counting-house
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C2 noun /ˈkaʊntɪŋˌhaʊs/

counting-house

bureau de comptabilité
Meaning
a business office where accounts are kept and financial transactions are managed
Example
The merchant spent most of his day in the counting-house reviewing ledgers.
Le marchand passait la majeure partie de sa journée dans le bureau de comptabilité à examiner les livres de comptes.
C2 noun /ˈɡʌp.i fɪʃ/

Guppy fish

poisson guppy
Meaning
a small colorful freshwater fish popular in aquariums, known for its vibrant colors and easy breeding
Example
The guppy fish is perfect for beginners who want to start an aquarium.
Le poisson guppy est parfait pour les débutants qui veulent commencer un aquarium.
C2 adjective /ˌækrəˈmætɪk/

achromatic

achromatique
Meaning
without color; free from color
Example
The designer chose an achromatic palette of black, white, and gray.
Le designer a choisi une palette achromatique de noir, blanc et gris.
C2 adjective /eɪˈsɛptɪk/

aseptic

sans germes
Meaning
Free from contamination caused by harmful microorganisms; sterile.
Example
Surgeons must work in an aseptic environment to prevent infection.
Les chirurgiens doivent travailler dans un environnement aseptique pour prévenir les infections.
C2 noun /ˈsɪlədʒɪzəm/

syllogism

syllelogisme
Meaning
A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed premises.
Example
The philosopher explained the concept of syllogism using simple examples.
Le philosophe a expliqué le concept du syllogisme en utilisant des exemples simples.
C2 noun /ˈsɒfɪst/

sophist

sophiste
Meaning
a person who uses clever but misleading arguments
Example
He was dismissed as a sophist who twisted facts to win debates.
Il a été rejeté comme un sophiste qui déformait les faits pour gagner des débats.
C2 adjective /ˈhæm ˌhændɪd/

ham-handed

maladroit
Meaning
clumsy or inept in handling things or situations
Example
His ham-handed attempt to fix the computer made it worse.
Sa tentative maladroite de réparer l'ordinateur l'a empiré.
C2 noun /nɑnˈen.tə.ti/

Nonentity

personne sans importance; quelque chose qui n'existe pas
Meaning
a person of no importance or influence; something that does not exist
Example
He felt like a nonentity in the large corporation.
Il se sentait comme une non-entité dans la grande entreprise.
C2 noun /ˈtʊrnɪkɪt/

tourniquet

garrot
Meaning
a device used to stop bleeding by compressing blood vessels
Example
The medic applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
Le médecin a appliqué un garrot pour arrêter le saignement.
C2 noun /ˈlæŋɡər/

languor

langueur
Meaning
A state of tiredness, inertia, or dreamy relaxation.
Example
The hot afternoon filled her with languor.
L'après-midi chaud l'a remplie de langueur.
C2 noun /ˈflɪpənsi/

flippancy

légèreté
Meaning
lack of seriousness; showing a disrespectful or trivial attitude
Example
His flippancy during the meeting offended his colleagues.
Sa légèreté pendant la réunion a offensé ses collègues.
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 verb /dɪˈsɪmjʊˌleɪt/

dissimulate

dissimuler
Meaning
To disguise or conceal one's true feelings or intentions.
Example
He tried to dissimulate his fear with a smile.
Il a essayé de dissimuler sa peur avec un sourire.
C2 adjective /ˈsmɑːrmi/

smarmy

flatteur / fausse politesse
Meaning
Excessively flattering or ingratiating, often insincerely.
Example
The salesman gave a smarmy pitch that felt fake.
Le vendeur a donné un discours flatteur qui semblait faux.
C2 noun /ˌæŋɡləˈfoʊbiə/

anglophobia

anglophobie
Meaning
Dislike or fear of England, English people, or English culture.
Example
The politician was accused of promoting Anglophobia in his speeches.
Le politicien a été accusé de promouvoir l'anglophobie dans ses discours.
C2 noun /liːdʒ/

liege

seigneur féodal
Meaning
A feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service; a loyal subject.
Example
The knight pledged loyalty to his liege.
Le chevalier prêta allégeance à son seigneur féodal.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈperɪʃəbəl/

Imperishable

imperissable; éternel; immortel
Meaning
not subject to decay; lasting forever; eternal
Example
The imperishable beauty of classical art continues to inspire generations.
La beauté impérissable de l'art classique continue d'inspirer les générations.
C2 noun /ˈæpəplɛksi/

apoplexy

Perte soudaine de conscience ou de contrôle due à un AVC ou à une colère extrême
Meaning
A sudden loss of consciousness or control due to stroke or extreme anger.
Example
The old man nearly had apoplexy when he heard the shocking news.
Le vieil homme a failli avoir une apoplexie lorsqu'il a entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C2 adjective /ˈɡɑːrbəld/

garbled

brouillé
Meaning
Describes speech or text that is distorted or unclear.
Example
The radio broadcast was full of garbled messages.
La diffusion radio était pleine de messages brouillés.
C2 adjective /ˈfʌndʒəbl/

fungible

fongible
Meaning
interchangeable; able to replace or be replaced by another identical item
Example
In finance, money is considered a fungible asset.
En finance, l'argent est considéré comme un actif fongible.
C2 verb /ænˈtɪpəθaɪz/

antipathize

antipathiser
Meaning
to feel or express a strong dislike or aversion toward something or someone
Example
He seemed to antipathize with the new management's approach.
Il semblait antipathiser avec l'approche de la nouvelle direction.
C2 verb /trænsˈfjuːz/

transfuse

transférer du sang ou un autre liquide dans une veine ou une partie du corps
Meaning
to transfer blood or another fluid into a vein or body part; to instill a quality or idea into someone or something
Example
The doctor had to transfuse blood into the patient after the surgery.
Le médecin a dû transfuser du sang au patient après la chirurgie.
C2 adjective /ˈɛkstənt/

extant

existent
Meaning
Still in existence; surviving.
Example
Only a few manuscripts from the ancient library are extant.
Seules quelques manuscrits de l'ancienne bibliothèque sont encore existants.
C2 noun /ˈɛərəˌnɔːt/

aeronaut

aéronaute
Meaning
A person who travels in an airship, balloon, or other aircraft.
Example
The aeronaut skillfully guided the hot-air balloon across the valley.
L'aéronaute a habilement guidé le ballon à air chaud à travers la vallée.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈmiːdiəbl̩/

irremediable

irrémédiable
Meaning
Impossible to cure, repair, or remedy.
Example
The damage to the ancient manuscript was irremediable.
Les dommages au manuscrit ancien étaient irrémédiables.
C2 verb /ˈstʌltɪfaɪ/

stultify

rendre quelqu'un ou quelque chose stupide ou nuire à l'efficacité et à l'enthousiasme
Meaning
to make someone or something appear foolish, or to hinder effectiveness and enthusiasm
Example
The repetitive tasks seemed to stultify the workers' creativity.
Les tâches répétitives semblaient rendre les travailleurs moins créatifs.
C2 noun /ˈprɒsədi/

prosody

prosodie
Meaning
The patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry and speech.
Example
The professor explained how prosody affects the mood of a poem.
Le professeur a expliqué comment la prosodie affecte l'humeur d'un poème.
C2 adjective /ˈbɛərˌfeɪst/

barefaced

effronté
Meaning
shameless and undisguised; openly bold or unashamed
Example
He told a barefaced lie in front of everyone.
Il a raconté un mensonge effronté devant tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈɒrɪz(ə)n/

orison

prière
Meaning
a prayer, especially a devout or formal one
Example
He whispered a quiet orison before going to sleep.
Il murmura une prière silencieuse avant de dormir.
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 /ˈɛkwɪpɔɪz/

equipoise

équilibre
Meaning
A state of balance or equilibrium.
Example
Her calmness created an equipoise in the heated debate.
Sa calme a créé un équilibre dans le débat animé.
C2 verb /dɪˈpreɪv/

deprave

pervertir
Meaning
to corrupt morally; to make someone immoral or wicked
Example
The novel was criticized for attempting to deprave the minds of young readers.
Le roman a été critiqué pour avoir tenté de pervertir l'esprit des jeunes lecteurs.
C2 noun /miːn/

mien

mine
Meaning
A person's appearance or manner, especially as an indication of their character or mood.
Example
His serious mien made everyone fall silent.
Son air sérieux fit taire tout le monde.
C2 adjective /rɪˈdjuːsəbl̩/

reducible

réductible
Meaning
capable of being simplified, lessened, or made smaller
Example
The problem is complex but reducible to a few basic principles.
Le problème est complexe mais réductible à quelques principes de base.
C2 noun /ˌsuːdəˈnɪmɪti/

pseudonymity

utilisation de pseudonyme
Meaning
the practice or state of using a pseudonym
Example
The author maintained pseudonymity throughout her career.
L'auteure a maintenu l'utilisation de pseudonyme tout au long de sa carrière.
C2 adjective /kənˈkɒmɪtənt/

concomitant

concomitant
Meaning
Naturally accompanying or associated with something.
Example
Increased stress is often concomitant with long working hours.
Le stress accru est souvent concomitant avec de longues heures de travail.
C2 noun /ˈɪrˌʃɑːt/

earshot

plage d'audition
Meaning
the range or distance within which a sound can be heard
Example
The children whispered secrets out of earshot of their parents.
Les enfants ont chuchoté des secrets hors de portée de leurs parents.
C2 noun /ˌdɪvɪˈneɪʃən/

divination

divination
Meaning
the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means
Example
Ancient people often relied on divination to guide important decisions.
Les peuples anciens se fiaient souvent à la divination pour guider les décisions importantes.
C2 noun /ˈfeɪlæŋks/

phalanx

phalanx
Meaning
A group of people or things arranged in a compact, close formation; also an ancient Greek military formation.
Example
A phalanx of reporters waited outside the courthouse.
Un groupe de journalistes attendait devant le tribunal.
C2 noun

Kinsfolk

famille, proches
C2 noun /ˌmæləˈdɪkʃən/

Malediction

malédiction
Meaning
A magical word used to invoke a curse; an evil spell
Example
The witch uttered a terrible malediction upon her enemies.
La sorcière a prononcé une terrible malédiction sur ses ennemis.
C2 noun /ɡlʌt/

glut

excédent d'approvisionnement
Meaning
An excessive supply of something; more than is needed.
Example
There was a glut of cheap smartphones in the market.
Il y avait un excédent de smartphones bon marché sur le marché.
C2 adjective /ˌæp.rɪˈhen.sə.bəl/

Apprehensible

compréhensible
Meaning
able to be understood or grasped; comprehensible
Example
The complex theory became apprehensible after the professor's explanation.
La théorie complexe est devenue compréhensible après l'explication du professeur.
C2 verb /ɪˈstreɪndʒ/

estrange

aliéner
Meaning
to cause someone to no longer be close or affectionate; to alienate
Example
His constant criticism began to estrange him from his friends.
Sa critique constante a commencé à l'éloigner de ses amis.
C2 noun /ˈævərɪs/

avarice

avarice
Meaning
extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Example
His avarice led him to exploit his workers.
Son avarice l'a conduit à exploiter ses travailleurs.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊksl/

forecastle

forecastle
Meaning
The forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as living quarters for the crew.
Example
The sailors gathered in the forecastle after their shift.
Les marins se sont rassemblés dans le forecastle après leur quart.
C2 adjective /ɪˈfiːt/

effete

efféminé
Meaning
Lacking vitality, strength, or effectiveness; weak and overrefined.
Example
The empire became effete after centuries of indulgence.
L'empire est devenu efféminé après des siècles de luxe.
C2 adjective /ˌtaɪtˈfɪstɪd/

tightfisted

avare
Meaning
unwilling to spend money; stingy
Example
He is so tightfisted that he refuses to tip at restaurants.
Il est tellement avare qu'il refuse de donner un pourboire dans les restaurants.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪtɑːf/

epitaph

épitaphe
Meaning
A short text written on a tombstone in memory of the deceased.
Example
The gravestone bore an epitaph honoring the soldier’s bravery.
La pierre tombale portait une épitaphe honorant le courage du soldat.
C2 verb /lɔːd/

laud

louer
Meaning
To praise someone or something highly, especially in public.
Example
The critic lauded the actor's performance as a masterpiece.
Le critique a loué la performance de l'acteur comme un chef-d'œuvre.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkrʌˈsteɪʃən/

incrustation

croûte
Meaning
a crust or hard coating formed on the surface of something
Example
The old pipes were blocked due to heavy incrustation of minerals.
Les vieilles tuyauteries étaient bloquées en raison d'une incrustation importante de minéraux.
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 /sʌnd raɪs/

Sunned rice

riz séché au soleil
Meaning
Rice that has been dried in the sun; parched rice
Example
The farmers spread the sunned rice on mats to dry completely.
Les agriculteurs ont étendu le riz séché au soleil sur des nattes pour le sécher complètement.
C2 noun /ˈɒnwiː/ or /ˈɑːnwiː/

ennui

ennui
Meaning
A feeling of boredom, listlessness, or dissatisfaction arising from lack of excitement.
Example
After weeks of doing nothing, he sank into a deep sense of ennui.
Après des semaines à ne rien faire, il est tombé dans un profond ennui.
C2 noun /ˈdɪti/

ditty

petite chanson
Meaning
a short, simple song or poem
Example
She sang a cheerful little ditty while cooking.
Elle chanta une petite chanson joyeuse en cuisinant.
C2 noun /ɡɜːrθ/

girth

circonférence
Meaning
the measurement around the middle of something, especially a person's waist or a tree trunk
Example
The tree's girth measured nearly five feet.
La circonférence de l'arbre mesurait près de cinq pieds.
C2 verb /ˈbɜːrnɪʃ/

burnish

lustrer
Meaning
To polish something by rubbing; to enhance or improve.
Example
He burnished the old table until it shone.
Il a lustré la vieille table jusqu'à ce qu'elle brille.
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 noun /ˌtɜːsənˈtɛnəri/

tercentenary

tercentenaire
Meaning
The 300th anniversary of an event.
Example
The city celebrated its tercentenary with a grand festival.
La ville a célébré son tercentenaire avec un grand festival.
C2 verb /ˈvɪtrɪfaɪ/

vitrify

transformer en verre
Meaning
to turn into glass or a glass-like substance by heat
Example
Sand can vitrify under intense heat.
Le sable peut se transformer en verre sous une chaleur intense.
C2 noun /ˌɪnˌkeɪpəˈbɪləti/

incapability

incapacité
Meaning
lack of ability or power to do something; inability or incompetence
Example
His incapability to manage the team led to serious problems.
Son incapacité à gérer l’équipe a causé de graves problèmes.
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 adjective /ˈtaɪmwɔːrn/

timeworn

usé par le temps
Meaning
Worn or impaired by age; old and used many times.
Example
The timeworn house carried a sense of history and nostalgia.
La maison usée par le temps portait un sens de l'histoire et de la nostalgie.
C2 noun /ˈdʒaɪrəˌskoʊp/

gyroscope

gyroscope
Meaning
A device consisting of a wheel or disk mounted so it can spin rapidly and maintain orientation, used for navigation and balance.
Example
The airplane's navigation system relies on a gyroscope for stability.
Le système de navigation de l'avion s'appuie sur un gyroscope pour la stabilité.
C2 noun /nɛˈkroʊsɪs/

necrosis

nécrose
Meaning
the death of body tissue due to disease, injury, or lack of blood supply
Example
The doctor explained that the patient’s wound showed signs of necrosis.
Le médecin a expliqué que la blessure du patient montrait des signes de nécrose.
C2 noun /ˈbɪvuˌæk/

bivouac

bivouac
Meaning
a temporary camp without tents or cover, usually used by soldiers or mountaineers
Example
The climbers set up a bivouac on the mountainside.
Les grimpeurs ont installé un bivouac sur le flanc de la montagne.
C2 verb /fleɪ/

flay

enlever la peau/criticiser sévèrement
Meaning
to strip off the skin of something or criticize severely
Example
The chef flayed the fish before cooking it.
Le chef a enlevé la peau du poisson avant de le cuisiner.
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 /ˌviːələnsɛloʊ/

violoncello

violoncelle
Meaning
The full name of the cello, a large string instrument played with a bow and held between the knees.
Example
He practiced the violoncello for hours each day.
Il a pratiqué le violoncelle pendant des heures chaque jour.
C2 noun /wɪt/

whit

une très petite quantité
Meaning
a very small part or amount
Example
He doesn't care a whit about the outcome.
Il ne se soucie pas d'un iota du résultat.
C2 adjective /ˈɪnmoʊst/

inmost

le plus intime
Meaning
Situated at the very heart or deepest part; most private or secret.
Example
She revealed her inmost thoughts to her closest friend.
Elle a révélé ses pensées les plus intimes à son ami le plus proche.
C2 adjective /blaɪð/

blithe

insouciant
Meaning
Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered improper or carefree happiness.
Example
She had a blithe disregard for the rules.
Elle avait un mépris insouciant pour les règles.
C2 noun dʒɛsˌtɪk.jʊˈleɪ.ʃənz

gesticulations

gesticulations
Meaning
Expressive hand or body movements while speaking to convey thoughts or emotions
Example
His energetic gesticulations made the speech more engaging.
Ses gesticulations énergiques ont rendu le discours plus captivant.
C2 noun /rɪˌkrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/

recrimination

contre-accusation
Meaning
an accusation made in response to an accusation; mutual blaming
Example
The debate quickly descended into mutual recriminations.
Le débat a rapidement dégénéré en contre-accusations mutuelles.
C2 noun /ˌjuːzɜːrˈpeɪʃən/

usurpation

usurpation
Meaning
The act of taking someone's power or property illegally or by force.
Example
The general's usurpation of the presidency led to political unrest.
L'usurpation de la présidence par le général a conduit à des troubles politiques.
C2 noun /ˈdeb.juː.tɑːnt/

debutante

jeune femme faisant sa première apparition formelle dans la société
Meaning
A young woman making her first formal appearance in society.
Example
The debutante wore a white gown at the ball.
La debutante portait une robe blanche au bal.
C2 noun /ˈmɪn.i.ən/

minion

minion
Meaning
A follower or underling of a powerful person, especially a servile one.
Example
The dictator was surrounded by loyal minions who carried out his orders.
Le dictateur était entouré de ministres fidèles qui exécutaient ses ordres.
C2 noun /ˈpɔːrfəri/

porphyry

une roche ignée dure
Meaning
A hard igneous rock containing crystals, often used for decorative or building purposes.
Example
The ancient Romans used porphyry to make columns and statues.
Les anciens Romains ont utilisé le porphyre pour fabriquer des colonnes et des statues.
C2 adjective /ˈfæl.oʊ/

fallow

jachère
Meaning
Describing land that is left unplanted for a period to restore its fertility, allowing soil to recover nutrients and break pest and disease cycles.
Example
Farmers leave their fields fallow to restore soil fertility.
Les agriculteurs laissent leurs champs en jachère pour restaurer la fertilité du sol.
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 /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/

hawthorn

arbuste épineux
Meaning
A thorny shrub or small tree with white or pink flowers, often used for hedges.
Example
The garden was lined with blooming hawthorn bushes.
Le jardin était bordé de buissons de prunelliers en fleurs.
C2 noun /rɪˈpʌɡ.nəns/

repugnance

répulsion
Meaning
intense disgust or strong aversion towards something
Example
She felt deep repugnance at the cruelty of the act.
Elle ressentit une profonde répulsion envers la cruauté de l'acte.
C2 adjective /ˈfækʃəs/

factious

factionnel
Meaning
causing disagreement or division within a group; inclined to form factions
Example
The debate became factious, splitting the committee into rival camps.
Le débat est devenu factionnel, divisant le comité en camps rivaux.
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 adjective /ɪnˈtɛmpərət/

intemperate

intempérant
Meaning
Lacking self-control; immoderate, especially in indulgence.
Example
The politician's intemperate remarks caused controversy.
Les remarques intempérantes du politicien ont causé la controverse.
C2 adjective /ˈfjuːzəbl/

fusible

fusionnable
Meaning
Capable of being melted or fused.
Example
The engineer used a fusible alloy in the experiment.
L'ingénieur a utilisé un alliage fusionnable dans l'expérience.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnæprɪˈhɛnsəbl/

inapprehensible

incompréhensible
Meaning
not understandable; incomprehensible
Example
The concept was so abstract that it seemed inapprehensible to most students.
Le concept était si abstrait qu'il semblait incompréhensible pour la plupart des étudiants.
C2 noun /ˈbuːt.leɪs/

Boot-lace

lacet de botte
Meaning
a cord or string used to fasten a boot or shoe
Example
I need to tie my boot-lace before going for a walk.
Je dois attacher mon lacet de botte avant de partir en promenade.
C2 adjective /ɪˈrɛzəluːt/

irresolute

indécis
Meaning
uncertain or indecisive; lacking determination
Example
He stood irresolute at the crossroads, unsure which path to take.
Il resta indécis au carrefour, ne sachant quel chemin prendre.
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 verb /haɪˈpɒθɪkeɪt/

hypothecate

hypothéquer
Meaning
to pledge something, such as property, as security for a debt without giving up possession of it.
Example
The company hypothecated its assets to secure the loan.
L'entreprise a hypothéqué ses actifs pour sécuriser le prêt.
C2 noun /ˈɛərəˌstæt/

aerostat

aérostat
Meaning
A lighter-than-air craft, such as a balloon, that is lifted by gas.
Example
The military used an aerostat for surveillance over the border.
L'armée a utilisé un aérostat pour la surveillance de la frontière.
C2 noun /liːən/

lien

privilège
Meaning
A legal right to keep possession of property until a debt is paid.
Example
The bank placed a lien on the house until the mortgage was cleared.
La banque a placé un privilège sur la maison jusqu'à ce que l'hypothèque soit réglée.
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 adjective /daɪˈdæktɪk/

didactic

didactique
Meaning
Intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.
Example
The novel is not just entertaining but also didactic in nature.
Le roman n'est pas seulement divertissant, mais aussi didactique par nature.
C2 noun /ˈoʊvərlɔːrd/

overlord

seigneur
Meaning
A ruler, master, or person of great power and authority over others.
Example
The peasants were forced to pay taxes to their overlord.
Les paysans ont été forcés de payer des impôts à leur seigneur.
C2 noun /ˌfɔːrɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

foreordination

prédestination
Meaning
the act of determining something in advance; predestination
Example
The doctrine of foreordination suggests that events are fixed by divine will.
La doctrine de la prédestination suggère que les événements sont fixés par la volonté divine.
C2 noun /əˈluː.vi.əm/

alluvium

alluvion
Meaning
Fertile soil deposited by flowing water, especially in riverbanks.
Example
The alluvium in riverbanks is highly fertile for agriculture.
L'alluvion sur les rives des rivières est très fertile pour l'agriculture.
C2 noun /niːˈɒlədʒɪzəm/

neologism

néologisme
Meaning
A newly coined word or expression.
Example
The internet has given rise to many neologisms like 'selfie' and 'hashtag'.
Internet a donné naissance à de nombreux néologismes comme 'selfie' et 'hashtag'.
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 noun /juːˈdʒen.ɪks/

eugenics

eugénisme
Meaning
the study or practice of improving the genetic quality of the human population
Example
Eugenics has been criticized for its unethical applications in history.
L'eugénisme a été critiqué pour ses applications non éthiques dans l'histoire.
C2 verb /aɪˈdɒləˌtraɪz/

idolatrize

idolâtrer
Meaning
To worship idols; to regard with excessive devotion or admiration.
Example
They began to idolatrize the statue as a deity.
Ils ont commencé à idolâtrer la statue comme une divinité.
C2 noun /ˈkriːməri/

creamery

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

astringent

astringent
Meaning
sharp or severe in manner or style; also describes a substance that contracts skin or body tissues
Example
Her astringent tone silenced the noisy class.
Son ton astringent a fait taire la classe bruyante.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈspɒzɪtəri/

expository

expositif
Meaning
intended to explain or describe something
Example
The teacher gave an expository lecture on the topic.
Le professeur a donné une conférence expositive sur le sujet.
C2 adjective /ˈməʊdɪʃ/

modish

à la mode
Meaning
conforming to or following current fashion or style
Example
She wore a modish outfit that caught everyone’s attention.
Elle portait une tenue modish qui attirait l'attention de tout le monde.
C2 adjective /ˈɪn.dɪ.dʒənt/

indigent

indigent
Meaning
lacking the necessities of life due to poverty; very poor
Example
The hospital offers free care to indigent patients.
L'hôpital offre des soins gratuits aux patients indigents.
C2 noun /niːˈɒkrəsi/

neocracy

Gouvernement dirigé par des fonctionnaires inexpérimentés ou nouveaux
Meaning
A government or leadership run by inexperienced or new officials.
Example
The sudden revolution led to a neocracy with inexperienced leaders.
La révolution soudaine a conduit à une néocratie avec des dirigeants inexpérimentés.
C2 noun /mjuːˈnɪfəsəns/

munificence

munificence
Meaning
great generosity or lavish giving
Example
The hospital was built thanks to the munificence of a wealthy donor.
L'hôpital a été construit grâce à la munificence d'un riche donateur.
C2 noun /mjuːz/

mews

impasse/rue étroite
Meaning
A row or street of houses or apartments that have been converted from stables or built to look like former stables.
Example
They rented a small flat in a quiet London mews.
Ils ont loué un petit appartement dans un mews tranquille de Londres.
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 /ˈmjuːtəbl/

mutable

mutable
Meaning
Capable of change or alteration.
Example
Human emotions are mutable and can shift rapidly.
Les émotions humaines sont mutables et peuvent changer rapidement.
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 /ˌpɑːrtjʊˈrɪʃən/

parturition

accouchement
Meaning
The act of giving birth; childbirth.
Example
The doctor explained the stages of parturition to the students.
Le médecin a expliqué les étapes de l'accouchement aux étudiants.
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 /ˈvoʊtɪv/

votive

votif
Meaning
Offered or dedicated in fulfillment of a vow.
Example
She lit a votive candle in the church as a prayer.
Elle a allumé une bougie votive dans l'église comme prière.
C2 noun /ˈæltruɪst/

altruist

altruiste
Meaning
a person who has an unselfish concern for the welfare of others
Example
He is an altruist who always puts others' needs before his own.
Il est un altruiste qui met toujours les besoins des autres avant les siens.
C2 verb /ˈsʌbdʒʊˌɡeɪt/

subjugate

soumettre
Meaning
To bring under domination or control, especially by conquest.
Example
The empire sought to subjugate the neighboring kingdoms.
L'empire a cherché à soumettre les royaumes voisins.
C2 noun /əˈpɜːrtənəns/

appurtenance

accessoire / élément supplémentaire
Meaning
an accessory or supplementary part of something
Example
The garage is an appurtenance of the main house.
Le garage est un accessoire de la maison principale.
C2 verb /ˌnɒnˈplʌs/

nonplus

décontenancer
Meaning
To surprise and confuse someone so much that they are unsure how to react.
Example
The unexpected question seemed to nonplus the speaker.
La question inattendue sembla décontenancer l'orateur.
C2 noun /ˌmɪnəˈrɛt/

minaret

minaret
Meaning
A tall, slender tower of a mosque, from which the call to prayer is announced.
Example
The minaret of the mosque could be seen from miles away.
Le minaret de la mosquée était visible à des kilomètres à la ronde.