coquette
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C2 noun /koʊˈkɛt/

coquette

femme coquette
Meaning
a woman who flirts lightheartedly
Example
She was a coquette, always charming everyone at the party.
Elle était une coquette, charmant toujours tout le monde à la fête.
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 /ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪti/

catholicity

universalité, ouverture d'esprit
Meaning
Universality; broad-mindedness; acceptance of a wide variety of things.
Example
Her catholicity of interests makes her a fascinating person.
Sa catholicité d'intérêts fait d'elle une personne fascinante.
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 noun /ˈklævɪkəl/

clavicle

clavicule
Meaning
the collarbone, a long bone that serves as a strut between the shoulder blade and the sternum
Example
He fractured his clavicle in the accident.
Il a fracturé sa clavicule dans l'accident.
C2 noun /ˈʃɑːrlətən/

charlatan

charlatan
Meaning
a person who pretends to have knowledge or skills that they do not really possess; a fraud
Example
The so-called healer was exposed as a charlatan.
Le soi-disant guérisseur a été exposé comme un charlatan.
C2 noun /kəˈbɑl/

Cabal

cabal
Meaning
a secret political clique or faction
Example
The journalists exposed a cabal of corrupt politicians working together.
Les journalistes ont exposé un cabal de politiciens corrompus travaillant ensemble.
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 ˈkɑː.dərz

cadres

cadres
Meaning
A small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession; a group of activists in a communist or other political organization.
Example
There are 26 cadres under BPSC.
Il y a 26 cadres sous BPSC.
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 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 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 adjective /kənˈsʌmptɪv/

consumptive

consumptif
Meaning
Relating to or characterized by consumption; historically used to describe someone suffering from tuberculosis.
Example
The doctor advised against consumptive habits.
Le médecin a déconseillé les habitudes consumptives.
C2 noun /kəˈliːdʒən/

collegian

étudiant universitaire
Meaning
a student of a college
Example
The collegians were preparing for the cultural festival.
Les collégiens se préparaient pour le festival culturel.
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 adjective /kəˈmoʊdiəs/

commodious

spacieux
Meaning
spacious and comfortable; having plenty of room
Example
They rented a commodious apartment in the city.
Ils ont loué un appartement spacieux en ville.
C2 noun /ˈkʌvən/

coven

un groupe de sorcières
Meaning
a group or gathering of witches
Example
The witches met secretly in a coven in the forest.
Les sorcières se sont réunies secrètement dans un coven dans la forêt.
C2 noun /kənˌɡlɒməˈreɪʃən/

conglomeration

conglomérat
Meaning
A collection or mixture of different things grouped together.
Example
The market is a conglomeration of small shops and food stalls.
Le marché est un conglomérat de petites boutiques et de stands de nourriture.
C2 noun /ˌkəʊ.əˈles.əns/

coalescence

coalescence, fusion
Meaning
The process of coming together to form one mass or whole.
Example
The coalescence of different cultures creates diversity.
La coalescence de différentes cultures crée de la diversité.
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 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 /ˈklæmərəs/

clamorous

bruyant
Meaning
making a loud and confused noise; expressing strong demands noisily
Example
The clamorous audience demanded an encore from the band.
Le public bruyant a exigé un rappel du groupe.
C2 noun /ˈkrɪptəɡræm/

cryptogram

code secret
Meaning
a text written in code or cipher
Example
The detective solved the cryptogram hidden in the letter.
Le détective a résolu le cryptogramme caché dans la lettre.
C2 noun /ˈklɔɪstər/

cloister

cloître
Meaning
a covered walk in a convent, monastery, or cathedral, typically with a wall on one side and a colonnade open to a quadrangle on the other.
Example
The monks walked silently through the cloister.
Les moines marchaient silencieusement à travers le cloître.
C2 noun /ˈkɒl.ə.kwi/

colloquy

conversation formelle
Meaning
A formal conversation or dialogue, often on serious or academic topics.
Example
The professors engaged in a deep colloquy about the future of education.
Les professeurs ont engagé une conversation approfondie sur l'avenir de l'éducation.
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 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 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 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 /ˈsaɪ.nəˌʃʊr/

cynosure

le centre de toutes les attentions
Meaning
A person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.
Example
She was the cynosure of all eyes at the party.
Elle était le centre de toutes les attentions à la fête.
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 noun /ˈkaɪrəˌmænsi/

chiromancy

chiromancie
Meaning
The practice of predicting the future by interpreting the lines on the palms of hands; palmistry.
Example
The old woman practiced chiromancy and told fortunes for travelers.
La vieille femme pratiquait la chiromancie et prédisait l'avenir des voyageurs.
C2 noun /sɛnˈtjʊəriən/

centurion

centurion
Meaning
A commander of a unit of one hundred soldiers in the ancient Roman army.
Example
The centurion led his men into battle with courage.
Le centurion a mené ses hommes au combat avec courage.
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 adjective /kənˈvɜːrsənt/

conversant

familier, connaisseur
Meaning
familiar with or knowledgeable about something
Example
She is conversant with the latest developments in technology.
Elle est familière avec les derniers développements technologiques.
C2 noun /ˈkʌvi/

covey

un petit groupe d'oiseaux
Meaning
a small group of birds, especially partridges or quails
Example
A covey of quails flew across the field.
Un covey de cailles a volé à travers le champ.
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 /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 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 /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 /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 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 /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 /ˈtʃælɪs/

chalice

calice
Meaning
A large cup or goblet, typically used for drinking wine in religious ceremonies.
Example
The priest lifted the golden chalice during the ceremony.
Le prêtre a levé le calice en or pendant la cérémonie.
C2 adjective /koʊˈtɜːr.mɪ.nəs/

coterminous

coextensif
Meaning
having the same boundaries or extent in space, time, or meaning
Example
The two jurisdictions are coterminous, sharing the same borders.
Les deux juridictions sont coextensives, partageant les mêmes frontières.
C2 noun /kənˈkɔːrdəns/

concordance

concordance
Meaning
Agreement; also an alphabetical index of the principal words in a book.
Example
There is a strong concordance between the two reports.
Il y a une forte concordance entre les deux rapports.
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 /ˈkruːɪt/

cruet

petit récipient
Meaning
a small container, especially for salt, pepper, oil, or vinegar, used at a dining table
Example
She filled the cruet with olive oil for the salad.
Elle a rempli le cruet d'huile d'olive pour la salade.
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 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 /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 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 /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 /kəˈdævər/

cadaver

cadavre
Meaning
A dead human body, especially one used for medical study.
Example
Medical students dissected the cadaver to learn about human anatomy.
Les étudiants en médecine ont disséqué le cadavre pour apprendre l'anatomie humaine.
C2 noun /ˌkɒntrəpəˈzɪʃən/

contraposition

contraposition
Meaning
the act of placing two things in opposition for contrast or comparison
Example
The contraposition of the two theories highlighted their differences.
La contraposition des deux théories a mis en lumière leurs différences.
C2 noun /kəmˈpɛndiəm/

compendium

compendium
Meaning
A collection of concise but detailed information about a subject.
Example
The book is a compendium of ancient myths and legends.
Le livre est un compendium de mythes et de légendes anciennes.
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 /kænt/

cant

discours hypocrite
Meaning
Hypocritical and insincere talk, especially about moral or religious principles.
Example
The politician's speech was filled with cant about honesty and integrity.
Le discours du politicien était rempli de discours hypocrites sur l'honnêteté et l'intégrité.
C2 adjective /ˈklɛmənt/

clement

clément / doux
Meaning
mild or merciful; describing weather as mild and pleasant
Example
The prisoners hoped for a clement judge.
Les prisonniers espéraient un juge clément.
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 /ˈkæbəˌlɪzəm/

cabalism

cabalisme
Meaning
The doctrines, practices, or secretive dealings of a cabal.
Example
The historian wrote extensively about cabalism in the royal court.
L'historien a écrit abondamment sur le cabalisme à la cour royale.
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 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 verb /kəˈmɪŋɡəl/

commingle

mélanger
Meaning
To mix or blend different things together.
Example
The charity does not commingle donations with operational funds.
La charité ne mélange pas les dons avec les fonds opérationnels.
C2 noun /ˈkɒntrəriz/

contraries

choses opposées
Meaning
things that are completely different or opposite to each other
Example
Freedom and slavery are contraries in every sense.
La liberté et l'esclavage sont des contraires dans tous les sens.
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 /kənˈtɔːrʃənz/

contortions

pluriel de contorsion; plusieurs formes tordues ou déformées
Meaning
plural form of contortion; multiple twisted or bent shapes
Example
The magician's contortions left the crowd in awe.
Les contorsions du magicien ont laissé la foule bouche bée.
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 /ˈkɔː.seər/

corsair

pirate
Meaning
a pirate, especially one operating along the Mediterranean coasts
Example
The corsair plundered ships along the coast.
Le corsaire a pillé des navires le long de la côte.
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 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 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 /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 /ˈkrɛməˌtɔːri/

crematory

crématorium
Meaning
a place where dead bodies are cremated
Example
The crematory was located near the cemetery.
Le crématorium était situé près du cimetière.
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 /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 /sɛnˈtrɪfjʊɡəl/

centrifugal

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

Canna

canna
Meaning
a tropical flowering plant with large, colorful flowers and broad leaves
Example
The bright orange canna lilies grew tall beside the pond.
Les lys canna orange vif ont poussé grands près de l'étang.
C2 noun /tʃɜːrl/

churl

rustre
Meaning
A rude, boorish, or ill-mannered person.
Example
The waiter was such a churl that customers left unhappy.
Le serveur était un tel rustre que les clients sont partis mécontents.
C2 noun /kəˈraʊzl/

carousal

fête bruyante
Meaning
A noisy or lively drinking party or festivity.
Example
They were exhausted after a night of wild carousal.
Ils étaient épuisés après une nuit de fête bruyante.
C2 adjective /ˈkʌvətəs/

covetous

convoiteux
Meaning
having or showing a strong desire for someone else's possessions
Example
She gave him a covetous look when he showed his new watch.
Elle lui lança un regard convoiteux lorsqu'il montra sa nouvelle montre.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrpəskəl/

corpuscle

petite particule ou cellule, en particulier cellule sanguine
Meaning
a small particle or cell, especially a blood cell
Example
Red corpuscles carry oxygen throughout the body.
Les globules rouges transportent l'oxygène dans tout le corps.
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 verb /ˈkɒsɪt/

cosset

choyer
Meaning
to care for and protect in an overindulgent way
Example
The little girl was cosseted by her grandparents.
La petite fille était choyée par ses grands-parents.
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 adjective /ˈkrɛdʒʊləs/

credulous

crédule
Meaning
Having or showing too great a readiness to believe things.
Example
The credulous child believed every story she heard.
L'enfant crédule croyait chaque histoire qu'elle entendait.
C2 adjective /ˌkɑːmənˈsɛnsɪkəl/

commonsensical

raisonnable
Meaning
based on or showing sound practical judgment; sensible
Example
It was commonsensical to carry an umbrella on a rainy day.
Il était raisonnable d’emporter un parapluie un jour de pluie.
C2 adjective kaɪˈmɛr.ɪ.kəl

chimerical

chimérique, irréalisable
Meaning
Illusory or impossible to achieve; existing only in imagination.
Example
His chimerical ideas often baffled realists.
Ses idées chimériques déconcertent souvent les réalistes.
C2 noun /ˈsɪɡnət/

cygnet

cygneon
Meaning
a young swan
Example
The cygnet swam closely behind its mother.
Le cygneon nageait juste derrière sa mère.
C2 verb /ˈkʌzən/

cozen

tromper, arnaquer
Meaning
to deceive, cheat, or trick someone
Example
He cozened the old man out of his money.
Il a trompé le vieil homme et lui a pris son argent.
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 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 adjective /ˈkʌmli/

comely

belle
Meaning
Attractive or pleasant in appearance.
Example
The actress was known for her comely features.
L'actrice était connue pour ses traits beaux.
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 /kəˌrɒbəˈreɪʃən/

corroboration

corroboration
Meaning
evidence that confirms or supports a statement, theory, or finding
Example
The documents provided strong corroboration of her claims.
Les documents ont fourni une forte corroboration de ses affirmations.
C2 noun /ˈkælvɪnɪzəm/

calvinism

calvinisme
Meaning
A Protestant theological system based on John Calvin’s teachings, emphasizing predestination and the sovereignty of God.
Example
Calvinism played a major role in shaping Protestant theology.
Le calvinisme a joué un rôle majeur dans la formation de la théologie protestante.
C2 verb /ˈkɔː.tə.raɪz/

cauterize

cautériser
Meaning
to burn tissue to stop bleeding or prevent infection
Example
The doctor cauterized the wound to stop the bleeding.
Le médecin a cautérisé la blessure pour arrêter le saignement.
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 /ˌsɜːrkəmləˈkjuːʃn/

circumlocution

circonlocution
Meaning
the use of many words when fewer would do, especially to avoid stating something directly
Example
The politician's speech was filled with circumlocution.
Le discours du politicien était rempli de circonlocutions.
C2 noun /kənˈtɔːrʃən/

contortion

une forme tordue ou pliée; l'action de tordre hors de la forme normale
Meaning
a twisted or bent shape; the act of twisting out of the normal shape
Example
The gymnast's contortion amazed the audience.
La contorsion du gymnaste a étonné le public.
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 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 /ˈkɒndaɪn/

condign

mérité
Meaning
deserved, appropriate, and fitting (especially punishment)
Example
The criminal received condign punishment for his crimes.
Le criminel a reçu la punition méritée pour ses crimes.
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 /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 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 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 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 /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 /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 /ˈsɛʃən/

cession

cession de droits ou de propriété
Meaning
The formal giving up of rights, property, or territory, especially by a state.
Example
The treaty resulted in the cession of land to the neighboring country.
Le traité a abouti à la cession de terres au pays voisin.
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 verb /ˈkɒr.ʌ.skeɪt/

coruscate

scintiller
Meaning
to sparkle or flash brightly
Example
The fireworks coruscated across the night sky.
Les feux d'artifice scintillèrent à travers le ciel nocturne.
C2 adjective /krɪˈpʌskjʊlər/

crepuscular

relatif au crépuscule
Meaning
relating to twilight or active during twilight
Example
Bats are crepuscular animals, most active at dawn and dusk.
Les chauves-souris sont des animaux crépusculaires, les plus actifs à l'aube et au crépuscule.
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 /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 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 /kaɪˈmɪərə/

chimera

chimère
Meaning
A mythical creature with parts from different animals; also used to mean a fanciful illusion or unattainable dream.
Example
The idea of a perfect society is often a chimera.
L'idée d'une société parfaite est souvent une chimère.
C2 noun /ˈkreɪniəm/

cranium

crâne
Meaning
the skull, especially the part enclosing the brain
Example
The archaeologists carefully examined the ancient cranium.
Les archéologues ont soigneusement examiné le crâne ancien.
C2 adjective /kænˈtæŋ.kər.əs/

cantankerous

grincheux
Meaning
Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
Example
The cantankerous old man complained about everything.
Le vieux grincheux se plaignait de tout.
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.