defalcate
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C2 verb /ˈdiːfælˌkeɪt/

defalcate

détourner des fonds
Meaning
to misuse or embezzle money that one is responsible for
Example
The accountant was accused of defalcating company funds.
Le comptable a été accusé de détournement des fonds de l'entreprise.
C2 noun /drɒs/

dross

dross
Meaning
worthless or unwanted material; rubbish or impurities
Example
Most of his early writings were considered dross.
La plupart de ses premiers écrits étaient considérés comme de la dross.
C2 verb /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛs/

deliquesce

devenir liquide en absorbant l'humidité de l'air
Meaning
to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
Example
The salt began to deliquesce after being left in the humid room.
Le sel a commencé à se délier après avoir été laissé dans la pièce humide.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡ roʊz/

Dog-rose

églantier
Meaning
A wild rose species with pink or white flowers and thorny stems, common in hedgerows
Example
The dog-rose bush grew wild along the countryside path.
Le buisson d'églantier a poussé sauvagement le long du chemin de campagne.
C2 verb /dɪˈkænt/

decant

décanter
Meaning
To pour liquid gently from one container into another, especially without disturbing the sediment.
Example
She carefully decanted the wine into a clean glass.
Elle a soigneusement versé le vin dans un verre propre.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkɜrsɪv/

discursive

discursif
Meaning
Tending to digress or move from topic to topic; lengthy and rambling.
Example
His discursive style made the lecture hard to follow.
Son style discursif a rendu la conférence difficile à suivre.
C2 noun /ˌdiːlɛkˈteɪʃən/

delectation

plaisir
Meaning
great pleasure or delight
Example
She read the story aloud for the delectation of her friends.
Elle a lu l'histoire à voix haute pour le plaisir de ses amis.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛbəˈnɛr/

debonair

charmant
Meaning
confident, stylish, and charming, typically referring to a man
Example
He looked debonair in his tuxedo at the gala.
Il avait l'air charmant dans son smoking à la soirée.
C2 adjective /ˈdəʊl.səm/

dolesome

triste
Meaning
Filled with grief or sadness; mournful.
Example
The dolesome ballad brought tears to their eyes.
La ballade triste a apporté des larmes à leurs yeux.
C2 noun /ˈdiːɪst/

deist

déiste
Meaning
a person who believes in the existence of a supreme being but rejects organized religion
Example
The philosopher identified himself as a deist.
Le philosophe s'est identifié comme un déiste.
C2 adjective /ˈdoʊlfəl/

Doleful

triste; lugubre;
Meaning
sorrowful; mournful; expressing grief or sadness
Example
She gave him a doleful look when he left.
Elle lui donna un regard triste lorsqu'il partit.
C2 noun /ˈdɛθsˌhɛd/

deaths-head

crâne
Meaning
A representation of a human skull, often used as a symbol of death.
Example
The pirate flag was marked with a grim deaths-head.
Le drapeau pirate était marqué d'un sinistre crâne.
C2 noun /dɪˌlæpɪˈdeɪʃən/

dilapidation

dilapidation
Meaning
The state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect.
Example
The old temple was in a state of dilapidation.
Le vieux temple était dans un état de dilapidation.
C2 noun /ˈdɔːrmər/

dormer

fenêtre mansardée
Meaning
A window that projects vertically from a sloping roof.
Example
The old house had a dormer overlooking the garden.
La vieille maison avait une fenêtre mansardée donnant sur le jardin.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪskəmˈbɑːbjuleɪtɪd/

discombobulated

désorienté
Meaning
confused and disoriented; feeling unsettled
Example
She looked discombobulated after hearing the unexpected news.
Elle avait l'air désorientée après avoir entendu la nouvelle inattendue.
C2 noun /ˈdəʊ.lər/

dolor

douleur
Meaning
A state of great sorrow or distress.
Example
The nation was in deep dolor after the tragedy.
La nation était dans une grande douleur après la tragédie.
C2 noun /ˌdɪʃəˈbiːl/

dishabille

déshabillé
Meaning
The state of being only partly or loosely dressed; casual or careless attire.
Example
She answered the door in a state of dishabille, wearing just a robe.
Elle a répondu à la porte dans un état de déshabillé, portant seulement un peignoir.
C2 noun /dɪˈstɪlər/

distiller

distillateur
Meaning
A person or company that makes alcoholic drinks or purified liquids by distillation.
Example
The distiller introduced a new brand of whiskey last year.
Le distillateur a lancé une nouvelle marque de whisky l'année dernière.
C2 adjective /ˈdɔːnt.ləs/

dauntless

intrépide, courageux, déterminé
Meaning
Showing fearlessness and determination; brave and resolute.
Example
The dauntless soldier fought against all odds.
Le soldat intrépide a combattu contre toutes les adversités.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛprɪkətɔːri/

deprecatory

désobligeant
Meaning
expressing disapproval or belittling
Example
He gave a deprecatory remark about their performance.
Il a fait une remarque désobligeante sur leur performance.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌktaɪl/

ductile

ductile
Meaning
capable of being stretched into a thin wire without breaking; easily influenced
Example
Gold is a very ductile metal.
L'or est un métal très ductile.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæpɪteɪt/

decapitate

bonheur
Meaning
To cut off the head of a person or animal.
Example
The ancient executioner decapitated the criminal.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur quand elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˈdɛvɪltrɪ/

deviltry

mauvais tours
Meaning
Cruel or malicious behavior; mischief with an evil aspect.
Example
The villain’s deviltry terrified the townsfolk.
Les mauvais tours du méchant ont terrifié les habitants du village.
C2 adjective /ˌdeɪ.kɒlˈteɪ/

decollete

vêtement à décolleté profond
Meaning
of a woman's dress or top, cut low so as to reveal the neck and upper chest
Example
She wore a decollete gown to the party.
Elle portait une robe décolletée à la fête.
C2 noun /dɪsˈdʒʌŋkʃən/

disjunction

disjonction
Meaning
A lack of connection between things; separation or disunity.
Example
There is a clear disjunction between theory and practice.
Il existe une claire disjonction entre la théorie et la pratique.
C2 adjective /droʊl/

droll

drôle
Meaning
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement
Example
He had a droll sense of humor that made everyone laugh.
Il avait un sens de l'humour drôle qui faisait rire tout le monde.
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 adjective /dɪˈrɒɡətɪv/

derogative

dérogatoire
Meaning
Expressing a low opinion or showing lack of respect.
Example
He made a derogative remark about her work.
Il a fait une remarque dérogatoire sur son travail.
C2 noun /drɛɡz/

dregs

dregs
Meaning
the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment or grounds; the most worthless part of something
Example
He drank the dregs of the coffee before leaving.
Il a bu les dregs du café avant de partir.
C2 noun /ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjʊəns/

discontinuance

discontinuité
Meaning
the act of stopping something, especially permanently
Example
The discontinuance of the service disappointed many customers.
L'interruption du service a déçu de nombreux clients.
C2 adjective /ˈdaʊ.di/

dowdy

démodé / usé
Meaning
unfashionable, dull, or shabby in appearance
Example
She wore a dowdy dress to the party.
Elle portait une robe démodée à la fête.
C2 noun /daɪˈvɛstɪtʃər/

divestiture

désinvestissement
Meaning
the action of selling off or disposing of business interests or assets
Example
The divestiture of the subsidiary was completed last year.
La désinvestissement de la filiale a été achevé l'année dernière.
C2 noun /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃə/

differentia

caractéristique distincte
Meaning
A distinguishing characteristic that sets one thing apart from another.
Example
The differentia of humans is their ability to reason abstractly.
La caractéristique distincte des humains est leur capacité à raisonner de manière abstraite.
C2 noun /dɛnˈdrɒlədʒi/

dendrology

dendrologie
Meaning
the scientific study of trees and woody plants
Example
He is studying dendrology at the university.
Il étudie la dendrologie à l'université.
C2 noun /dɪˈprævɪti/

depravity

dégrégation morale
Meaning
moral corruption; wickedness
Example
The film portrays the moral depravity of a corrupt society.
Le film dépeint la dégradation morale d'une société corrompue.
C2 adjective /dɪˈluːsɪv/

delusive

illusoir
Meaning
Giving a false or misleading impression; deceptive.
Example
His promises turned out to be delusive and untrustworthy.
Ses promesses se sont révélées être illusoires et peu fiables.
C2 noun /dəˈkɔɪt/

Dacoit

bandit
Meaning
a member of an armed gang of robbers; a bandit, especially in India and Myanmar
Example
The village was terrorized by a gang of dacoits who robbed travelers.
Le village a été terrorisé par un gang de bandits qui ont volé les voyageurs.
C2 verb /diːˈmoʊbəlaɪz/

demobilize

démobiliser
Meaning
To release from military service or to disband troops.
Example
The government decided to demobilize the army after the war.
Le gouvernement a décidé de démobiliser l'armée après la guerre.
C2 noun /ˈdrʌmɪt/

Drumet

drumet
Meaning
a small drum used in military or marching bands
Example
The drummer played a steady beat on the drumet during the parade.
Le batteur a joué un rythme constant sur le drumet pendant le défilé.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪəˈlɛktɪk/

dialectic

dialectique
Meaning
A method of argument or reasoning by dialogue, especially as a means of investigating truth.
Example
The philosopher used dialectic to challenge his students' assumptions.
Le philosophe a utilisé la dialectique pour remettre en question les hypothèses de ses étudiants.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/

diabolic

diabolique
Meaning
Extremely evil or cruel; characteristic of the devil.
Example
The villain devised a diabolic scheme.
Le méchant a imaginé un plan diabolique.
C2 adjective /ˈdəʊ.lə.rəs/

dolorous

doloureux
Meaning
Expressing great sorrow or distress.
Example
He spoke in a dolorous tone after the loss.
Il a parlé sur un ton doloureux après la perte.
C2 noun /draɪ ˈmæŋgoʊ ˈpaʊdər/

Dry Mango Powder

amchur
Meaning
a tangy powder made from dried raw mangoes, used as a spice in Indian cuisine
Example
The chef sprinkled dry mango powder over the chaat for extra tanginess.
Le chef a saupoudré de la poudre de mangue sèche sur le chaat pour ajouter de l'acidité.
C2 noun dɪsˈbɜːs.mənt

disbursement

décaissement
Meaning
The payment of money from a fund.
Example
The company's disbursement of salaries was delayed.
Le décaissement des salaires de l'entreprise a été retardé.
C2 verb /dɪsˈteɪn/

distain

mépriser
Meaning
to treat with scorn or contempt (archaic form of disdain)
Example
He would never distain those who had less fortune than him.
Il ne méprisait jamais ceux qui avaient moins de fortune que lui.
C2 verb /dɪsˈbɑːr/

disbar

révoquer un avocat de la profession légale
Meaning
to officially remove a lawyer from the legal profession
Example
The corrupt lawyer was disbarred for unethical conduct.
L'avocat corrompu a été disbarred pour conduite non éthique.
C2 verb /dɪˈræsɪˌneɪt/

deracinate

déraciner
Meaning
To uproot something completely; to displace people from their native environment or culture.
Example
The conflict deracinated many families from their homeland.
Le conflit a déraciné de nombreuses familles de leur terre natale.
C2 verb /dɪsˈɡɔːrdʒ/

disgorge

vomir, déverser
Meaning
to discharge or pour out; to vomit; to give up reluctantly
Example
The broken pipe disgorged water all over the floor.
Le tuyau cassé a déversé de l'eau sur tout le sol.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɔːrtmənt/

deportment

comportement
Meaning
A person's behavior or manners, especially in a formal situation.
Example
Her deportment during the ceremony impressed everyone.
Son comportement pendant la cérémonie a impressionné tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˌdɪləˈtænt/

dilettante

amateur
Meaning
A person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a superficial way.
Example
He was dismissed as a dilettante in the art world because he lacked formal training.
Il a été rejeté comme un amateur dans le monde de l'art car il manquait de formation formelle.
C2 noun /ˈdrɪvəl/

drivel

bêtise
Meaning
silly or nonsensical talk
Example
The politician’s speech was full of meaningless drivel.
Le discours du politicien était plein de bêtises inutiles.
C2 noun /ˌdɛspəˈrɑːdoʊ/

desperado

bandit
Meaning
A bold, reckless, or dangerous person, often a criminal.
Example
The sheriff was determined to capture the desperado who terrorized the town.
Le shérif était déterminé à capturer le bandit qui terrorisait la ville.
C2 noun /daɪˈvʌldʒəns/

divulgence

divulgation
Meaning
the act of revealing or disclosing something secret or private
Example
The divulgence of company secrets caused a major scandal.
La divulgation des secrets de l'entreprise a provoqué un grand scandale.
C2 verb /ˈdʌmfaʊnd/

dumbfound

sidérer
Meaning
to greatly astonish or shock someone so they are temporarily speechless
Example
The magician's trick dumbfounded the audience.
Le tour de magie a sidéré le public.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈfræntʃaɪz/

disenfranchise

priver des droits
Meaning
To deprive someone of the right to vote or other rights.
Example
The new law could disenfranchise thousands of voters.
La nouvelle loi pourrait priver des milliers d'électeurs de leurs droits.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈpoʊz/

discompose

déstabiliser
Meaning
To disturb the order or calmness of something or someone.
Example
The unexpected question seemed to discompose her.
La question inattendue sembla la déstabiliser.
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 adjective /ˈdɛdˌpæn/

deadpan

impassible
Meaning
Deliberately impassive or expressionless in manner.
Example
She delivered the joke in a completely deadpan voice.
Elle a livré la blague avec une voix complètement impassible.
C2 verb /diːˈlɪmɪt/

delimit

délimiter
Meaning
to fix the boundaries or limits of something
Example
The treaty was signed to delimit the borders of the two countries.
Le traité a été signé pour délimiter les frontières des deux pays.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛsɪkeɪtɪd/

desiccated

desséché
Meaning
completely dried, having had all moisture removed
Example
The museum displayed desiccated specimens of plants.
Le musée a exposé des spécimens desséchés de plantes.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɑːzɪtər/

depositor

dépôtiste
Meaning
a person who places money in a bank or financial institution
Example
The bank provides insurance to protect depositors’ funds.
La banque fournit une assurance pour protéger les fonds des déposants.
C2 noun /ˈdræɡˌnɛt/

dragnet

filtre
Meaning
A systematic search or investigation, often by police to catch criminals.
Example
The police launched a dragnet to capture the fugitives.
La police a lancé un filtre pour capturer les fugitifs.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈtɒmɪk/

diatomic

diatomique
Meaning
Consisting of two atoms.
Example
Oxygen is a diatomic molecule.
L'oxygène est une molécule diatomique.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɒsɪsən/

diocesan

relatif à un diocèse
Meaning
relating to a diocese or the district under the supervision of a bishop in the Christian Church
Example
The diocesan council met to discuss church affairs.
Le conseil diocésain s'est réuni pour discuter des affaires de l'église.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɪlɪteɪt/

debilitate

affaiblir
Meaning
to weaken or make someone or something infirm
Example
The long illness debilitated his strength.
La longue maladie a affaibli sa force.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌlsɪt/

dulcet

doux
Meaning
sweet and soothing (often used ironically)
Example
She was enchanted by his dulcet voice.
Elle était enchantée par sa voix douce.
C2 adjective /ˈdæpər/

dapper

élégant et soigné
Meaning
Neat, stylish, and well-dressed in appearance.
Example
He looked very dapper in his new suit.
Il avait l'air très élégant dans son nouveau costume.
C2 adjective /dɪˈstɛnsəbl̩/

distensible

distensible
Meaning
Capable of being stretched or expanded.
Example
The stomach is a distensible organ that can expand after eating.
L'estomac est un organe distensible qui peut se dilater après avoir mangé.
C2 verb /dʌn/

dun

exiger le paiement d'une dette
Meaning
to demand payment of a debt persistently
Example
The landlord dunned the tenant for unpaid rent.
Le propriétaire a demandé plusieurs fois le loyer impayé.
C2 verb /dɪˈlæpɪdeɪt/

dilapidate

détériorer
Meaning
To cause something, especially a building, to fall into ruin or disrepair.
Example
The abandoned house began to dilapidate over the years.
La maison abandonnée a commencé à se détériorer au fil des ans.
C2 adjective /dɪˈluːsəri/

delusory

illusoires
Meaning
Based on illusion; not real.
Example
He was filled with delusory hopes of becoming famous overnight.
Il était rempli de faux espoirs de devenir célèbre du jour au lendemain.
C2 noun /dæmˈneɪ.ʃən/

Damnation

damnation éternelle; destruction
Meaning
condemnation to eternal punishment in hell; something that causes ruin or failure
Example
The preacher spoke about salvation and damnation in his sermon.
Le prédicateur a parlé du salut et de la damnation dans son sermon.
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 /ˈduːti/

Dhuti

dhuti
Meaning
a traditional Indian garment for men consisting of a piece of unstitched cloth worn around the waist and legs
Example
The elderly man wore a white dhuti during the religious ceremony.
L'homme âgé portait un dhuti blanc lors de la cérémonie religieuse.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmjʊər/

demure

réservé
Meaning
reserved, modest, and shy
Example
She gave him a demure smile.
Elle lui donna un sourire réservé.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪələˈtɪʃən/

dialectician

dialecticien
Meaning
A person skilled in dialectic or logical argument.
Example
Socrates is often considered the greatest dialectician in history.
Socrate est souvent considéré comme le plus grand dialecticien de l'histoire.
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 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 /dɪˈfoʊliənt/

defoliant

défoliant
Meaning
a chemical that causes leaves to drop from plants, often used in warfare or agriculture
Example
The army sprayed defoliant to clear the forest cover.
L'armée a pulvérisé un défoliant pour dégager le couvert forestier.
C2 verb /dɪˈspɒnd/

despond

se laisser abattre
Meaning
to lose confidence or hope; to become dejected
Example
After repeated failures, he began to despond.
Après des échecs répétés, il a commencé à se laisser abattre.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈbɑːbjuleɪt/

discombobulate

déstabiliser
Meaning
to confuse or disconcert; to upset the normal order
Example
The sudden question seemed to discombobulate him.
La question soudaine sembla le déstabiliser.
C2 adjective /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/

determinate

déterminé
Meaning
having exact and definite limits or form
Example
The contract is for a determinate period of two years.
Le contrat est pour une période déterminée de deux ans.
C2 noun /ˌdeɪnuːˈmɒ̃/

denouement

dénouement
Meaning
The final resolution or conclusion of a story, drama, or complicated situation.
Example
The novel's denouement was both surprising and satisfying.
Le dénouement du roman était à la fois surprenant et satisfaisant.
C2 noun /dɪsˈkwaɪɪtjuːd/

disquietude

inquiétude
Meaning
A state of uneasiness, anxiety, or restlessness.
Example
His constant pacing showed his inner disquietude.
Ses pas incessants montraient son inquiétude intérieure.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtɜːr/

disinter

désenterrer
Meaning
to dig up something buried, especially a body
Example
The archaeologists disinterred ancient remains from the site.
Les archéologues ont désenterré des restes anciens du site.
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 adverb /ˈdɑːrklɪŋ/

darkling

dans l'obscurité
Meaning
In the dark or growing dark; dimly.
Example
The forest creatures moved darkling through the night.
Les créatures de la forêt se déplaçaient dans l'obscurité pendant la nuit.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/

deferential

respectueux
Meaning
Showing or expressing respect and high regard.
Example
He was always deferential toward his teachers.
Il était toujours respectueux envers ses enseignants.
C2 verb /dɪsˈpɔːrt/

disport

se divertir
Meaning
To amuse oneself in a lively or playful way.
Example
The children disported themselves in the garden.
Les enfants se sont amusés dans le jardin.
C2 adjective /ˈdaʊti/

doughty

courageux
Meaning
brave, valiant, courageous
Example
The doughty soldier never backed down from a challenge.
Le soldat courageux n'a jamais reculé face à un défi.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/

discomfit

déconcerter
Meaning
to make someone feel uneasy, embarrassed, or confused
Example
The interviewer’s tough questions discomfited the candidate.
Les questions difficiles de l'intervieweur ont déstabilisé le candidat.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌpɒd/

decapod

décapode
Meaning
An arthropod with ten limbs, such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimps.
Example
The lobster is a well-known decapod.
Le homard est un décapode bien connu.
C2 noun /dɪˈtrækʃən/

detraction

détournement
Meaning
The act of belittling or taking away from the value of something.
Example
Her constant detraction of others made her unpopular.
Sa constante dévalorisation des autres l'a rendue impopulaire.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæmp/

decamp

fuir
Meaning
To depart suddenly or secretly, often to avoid trouble or escape.
Example
The thief decamped before the police arrived.
Le voleur s'est échappé avant que la police n'arrive.
C2 noun /ˌdɛd ˈhiːt/

dead-heat

égalité parfaite
Meaning
a race or contest in which two or more competitors finish exactly equal
Example
The race ended in a dead-heat between the two runners.
La course s'est terminée par une égalité parfaite entre les deux coureurs.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌlɔːɡ/

decalogue

Décalogue
Meaning
The Ten Commandments in the Bible; a set of fundamental rules or principles.
Example
The priest gave a sermon on the importance of the Decalogue.
Le prêtre a donné un sermon sur l'importance du Décalogue.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsəˈvaʊəl/

disavowal

désaveu
Meaning
the denial of any responsibility, connection, or support
Example
The politician issued a firm disavowal of the controversial remarks.
Le politicien a émis un ferme désaveu des remarques controversées.
C2 noun /daɪn/

dyne

unité de force (système cgs)
Meaning
A unit of force in the centimeter-gram-second (cgs) system equal to 10⁻⁵ newtons.
Example
The physicist measured the force in dynes.
Le physicien a mesuré la force en dynes.
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 /ˌdɪspjuːˈteɪʃən/

disputation

dispute
Meaning
a formal debate or argument
Example
The disputation between the two scholars lasted for hours.
La disputation entre les deux érudits a duré des heures.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəs/

duteous

obéissant
Meaning
dutiful; obedient and respectful
Example
The duteous child always followed her parents’ instructions.
L'enfant obéissant suivait toujours les instructions de ses parents.
C2 verb /dɪsˈmɛmbər/

dismember

dismembrer
Meaning
to cut or tear the limbs from a body; to divide into separate parts
Example
The king ordered his enemies to be dismembered.
Le roi a ordonné que ses ennemis soient dismembrés.
C2 verb /ˈdɛpjʊˌtaɪz/

deputize

nommer comme adjoint
Meaning
To appoint someone as a deputy; to act as a substitute or representative.
Example
The sheriff decided to deputize several locals to help maintain order.
Le shérif a décidé de désigner plusieurs habitants pour aider à maintenir l'ordre.
C2 noun /ˈdɛvɪlri/

devilry

diablerie
Meaning
Wicked or cruel behavior; mischievous actions.
Example
The children were full of devilry on Halloween night.
Les enfants étaient pleins de diablerie lors de la nuit d'Halloween.
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 verb /dɪˈkleɪm/

declaim

déclamer
Meaning
to speak aloud in a formal, passionate, or theatrical way
Example
The actor declaimed his lines with great intensity.
L'acteur déclama ses répliques avec une grande intensité.
C2 noun /ˈdɛsɪkənt/

desiccant

dessicant
Meaning
a substance that absorbs moisture and keeps things dry
Example
Silica gel packets are commonly used as a desiccant in packaging.
Les paquets de gel de silice sont couramment utilisés comme dessicant dans les emballages.
C2 verb /daʊz/

dowse

chercher de l'eau ou des minéraux avec une baguette divinatoire; ou tremper ou éteindre avec un liquide.
Meaning
To search for underground water or minerals using a divining rod; also to drench or extinguish with liquid.
Example
The farmer tried to dowse for water in the dry field.
Le fermier a essayé de chercher de l'eau dans le champ sec.
C2 noun ˈdɒɡ.ɪd.nəs

doggedness

persévérance
Meaning
Stubborn persistence in achieving something without giving up.
Example
His doggedness in pursuing his goals was inspiring.
Sa persévérance dans la poursuite de ses objectifs était inspirante.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmərən/

decameron

Décaméron (recueil de contes de Boccaccio)
Meaning
A collection of 100 tales written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century, told by a group of people over ten days.
Example
The Decameron is considered a masterpiece of classical Italian literature.
Le Décaméron est considéré comme un chef-d'œuvre de la littérature italienne classique.
C2 adjective /ˈdekərəs/

decorous

décoratif
Meaning
showing proper and polite behavior; marked by good taste
Example
The audience gave a decorous applause after the performance.
Le public a applaudi de manière décorative après la performance.
C2 noun /ˈdɒldrəmz/

doldrums

morosité
Meaning
A state of inactivity, stagnation, or low spirits; also a region near the equator with calm winds.
Example
After the project failed, the team was stuck in the doldrums for months.
Après l'échec du projet, l'équipe était bloquée dans le marasme pendant des mois.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɛmbələr/

dissembler

hypocrite
Meaning
a person who conceals their real feelings or intentions; a hypocrite or pretender
Example
The politician was accused of being a dissembler who never revealed his true plans.
Le politicien a été accusé d'être un hypocrite qui n'a jamais révélé ses vrais projets.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkaʊntənəns/

discountenance

désapprouver
Meaning
To disapprove of or discourage something.
Example
The teacher strongly discountenanced cheating in exams.
Le professeur a fermement désapprouvé la triche lors des examens.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈdɪstæf/

distaff

lié aux femmes, côté maternel
Meaning
Relating to women or the maternal side of a family; also a tool for spinning thread.
Example
She came from the distaff side of a noble family.
Elle venait du côté maternel d'une famille noble.
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 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 /dɪˈbɛntʃər/

debenture

obligation
Meaning
a type of debt instrument not secured by physical assets or collateral
Example
The company raised capital by issuing debentures to investors.
L'entreprise a levé des fonds en émettant des obligations auprès des investisseurs.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪəˌdɛm/

diadem

diadème
Meaning
A crown or headband worn as a symbol of royalty or authority.
Example
The queen wore a glittering diadem at the coronation.
La reine portait une diadème étincelante lors du couronnement.
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 /ˈdʌblɪt/

doublet

doublet / veste ajustée
Meaning
a close-fitting jacket worn by men in the Renaissance; also, a pair of similar things
Example
The actor wore a velvet doublet for the Shakespearean play.
L'acteur a porté un doublet en velours pour la pièce de Shakespeare.