close-hauled
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C2 adjective /ˌkloʊs ˈhɔːld/

close-hauled

naviguer aussi près que possible du vent
Meaning
of a sailing ship, sailing as nearly as possible towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Example
The yacht was close-hauled as it cut through the waves.
Le yacht était naviguant aussi près que possible du vent en coupant les vagues.
C2 adjective /ˈkeəwɔːn/

careworn

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

cognomen

nom de famille / surnom
Meaning
A family name or surname; an additional name or nickname.
Example
His cognomen became widely known in literary circles.
Son nom de famille est devenu largement connu dans les cercles littéraires.
C2 noun /ˈtʃaɪ.nə bɑːks/

China box

jasmin d'oranger
Meaning
a small evergreen shrub with tiny white fragrant flowers
Example
The China box plant produced clusters of small white flowers.
La plante de jasmin d'oranger a produit des grappes de petites fleurs blanches.
C2 adjective /ˈkoʊltɪʃ/

coltish

fougueux
Meaning
Playful, energetic, and not fully mature or disciplined.
Example
The coltish boy ran around the field without a care.
Le garçon fougueux courait autour du champ sans souci.
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 /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 adjective /ˈtʃɜːrlɪʃ/

churlish

rude
Meaning
Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
Example
It would be churlish to refuse her kind invitation.
Ce serait impoli de refuser son aimable invitation.
C2 noun ˌkɒdʒɪˈteɪʃən

cogitation

réflexion, méditation
Meaning
The action of thinking deeply about something; contemplation
Example
After much cogitation, he made the final decision.
Après beaucoup de réflexion, il prit la décision finale.
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 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 verb /ˈkælsɪfaɪ/

calcify

durcir par dépôt de sels de calcium
Meaning
To harden by deposition of calcium salts; to become rigid or inflexible.
Example
Over time, the tissue began to calcify and lose flexibility.
Avec le temps, le tissu a commencé à se calcifier et a perdu de la flexibilité.
C2 noun ˌsɜːkəmˈspekʃən

circumspection

prudence, éviter les risques
Meaning
The quality of being wary and unwilling to take risks; prudence.
Example
His circumspection ensured no mistakes were made.
Sa prudence a garanti qu'aucune erreur n'a été commise.
C2 adjective /kənˈfɔːrməbl/

conformable

conforme
Meaning
Capable of being adapted or consistent with something; compliant.
Example
His actions were conformable to the rules of the institution.
Ses actions étaient conformes aux règles de l'institution.
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 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 /ˈkoʊdə/

coda

coda
Meaning
the concluding passage of a piece of music or a literary work
Example
The novel ends with a reflective coda that ties up the themes.
Le roman se termine par une coda réfléchie qui relie les thèmes.
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 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 noun /kəmˈpɒz.ɪ.tər/

Compositor

compositeur
Meaning
a person who arranges type for printing or creates musical compositions
Example
The compositor carefully arranged the text for the newspaper.
Le compositeur a soigneusement organisé le texte pour le journal.
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 noun /kɒˈkeɪd/

cockade

rosette en ruban
Meaning
a rosette or knot of ribbon, usually worn on a hat as a badge of office or party
Example
The soldier wore a red cockade on his cap.
Le soldat portait une rosette en ruban rouge sur son chapeau.
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 verb /ˌkɒnvəˈlɛs/

convalesce

se rétablir, récupérer la santé et la force après une maladie ou un traitement médical
Meaning
to recover health and strength after illness or medical treatment
Example
After the surgery, she spent several weeks convalescing at home.
Après l'opération, elle a passé plusieurs semaines à récupérer chez elle.
C2 noun /ˈkloʊtʃər/

cloture

procédure de cloture
Meaning
a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.
Example
The Senate invoked cloture to end the lengthy debate.
Le Sénat a invoqué la clôture pour mettre fin au débat long.
C2 adjective /kəˈrɛlətɪv/

correlative

corrélatif
Meaning
having a mutual relationship; corresponding
Example
The increase in temperature is correlative with the melting of glaciers.
L'augmentation de la température est corrélative à la fonte des glaciers.
C2 adjective /ˌkrɪp.təˈɡræf.ɪk/

cryptographic

cryptographique
Meaning
Relating to cryptography; involving or using secret codes or ciphers for security.
Example
Banks use cryptographic technology to protect transactions.
Les banques utilisent la technologie cryptographique pour sécuriser les transactions.
C2 adjective /kəˈprɪʃəs/

capricious

capricieux
Meaning
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Example
The stock market can be capricious, shifting dramatically without warning.
Le marché boursier peut être capricieux, changeant de manière spectaculaire sans avertissement.
C2 noun /kəˈlɒsəs/

colossus

colosse
Meaning
A person or thing of enormous size, importance, or ability.
Example
Einstein was a colossus in the world of science.
Einstein était un colosse dans le monde de la science.
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 /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 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 noun /ˈkɒn.tjʊ.mə.li/

contumely

insulte, mépris
Meaning
insulting or humiliating treatment
Example
He endured the contumely of his colleagues with patience.
Il a supporté le mépris de ses collègues avec patience.
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 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 /kænˈtoʊnmənt/

Cantonment

cantonnement militaire
Meaning
a military base or permanent military station
Example
The soldiers lived in the cantonment outside the city.
Les soldats ont vécu dans le cantonnement militaire en dehors de la ville.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrklət/

circlet

diadème
Meaning
A small circular band, typically worn as an ornament on the head.
Example
The princess wore a golden circlet on her forehead.
La princesse portait un diadème en or sur le front.
C2 noun /ˈtʃaɪ.nə roʊz/

China-rose

hibiscus
Meaning
a tropical flowering plant with large, showy flowers in various colors
Example
The bright red China-rose flowers decorated the entrance of the house.
Les fleurs rouges vives d'hibiscus décoraient l'entrée de la maison.
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 adjective /kəˈpeɪ.ʃəs/

Capacious

spacieux; grand; vaste;
Meaning
having a lot of space inside; roomy and spacious
Example
The capacious hall can accommodate five hundred people.
La salle spacieuse peut accueillir cinq cents personnes.
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 /ˈkæt.aɪ.ɒn ɪksˌtʃeɪndʒ/

cation-exchange

échange cationique
Meaning
A chemical process in soil that helps retain nutrients.
Example
The cation-exchange capacity of soil affects plant growth.
La capacité d'échange cationique du sol influence la croissance des plantes.
C2 noun /ˈklæŋər/

clangor

bruit, fracas
Meaning
A loud, resonant, and continuous noise, often metallic.
Example
The clangor of the church bells filled the town square.
Le fracas des cloches de l'église remplissait la place du village.
C2 noun /kɔˈrɪkə soˈbɔrnə/

Corica soborna

poisson kachki
Meaning
a small silvery fish species found in South Asian rivers, commonly used in local cuisine
Example
Corica soborna is a popular ingredient in traditional Bengali fish curry.
Corica soborna est un ingrédient populaire dans le curry de poisson bengali traditionnel.
C2 noun /ˈkeɪ.nə.naɪt/

canaanite

cananéen
Meaning
a member of a people who lived in the ancient land of Canaan in the Middle East
Example
The Canaanites were known for their advanced trade networks.
Les cananéens étaient connus pour leurs réseaux commerciaux avancés.
C2 verb /kənˈdəʊl/

condole

exprimer des condoléances
Meaning
To express sympathy for someone who is suffering or grieving.
Example
Neighbors came to condole with the family after the tragedy.
Les voisins sont venus exprimer des condoléances à la famille après la tragédie.
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 noun /ˈkɒrənɛt/

coronet

petite couronne
Meaning
a small crown, especially one worn by a prince, princess, or noble
Example
She wore a delicate coronet on her head for the ceremony.
Elle portait une délicate petite couronne sur sa tête pour la cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˌkæv.əlˈkeɪd/

cavalcade

cortège
Meaning
a formal procession of people riding on horses or in vehicles
Example
The king’s arrival was marked by a grand cavalcade.
L'arrivée du roi a été marquée par un grand cortège.
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 /səˈlɛrɪti/

celerity

célérité
Meaning
swiftness of movement; speed
Example
The soldier moved with great celerity to deliver the message.
Le soldat s'est déplacé avec une grande célérité pour livrer le message.
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 /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 /kɒŋk/

Conck

conque
Meaning
a shell, especially a large spiral one used as a horn or for decoration
Example
The priest blew the conch shell to signal the start of the ceremony.
Le prêtre a soufflé dans la coquille de conque pour signaler le début de la cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˈkeɪ.tɪf/

caitiff

lâche
Meaning
A contemptible or cowardly person.
Example
The knight despised the caitiff who betrayed his comrades.
Le chevalier méprisait le lâche qui avait trahi ses camarades.
C2 adjective /kəˈkɒfənəs/

cacophonous

cacophonique
Meaning
Producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
Example
The cacophonous sounds of the city kept her awake all night.
Les bruits cacophoniques de la ville l'ont empêchée de dormir toute la nuit.
C2 verb /kəmˈpɔːrt/

comport

se comporter
Meaning
to behave or conduct oneself in a particular way
Example
She comported herself with grace during the ceremony.
Elle s'est comportée avec grâce lors de la cérémonie.
C2 noun /kənˈsaɪnər/

consignor

expéditeur
Meaning
a person or company that sends goods to be sold or transported
Example
The consignor shipped the goods to the warehouse.
L'expéditeur a envoyé les marchandises à l'entrepôt.
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 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 noun /ˈklaʊdˌbɜːrst/

cloudburst

averse soudaine et intense
Meaning
a sudden and very heavy rainfall
Example
The picnic was ruined by a sudden cloudburst.
Le pique-nique a été gâché par une averse soudaine et intense.
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 /kɒzˈmɒɡ.rə.fi/

cosmography

cosmographie
Meaning
the science or art of mapping the universe or cosmos
Example
Medieval scholars practiced cosmography to chart the stars and planets.
Les érudits médiévaux pratiquaient la cosmographie pour cartographier les étoiles et les planètes.
C2 noun /kæd/

Cad

scélérat; grossier
Meaning
a man who behaves dishonorably, especially toward women
Example
Everyone at the party avoided him because he was known to be a cad.
Tout le monde à la fête l'a évité parce qu'il était connu pour être un scélérat.
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 /klɛərˈvɔɪəns/

clairvoyance

clairvoyance
Meaning
the supposed ability to perceive events beyond normal sensory contact; psychic insight
Example
She claimed to have clairvoyance and predicted the future.
Elle a prétendu avoir de la clairvoyance et a prédit l'avenir.
C2 noun /ˈkæʒuɪstri/

casuistry

casuistique
Meaning
The use of clever but false reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions.
Example
The lawyer’s argument was dismissed as mere casuistry.
L'argument de l'avocat a été rejeté comme étant une simple casuistique.
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 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 noun /kwɑːˈfjʊr/

coiffure

coiffure
Meaning
A person's hairstyle, typically an elaborate one.
Example
Her elegant coiffure impressed everyone at the party.
Sa coiffure élégante a impressionné tout le monde à la fête.
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 /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 /kəˈræf/

carafe

carafe en verre
Meaning
a glass container without handles used for serving drinks like water or wine
Example
The waiter brought a carafe of water to the table.
Le serveur a apporté une carafe d'eau à la table.
C2 noun /ˈʃɛvrən/

chevron

symbole en forme de V
Meaning
A V-shaped pattern, often used in military insignia or design.
Example
The sergeant’s uniform displayed three chevrons on the sleeve.
L'uniforme du sergent affichait trois chevrons sur la manche.
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 /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 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 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 adjective /sɛnˈtrɪpɪtəl/

centripetal

centripète
Meaning
Moving or directed toward a center.
Example
Centripetal force keeps the planets in orbit around the sun.
La force centripète maintient les planètes en orbite autour du soleil.
C2 noun /ˈsɪniæst/

cineast

cinéaste
Meaning
A film enthusiast or filmmaker; a person deeply interested in cinema.
Example
As a true cineast, she spends most weekends watching classic films.
En tant que véritable cinéaste, elle passe la plupart de ses week-ends à regarder des films classiques.
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 /kənˈfɛsər/

confessor

confesseur
Meaning
A person who confesses sins or secrets, especially to a priest.
Example
The confessor listened patiently to the troubled man.
Le confesseur écouta patiemment l'homme troublé.
C2 noun /ˈkjʊriˌoʊ/

curio

objet curieux
Meaning
a small unusual or interesting object, often collected for its rarity
Example
She bought a curio from the antique shop.
Elle a acheté un objet curieux dans le magasin d'antiquités.
C2 verb /kəˈraʊz/

carouse

faire la fête bruyamment
Meaning
to drink and enjoy oneself noisily, often with others
Example
They stayed up all night to carouse after the victory.
Ils sont restés éveillés toute la nuit pour faire la fête après la victoire.
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 noun /ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtənɪzəm/

cosmopolitanism

cosmopolitisme
Meaning
the ideology that all human beings belong to a single community
Example
Cosmopolitanism promotes respect and understanding across cultures.
Le cosmopolitisme favorise le respect et la compréhension entre les cultures.
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 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 /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 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 noun /kɔːrˈteɪʒ/

cortege

cortège funèbre
Meaning
a solemn procession, especially for a funeral
Example
A cortege of mourners followed the hearse to the cemetery.
Un cortège de pleureurs a suivi le corbillard jusqu'au cimetière.
C2 noun /ˈkjuːbeb ˈpepər/

Cubeb Pepper

poivre cubèbe
Meaning
aromatic spice with a slightly bitter taste and cooling aftertaste
Example
Cubeb pepper is used in traditional Indonesian cuisine.
Le poivre cubèbe est utilisé dans la cuisine traditionnelle indonésienne.
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 /ˌkɒn.tjʊˈmeɪ.ʃəs/

contumacious

insoumis, récalcitrant
Meaning
stubbornly disobedient or rebellious
Example
The contumacious student refused to follow the school rules.
L'étudiant insoumis a refusé de suivre les règles de l'école.
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 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 verb /kənˈtɛm/

contemn

mépriser
Meaning
to treat or regard with disdain, scorn, or contempt
Example
He would never contemn honest work, no matter how humble.
Il ne mépriserait jamais un travail honnête, peu importe à quel point il est modeste.
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/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.
C2 noun /kəˈdɛnzə/

cadenza

un passage solo élaboré
Meaning
An elaborate solo passage in a piece of music, usually near the end.
Example
The pianist performed a brilliant cadenza before the final movement.
Le pianiste a exécuté une brillante cadenza avant le dernier mouvement.
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 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 adjective /ˈkʌsɪd/

cussed

têtu
Meaning
Annoyingly stubborn or difficult.
Example
He was too cussed to admit his mistake.
Il était trop têtu pour admettre son erreur.
C2 adjective /ˈsɜː.kəm.spekt/

circumspect

prudent, réfléchi, circonspect
Meaning
Wary and unwilling to take risks; careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences.
Example
Investors must be circumspect before making decisions.
Les investisseurs doivent être circonspects avant de prendre des décisions.
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 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 adjective /ˈkɒndʒʊɡəl/

conjugal

conyugal
Meaning
relating to marriage or the relationship between husband and wife
Example
They enjoyed a long life of conjugal happiness.
Ils ont vécu une longue vie de bonheur conjugal.
C2 noun /ʃɪˈfɒn/

chiffon

chiffon
Meaning
A lightweight, sheer fabric often used in dresses or scarves.
Example
She wore a beautiful chiffon dress at the party.
Elle portait une belle robe en chiffon à la fête.
C2 noun /kəˈkɒfəni/

cacophony

bruit discordant
Meaning
A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
Example
The cacophony of horns made it impossible to concentrate.
Le bruit discordant des klaxons rendait la concentration impossible.
C2 adjective /kənˈdʌktəbl̩/

conductible

conductible
Meaning
capable of being conducted, especially electricity or heat
Example
Copper is highly conductible to electricity.
Le cuivre est hautement conductible à l'électricité.
C2 noun /ˈtʃɜː.nɪŋ stɪk/

Churning stick

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

comeuppance

châtiment mérité
Meaning
A deserved punishment or fate; just deserts.
Example
The corrupt official finally got his comeuppance in court.
Le fonctionnaire corrompu a enfin reçu sa punition méritée au tribunal.
C2 noun /ˌkɔːrnjuˈkoʊpiə/

cornucopia

une abondance ou un approvisionnement débordant de quelque chose
Meaning
an abundance or overflowing supply of something
Example
The festival offered a cornucopia of fruits and sweets.
Le festival a offert une cornucopia de fruits et de bonbons.
C2 noun ˌsaɪ.bəˈnet.ɪks

cybernetics

cybernétique
Meaning
The science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things.
Example
Cybernetics plays a crucial role in artificial intelligence.
La cybernétique joue un rôle crucial dans l'intelligence artificielle.
C2 verb /kəˈriːn/

careen

se déplacer de manière incontrôlée
Meaning
To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way, especially in a specific direction.
Example
The car careened down the slippery road.
La voiture a dévalé la route glissante de manière incontrôlée.
C2 verb /ˈtʃɔːrtl/

chortle

rire avec joie
Meaning
to laugh in a breathy, gleeful way
Example
The audience chortled at the comedian's witty remarks.
Le public a ri de joie aux remarques ingénieuses du comédien.
C2 noun /ˈkɒn.tɪ.nəns/

continence

continence
Meaning
self-restraint, especially regarding bodily functions or desires
Example
He practiced continence to maintain focus on his studies.
Il a pratiqué la continence pour maintenir son attention sur ses études.
C2 verb /kənˈsɪlieɪt/

conciliate

concilier
Meaning
to stop someone from being angry; to win over by friendly acts
Example
He tried to conciliate the angry customer with an apology.
Il a essayé de concilier le client en colère avec des excuses.
C2 adjective ˈkoʊ.dʒənt

cogent

cogent
Meaning
Clear, logical, and convincing.
Example
His cogent argument convinced the jury.
Son argument cohérent a convaincu le jury.
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 verb /kəˈnoʊt/

connote

connoter
Meaning
To suggest or imply an additional meaning beyond the literal one.
Example
The word 'youthful' connotes energy and vitality.
Le mot 'juvénile' connoté énergie et vitalité.