desultory
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C2 adjective /ˈdɛsəlˌtɔːri/

desultory

désordonné
Meaning
lacking a clear plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
Example
His desultory conversation bored the audience.
Sa conversation désordonnée ennuyait le public.
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 adjective /ˈmiːzli/

measly

insignifiant
Meaning
contemptibly small or insignificant
Example
He was paid a measly sum for the hard work.
Il a été payé une somme insignifiante pour le travail acharné.
C2 noun /raɪm/

rime

givre
Meaning
frost formed on cold surfaces by freezing water vapor
Example
The trees were covered with a white rime after the cold night.
Les arbres étaient recouverts de givre blanc après la nuit froide.
C2 verb /ɪˈdjuːs/

educe

extraire
Meaning
To draw out or bring forth something latent or hidden.
Example
The teacher tried to educe a response from the shy student.
Le professeur a essayé d'éduire une réponse de l'étudiant timide.
C2 adjective /lʌɡˈʒʊəriənt/

luxuriant

luxuriant
Meaning
abundant in growth or richly abundant
Example
The luxuriant forest was teeming with life.
La forêt luxuriante regorgeait de vie.
C2 noun /ˈɔːldərmənʃɪp/

aldermanship

poste de conseiller
Meaning
The office, position, or dignity of an alderman.
Example
He was honored with aldermanship after years of service.
Il a été honoré du poste de conseiller après des années de service.
C2 adjective /ˈbɒni/

Bonny

joli; charmant; joyeux
Meaning
cheerful; pretty; attractive
Example
The bonny child played happily in the garden.
L'enfant joli a joué joyeusement dans le jardin.
C2 noun /ˈhelmz.mən/

Helmsman

barreur; capitaine
Meaning
a person who steers a ship or boat; the person at the helm of a vessel
Example
The experienced helmsman skillfully guided the yacht through the narrow channel during the storm.
Le barreur expérimenté a habilement guidé le yacht à travers le canal étroit pendant la tempête.
C2 noun /ˌɔːskʌlˈteɪʃən/

auscultation

auscultation
Meaning
The act of listening to internal sounds of the body, typically using a stethoscope.
Example
The doctor performed auscultation to check the patient’s lungs.
Le médecin a effectué une auscultation pour vérifier les poumons du patient.
C2 verb /ˈsɛreɪt/

serrate

faire un bord dentelé
Meaning
To make a saw-toothed edge or notched margin.
Example
The craftsman serrated the knife blade for better cutting.
L'artisan a séré la lame du couteau pour une coupe meilleure.
C2 verb /ˌmɪsəˈproʊpriˌeɪt/

misappropriate

détourner
Meaning
to use something dishonestly or illegally for one's own purposes
Example
He was accused of misappropriating company funds.
Il a été accusé d'avoir détourné les fonds de l'entreprise.
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 /pəˈnʌmbrə/

penumbra

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

errant

errant
Meaning
behaving wrongly or straying from the proper course or standards
Example
The teacher disciplined the errant student.
Le professeur a discipliné l'étudiant errant.
C2 noun /ˈtɒksɪn/

tocsin

cloche d'alarme
Meaning
an alarm bell or signal; a warning that something bad is about to happen
Example
The data breach sounded a tocsin for stricter security.
La fuite de données a retenti comme une cloche d'alarme pour une sécurité renforcée.
C2 adjective /nɪˈfɛəriəs/

nefarious

néfaste, criminel ou moralement mauvais
Meaning
Wicked, criminal, or morally bad.
Example
The police uncovered a nefarious plot to cheat investors.
La police a découvert un complot néfaste pour tromper les investisseurs.
C2 verb /loʊp/

lope

courir ou se déplacer avec de grandes foulées
Meaning
to run or move with a long, bounding stride
Example
The horse loped gracefully across the field.
Le cheval se déplaçait élégamment à travers le champ.
C2 noun /waɪl/

wile

ruse, tromperie
Meaning
A trick or clever scheme meant to deceive or outwit someone.
Example
He used every wile to win her trust.
Il a utilisé toutes ses ruses pour gagner sa confiance.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtriːti/

entreaty

supplication
Meaning
An earnest or humble request or plea.
Example
She made an entreaty for peace during the heated argument.
Elle fit une supplication pour la paix pendant la discussion animée.
C2 adjective /ˌsuː.pɚˈsɪl.i.əs/

supercilious

arrogant
Meaning
Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others; arrogant and disdainful.
Example
She gave him a supercilious smile as if he was beneath her.
Elle lui a fait un sourire arrogant comme s'il était en dessous d'elle.
C2 noun /ˈlɛvi/

levee

levée
Meaning
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river or to hold back water.
Example
The town built a levee to protect itself from flooding.
La ville a construit une levée pour se protéger des inondations.
C2 noun /ɪˌdʒækjʊˈleɪʃən/

ejaculation

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

brassy

tapageur
Meaning
loud and showy in a way that lacks good taste; resembling brass in color or sound
Example
She wore a brassy necklace that caught everyone’s attention.
Elle portait un collier tapageur qui attirait l'attention de tout le monde.
C2 adjective /ˈsɒmnələnt/

somnolent

somnolent
Meaning
Sleepy or drowsy; causing a desire to sleep.
Example
The somnolent lecture made half the class fall asleep.
Le cours somnolent a fait dormir la moitié de la classe.
C2 adverb /ˌɛkspəˈdɪʃəsli/

expeditiously

de manière rapide et efficace
Meaning
in a quick and efficient manner
Example
The application was processed expeditiously.
La demande a été traitée de manière rapide et efficace.
C2 noun /ˈpɛd.ən.tri/

pedantry

préoccupation excessive pour les détails ou les règles mineures
Meaning
Excessive concern with minor details or rules.
Example
His pedantry made the meeting unnecessarily long.
Sa pédanterie a rendu la réunion inutilement longue.
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 noun /ˈnɛtl̩/

nettle

plante avec des poils qui provoquent des irritations lorsqu'ils sont touchés
Meaning
a plant with stinging hairs that cause irritation when touched
Example
He accidentally brushed against the nettle and felt a sharp sting.
Il a accidentellement frôlé l'ortie et a ressenti une douleur aiguë.
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 noun ˈsaɪəns ˈdezət

science-desert

désert scientifique
Meaning
A region or area lacking in scientific development, research facilities, or educational institutions.
Example
J.C. Bose thrived in a science-desert.
J.C. Bose a prospéré dans un désert scientifique.
C2 noun /ˈwɪtɪˌsɪzəm/

witticism

réplique spirituelle / plaisanterie
Meaning
a clever or funny remark
Example
Her witticism made everyone laugh during the meeting.
Sa réplique spirituelle a fait rire tout le monde pendant la réunion.
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 /ˌbenɪˈdɪkʃən/

Benediction

bénédiction
Meaning
a blessing, especially a ceremonial one; an expression of good wishes
Example
The priest gave his benediction to the newlyweds.
Le prêtre a donné sa bénédiction aux nouveaux mariés.
C2 noun /ˌɛləˈkjuːʃn/

elocution

élocution
Meaning
The skill of clear and expressive speech, especially in public speaking.
Example
She improved her elocution through constant practice.
Elle a amélioré son élocution grâce à une pratique constante.
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 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 /blɑːtʃ/

blotch

tache
Meaning
a large, irregular spot or stain, often on skin or fabric
Example
His shirt had a red blotch from the spilled juice.
Sa chemise avait une tache rouge due au jus renversé.
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 /wiːl/

weal

bonheur
Meaning
A raised mark on the skin left after a blow; or general well-being and prosperity.
Example
The charity worked for the common weal of the community.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˌmjuːlˈtɪər/

muleteer

muletier
Meaning
a person who drives or takes care of mules
Example
The muleteer guided the animals safely across the mountain path.
Le muletier a guidé les animaux en toute sécurité à travers le sentier de montagne.
C2 adjective /ˌɛpɪkjʊˈriːən/

epicurean

épicurien
Meaning
relating to the enjoyment of fine food, drink, and luxury
Example
The chef prepared an epicurean feast for the guests.
Le chef a préparé un festin épicurien pour les invités.
C2 adjective /əˈkɪliən/

achillean

achillien
Meaning
like or characteristic of Achilles; strong but vulnerable
Example
His achillean pride made him blind to danger.
Sa fierté achillienne le rendait aveugle au danger.
C2 noun /ˌtɜːdʒɪvərˈseɪʃən/

tergiversation

évasion, retournement
Meaning
Evasion of straightforward action or speech; changing sides or being inconsistent.
Example
The politician’s tergiversation frustrated his supporters.
La tergiversation du politicien a frustré ses partisans.
C2 noun /ˈpɒm.əl/

pommel

le bouton arrondi sur le pommeau d'une épée ou d'une selle
Meaning
the rounded knob on the handle of a sword or saddle
Example
He gripped the sword firmly by the pommel.
Il saisit fermement l'épée par le pommel.
C2 adjective /ˌʌn.rɪˈdʒɛn.ər.ət/

unregenerate

intransigeant
Meaning
Not reformed or showing no signs of change; stubbornly refusing to reform or repent.
Example
He remained an unregenerate opponent of progress.
Il est resté un opposant intransigeant du progrès.
C2 adjective /ˌpɪkəˈjuːn/

picayune

insignifiant, trivial
Meaning
of little value or importance; trivial
Example
He complained about the picayune details of the contract.
Il se plaignait des détails triviaux du contrat.
C2 noun /ˈæn.əlz/

annals

annales
Meaning
Historical records of events, usually arranged chronologically.
Example
Her name will be remembered in the annals of science.
Son nom sera gravé dans les annales de la science.
C2 noun /ˈʌŋɡwənt/

unguent

onguent
Meaning
A soothing or healing ointment applied to the skin.
Example
The doctor applied an unguent to heal the burn.
Le médecin a appliqué un onguent pour guérir la brûlure.
C2 noun /ˌdʒiːniˈælədʒɪst/

genealogist

généalogiste
Meaning
A person who studies or traces the history of families and their lineages.
Example
The genealogist uncovered records dating back to the 18th century.
Le généalogiste a découvert des archives datant du XVIIIe siècle.
C2 noun /ˌɪkθiˈɒlədʒɪst/

ichthyologist

ichtyologiste
Meaning
A scientist who studies fish.
Example
The ichthyologist discovered a new species of fish in the river.
L'ichtyologiste a découvert une nouvelle espèce de poisson dans la rivière.
C2 noun /fɪˈlɒl.ə.dʒi/

philology

l'étude de la langue dans les sources historiques écrites ; linguistique
Meaning
the study of language in written historical sources; linguistics
Example
She devoted her career to philology, researching ancient manuscripts.
Elle a consacré sa carrière à la philologie, en recherchant des manuscrits anciens.
C2 adjective /ɛmˈpaɪriəl/

empyreal

céleste
Meaning
Heavenly, divine, or relating to the highest heavens.
Example
The poet described the empyreal beauty of the stars.
Le poète a décrit la beauté céleste des étoiles.
C2 adjective /æbˈstruːs/

abstruse

abstrus
Meaning
Difficult to understand; obscure.
Example
The abstruse nature of the philosophical debate left many confused.
La nature abstruse du débat philosophique a laissé beaucoup de gens confus.
C2 adjective /ˈdɒdərɪŋ/

doddering

tremblant / faible
Meaning
Weak, shaky, or unsteady, especially due to old age.
Example
The doddering professor struggled to climb the stairs.
Le professeur doddering avait du mal à monter les escaliers.
C2 noun /ˈklɪpər/

clipper

tondeuse / bateau rapide du XIXe siècle
Meaning
a tool used for cutting, or a fast sailing ship of the 19th century
Example
The barber used clippers to trim his hair.
Le barbier a utilisé des tondeuses pour couper ses cheveux.
C2 noun /trʌs/

truss

treillis
Meaning
a framework, typically consisting of rafters, posts, and struts, supporting a roof, bridge, or other structure
Example
The engineer designed a strong truss for the new bridge.
L'ingénieur a conçu un solide treillis pour le nouveau pont.
C2 verb /pərˈlɔɪn/

purloin

voler
Meaning
to steal something, often in a sneaky or dishonest way
Example
He tried to purloin a book from the library without being noticed.
Il a essayé de voler un livre à la bibliothèque sans être remarqué.
C2 verb /ˈnɔːzieɪt/

nauseate

provoquer des nausées
Meaning
To make someone feel sick, with an inclination to vomit.
Example
The spoiled food nauseated him quickly.
La nourriture avariée l'a rendu nauséeux rapidement.
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 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 adjective ˌʌn.əˈseɪ.lə.bəl

unassailable

inaccessible
Meaning
Unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated.
Example
An unassailable position ensures dominance.
Une position inaccessible assure la domination.
C2 verb /əbˈtruːd/

obtrude

intruser
Meaning
to force oneself or one's ideas into a situation uninvited or inappropriately
Example
He didn’t want to obtrude into their private conversation.
Il ne voulait pas intruser dans leur conversation privée.
C2 noun/verb /ˈʌpˌkæst/

upcast

lancer vers le haut
Meaning
Verb: To cast or throw upward. Noun: Something thrown or directed upward.
Example
The fisherman upcast his net into the air.
Le pêcheur a lancé son filet dans les airs.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɔːˈspɪʃəs/

Inauspicious

néfaste
Meaning
unlucky; showing signs that future success is unlikely; unfavorable
Example
The dark clouds seemed inauspicious for the wedding.
Les nuages sombres semblaient néfastes pour le mariage.
C2 noun /ˈtjuːtərʃɪp/

tutorship

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

miniscule

minuscule
Meaning
Extremely small or tiny.
Example
The error was so miniscule that nobody noticed it.
L'erreur était si minuscule que personne ne l'a remarquée.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːr.bər/

Barbar

coiffeur
Meaning
a person whose job is to cut men's hair and shave or trim beards
Example
The barber gave him a perfect haircut for his wedding.
Le coiffeur lui a donné une coupe de cheveux parfaite pour son mariage.
C2 noun /mɪˌsɛdʒəˈneɪʃən/

miscegenation

métissage
Meaning
the interbreeding of people considered to be of different racial types
Example
The law once prohibited miscegenation in many countries.
La loi interdisait autrefois la miscegénation dans de nombreux pays.
C2 noun /ˈɡɪbən/

gibbon

gibbon
Meaning
a small to medium-sized tailless ape with long arms, native to the forests of Southeast Asia
Example
The gibbon swung gracefully through the trees using its long arms.
Le gibbon se balançait gracieusement entre les arbres avec ses longs bras.
C2 adjective /ˌmækɪəˈvɛliən/

machiavellian

astucieux, machiavélique et sans scrupules, en particulier en politique ou pour faire progresser sa carrière
Meaning
cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or in advancing one's career
Example
The politician was known for his Machiavellian tactics.
Le politicien était connu pour ses tactiques machiavéliques.
C2 noun /pɪˈnɒlədʒi/

penology

pénologie
Meaning
The study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation.
Example
He decided to specialize in penology to help improve the prison system.
Il a décidé de se spécialiser en pénologie pour améliorer le système pénitentiaire.
C2 adjective /rɪˈfjuː.tə.bəl/

Refutable

réfutable
Meaning
capable of being proven wrong or false; able to be disproved
Example
His theory was refutable because it could be tested experimentally.
Sa théorie était réfutable car elle pouvait être testée expérimentalement.
C2 noun /ˌvɪvɪˈsɛkʃən/

vivisection

la pratique de réaliser des opérations sur des animaux vivants pour la recherche scientifique
Meaning
the practice of performing operations on live animals for scientific research
Example
Vivisection has long been a controversial topic among scientists and animal rights activists.
La vivisection a longtemps été un sujet controversé parmi les scientifiques et les militants des droits des animaux.
C2 noun /ˈpɒtˌbɔɪlə/

potboiler

livre de série B
Meaning
a book, play, or film produced quickly to make money rather than for artistic value
Example
The novel was dismissed by critics as a mere potboiler.
Le roman a été rejeté par les critiques comme un simple livre de série B.
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 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 noun ˈvaɪ.və ˈvəʊs

viva voce

examen oral
Meaning
An oral examination, typically for an academic qualification.
Example
Viva Voce tests communication skills.
Les épreuves de Viva Voce évaluent les compétences en communication.
C2 verb /beɪt/

bate

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

invective

langage injurieux
Meaning
Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.
Example
The politician’s speech was filled with invective against his opponents.
Le discours du politicien était rempli d'invectives contre ses adversaires.
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 noun /məˈlæsɪz/

Molasses

mélasse
Meaning
thick, dark, sweet syrup made from sugar cane
Example
The recipe calls for molasses to give the bread a rich flavor.
La recette demande de la mélasse pour donner au pain une saveur riche.
C2 noun /ɪnˈhɪərəns/

inherence

inhérence
Meaning
The state of being an essential or permanent part of something.
Example
The inherence of risk is part of every business venture.
L'inhérence du risque fait partie de chaque aventure d'entreprise.
C2 noun /juː/

Ewe

brebis
Meaning
a female sheep
Example
The ewe gave birth to twin lambs.
La brebis a donné naissance à des jumeaux agneaux.
C2 adjective /ˈhoʊm.spʌn/

homespun

fait maison
Meaning
Simple and unsophisticated; made at home rather than in a factory.
Example
She wore a homespun dress to the village festival.
Elle portait une robe faite maison au festival du village.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkɒnsələt/

disconsolate

désespéré
Meaning
very unhappy and unable to be comforted
Example
She was disconsolate after hearing the bad news.
Elle était désespérée après avoir entendu la mauvaise nouvelle.
C2 noun /aɪər/

ire

colère, rage
Meaning
intense anger or rage
Example
The new policy provoked the ire of the employees.
La nouvelle politique a provoqué la colère des employés.
C2 noun /bəˈsuːn/

bassoon

un type de hautbois (instrument à vent en bois de grande taille)
Meaning
a large woodwind instrument with a deep sound
Example
The orchestra featured a beautiful bassoon solo.
L'orchestre a présenté un magnifique solo de basson.
C2 adjective /pɒnˈtɪfɪkəl/

pontifical

relatif à un pape ou un évêque ; pompeux ou prétentieux
Meaning
relating to a pope or bishop; pompous or self-important
Example
His pontifical manner annoyed the other members of the committee.
Son comportement prétentieux agaçait les autres membres du comité.
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 verb /ɪnˈdɛmnɪfaɪ/

indemnify

indemniser
Meaning
to compensate someone for harm or loss; to secure against future damage or cost
Example
The insurance company agreed to indemnify the client for the damages.
La compagnie d'assurance a accepté d'indemniser le client pour les dommages.
C2 noun /ˈluː.mən/

lumen

lumen
Meaning
A unit of luminous flux, measuring the amount of visible light emitted by a source.
Example
The bulb produces 800 lumens of light.
L'ampoule produit 800 lumens de lumière.
C2 noun prɒkˈsiː.mɪks

proxemics

l'étude de l'utilisation de l'espace personnel
Meaning
The study of how people use space and distance to indicate relationships
Example
Understanding proxemics helps in improving interpersonal communication.
Comprendre la proxémique aide à améliorer la communication interpersonnelle.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtərdʒi/

liturgy

liturgie
Meaning
A form or formulary according to which public religious worship is conducted.
Example
The priest followed the liturgy during the Sunday mass.
Le prêtre a suivi la liturgie pendant la messe du dimanche.
C2 verb /trænzˈmjuːt/

transmute

transmuter
Meaning
to change in form, nature, or substance
Example
Alchemy aimed to transmute lead into gold.
L'alchimie cherchait à transmuter le plomb en or.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːrtən/

hearten

donner du courage
Meaning
To give courage, confidence, or hope.
Example
The teacher’s encouragement heartened the students.
L'encouragement de l'enseignant a donné du courage aux étudiants.
C2 noun /ˈtændʒənsi/

tangency

tangence
Meaning
the condition of touching but not intersecting, especially in geometry
Example
The circle and the line are in a state of tangency at one point.
Le cercle et la ligne sont en état de tangence en un point.
C2 noun /ˈbloʊˌhɑrd/

blowhard

personne prétentieuse
Meaning
a person who brags a lot or talks in a boastful way
Example
Everyone avoided the blowhard at the party because he wouldn't stop bragging.
Tout le monde évitait le prétentieux à la fête car il n'arrêtait pas de se vanter.
C2 noun /ˈfiːæt/

fiat

décret, mandat
Meaning
an official order or decree; authoritative command
Example
The new policy was enacted by royal fiat.
La nouvelle politique a été mise en œuvre par un décret royal.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnprəˈpɪʃəs/

unpropitious

défavorable
Meaning
Not giving or indicating a good chance of success; unfavorable.
Example
The team began their journey under unpropitious weather conditions.
L'équipe a commencé son voyage sous des conditions météorologiques défavorables.
C2 noun /əˈdɛndəm/

addendum

addenda
Meaning
an additional item or piece of information added at the end of a document or book
Example
The report included an addendum with updated statistics.
Le rapport incluait un addenda avec des statistiques mises à jour.
C2 noun /ˈɡɜːrdər/

girder

poutre (en acier)
Meaning
a large, strong beam used to support buildings or bridges
Example
The steel girders held the weight of the bridge.
Les poutres en acier ont soutenu le poids du pont.
C2 adjective /əˈluːsɪv/

allusive

allusif
Meaning
Making indirect references or hints; suggestive without being explicit.
Example
The novel is full of allusive passages that point to classical literature.
Le roman est plein de passages allusifs qui font référence à la littérature classique.
C2 noun /ˌɛpɪˈsaɪklɔɪd/

epicycloid

épicycloïde
Meaning
a curve traced by a point on the circumference of a circle that rolls around the outside of another circle
Example
The mathematician demonstrated how to draw an epicycloid.
Le mathématicien a démontré comment dessiner une épicycloïde.
C2 verb /ˈtʃɔːrtl/

chortle

rire avec joie
Meaning
to laugh in a breathy, gleeful way
Example
The audience chortled at the comedian's witty remarks.
Le public a ri de joie aux remarques ingénieuses du comédien.
C2 noun /ˈkɒd.ɪ.sɪl/

codicil

codicille
Meaning
a legal document that makes changes or additions to an existing will
Example
He added a codicil to his will to include his granddaughter.
Il a ajouté un codicille à son testament pour inclure sa petite-fille.
C2 noun /ˈræpsədi/

rhapsody

chanson exaltée/éloge
Meaning
an expression of great enthusiasm or an epic musical composition
Example
The singer’s performance was a rhapsody of emotions.
La performance du chanteur était une rhapsodie d'émotions.
C2 noun /ˈɛksplɪkeɪtər/

explicator

explicateur
Meaning
a person who explains or interprets something in detail
Example
The critic served as an explicator of the poet’s complex works.
Le critique a servi d'explicateur des œuvres complexes du poète.
C2 noun /ˈθiːɪzəm/

theism

théisme
Meaning
Belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially a creator who intervenes in the universe.
Example
Theism is central to many world religions.
Le théisme est central dans de nombreuses religions du monde.
C2 noun /ˈiːdʒɪs/

aegis

protection
Meaning
The protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization.
Example
The project was carried out under the aegis of the United Nations.
Le projet a été réalisé sous l'égide des Nations Unies.
C2 verb /ɪmˈpjuːn/

impugn

contester la vérité, la validité ou l'honnêteté d'une déclaration ou d'un motif
Meaning
to dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of a statement or motive
Example
The lawyer tried to impugn the credibility of the witness.
L'avocat a essayé de contester la crédibilité du témoin.
C2 adjective /ˌpriːtərˈnætʃərəl/

preternatural

prétérnaturel
Meaning
Beyond what is normal or natural; extraordinary or supernatural.
Example
She had a preternatural ability to remain calm in any crisis.
Elle avait une capacité préternaturelle à rester calme dans n'importe quelle crise.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛktərəl/

pectoral

pectoral
Meaning
Relating to the chest or breast.
Example
The athlete focused on strengthening his pectoral muscles.
L'athlète s'est concentré sur le renforcement de ses muscles pectoraux.
C2 noun /rɪˌdʒuːvəˈnɛsəns/

rejuvenescence

rejuvenescence
Meaning
the action or process of becoming young or fresh again
Example
The forest showed signs of rejuvenescence after the rains.
La forêt a montré des signes de rajeunissement après la pluie.
C2 noun/verb /ɡraʊs/

grouse

se plaindre / un type d'oiseau
Meaning
A type of bird; or to complain or grumble persistently.
Example
He always grouses about the long hours at work.
Il se plaint toujours des longues heures de travail.
C2 verb /foʊˈmɛnt/

foment

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

emetic

émétique
Meaning
a substance that causes vomiting
Example
The doctor administered an emetic to remove the poison.
Le médecin a administré un émétique pour éliminer le poison.
C2 noun /ˈɡæd.flaɪ/

gadfly

mouche du coche
Meaning
A person who annoys or criticizes others to stimulate change or provoke action.
Example
The journalist was a gadfly, constantly questioning the government's policies.
Le journaliste était une mouche du coche, remettant constamment en question les politiques du gouvernement.
C2 adjective /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪbəl/

exhaustible

épuisable
Meaning
able to be used up completely; not infinite
Example
Coal and oil are exhaustible resources.
Le charbon et le pétrole sont des ressources épuisables.