controvert
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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 adverb, noun /ˈwɛə.wɪð/

wherewith

moyens
Meaning
With which; the means or resources needed for something.
Example
He lacked the money wherewith to buy a new house.
Il n'avait pas l'argent avec lequel acheter une nouvelle maison.
C2 noun /ˈlɪbərˌtiːn/

libertine

personne immorale
Meaning
A person who behaves without moral principles, especially in sexual matters.
Example
The novel depicted the reckless life of a libertine in 18th century France.
Le roman décrivait la vie débridée d'un libertin dans la France du XVIIIe siècle.
C2 adjective /ˌprɒfɪˈlæktɪk/

prophylactic

prophylactique
Meaning
intended to prevent disease or an unwanted outcome; protective
Example
The doctor prescribed a prophylactic treatment to prevent infection.
Le médecin a prescrit un traitement prophylactique pour prévenir l'infection.
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 /ˈbɔːlsəm/

Balsam

fleur de baume
Meaning
a flowering plant with colorful blooms that often open in the evening; also refers to aromatic resin
Example
The garden balsam flowers bloomed beautifully in various shades of pink and purple.
Les fleurs de baume du jardin ont fleuri magnifiquement dans des nuances de rose et de violet.
C2 verb /ˈæmbl/

amble

marcher lentement
Meaning
To walk at a slow, relaxed pace.
Example
They amble through the park on Sunday mornings.
Ils marchent lentement dans le parc le dimanche matin.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈbjuːz/

disabuse

désabuser
Meaning
To free someone from a false belief or misconception.
Example
The teacher tried to disabuse the students of their misunderstanding.
Le professeur a essayé de désabuser les étudiants de leur malentendu.
C2 verb /ˈlæs.ə.reɪt/

lacerate

lacérer, déchirer
Meaning
to tear or cut deeply in the skin or flesh
Example
The broken glass lacerated his hand.
Le verre brisé a lacéré sa main.
C2 verb /bɪˈliːɡər/

beleaguer

assiéger, harceler
Meaning
to cause difficulties, troubles, or harassment; to surround with military forces
Example
The company was beleaguered by constant complaints from its customers.
L'entreprise était assiégée par des plaintes constantes de ses clients.
C2 noun /ɪkˈskrɛsəns/

excrescence

croissance anormale
Meaning
An abnormal outgrowth or lump, often considered unattractive.
Example
The building was considered an excrescence on the landscape.
Le bâtiment a été considéré comme une excroissance dans le paysage.
C2 adjective /vɛˈstɪdʒiəl/

vestigial

vestigial
Meaning
Relating to a small, undeveloped remnant of something that was once much larger or more functional.
Example
Humans have a vestigial tailbone that no longer serves its original purpose.
Les humains ont un os du coccyx vestigial qui ne remplit plus sa fonction d'origine.
C2 noun /ɛmˈpɪrɪˌsɪzəm/

empiricism

empirisme
Meaning
the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience
Example
Empiricism argues that knowledge comes from experience and observation.
L'empirisme soutient que la connaissance provient de l'expérience et de l'observation.
C2 adjective /dɪˈsɛnʃənt/

dissentient

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

opulent

opulent
Meaning
Ostentatiously rich, luxurious, or lavish.
Example
They hosted an opulent wedding with gold decorations.
Ils ont organisé un mariage opulent avec des décorations dorées.
C2 adjective /ɑːrˈbɔːr.i.əl/

arboreal

relatif aux arbres
Meaning
Relating to trees or living in trees; tree-dwelling.
Example
Monkeys are arboreal animals that spend most of their time in trees.
Les singes sont des animaux arboricoles qui passent la majeure partie de leur temps dans les arbres.
C2 noun /ˌædʒʊˈreɪʃən/

adjuration

supplication solennelle
Meaning
a solemn urging or appeal
Example
The priest made an adjuration for peace and unity.
Le prêtre a fait une supplication solennelle pour la paix et l'unité.
C2 adjective /ˈluː.ni/

Loony

fou; idiot; mentalement instable
Meaning
crazy; silly; mentally unstable
Example
His loony behavior made everyone laugh.
Son comportement fou a fait rire tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˌɪnvəˈluːʃən/

involution

involution
Meaning
a complicated or intricate form or state; in biology, the shrinking of an organ after its function has finished
Example
The story was full of involution, making it hard to follow.
L'histoire était pleine d'involution, ce qui la rendait difficile à suivre.
C2 noun /ˈpætrɪsaɪd/

patricide

patricide
Meaning
The act of killing one's own father.
Example
The ancient myth describes a son committing patricide to take the throne.
Le mythe ancien décrit un fils commettant un patricide pour prendre le trône.
C2 noun /ɪnˌtɜːrpəˈleɪʃən/

interpolation

interpolation
Meaning
The act of inserting something into a text or estimating values within a sequence of data.
Example
The scientist used interpolation to predict the missing data points.
Le scientifique a utilisé l'interpolation pour prédire les points de données manquants.
C2 noun /ˈskɪnˌflɪnt/

skinflint

avare
Meaning
a person who spends as little money as possible; a miser
Example
The landlord was such a skinflint that he never repaired anything.
Le propriétaire était tellement avare qu'il n'a jamais réparé quoi que ce soit.
C2 adjective /ˈfrɒlɪksəm/

Frolicsome

enjoué; joyeux; gai
Meaning
joyful; playful; merry; cheerful
Example
The frolicsome children laughed and played in the park.
Les enfants joyeux riaient et jouaient dans le parc.
C2 noun /ˈkærɪlɒn/

carillon

carillon
Meaning
A set of bells played using a keyboard, usually in a tower.
Example
The carillon bells rang across the town square.
Les cloches du carillon ont résonné à travers la place de la ville.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌsti/

busty

à forte poitrine
Meaning
having a large or full bust; describing a woman with a prominent chest
Example
The actress was often described as busty in fashion magazines.
L’actrice était souvent décrite comme à forte poitrine dans les magazines de mode.
C2 noun /ɪˌdʒækjʊˈleɪʃən/

ejaculation

éjaculation / exclamation soudaine
Meaning
The action of suddenly saying something or the release of semen during sexual climax.
Example
His sudden ejaculation of joy surprised everyone in the room.
Son éjaculation soudaine de joie a surpris tout le monde dans la pièce.
C2 verb /ˈmæsəˌreɪt/

macerate

attendrir
Meaning
to soften or break up something, especially food, by soaking in liquid
Example
The chef macerated the fruit in wine before serving.
Le chef a macéré les fruits dans le vin avant de les servir.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnˈekspɜːrt/

inexpert

inexpérimenté
Meaning
not skilled or experienced; lacking expertise
Example
The inexpert handling of the machine caused several mistakes.
La manipulation inexpérimentée de la machine a causé plusieurs erreurs.
C2 noun /kəˈtæb.ə.lɪ.zəm/

catabolism

catabolisme
Meaning
The breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones together with the release of energy; destructive metabolism.
Example
Catabolism plays a crucial role in cellular energy production.
Le catabolisme joue un rôle crucial dans la production d'énergie cellulaire.
C2 noun /ˈsɪŋkrəˌnɪzəm/

synchronism

synchronisme
Meaning
The simultaneous occurrence of events or actions.
Example
The synchronism of the dancers' movements amazed the audience.
Le synchronisme des mouvements des danseurs a émerveillé le public.
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 adjective /bjuːˈkɒlɪk/

bucolic

bucolique
Meaning
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
Example
They enjoyed a bucolic picnic by the river.
Ils ont apprécié un pique-nique bucolique au bord de la rivière.
C2 noun /ˌɪn.ʌnˈdeɪ.ʃən/

inundation

inondation
Meaning
The act of flooding or overwhelming with water or things.
Example
The town suffered from a severe inundation after the heavy rains.
La ville a souffert d'une grave inondation après les fortes pluies.
C2 noun /pəˈtiːnə/

patina

un film ou une brillance sur le métal, la pierre ou le bois dû à l'âge ou à l'usage; aussi, une apparence superficielle
Meaning
a surface film or sheen on metal, stone, or wood due to age or use; also, a superficial appearance
Example
The bronze statue developed a green patina after years in the sea air.
La statue en bronze a développé une patine verte après des années passées dans l'air marin.
C2 noun /maɪˈnjuːʃə/

minutia

détails insignifiants
Meaning
a small or trivial detail of something
Example
He was bored by the minutia of office paperwork.
Il était ennuyé par les détails insignifiants des papiers de bureau.
C2 noun /ˈmælɪt fɪʃ/

Mallet fish

poisson à coquille
Meaning
A marine fish with a hard shell-like covering, found in coastal waters
Example
The mallet fish is known for its unique protective shell covering.
Le poisson à coquille est connu pour sa coque protectrice unique.
C2 adjective /rɪˈkʌmbənt/

recumbent

couché
Meaning
lying down or in a resting position
Example
He was found recumbent on the sofa after a long day.
Il a été trouvé allongé sur le canapé après une longue journée.
C2 noun /bɪˈnɪɡnɪti/

Benignity

bonté; douceur; la qualité d'être bienveillant ou gracieux
Meaning
kindness; gentleness; the quality of being benign or gracious
Example
Her benignity towards all people made her beloved by everyone.
Sa bonté envers tous les gens l'a rendue aimée de tous.
C2 noun /nəˈkrɒpəlɪs/

necropolis

nécropole
Meaning
a large ancient cemetery with elaborate tombs
Example
The archaeologists discovered artifacts in the necropolis of the ancient city.
Les archéologues ont découvert des artefacts dans la nécropole de l'ancienne ville.
C2 adjective /ˈtjuːtɪlɑːr/

tutelar

tutélaire
Meaning
Serving as a guardian or protector.
Example
The tutelar spirit of the forest was believed to protect travelers.
On croyait que l'esprit tutélaire de la forêt protégeait les voyageurs.
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 verb /ɪnˈdɒktrɪˌneɪt/

indoctrinate

endoctriner
Meaning
To teach someone to fully accept a set of beliefs or ideas without question.
Example
The regime tried to indoctrinate the youth with propaganda.
Le régime a tenté d'endoctriner la jeunesse avec de la propagande.
C2 adjective /dɪˈrɪzəbl/

derisible

ridiculisable
Meaning
deserving ridicule or mockery
Example
His excuse was so weak that it was plainly derisible.
Son excuse était si faible qu'elle était manifestement ridiculisable.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪkwɛri/

antiquary

antiquaire
Meaning
A person who studies, collects, or deals in antiques or ancient objects.
Example
The antiquary spent years collecting rare manuscripts from the medieval period.
L'antiquaire a passé des années à collecter des manuscrits rares de la période médiévale.
C2 noun /brɔːn/

brawn

force physique
Meaning
physical strength in contrast to intelligence
Example
He used his brawn to lift the heavy box.
Il a utilisé sa force physique pour soulever la boîte lourde.
C2 noun /ˈɔːldərmən/

alderman

membre du conseil municipal
Meaning
An elected member of a municipal council in certain cities and towns.
Example
The alderman proposed a new plan for community parks.
L'adjoint au maire a proposé un nouveau plan pour les parcs communautaires.
C2 verb /ˈɪmprɛɡneɪt/

impregnate

imprégner / rendre enceinte
Meaning
To make pregnant; to fill or saturate with something.
Example
The scientist used a method to impregnate the material with resin.
Le scientifique a utilisé une méthode pour imprégner le matériau de résine.
C2 verb /ˈseɪʃiˌeɪt/

satiate

satisfaire
Meaning
To satisfy fully, especially with food or desire.
Example
The large meal satiated his hunger.
Le grand repas a satisfait sa faim.
C2 adjective ˌlæb.əˈrɪn.θaɪn

labyrinthine

labyrinthique
Meaning
Like a labyrinth; complicated and confusing; having many interconnected paths or passages.
Example
The old city streets were labyrinthine.
Les rues de la vieille ville étaient labyrinthiques.
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 adjective /baɪˈɛniəl/

biennial

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

adroit

habile, astucieux, adroit
Meaning
clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
Example
She is adroit at solving complex problems.
Elle est habile à résoudre des problèmes complexes.
C2 adverb /ˈtrɛbli/

trebly

triplement
Meaning
in a triple manner or to a threefold degree
Example
The sound was trebly distorted through the old speakers.
Le son était distordu triplement par les vieux haut-parleurs.
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 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 /pəˈnʌmbrə/

penumbra

zone partiellement ombragée
Meaning
a partially shaded area around the shadow of an object, especially during an eclipse
Example
The moon’s penumbra created a dim shadow over the Earth.
La pénumbra de la lune a créé une ombre tamisée sur la Terre.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

exceptionable

contestable
Meaning
Open to objection; causing disapproval.
Example
His rude remarks were considered exceptionable by everyone present.
Ses remarques grossières ont été jugées contestables par tous les présents.
C2 verb /pəˈræmbjʊˌleɪt/

perambulate

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

exhort

exhorter
Meaning
To strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.
Example
The teacher exhorted students to work hard for exams.
Le professeur a exhorté les élèves à travailler dur pour les examens.
C2 verb /ˈdʒaɪreɪt/

gyrate

tourner rapidement
Meaning
to move or spin quickly in circles
Example
The dancer gyrated wildly to the rhythm of the drums.
La danseuse a tourné frénétiquement au rythme des tambours.
C2 adjective /pərˈfɛktəbl/

perfectible

perfectible
Meaning
capable of being made perfect or improved
Example
Human nature is imperfect but perfectible.
La nature humaine est imparfaite, mais perfectible.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːtɪd/

foetid

fétide
Meaning
having an offensive, unpleasant smell
Example
The foetid smell from the garbage made it hard to breathe.
L'odeur fétide des ordures rendait la respiration difficile.
C2 noun /ˌɒnəˈreəriəm/

honorarium

honoraires
Meaning
A payment given for professional services that are rendered without a fee.
Example
The guest lecturer received an honorarium for her talk.
Le conférencier invité a reçu un honorarium pour sa conférence.
C2 noun ˈfaɪ.təʊˌnjuː.tri.ənt

phytonutrient

phytonutriment
Meaning
Chemical compounds produced by plants that are beneficial to human health but not essential nutrients.
Example
Broccoli is rich in phytonutrients that enhance immunity.
Le brocoli est riche en phytonutriments qui renforcent l'immunité.
C2 noun ˈpær.ə.ɡən

paragon

paragon
Meaning
A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality; a model of excellence.
Example
Neom is a paragon of sustainable urban design.
Neom est un paragon du design urbain durable.
C2 adverb /ˈɡeɪmli/

gamely

avec courage
Meaning
in a brave, spirited, or determined manner
Example
She gamely accepted the challenge despite the difficulties.
Elle a accepté courageusement le défi malgré les difficultés.
C2 noun /ˈdʒʊntə/

junta

junte militaire
Meaning
A military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.
Example
The junta seized power after the coup.
La junte a pris le pouvoir après le coup d'État.
C2 noun /ɪnˈsuːsiəns/

insouciance

insouciance
Meaning
Casual lack of concern; indifference.
Example
She carried herself with an air of insouciance, unbothered by the challenges ahead.
Elle marchait avec un air d'insouciance, sans se soucier des défis à venir.
C2 noun /ˈtjuːtərʃɪp/

tutorship

tutorat
Meaning
The office or position of a tutor; guidance or instruction given by a tutor.
Example
He thrived under the tutorship of his mentor.
Il a prospéré sous le tutorat de son mentor.
C2 adjective /mæɡˈnɪləkwənt/

magniloquent

langage pompeux
Meaning
using high-flown or pompous language
Example
The politician’s magniloquent speech impressed the crowd.
Le discours pompeux du politicien a impressionné la foule.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːrtəbl/

partible

divisible
Meaning
capable of being divided or separated
Example
The estate was partible among the heirs.
Le bien était divisible entre les héritiers.
C2 verb, noun /ˈkweɪvər/

quaver

trembler
Meaning
To shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion.
Example
Her voice quavered as she spoke before the crowd.
Sa voix tremblait lorsqu'elle parlait devant la foule.
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 noun /ˌæpəˈrɪʃən/

apparition

apparition fantomatique
Meaning
A ghostly figure or an unusual or unexpected appearance.
Example
The children were frightened by the sudden apparition in the old house.
Les enfants ont été effrayés par l'apparition soudaine dans la vieille maison.
C2 adjective /ˈkrɒtʃ.ə.ti/

crotchety

grincheux
Meaning
bad-tempered, easily annoyed, and often complaining
Example
The crotchety old man yelled at the children for playing near his house.
Le vieux grincheux a crié sur les enfants pour avoir joué près de sa maison.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪkjʊr/

epicure

épicurien
Meaning
A person who enjoys fine food and drink, often with refined taste.
Example
As an epicure, she always sought out the finest restaurants in the city.
En tant qu’épicurienne, elle recherchait toujours les meilleurs restaurants de la ville.
C2 noun /əˈnɔɪnt.mənt/

anointment

onction
Meaning
The act of anointing, usually with oil, as part of a ritual or ceremony.
Example
The anointment of the new leader was a sacred ritual.
L'onction du nouveau leader était un rituel sacré.
C2 noun /ˈæpəˌsteɪt/

apostate

apostat
Meaning
A person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.
Example
He was labeled an apostate after abandoning the faith of his community.
Il a été étiqueté comme apostat après avoir abandonné la foi de sa communauté.
C2 adjective /sərˈkjuːɪtəs/

circuitous

route indirecte
Meaning
Longer than the most direct way; roundabout.
Example
He took a circuitous route to avoid traffic.
Il a pris une route indirecte pour éviter le trafic.
C2 noun /rɪˈfɛktəri/

refectory

réfectoire
Meaning
a dining hall, especially in a monastery, convent, or school
Example
Students had lunch in the refectory.
Les étudiants ont déjeuné dans le réfectoire.
C2 adjective /ˈflæs.ɪd/

Flaccid

flasque; mou; tombant;
Meaning
soft and limp; lacking firmness; drooping
Example
The plant's leaves became flaccid after days without water.
Les feuilles de la plante sont devenues flasques après plusieurs jours sans eau.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡərəl/

doggerel

vers ridicule
Meaning
Comic or irregular verse, often poorly constructed and lacking in artistic quality.
Example
The poet’s work was dismissed as mere doggerel by the critics.
Le travail du poète a été rejeté comme simple vers ridicule par les critiques.
C2 noun

Kinsfolk

famille, proches
C2 noun /ˈræp.aɪn/

rapine

pillages
Meaning
the violent seizure of someone's property
Example
The war was marked by rapine and destruction.
La guerre a été marquée par des pillages et des destructions.
C2 noun /ˈθɔːməˌtɜrdʒɪst/

thaumaturgist

thaumaturge
Meaning
A worker of miracles or magician.
Example
The thaumaturgist amazed the audience with his tricks.
Le thaumaturge a émerveillé le public avec ses tours.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈstɛnsəbl/

inextensible

inextensible
Meaning
Not capable of being stretched or extended.
Example
This rope is made of an inextensible material.
Cette corde est faite d’un matériau inextensible.
C2 noun /ʃəˈɡrɪn/

chagrin

chagrin
Meaning
Distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated.
Example
She left the room in chagrin after forgetting her lines.
Elle a quitté la pièce dans le chagrin après avoir oublié ses répliques.
C2 noun /rɪˈkwaɪtəl/

requital

rétribution
Meaning
The act of returning something, such as a favor, service, or punishment; repayment or retaliation.
Example
She offered her time in requital for his kindness.
Elle a offert son temps en rétribution pour sa gentillesse.
C2 adjective /sɪər/

sere

sec
Meaning
Dry or withered, especially vegetation.
Example
The sere leaves crumbled under his feet.
Les feuilles sèches se sont effritées sous ses pieds.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔɪl.səm/

toilsome

épuisant
Meaning
Involving hard or exhausting work; laborious.
Example
The workers had a toilsome day in the hot sun.
Les travailleurs ont eu une journée épuisante sous le soleil chaud.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌmeɪsən/

freemason

franc-maçon membre
Meaning
A member of an international fraternity known as Freemasonry, focused on moral and spiritual values.
Example
His grandfather was a respected freemason in the community.
Son grand-père était un franc-maçon respecté dans la communauté.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdrəˈstætɪks/

hydrostatics

hydrostatique
Meaning
The branch of science concerned with the mechanical properties of fluids at rest.
Example
Hydrostatics is essential in understanding how dams and reservoirs function.
L'hydrostatique est essentielle pour comprendre comment fonctionnent les barrages et les réservoirs.
C2 noun /ˈjuːnɪvəˌlɛns/

univalence

univalence
Meaning
The state of having a single valence or combining power, especially in chemistry.
Example
Hydrogen is characterized by its univalence in chemical reactions.
L'hydrogène est caractérisé par son univalence dans les réactions chimiques.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmɒtɪk/

demotic

relatif au langage populaire
Meaning
relating to ordinary people or everyday language
Example
The poet used demotic language to connect with common readers.
Le poète a utilisé un langage relatif au langage populaire pour se connecter avec les lecteurs ordinaires.
C2 verb /ˈlɛvɪteɪt/

levitate

léviter
Meaning
to rise or float in the air, usually without visible support.
Example
The magician made the table levitate during the show.
Le magicien a fait léviter la table pendant le spectacle.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈspɛərɪŋ/

unsparing

implacable
Meaning
Showing no mercy or generosity; harsh or severe.
Example
The critic was unsparing in his review of the play.
Le critique était implacable dans sa critique de la pièce.
C2 noun /ˈprɑːflɪɡəsi/

profligacy

dépense excessive
Meaning
reckless wastefulness or extravagance
Example
His profligacy with money led him to bankruptcy.
Sa dépense excessive l'a conduit à la faillite.
C2 verb /ˈbækbaɪt/

backbite

médire
Meaning
to speak negatively about someone who is not present; to slander behind someone’s back
Example
It is wrong to backbite your colleagues behind their backs.
Il est mal de médire de ses collègues en leur absence.
C2 noun /ˈwɑːmpəm/

wampum

colliers en coquillage
Meaning
beads made by Native Americans from shells, used as money or decoration
Example
The tribe traded furs for wampum.
La tribu a échangé des fourrures contre des colliers en coquillage.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ɡɔːrd/

Long gourd

courge longue
Meaning
an elongated green vegetable belonging to the cucumber family, used in cooking
Example
She sliced the long gourd thinly for the stir-fry dish.
Elle a coupé la courge longue en tranches fines pour le plat sauté.
C2 noun /fɔːrˈbɛrəns/

forbearance

tolérance
Meaning
Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance, especially in difficult situations.
Example
She showed remarkable forbearance during the heated argument.
Elle a montré une tolérance remarquable pendant la dispute animée.
C2 adjective fɔːˈtjuː.ɪ.təs

fortuitous

fortuit
Meaning
Happening by accident or chance rather than design; lucky or fortunate.
Example
Their meeting was purely fortuitous.
Leur rencontre était purement fortuite.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːzər/

hawser

câble épais pour amarrer un navire
Meaning
A thick rope or cable used in mooring or towing a ship.
Example
The sailors secured the ship to the dock with a heavy hawser.
Les marins ont sécurisé le navire au quai avec un hawser lourd.
C2 verb /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnd/

reprehend

réprimander
Meaning
to express disapproval or criticism of someone or something
Example
The teacher reprehended the student for being dishonest.
L'enseignant a réprimandé l'élève pour avoir été malhonnête.
C2 adjective /ˈɒsiəs/

osseous

osseux
Meaning
consisting of or turned into bone; bony
Example
The fossil showed osseous structures of the ancient creature.
Le fossile a montré des structures osseuses de la créature ancienne.
C2 noun /rʌmp/

Rump

postérieur; fesses; bas du dos
Meaning
the hindquarters or buttocks; the lower back area
Example
The horse injured its rump during the fall.
Le cheval s'est blessé le postérieur pendant la chute.
C2 noun /ˈæsənəns/

assonance

assonance
Meaning
the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words in poetry or prose
Example
The poet used assonance to create a musical effect in his verse.
Le poète a utilisé l'assonance pour créer un effet musical dans son vers.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

unprepossessing

peu attrayant
Meaning
not attractive or appealing in appearance
Example
Despite his unprepossessing looks, he was very kind and intelligent.
Malgré son apparence peu attrayante, il était très gentil et intelligent.
C2 adjective /ˌpɪkəˈrɛsk/

picaresque

histoire d'un héros malicieux
Meaning
relating to a style of fiction depicting the adventures of a roguish hero
Example
The novel is a picaresque tale of a clever vagabond.
Le roman est une histoire picaresque d'un vagabond rusé.
C2 noun /prɪˈpɒndərəns/

preponderance

prépondérance
Meaning
The quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance.
Example
There was a preponderance of evidence against the defendant.
Il y avait une prépondérance de preuves contre l'accusé.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈkɒnsɪləbl/

irreconcilable

irréconciliable
Meaning
impossible to make compatible or bring into harmony; unable to resolve differences
Example
The couple separated due to irreconcilable differences.
Le couple s'est séparé en raison de différences irréconciliables.
C2 verb /beɪt/

bate

réduire, atténuer
Meaning
to lessen or restrain; to diminish the force or intensity of something
Example
He spoke with bated breath as he waited for the result.
Il parla avec une respiration retenue en attendant le résultat.
C2 noun /ˌfɪziˈɑːɡrəfi/

physiography

physiographie
Meaning
the study of the physical features of the earth's surface
Example
He specialized in physiography to understand the landscape of the region.
Il s'est spécialisé en physiographie pour comprendre le paysage de la région.
C2 verb /foʊˈmɛnt/

foment

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

illiberal

illibéral
Meaning
Opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior.
Example
The government was criticized for its illiberal policies.
Le gouvernement a été critiqué pour ses politiques illibérales.
C2 noun /pɜːrtʃt raɪs/

Perched rice

riz soufflé
Meaning
puffed rice; rice that has been heated and puffed into light, crispy grains
Example
I enjoy eating puffed rice as a healthy snack.
J'aime manger du riz soufflé comme collation saine.
C2 adjective /ˈdɔːrsəl/

dorsal

dorsal
Meaning
Relating to the back or upper side of an animal or body part.
Example
Sharks have a prominent dorsal fin.
Les requins ont une nageoire dorsale proéminente.
C2 noun /ˈflætʃələns/

flatulence

accumulation de gaz dans le système digestif
Meaning
the accumulation of gas in the digestive system; excessive gas in the stomach or intestines
Example
Eating beans can sometimes cause flatulence.
Manger des haricots peut parfois provoquer des flatulences.
C2 noun /ɪˈlɪksər/

elixir

élixir
Meaning
A magical or medicinal potion believed to cure illnesses or grant immortality.
Example
The old legend spoke of an elixir that could grant eternal youth.
La vieille légende parlait d'un élixir qui pourrait accorder la jeunesse éternelle.
C2 noun /ˈpær.əkˌsɪz.əm/

paroxysm

crise soudaine
Meaning
A sudden, violent outburst of emotion or activity.
Example
She was seized by a paroxysm of laughter.
Elle a été saisie par une crise de rire.
C2 noun (plural) /ˌmæk.ɪˈneɪ.ʃənz/

machinations

machinations
Meaning
complicated and secret plans, often intended to cause harm
Example
The politician was brought down by his own machinations.
Le politicien a été abattu par ses propres machinations.