countermand
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C2 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈmænd/

countermand

annuler un ordre
Meaning
to revoke or cancel an order or command
Example
The general countermanded the previous orders immediately.
Le général a annulé les ordres précédents immédiatement.
C2 noun /ɪkˌspɒstjʊˈleɪʃən/

expostulation

protestation
Meaning
the act of expressing protest or disagreement
Example
His expostulation against the unfair rules was ignored.
Sa protestation contre les règles injustes a été ignorée.
C2 noun /ˈvɪtəlz/

victuals

vivres
Meaning
Food or provisions, especially for human consumption.
Example
The travelers packed enough victuals for their long journey.
Les voyageurs ont emballé suffisamment de vivres pour leur long voyage.
C2 adjective /ˈfɛkləs/

feckless

inefficace, irresponsable
Meaning
lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible
Example
His feckless attitude at work caused several missed deadlines.
Son attitude inefficace au travail a causé plusieurs délais manqués.
C2 noun /səˈɡæs.ə.t̬i/

sagacity

sagesse profonde
Meaning
The quality of being sagacious; having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment.
Example
His sagacity made him a great leader.
Sa sagacité faisait de lui un grand leader.
C2 adjective /ɪˈnjʊərd/

inured

habitué
Meaning
Accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
Example
After years of hardship, she was inured to suffering.
Après des années de souffrance, elle était habituée à la douleur.
C2 noun /juːˌtrɑː.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

eutrophication

excès de nutriments dans un lac ou un autre plan d'eau
Meaning
Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
Example
Excess fertilizers lead to eutrophication in lakes.
Les fertilisants excessifs entraînent l'eutrophisation dans les lacs.
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 /dɪˈklɪvɪti/

declivity

pente
Meaning
a downward slope of ground
Example
They carefully climbed down the declivity of the hill.
Ils ont grimpé prudemment la pente de la colline.
C2 verb /ɛmˈbɔs/

emboss

décorer avec un motif en relief
Meaning
to decorate a surface with a raised design or pattern
Example
The invitation card was embossed with golden letters.
La carte d'invitation était embossée avec des lettres dorées.
C2 adjective /boʊˈhiːmiən/

bohemian

bohémien
Meaning
unconventional, artistic, and free-spirited in lifestyle or appearance
Example
She decorated her apartment in a bohemian style with colorful fabrics.
Elle a décoré son appartement dans un style bohémien avec des tissus colorés.
C2 adjective /ˌpɛstɪˈlɛnʃəl/

pestilential

pestilentiel
Meaning
Relating to or causing pestilence; very harmful, troublesome, or dangerous.
Example
The pestilential smell of the garbage filled the street.
L'odeur pestilentielle de la poubelle a rempli la rue.
C2 adjective /ɪˈrɛfrəɡəbəl/

irrefragable

irréfutable
Meaning
Impossible to refute, deny, or break
Example
The lawyer presented irrefragable evidence that proved his client’s innocence.
L'avocat a présenté des preuves irréfutables qui ont prouvé l'innocence de son client.
C2 verb /ˌmɪs.əˈtrɪb.juːt/

misattribute

mal attribuer
Meaning
to incorrectly credit something, such as a work or remark, to the wrong person or source
Example
The quote was misattributed to Shakespeare.
La citation a été mal attribuée à Shakespeare.
C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛktɪbəl/

reflectible

réfléchissable
Meaning
capable of being reflected, as light or an image
Example
The surface of the lake is highly reflectible in the morning sun.
La surface du lac est hautement réfléchissable sous le soleil du matin.
C2 adjective /sɪˈdɪʃəs/

seditious

séditieux
Meaning
Encouraging rebellion against authority.
Example
The activist spread seditious pamphlets among the crowd.
L'activiste a distribué des tracts séditieux parmi la foule.
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 /sɛnˈtɛnʃəs/

sententious

moraliste; qui donne des leçons
Meaning
Given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner.
Example
His sententious remarks annoyed the audience.
Ses remarques moralisatrices ont agacé le public.
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 /sʌbˈɔːl.tən/

subaltern

une personne occupant une position subordonnée; dans l'armée, un officier subalterne
Meaning
A person holding a subordinate position; in the military, a junior officer.
Example
The subaltern was responsible for leading a small platoon of soldiers.
Le subalterne était responsable de la direction d'un petit peloton de soldats.
C2 noun əˈlæk.rə.t̬i

alacrity

disponibilité rapide et joyeuse
Meaning
Brisk and cheerful readiness.
Example
He accepted the challenge with alacrity.
Il a accepté le défi avec alacrité.
C2 noun /ˈɡæliən/

galleon

galeón
Meaning
A large sailing ship used mainly by Europeans from the 16th to 18th centuries.
Example
The Spanish galleon carried treasures across the Atlantic.
Le galeón espagnol a transporté des trésors à travers l'Atlantique.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊ.li.oʊ/

folio

grand livre ou manuscrit
Meaning
A sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves (four pages) of a book; also a term for a large book or manuscript.
Example
The library houses an ancient Shakespeare folio.
La bibliothèque abrite un ancien folio de Shakespeare.
C2 noun /ˈændaɪərn/

andiron

support en métal pour bois
Meaning
a metal support used in a fireplace to hold logs
Example
The logs rested on the andirons in the old fireplace.
Les bûches reposaient sur les andirons dans l'ancienne cheminée.
C2 noun /traɪˈʌmvɪrət/

triumvirate

triumvirat
Meaning
A political regime ruled or dominated by three powerful individuals.
Example
The Roman Republic was once governed by a triumvirate.
La République romaine était autrefois gouvernée par un triumvirat.
C2 adjective /prɪˈsɛnʃənt/

presentient

présentiment
Meaning
Having a feeling or sense of something about to happen; predictive.
Example
She was presentient of the coming disaster.
Elle avait un pressentiment du désastre à venir.
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 /ɡriːn pəˈpaɪə/

Green Papaya

papaye verte
Meaning
unripe papaya fruit used as a vegetable in cooking, especially in Asian cuisine
Example
Green papaya salad is a popular dish in Thai cuisine.
La salade de papaye verte est un plat populaire dans la cuisine thaïlandaise.
C2 noun /ˈtrʌmpəri/

trumpery

nonsense sans valeur ou des choses ostentatoires mais sans valeur
Meaning
worthless nonsense or showy but worthless things
Example
The speech was full of political trumpery.
Le discours était plein de balivernes politiques.
C2 noun /ˈplɛbɪsaɪt/

plebiscite

référendum populaire
Meaning
a direct vote by the electorate on an important public question
Example
The government held a plebiscite to decide on the new constitution.
Le gouvernement a organisé un référendum populaire pour décider de la nouvelle constitution.
C2 noun /ˌdɪpsəˈmeɪniæk/

dipsomaniac

alcoolique
Meaning
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks.
Example
The novel portrayed the tragic downfall of a dipsomaniac who lost everything to alcohol.
Le roman a dépeint la chute tragique d'un alcoolique qui a tout perdu à cause de l'alcool.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrɡoʊ/

argot

argot spécialisé
Meaning
the specialized vocabulary or jargon of a particular group, especially one with a common interest or occupation
Example
The thieves communicated in an argot that outsiders could not understand.
Les voleurs ont communiqué dans un argot que les étrangers ne pouvaient pas comprendre.
C2 noun /ˌfoʊ.mənˈteɪ.ʃən/

fomentation

incitation, stimulation
Meaning
The action of instigating or stirring up; also the application of warm substances to the body to ease pain.
Example
His speech led to the fomentation of violence in the region.
Son discours a conduit à la fomentation de la violence dans la région.
C2 verb /əˈbʌt/

abut

border
Meaning
to be next to or share a border with
Example
The park abuts the river on the north side.
Le parc borde la rivière du côté nord.
C2 verb /skwɛltʃ/

squelch

faire un bruit mou, comme marcher dans la boue; réprimer ou faire taire
Meaning
to make a soft sucking sound, such as when walking on mud; to suppress or silence
Example
His boots squelched in the wet ground.
Ses bottes faisaient un bruit de squelch sur le sol mouillé.
C2 noun /dɪsˈtɛmpər/

distemper

maladie virale affectant les animaux, en particulier les chiens
Meaning
a viral disease affecting animals, especially dogs; also refers to a state of disorder
Example
The dog was diagnosed with distemper and needed immediate care.
Le chien a été diagnostiqué avec la distemper et avait besoin de soins immédiats.
C2 verb /trəˈdjuːs/

traduce

diffamer
Meaning
To speak badly of someone or tell lies to damage their reputation.
Example
He was furious when he found out that his rivals had traduced him.
Il était furieux quand il a découvert que ses rivaux l'avaient diffamé.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːdreɪ/

padre

prêtre
Meaning
A title for a priest, especially in the Roman Catholic Church; also used informally for 'father'.
Example
The soldiers attended mass led by the padre.
Les soldats ont assisté à la messe dirigée par le prêtre.
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 /əˈɡrɒnəmɪst/

agronomist

agronome
Meaning
A scientist who studies soil management and crop production.
Example
The agronomist suggested new methods to improve rice yields.
L'agronome a suggéré de nouvelles méthodes pour améliorer les rendements du riz.
C2 verb /əˈbreɪd/

abrade

usiner par friction
Meaning
to scrape or wear away the surface by friction or erosion
Example
The rough cloth can easily abrade the skin.
Le tissu rugueux peut facilement user la peau.
C2 adjective /ˈræŋ.kər.əs/

rancorous

rancunier
Meaning
Characterized by bitterness or resentment.
Example
Their rancorous debate lasted for hours.
Leurs débats rancuniers ont duré des heures.
C2 noun /wɛlp/

whelp

chiot
Meaning
a young offspring of a dog or other carnivorous mammal; sometimes used to mean an impudent young person
Example
The farmer found a wolf whelp hiding near the barn.
Le fermier a trouvé un chiot de loup caché près de la grange.
C2 noun /ˈɑːriə/

aria

pièce vocale solo
Meaning
a solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment, typically in an opera
Example
The soprano performed a moving aria during the second act.
La soprano a interprété une aria émouvante lors du deuxième acte.
C2 adjective /ˈpɪrɪk/

pyrrhic

victoire pyrrhique
Meaning
A victory won at such a great cost that it is almost equivalent to defeat.
Example
The general declared the battle a pyrrhic victory due to heavy losses.
Le général a déclaré la bataille comme une victoire pyrrhique en raison des lourdes pertes.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈsɛsər/

intercessor

intercesseur
Meaning
a person who intervenes or pleads on behalf of another
Example
He acted as an intercessor to resolve the conflict between the two families.
Il a agi en tant qu'intercesseur pour résoudre le conflit entre les deux familles.
C2 noun /θrɔːl/

thrall

esclavage, soumission
Meaning
The state of being in someone's power or under strong influence; slavery or bondage.
Example
He was in thrall to the powerful leader.
Il était sous l'emprise du puissant leader.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkrɛpɪt/

decrepit

délabré
Meaning
worn out or weakened by age or neglect
Example
The decrepit old house was on the verge of collapse.
La vieille maison délabrée était sur le point de s'effondrer.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkænˈdɛsənt/

incandescent

incandescent
Meaning
emitting light as a result of being heated; extremely bright or passionate
Example
The incandescent lamp lit up the entire hall.
La lampe incandescente a éclairé toute la salle.
C2 noun /ˌser.əˈbreɪ.ʃən/

cerebration

cérébration
Meaning
the process of thinking or using the brain actively
Example
The lecture sparked intense cerebration among the students.
La conférence a suscité une intense cérébration parmi les étudiants.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛkəbl/

peccable

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

understory

végétation inférieure
Meaning
The layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest.
Example
The understory of a rainforest is home to small mammals and insects.
La végétation inférieure d'une forêt tropicale est le foyer de petits mammifères et d'insectes.
C2 noun /ˌskʌlˈdʌɡəri/

skullduggery

supercherie
Meaning
dishonest behavior or activities, often done secretly
Example
The election was full of political skullduggery.
L'élection était pleine de supercheries politiques.
C2 verb /əˈlɪtəreɪt/

alliterate

répéter le même son consonantique au début des mots dans une phrase
Meaning
to repeat the same consonant sound at the beginning of words in a phrase or sentence
Example
The poet often alliterates words to create rhythm.
Le poète allite souvent les mots pour créer du rythme.
C2 noun /sɪˈmɪlɪtjuːd/

Similitude

similitude; ressemblance
Meaning
the quality or state of being similar; resemblance
Example
The similitude between the two paintings suggested they were by the same artist.
La similitude entre les deux peintures a suggéré qu'elles avaient été réalisées par le même artiste.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪɡˈzɪst/

preexist

exister au préalable
Meaning
to exist beforehand or before something else
Example
These customs preexist the arrival of modern technology.
Ces coutumes existaient avant l'arrivée de la technologie moderne.
C2 verb /sweɪð/

swathe

envelopper
Meaning
To wrap or cover closely or completely.
Example
She swathed the baby in a soft blanket.
Elle enveloppa le bébé dans une couverture douce.
C2 noun /ˌæbnɪˈɡeɪʃən/

abnegation

abnégation
Meaning
the act of renouncing or rejecting something, especially self-denial
Example
The monk’s life was one of complete abnegation of worldly pleasures.
La vie du moine était une complète abnégation des plaisirs mondains.
C2 verb /ˈdɒdə/

dodder

trembler en marchant
Meaning
To move in a weak and unsteady way, especially due to old age.
Example
The old man doddered across the street with a cane.
Le vieil homme marchait en tremblant dans la rue avec une canne.
C2 adjective, noun /pləˈbiːən/

plebeian

personne commune
Meaning
common, ordinary, or belonging to the lower social classes
Example
The festival was enjoyed by both plebeian and noble citizens.
Le festival a été apprécié tant par les plébéiens que par les citoyens nobles.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈruːl/

misrule

mauvaise gouvernance
Meaning
bad or poor governance
Example
The kingdom suffered for decades under misrule.
Le royaume a souffert pendant des décennies sous la mauvaise gouvernance.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəbl/

dutiable

sujet à des droits de douane
Meaning
subject to customs duty or tax
Example
Imported electronics are often dutiable at the border.
Les électroniques importés sont souvent soumis à des droits de douane à la frontière.
C2 noun /ˌɪrɪˈdɛsəns/

iridescence

brillance iridescente
Meaning
a play of lustrous, changing colors like those of a rainbow
Example
The butterfly's wings shimmered with iridescence.
Les ailes du papillon brillaient d'une brillance iridescente.
C2 verb /ˌoʊvərˈstraɪd/

overstride

franchir en faisant de grands pas
Meaning
To stride over something; to step across with long steps.
Example
He managed to overstride the narrow stream with ease.
Il a réussi à franchir le ruisseau étroit avec facilité.
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 /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 noun /ˈplænɪsfɪr/

planisphere

planisphère
Meaning
a rotating star chart used to display the visible stars for any time and date
Example
The astronomer used a planisphere to identify the constellations.
L'astronome a utilisé un planisphère pour identifier les constellations.
C2 adjective /ˈfraɪəbl/

friable

friable
Meaning
Easily crumbled or reduced to powder.
Example
The old brick wall was friable and broke apart at a touch.
Le vieux mur en briques était friable et se brisa au toucher.
C2 noun /θiˈɒsəfi/

theosophy

théosophie
Meaning
A religious or philosophical belief system that seeks direct knowledge of the mysteries of life and the divine.
Example
Theosophy attracted people interested in mysticism and spiritual growth.
La théosophie a attiré des personnes intéressées par le mysticisme et la croissance spirituelle.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪdrəs/

hydrous

hydraté
Meaning
Containing water, especially water of crystallization.
Example
The mineral is hydrous because it contains water molecules in its structure.
Le minéral est hydraté car il contient des molécules d'eau dans sa structure.
C2 noun /nuːt/

Newt

triton
Meaning
a small amphibian with a long tail that lives both in water and on land
Example
The newt swam gracefully in the pond.
Le triton nageait gracieusement dans l'étang.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɛvər/

dissever

séparer
Meaning
To separate or cut apart.
Example
The treaty sought to dissever the two hostile regions.
Le traité a cherché à séparer les deux régions hostiles.
C2 adjective /ˈvɛdʒɪtəl/

vegetal

végétal
Meaning
relating to or consisting of plants or vegetation
Example
The soup had a distinct vegetal flavor.
La soupe avait une saveur végétale distincte.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːrvənuː/

parvenu

nouveau riche
Meaning
A person who has recently gained wealth or influence but is not yet accepted socially.
Example
He was seen as a parvenu who lacked refinement despite his riches.
Il a été vu comme un parvenu qui manquait de raffinement malgré sa richesse.
C2 noun /ˈrɪp.lɪt/

ripplet

petite ondulation
Meaning
a small or tiny ripple
Example
Tiny ripplets appeared on the lake as the fish moved.
De petites ondulations sont apparues sur le lac lorsque le poisson a bougé.
C2 noun /ˌɪlɪbəˈræləti/

illiberality

intolérance
Meaning
The quality of being illiberal; lack of tolerance or generosity.
Example
The illiberality of the new laws alarmed the citizens.
L'illibéralité des nouvelles lois a alarmé les citoyens.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdənt/

pedant

personne pédante
Meaning
A person who is excessively concerned with minor details or rules, often in a showy way.
Example
The professor was criticized as a pedant who focused too much on trivial details.
Le professeur a été critiqué comme un pédant qui se concentrait trop sur des détails triviaux.
C2 verb /ˈɡræn.jʊ.leɪt/

granulate

granuler
Meaning
To form or cause to form into grains or small particles.
Example
The sugar began to granulate as it cooled.
Le sucre a commencé à se granuler lorsqu'il a refroidi.
C2 noun /ˈɑːbəlɪsk/

obelisk

obélisque
Meaning
A tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument with a pyramid-shaped top.
Example
The ancient Egyptians built obelisks to honor their gods.
Les anciens Égyptiens ont construit des obélisques pour honorer leurs dieux.
C2 verb /ɪnˈθroʊn/

enthrone

introniser
Meaning
to install someone on a throne or to give someone high status
Example
The king was enthroned in a grand ceremony.
Le roi fut intronisé lors d'une grande cérémonie.
C2 adjective/noun /ɪnˈkɑːrnədiːn/

incarnadine

rouge incarnat
Meaning
a bright crimson or pinkish-red color
Example
The sky turned incarnadine at sunset.
Le ciel est devenu rouge incarnat au coucher du soleil.
C2 noun /æmˈbroʊʒə/

ambrosia

ambroisie
Meaning
The food of the gods in classical mythology; something extremely pleasing to taste or smell.
Example
The dessert was so delicious that it tasted like ambrosia.
Le dessert était tellement délicieux qu'il avait le goût d'ambrosia.
C2 noun /hɔːɡ plʌm/

Hog plum

prune de hog
Meaning
tropical fruit with yellow skin and sour taste
Example
Hog plums are often used to make pickles and chutneys.
Les prunes de hog sont souvent utilisées pour faire des cornichons et des chutneys.
C2 noun /ˈsʌfrədʒɪst/

suffragist

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

osculate

embrasser
Meaning
To kiss.
Example
They osculated under the mistletoe during the party.
Ils se sont embrassés sous le gui pendant la fête.
C2 noun /troʊθ/

troth

engagement, fidélité
Meaning
Faith or loyalty when pledged in a solemn agreement or vow, especially in marriage.
Example
He pledged his troth to her before the gathering.
Il a promis sa fidélité avant la réunion.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːbəl/

bauble

bibelot
Meaning
A small, decorative trinket or ornament, often of little value.
Example
She wore a shiny bauble around her neck.
Elle portait un bibelot brillant autour de son cou.
C2 adjective /beɪˈkoʊniən/

baconian

baconien
Meaning
Relating to the philosopher Francis Bacon or his method of scientific reasoning.
Example
The researcher followed a Baconian approach to observation and experimentation.
Le chercheur a suivi une approche baconienne de l'observation et de l'expérimentation.
C2 noun /ɪkˈspiːdiənsi/

expediency

opportunisme
Meaning
the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral
Example
He acted out of political expediency rather than principle.
Il a agi par opportunisme politique plutôt que par principe.
C2 noun ˌmɛtəkɒɡˈnɪʃən

metacognition

penser à la pensée
Meaning
Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes
Example
Metacognition enhances problem-solving abilities.
La métacognition améliore les capacités de résolution de problèmes.
C2 noun /ˌæpəˈleɪʃən/

appellation

titre / nom
Meaning
a name or title
Example
The city has earned the appellation 'The Big Apple'.
La ville a gagné le titre 'La Grande Pomme'.
C2 noun /ˈweɪvlət/

wavelet

petite vague
Meaning
a small wave or ripple on the surface of water or another medium
Example
The pond was disturbed only by the tiny wavelets caused by the breeze.
L'étang n'a été perturbé que par les petites vagues causées par la brise.
C2 noun /ɪnˈkʌmbrəns/

encumbrance

fardeau / obstacle
Meaning
a burden or obstacle that makes progress or movement difficult
Example
Debt can become a serious encumbrance in life.
La dette peut devenir un fardeau sérieux dans la vie.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪloʊi/

willowy

élancé, mince et flexible, comme un saule
Meaning
Gracefully tall, slender, and flexible, like a willow tree.
Example
She moved with a willowy elegance across the stage.
Elle se déplaçait avec une élégance willowy sur scène.
C2 verb /ɪˈnəʊbəl/

ennoble

ennoblir
Meaning
to give someone a noble rank or to elevate in dignity or honor
Example
His selfless actions ennobled his character in the eyes of others.
Ses actions désintéressées ont ennobli son caractère aux yeux des autres.
C2 verb /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/

prevaricate

échapper à dire la vérité
Meaning
to avoid telling the truth by not giving a direct answer
Example
The politician began to prevaricate when asked about the scandal.
Le politicien a commencé à éviter lorsqu'on lui a posé des questions sur le scandale.
C2 adjective /ˈflaɪti/

flighty

instable
Meaning
unstable, impulsive, or easily distracted; lacking seriousness or stability
Example
She’s too flighty to stick with one job for long.
Elle est trop instable pour rester dans un seul travail pendant longtemps.
C2 noun /ˈsɪnəd/

synod

synode
Meaning
An assembly of the clergy in a Christian church convened to decide on issues of doctrine or administration.
Example
The synod gathered to discuss reforms in the church.
Le synode s'est réuni pour discuter des réformes dans l'église.
C2 noun /dɪˌlɪniˈeɪʃən/

delineation

délimitation
Meaning
the precise description, drawing, or outlining of something
Example
The artist’s delineation of the landscape was remarkably accurate.
La délimitation du paysage par l'artiste était remarquablement précise.
C2 noun /mɪˈsænθrəpi/

misanthropy

misanthropie
Meaning
a general dislike, distrust, or hatred of humankind
Example
His misanthropy was evident in the way he avoided people.
Sa misanthropie était évidente dans la façon dont il évitait les gens.
C2 verb /fɔːrˈboʊd/

forebode

présager
Meaning
To predict or have a strong inner feeling of a future misfortune or evil.
Example
Dark clouds forebode a coming storm.
Les nuages sombres présagent une tempête à venir.
C2 verb /lɪm/

limn

décrire / représenter
Meaning
to depict or describe something vividly in words or art.
Example
The author limned the beauty of the countryside.
L'auteur a décrit la beauté de la campagne de manière vivante.
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 verb /bɪˈdræɡəl/

bedraggle

rendre quelque chose mouillé, sale et en désordre en le traînant dans la boue ou l'eau
Meaning
to make something wet, dirty, and untidy by dragging it through mud or water
Example
The children came home bedraggled after playing in the rain.
Les enfants sont rentrés à la maison trempés et sales après avoir joué sous la pluie.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪndɪkeɪtɪv/

vindicative

vindicatif
Meaning
showing a tendency to vindicate or justify; inclined to defend
Example
Her vindicative tone showed that she strongly believed in her innocence.
Son ton vindicatif montrait qu'elle croyait fermement en son innocence.
C2 noun /ˌɪnvəˈlɪdɪti/

invalidity

invalidité
Meaning
the state of being invalid, legally void, or lacking force or validity
Example
The court ruled that the contract suffered from invalidity.
Le tribunal a jugé que le contrat souffrait d’invalidité.
C2 noun /ˈɔːɡjʊri/

augury

augure
Meaning
A sign or omen that is believed to predict future events.
Example
The dark clouds were seen as an augury of an approaching storm.
Les nuages sombres étaient vus comme un augure d'une tempête imminente.
C2 verb /bɪˈstraɪd/

bestride

dominer
Meaning
To sit or stand astride something; to dominate over.
Example
The statue bestrides the city square.
La statue domine la place de la ville.
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 adjective /ˌɪnsəˈluːbriəs/

insalubrious

insalubre
Meaning
Unhealthy or not conducive to well-being.
Example
They moved out of the insalubrious neighborhood for the sake of their health.
Ils ont déménagé du quartier insalubre pour leur santé
C2 noun /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/

dissipation

dissipation
Meaning
the process of disappearing or wasting; excessive indulgence in pleasure
Example
The dissipation of his fortune left him in poverty.
La dissipation de sa fortune l'a laissé dans la pauvreté.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪnɪkjʊər/

sinecure

emploi facile
Meaning
a position requiring little or no work but giving financial benefit or status
Example
He was given a sinecure at the university as a reward for his loyalty.
Il a obtenu un emploi facile à l'université en récompense de sa loyauté.
C2 verb /ˈdæli/

dally

traîner
Meaning
To act or move slowly; to waste time; also to engage in a casual romantic relationship.
Example
He dallied in the garden instead of starting his work.
Il a traîné dans le jardin au lieu de commencer son travail.
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 adjective /ɪˈfjuːsɪv/

effusive

effusif
Meaning
Expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.
Example
She gave him an effusive welcome after his long journey.
Elle lui a réservé un accueil effusif après son long voyage.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛkənt/

peccant

coupable
Meaning
Guilty of a moral offense or wrongdoing; sinful.
Example
The judge declared the peccant official unfit for office.
Le juge a déclaré l'officiel coupable inapte à son poste.
C2 adjective /ˈbuːtləs/

bootless

inutile
Meaning
Useless or futile; of no benefit.
Example
His bootless attempt to fix the machine only wasted time.
Sa tentative inutile de réparer la machine n'a fait que perdre du temps.
C2 noun /əˈsɛt.ɪˌsɪz.əm/

asceticism

ascétisme, autodiscipline
Meaning
The practice of severe self-discipline and abstaining from indulgence, typically for religious or spiritual reasons.
Example
Asceticism has been a part of many religious traditions throughout history.
L'ascétisme a fait partie de nombreuses traditions religieuses à travers l'histoire.
C2 noun /ˈmɒnəkl/

monocle

monocle
Meaning
A single round lens for one eye, used to correct or enhance vision.
Example
The old gentleman wore a monocle at formal events.
Le vieux monsieur portait un monocle lors des événements officiels.
C2 adjective /vaɪˈtjuːpərəbl̩/

vituperable

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

patrician

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