolie portait des sacs lourds à la gare.
C2 noun /kɒŋk/

Conch

conque
Meaning
a large sea shell that can be used as a horn; the marine mollusk that lives in such a shell
Example
The fisherman blew the conch shell to signal the end of the day.
Le pêcheur a soufflé dans la conque pour signaler la fin de la journée.
C2 noun /ˌkælɪsˈθɛnɪks/

calisthenics

exercice physique
Meaning
exercises that use body weight for strength and flexibility
Example
She practices calisthenics every morning in the park.
Elle pratique la calisthénie chaque matin dans le parc.
C2 noun /ˈklaɪmɪŋ fɪʃ/

Climbing-fish

poisson grimpeur
Meaning
a type of fish that can climb trees and survive out of water for short periods
Example
The climbing-fish can move from one pond to another by climbing trees.
Le poisson grimpeur peut se déplacer d'un étang à l'autre en grimpant aux arbres.
C2 noun /ˈkrɪsəndəm/

christendom

christendom
Meaning
the worldwide body or community of Christians
Example
The news spread quickly across Christendom.
La nouvelle s'est rapidement propagée à travers le christendom.
C2 noun /ˈkɒnsənəns/

consonance

consonance, harmonie
Meaning
Agreement or harmony among parts; a pleasing combination of sounds in music or words.
Example
The consonance between their ideas made the project successful.
La consonance entre leurs idées a rendu le projet réussi.
C2 noun /ˌkɒl.əˈneɪd/

colonnade

colonnade
Meaning
A row of evenly spaced columns supporting a roof, often in classical architecture.
Example
The visitors admired the grand colonnade at the entrance of the temple.
Les visiteurs ont admiré la grande colonnade à l'entrée du temple.
C2 noun /kɪˈrɒpədɪst/

chiropodist

pédicure-podologue
Meaning
A healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats foot problems.
Example
The chiropodist treated her painful corns and calluses.
Le pédicure-podologue a traité ses cors et callosités douloureux.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒrɪdʒəbl/

corrigible

corrigeable
Meaning
capable of being corrected or improved
Example
The student's mistakes were corrigible with practice.
Les erreurs de l'étudiant étaient corrigibles avec de la pratique.
C2 verb /ˈkæn.tər/

canter

galop lent
Meaning
To ride a horse at a controlled, easy pace between a trot and a gallop.
Example
She cantered her horse across the field with ease.
Elle a canter son cheval à travers le champ avec aisance.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːldrən/

caldron

grand chaudron en métal
Meaning
A large metal pot used for boiling liquids or cooking over an open fire.
Example
The witch stirred her potion in a bubbling caldron.
La sorcière remuait sa potion dans un chaudron bouillonnant.
C2 adjective /ˈsɜːrkəmskraɪbd/

circumscribed

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

consanguine

consanguin
Meaning
Of the same blood or origin; related by birth.
Example
The two families were consanguine through their grandparents.
Les deux familles étaient consanguines par leurs grands-parents.
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 verb /kənˈvɑːlv/

convolve

enrouler ou tordre ensemble; enrouler ou entrelacer
Meaning
to roll or twist together; to coil or entwine
Example
The vines convolve around the tree trunk.
Les vignes s'enroulent autour du tronc de l'arbre.
C2 verb /kəˈdʒoʊl/

cajole

cajoler
Meaning
To persuade someone to do something by flattery or gentle urging.
Example
She managed to cajole her friend into joining the trip.
Elle a réussi à cajoler son amie pour qu'elle se joigne au voyage.
C2 noun /ˈkɒnsəvəˌtwɑː/

conservatoire

conservatoire
Meaning
A school specializing in the study of music or drama.
Example
She trained as a pianist at the Paris Conservatoire.
Elle s'est formée comme pianiste au Conservatoire de Paris.
C2 noun /kiˌɑːrəˈskjʊəroʊ/

chiaroscuro

contraste dramatique entre lumière et ombre
Meaning
The use of strong contrasts between light and dark in art or literature to create a dramatic effect.
Example
The artist's painting used chiaroscuro to highlight the figure's face.
Le tableau de l'artiste a utilisé le chiaroscuro pour mettre en valeur le visage de la figure.
C2 verb /kəˈvɔrt/

cavort

danser avec enthousiasme
Meaning
to jump or dance around excitedly
Example
The children cavorted happily in the garden.
Les enfants sautaient joyeusement dans le jardin.
C2 noun /ˈkɒkskoʊm/

Cockscomb

fleur de crête de coq
Meaning
a tropical plant with bright, velvety flowers that resemble a rooster's comb
Example
The bright red cockscomb flowers added vibrant color to the garden bed.
Les fleurs rouges de crête de coq ont ajouté une couleur vibrante au parterre de jardin.
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 /ˈkoʊ.tə.ri/

coterie

un petit groupe exclusif
Meaning
a small, exclusive group of people with shared interests
Example
He belonged to a coterie of artists who met every Friday.
Il faisait partie d'un groupe d'artistes qui se réunissaient chaque vendredi.
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 verb /ˈkɒd.l̩/

coddle

choyer de manière excessive
Meaning
to treat someone with excessive care or kindness, often in a way that is overprotective
Example
Parents should support their children without coddling them.
Les parents devraient soutenir leurs enfants sans les dorloter.
C2 noun /ˈkæn.toʊ/

canto

canto
Meaning
A main division of a long poem, especially in epic poetry.
Example
The Divine Comedy is divided into several cantos.
La Divine Comédie est divisée en plusieurs cantos.
C2 noun /kænˈtɑː.tə/

cantata

cantate
Meaning
A vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
Example
The choir performed a beautiful cantata during the festival.
Le chœur a interprété une belle cantate pendant le festival.
C2 noun /kəˈrɑːləri/

corollary

conséquence directe ou naturelle
Meaning
a direct or natural consequence or result
Example
One corollary of the new policy was increased public awareness.
Une conséquence de la nouvelle politique a été l'augmentation de la sensibilisation du public.
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 /tʃəˈmeɪ.li/

Chameli

jasmin
Meaning
a variety of jasmine flower with small white fragrant petals
Example
The chameli flowers are commonly used to make garlands and perfumes.
Les fleurs de jasmin sont couramment utilisées pour faire des guirlandes et des parfums.
C2 noun /ˈtʃæm.pæk/

Champak

champak
Meaning
a fragrant yellow or white flower from a tree native to South Asia, used in perfumes and religious ceremonies
Example
The champak tree in the temple courtyard bloomed with golden flowers.
L'arbre de champak dans la cour du temple a fleuri avec des fleurs dorées.
C2 noun /kəmˈpleɪsəns/

complaisance

complaisance
Meaning
willingness to please others; courteous compliance
Example
Her complaisance made her popular among her colleagues.
Sa complaisance l'a rendue populaire parmi ses collègues.
C2 adjective /kəˈdævərəs/

cadaverous

cadavérique
Meaning
Resembling a corpse; very pale, thin, or bony.
Example
His cadaverous appearance shocked everyone at the party.
Son apparence cadavérique a choqué tout le monde à la fête.
C2 verb /koʊˈhɪr/

cohere

cohérer
Meaning
To stick together; to be united logically or physically.
Example
The ideas in his essay cohere well.
Les idées de son essai cohèrent bien.
C2 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈveɪl/

countervail

contrebalancer
Meaning
to offset or counteract the effect of something
Example
The benefits of the new policy countervail its drawbacks.
Les avantages de la nouvelle politique contrebalancent ses inconvénients.
C2 verb /kənˈvoʊk/

convoke

convocation
Meaning
to call together or summon a meeting or assembly
Example
The committee convoked an emergency session to discuss the crisis.
Le comité a convoqué une session d'urgence pour discuter de la crise.
C2 adjective /ˈkɑːrnəl/

carnal

carnel
Meaning
Relating to physical, especially sexual, desires and appetites.
Example
The book explores the conflict between spiritual and carnal desires.
Le livre explore le conflit entre les désirs spirituels et carnels.
C2 noun /ˌkɒnsaɪˈniː/

consignee

destinataire
Meaning
the person or company to whom goods are delivered
Example
The consignee received the shipment on time.
Le destinataire a reçu l'envoi à temps.
C2 noun /kəˈleɪʃən/

collation

collation
Meaning
the act of collecting, comparing, and arranging in proper order
Example
The librarian spent hours on the collation of old manuscripts.
Le bibliothécaire a passé des heures à la collation des anciens manuscrits.
C2 noun /ˈkɒliər/

collier

mineur de charbon
Meaning
a person who works in coal mines or a ship carrying coal
Example
The collier spent long hours underground extracting coal.
Le mineur de charbon a passé de longues heures sous terre à extraire du charbon.
C2 verb /ˈkɒdʒɪteɪt/

cogitate

méditer
Meaning
to think deeply about something; to meditate or reflect
Example
He sat by the river to cogitate on his future plans.
Il s'est assis près de la rivière pour réfléchir à ses projets futurs.
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 adjective /ˈkræbɪd/

crabbed

difficile à lire, de mauvais caractère
Meaning
difficult to read or understand; ill-tempered
Example
His handwriting was crabbed and almost illegible.
Son écriture était difficile à lire et presque illisible.
C2 adjective /kəˈnjuːbiəl/

connubial

conjugal
Meaning
Relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple.
Example
They celebrated their connubial bliss with a honeymoon trip.
Ils ont célébré leur bonheur conjugal avec un voyage de noces.
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 verb /koʊˈæɡjəˌleɪt/

coagulate

coaguler
Meaning
to cause a liquid, especially blood, to change into a solid or semi-solid state
Example
The blood quickly coagulated after the cut.
Le sang s'est coagulé rapidement après la coupure.
C2 noun /ˈkriːməri/

creamery

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

crestfallen

abattu
Meaning
sad and disappointed
Example
He looked crestfallen after hearing the bad news.
Il avait l'air abattu après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːfər/

coffer

coffre
Meaning
A strongbox or small chest for holding valuables, often used metaphorically for funds or financial reserves.
Example
The city's coffers were drained after the costly project.
Les coffres de la ville ont été vidés après le projet coûteux.
C2 noun /ˌkæt ə ˈnaɪn ˌteɪlz/

cat-o-nine-tails

fouet à neuf queues
Meaning
A whip with nine knotted cords, historically used for punishment.
Example
The sailor feared the cat-o-nine-tails more than the storm at sea.
Le marin avait plus peur du fouet à neuf queues que de la tempête en mer.
C2 noun /ˈkæt.kɪn/

Catkin

Chaton
Meaning
a drooping, often tasseled cluster of small flowers found on willow and birch trees
Example
The willow tree's catkins swayed gently in the spring breeze.
Les chatons du saule se balançaient doucement dans la brise printanière.
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 noun /kjuːˈpɪdəti/

cupidity

cupidité
Meaning
Excessive desire for wealth or possessions; greed.
Example
The king's downfall was caused by his cupidity.
La chute du roi a été causée par sa cupidité.
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 /ˈkætɪtʃuː/

Catechu

catechu
Meaning
an extract from a tropical Asian plant, used in tanning and dyeing
Example
Catechu extract is commonly used in traditional medicine.
L'extrait de catechu est couramment utilisé dans la médecine traditionnelle.
C2 adjective /kəˈrʌp.tə.bəl/

corruptible

corruptible
Meaning
able to be morally or ethically corrupted
Example
He was known to be corruptible and often accepted bribes.
Il était connu pour être corruptible et acceptait souvent des pots-de-vin.
C2 noun kənˌsep.tʃu.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

conceptualization

conceptualisation
Meaning
The process of forming a concept or idea; the process of developing something in the mind.
Example
The conceptualization of renewable cities is groundbreaking.
La conceptualisation des villes renouvelables est révolutionnaire.
C2 noun /ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/

catechism

catéchisme
Meaning
A summary of religious principles often in the form of questions and answers; also a set of fixed questions or beliefs.
Example
The priest taught the children the catechism every Sunday.
Le prêtre a enseigné aux enfants le catéchisme chaque dimanche.
C2 noun /ˈkɒd.ɪ.sɪl/

codicil

codicille
Meaning
a legal document that makes changes or additions to an existing will
Example
He added a codicil to his will to include his granddaughter.
Il a ajouté un codicille à son testament pour inclure sa petite-fille.
C2 adjective /ˈkæp.ʃəs/

Captious

captieux; critique
Meaning
tending to find fault or raise petty objections; fault-finding; critical
Example
His captious remarks about every small detail made the meeting very unpleasant.
Ses remarques captieuses sur chaque petit détail ont rendu la réunion très désagréable.
C2 verb /ˈkæstɪˌɡeɪt/

castigate

châtier
Meaning
To criticize someone severely or to punish harshly.
Example
The teacher castigated the students for their poor behavior.
Le professeur a châtié les étudiants pour leur mauvais comportement.
C2 noun /ˈkʌlvərt/

culvert

tunnel d'égout
Meaning
a tunnel or drain that carries water under a road or railway
Example
The heavy rainwater flowed through the culvert under the bridge.
L'eau de pluie lourde a coulé à travers le tunnel d'égout sous le pont.
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 adjective /ˌkæləˈrɪfɪk/

calorific

calorique
Meaning
Relating to the amount of energy contained in food or fuel.
Example
Chocolate is highly calorific, so it should be eaten in moderation.
Le chocolat est très calorique, il doit donc être consommé avec modération.
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 noun /ˈkɒɡ.nɪ.zəns/

cognizance

connaissance
Meaning
Awareness, knowledge, or understanding of something; conscious perception.
Example
The judge took cognizance of the new evidence.
Le juge a pris connaissance de la nouvelle preuve.
C2 verb /ˈkæstreɪt/

castrate

castrer
Meaning
To remove the testicles of a male animal or human.
Example
The farmer castrated the young bulls to make them easier to manage.
L'agriculteur a castré les jeunes taureaux pour les rendre plus faciles à gérer.
C2 noun /kəˈpærɪsən/

caparison

revêtement orné pour un cheval ; vêtements ou décoration riche et élaborée
Meaning
an ornamental covering for a horse; rich and elaborate clothing or decoration
Example
The king’s horse was adorned with a golden caparison.
Le cheval du roi était décoré d'un caparison en or.
C2 noun /kəmˈpleɪsəns/

complacence

Meaning
a feeling of quiet pleasure or self-satisfaction, often without awareness of potential danger
Example
His complacence prevented him from noticing the risks.
C2 verb /kənˈtɔːrt/

contort

tordre
Meaning
to twist or bend out of the normal shape
Example
She contorted her face in pain after the injury.
Elle tordit son visage de douleur après la blessure.
C2 noun /kəˈpriːs/

caprice

caprice
Meaning
a sudden, unpredictable change of mood or behavior
Example
She bought the expensive dress on a caprice.
Elle a acheté la robe chère sur un caprice.
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 verb /kənˈvʌls/

convulse

secouer violemment; souffrir de contractions involontaires soudaines
Meaning
to shake violently; to suffer sudden involuntary contractions
Example
The patient convulsed during the seizure.
Le patient a convulsé pendant la crise.
C2 noun/verb /ˈkɜːrtsi/

curtsy

révérence
Meaning
a respectful bow made by women by bending the knees with one foot in front of the other
Example
She gave a quick curtsy before leaving the stage.
Elle fit une rapide révérence avant de quitter la scène.