dictum
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C2 noun /ˈdɪktəm/

dictum

dicton
Meaning
A formal pronouncement, authoritative statement, or maxim.
Example
The judge’s dictum clarified the principle of equality before the law.
Le dictum du juge a clarifié le principe de l'égalité devant la loi.
C2 noun /bleɪn/

Blain

cloque
Meaning
an inflammatory swelling or sore on the skin; a blister or pustule
Example
The doctor examined the blain on his arm.
Le médecin a examiné la cloque sur son bras.
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 /ˈdoʊneɪtər/

donator

donateur
Meaning
A person who gives something, especially money or goods, as a donation.
Example
The donator wished to remain anonymous after contributing a large sum.
Le donateur souhaitait rester anonyme après avoir contribué une grande somme.
C2 noun /ˈhæŋ.kər.ɪŋ/

hankering

désir ardent
Meaning
a strong desire or craving for something.
Example
She had a hankering for chocolate late at night.
Elle avait un désir ardent de chocolat tard dans la nuit.
C2 adjective /ˌoʊvərˈwiːnɪŋ/

overweening

arrogant excessif
Meaning
excessively arrogant or prideful
Example
His overweening pride cost him many friends.
Son excès de fierté lui a coûté de nombreux amis.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsədˈvɛntʃər/

misadventure

mésaventure
Meaning
An unlucky accident, mishap, or unfortunate event.
Example
He broke his leg during a skiing misadventure.
Il s'est cassé la jambe lors d'une mésaventure en ski.
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 verb /əˈbæʃ/

abash

déconcerter
Meaning
to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
Example
Her sudden question seemed to abash him.
Sa question soudaine semblait le déstabiliser.
C2 verb /bɪˈliːɡər/

beleaguer

assiéger, harceler
Meaning
to cause difficulties, troubles, or harassment; to surround with military forces
Example
The company was beleaguered by constant complaints from its customers.
L'entreprise était assiégée par des plaintes constantes de ses clients.
C2 noun /əkˈsɛʃən/

accession

accession au trône / acceptation d'un traité
Meaning
the attainment of a position of rank or power, especially a monarch or president; the formal acceptance of an agreement or treaty
Example
The king's accession to the throne was celebrated with great ceremony.
L'accession du roi au trône a été célébrée avec grande cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˈsɔː.dər/

Sawder

flatterie; discours flatteur
Meaning
flattering or wheedling talk; soft soap
Example
His sawder couldn't convince anyone of his sincerity.
Sa flatterie n'a pas pu convaincre qui que ce soit de sa sincérité.
C2 adjective /ˈvɛndɪbəl/

vendible

vendable
Meaning
Capable of being sold; marketable.
Example
Only vendible products were displayed at the trade fair.
Seuls les produits vendables ont été exposés à la foire commerciale.
C2 verb /ˌfɔːrˈrʌn/

forerun

précéder
Meaning
To go before; to precede in time, place, or action.
Example
Dark clouds often forerun a storm.
Les nuages sombres annoncent souvent une tempête.
C2 adjective /ˈpɜːˌblaɪnd/

purblind

aveugle ou ignorant
Meaning
Having impaired or defective vision; lacking insight or understanding.
Example
The purblind approach to the problem led to many mistakes.
L'approche purblinde du problème a conduit à de nombreuses erreurs.
C2 adjective /ˌkloʊs ˈhɔːld/

close-hauled

naviguer aussi près que possible du vent
Meaning
of a sailing ship, sailing as nearly as possible towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Example
The yacht was close-hauled as it cut through the waves.
Le yacht était naviguant aussi près que possible du vent en coupant les vagues.
C2 noun /ˈiːən/

eon

ère
Meaning
an indefinitely long period of time; an age
Example
Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago, in a different eon.
Les dinosaures ont vécu il y a des millions d'années, dans une ère différente.
C2 adjective /ˌhaɪpərˈbɔːriən/

hyperborean

hyperboréen
Meaning
Relating to the extreme north; very cold or frigid.
Example
The explorers prepared for the hyperborean climate of the Arctic.
Les explorateurs se sont préparés pour le climat hyperboréen de l'Arctique.
C2 noun /ˈvɛləm/

vellum

parchemin
Meaning
a fine parchment made originally from the skin of a calf, used for writing or printing
Example
The ancient manuscript was written on vellum.
Le manuscrit ancien a été écrit sur du parchemin.
C2 verb /ˈbækˌslaɪd/

backslide

rétrograder
Meaning
To relapse into bad habits, undesirable practices, or moral decline.
Example
After months of progress, he began to backslide into old habits.
Après des mois de progrès, il a commencé à revenir à ses anciennes habitudes.
C2 noun /ˈkɑr.mɪn/

Carmine

carmine
Meaning
a vivid crimson color; a red pigment obtained from cochineal
Example
The artist mixed carmine with white to create a beautiful pink shade.
L'artiste a mélangé le carmine avec du blanc pour créer une belle teinte rose.
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 adjective /ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt/

incontinent

incontinent
Meaning
lacking control over urination or defecation; lacking self-restraint
Example
The patient was incontinent after surgery.
Le patient était incontinent après l'opération.
C2 noun /ˈsækrɪsti/

sacristy

sacristie
Meaning
a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept
Example
The priest entered the sacristy before the mass began.
Le prêtre est entré dans la sacristie avant que la messe ne commence.
C2 noun /əˈdʌltərənt/

adulterant

adulterant
Meaning
a substance added to something else, often food or drink, to reduce its quality or strength
Example
The laboratory found an adulterant in the milk samples.
Le laboratoire a trouvé un adulterant dans les échantillons de lait.
C2 verb /ˌɛvəˈnɛs/

evanesce

s'évanouir
Meaning
To disappear gradually; to fade away.
Example
The mist began to evanesce as the sun rose higher.
La brume a commencé à s'évanouir à mesure que le soleil montait plus haut.
C2 noun /ˈkɒntrətɑː̃/

contretemps

malentendu inattendu
Meaning
an unexpected and unfortunate event or disagreement; a minor dispute
Example
There was a small contretemps between the two colleagues during the meeting.
Il y a eu un petit malentendu entre les deux collègues pendant la réunion.
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 adjective /hɪk/

Hick

plouc; paysan
Meaning
unsophisticated person from a rural area; country bumpkin
Example
He had a hick accent from growing up in a small town.
Il avait un accent de plouc parce qu'il avait grandi dans un petit village.
C2 verb /ˌoʊvərˈliːp/

overleap

sauter par-dessus
Meaning
To jump over something; to omit or disregard something.
Example
He managed to overleap the fence easily.
Il a réussi à sauter la clôture facilement.
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 /luːˈɡuːbriəs/

lugubrious

lugubre
Meaning
looking or sounding sad and dismal
Example
His lugubrious expression made everyone feel uneasy.
Son expression lugubre a mis tout le monde mal à l'aise.
C2 verb /ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡ/

pettifog

discuter de futilités
Meaning
to argue or quibble over trivial matters; to engage in petty, dishonest practices
Example
The lawyer was accused of trying to pettifog instead of addressing the real issue.
L'avocat a été accusé d'essayer de discuter de questions futiles au lieu de traiter le vrai problème.
C2 noun ˌhiː.məˈfɪl.i.ə

hemophilia

hémophilie
Meaning
A medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing the sufferer to bleed severely from even a slight injury.
Example
Hemophilia treatment benefits from genetic editing.
Le traitement de l'hémophilie bénéficie de l'édition génétique.
C2 adjective /ˈbiːstiəl/

bestial

bestial
Meaning
Relating to beasts; showing savagery, brutality, or lacking human sensibility.
Example
The prisoners were treated in a bestial manner.
Les prisonniers ont été traités de manière bestiale.
C2 adjective /ˈsteɪ.dʒi/

stagy

trop théâtral
Meaning
Overly theatrical, artificial, or exaggerated in manner or style.
Example
Her performance felt stagy and unnatural.
Sa performance semblait trop théâtrale et artificielle.
C2 adjective /ˈvjuː.ləs/

Viewless

invisible; sans opinions
Meaning
invisible; having no views or opinions
Example
The ghost remained viewless to most people in the haunted house.
Le fantôme est resté invisible pour la plupart des gens dans la maison hantée.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒr.ə.ɡeɪ.tɪd/

corrugated

ondulé ou plié
Meaning
shaped into ridges and grooves; wrinkled or folded
Example
The roof was made of corrugated metal sheets.
Le toit était fait de feuilles de métal ondulé.
C2 adjective /ˈluːsənt/

lucent

lumineux
Meaning
shining or glowing with light
Example
The lucent stars brightened the night sky.
Les étoiles lumineuses ont illuminé le ciel nocturne.
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 verb /ˈʌndjʊleɪt/

undulate

onduler
Meaning
To move with a smooth, wave-like motion.
Example
The snake undulated across the sand.
Le serpent ondulait à travers le sable.
C2 adjective /əˈpɒ.krɪ.fəl/

apocryphal

douteux
Meaning
Of doubtful authenticity, though widely circulated as true.
Example
The story about him saving the village is probably apocryphal.
L'histoire de lui sauvant le village est probablement douteuse.
C2 noun /ˈmʌs.tərd liːf/

Mustard leaf

feuille de moutarde
Meaning
green leafy vegetable from the mustard plant; edible leaves used in cooking
Example
We cooked mustard leaf with fish in a traditional Bengali curry.
Nous avons cuisiné des feuilles de moutarde avec du poisson dans un curry bengali traditionnel.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊˈfoʊbiə/

hydrophobia

hydrophobie
Meaning
Extreme or irrational fear of water; historically, another name for rabies.
Example
After being bitten by a stray dog, the man was treated for hydrophobia.
Après avoir été mordu par un chien errant, l'homme a été traité pour l'hydrophobie.
C2 verb /ˈmɒlɪfaɪ/

mollify

apaiser
Meaning
To calm or soothe someone's anger or anxiety.
Example
The manager tried to mollify the angry customers with discounts.
Le responsable a essayé d'apaiser les clients en colère avec des réductions.
C2 noun /ˈpælɪˌnoʊd/

palinode

palinodie
Meaning
a poem or statement in which the writer retracts something said in an earlier work
Example
The poet wrote a palinode to apologize for his earlier harsh words.
Le poète a écrit une palinodie pour s'excuser de ses paroles sévères précédentes.
C2 verb /ʃiːð/

sheathe

remettre dans le fourreau
Meaning
to put a sword or knife back into its cover
Example
He quickly sheathed his sword after the duel.
Il remit rapidement son épée dans son fourreau après le duel.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːsfəˈrɛsəns/

phosphorescence

phosphorescence
Meaning
the property of emitting light without noticeable heat
Example
The deep-sea creatures displayed a beautiful phosphorescence.
Les créatures des profondeurs marines ont affiché une belle phosphorescence.
C2 noun /trɪˈplɪs.ə.ti/

triplicity

triplécité
Meaning
The state of being triple or consisting of three parts.
Example
The design shows a triplicity of forms combined harmoniously.
Le design montre une triplécité de formes combinées harmonieusement.
C2 noun/verb /ˈrɛkəmˌpɛns/

recompense

compensation
Meaning
to compensate someone for loss or harm suffered; compensation given for damage or injury
Example
The company offered financial recompense to the injured worker.
La société a offert une compensation financière au travailleur blessé.
C2 noun /ˈbɛnɪfɪs/

benefice

bénéfice ecclésiastique
Meaning
a permanent church appointment for which property and income are provided
Example
The bishop appointed him to a wealthy benefice.
L'évêque l'a nommé à un bénéfice ecclésiastique riche.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊmaɪd/

bromide

idée banale
Meaning
A trite or unoriginal idea or remark; also a chemical compound of bromine.
Example
His speech was full of old bromides about hard work.
Son discours était rempli de vieilles idées banales sur le travail acharné.
C2 adjective /læŋk/

lank

grand et maigre
Meaning
Tall, thin, and often awkward in appearance.
Example
The lank teenager towered over his classmates.
Le jeune grand et maigre dominait ses camarades de classe.
C2 noun /ˌtɛliˈɒlədʒi/

teleology

téléologie
Meaning
the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by cause
Example
Aristotle is often associated with the concept of teleology in philosophy.
Aristote est souvent associé au concept de téléologie en philosophie.
C2 noun /ɪˈlɛk.trə.taɪp/

electrotype

électrotype
Meaning
A duplicate printing plate made by electroplating a mold of the original.
Example
The printer used an electrotype to produce multiple copies of the page.
L'imprimeur a utilisé un électrotype pour produire plusieurs copies de la page.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛndiˌɛri/

incendiary

incendiaire / provocateur
Meaning
designed to cause fires or stir up conflict
Example
The politician’s incendiary remarks angered the crowd.
Les remarques incendiaires du politicien ont mis en colère la foule.
C2 noun /ˈɛpəlɛt/

epaulette

épaulette
Meaning
A variant spelling of epaulet, also meaning a shoulder ornament, especially on military uniforms.
Example
The officer’s epaulette shone brightly under the sunlight.
L'épaulette de l'officier brillait sous la lumière du soleil.
C2 verb /preɪt/

prate

bavarder de manière insensée
Meaning
to talk foolishly or at tedious length about something
Example
He would prate endlessly about his minor achievements.
Il parlait sans fin de ses petites réussites.
C2 verb /ɛksˈproʊprieɪt/

expropriate

exproprier
Meaning
To take property from its owner, especially by authority or for public use.
Example
The government decided to expropriate the land for a new highway.
Le gouvernement a décidé d'exproprier la terre pour une nouvelle autoroute.
C2 noun /ˈɜːrtʃɪn/

urchin

gamin des rues
Meaning
a mischievous or poorly dressed child, often from the streets
Example
The ragged urchins played by the riverbank.
Les gamins en haillons jouaient au bord de la rivière.
C2 adjective /ˈɪkθiɪk/

ichthyic

ichtyique
Meaning
Relating to or resembling fish.
Example
The artist's painting had an ichthyic quality.
La peinture de l'artiste avait une qualité ictyique.
C2 noun /sælv/

salve

baume
Meaning
An ointment used to promote healing of the skin or as protection.
Example
She applied a salve to the burn on her hand.
Elle a appliqué un baume sur la brûlure de sa main.
C2 verb /ˈdʒɜːrnəlaɪz/

journalize

enregistrer dans un journal
Meaning
to record daily transactions or events in a journal, especially in accounting
Example
The accountant will journalize all financial transactions at the end of the day.
Le comptable enregistrera toutes les transactions financières à la fin de la journée.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtiːtʃəbəl/

unteachable

impossible à enseigner
Meaning
not able or willing to learn; resistant to instruction or guidance
Example
He was so stubborn that he became almost unteachable.
Il était si têtu qu’il est devenu presque impossible à enseigner.
C2 noun /ˈkænə/

Canna

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

parley

parole
Meaning
a discussion between opposing sides, especially to negotiate terms
Example
The generals met to parley over the terms of surrender.
Les généraux se sont rencontrés pour discuter des conditions de la reddition.
C2 noun /ɡrænˈtiː/

grantee

bénéficiaire
Meaning
A person or organization that receives a grant or benefit.
Example
The grantee must submit a progress report every six months.
Le bénéficiaire doit soumettre un rapport d'avancement tous les six mois.
C2 noun /ˈjuːzjuːfrʌkt/

usufruct

usufruit
Meaning
The legal right to use and enjoy the benefits of someone else’s property without owning it.
Example
The tenant had the usufruct of the land but not its ownership.
Le locataire avait l'usufruit de la terre mais pas sa propriété.
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 /ˈtuːb.roʊz/

Tube-rose

tubéreuse
Meaning
a night-blooming flower with an intensely sweet fragrance, native to Mexico
Example
The tuberose flowers filled the evening air with their heavenly scent.
Les fleurs de tubéreuse ont rempli l'air du soir de leur parfum céleste.
C2 adjective /pəˈlædʒ.ɪk/

pelagic

relatif à l'océan ouvert
Meaning
Relating to the open sea or ocean water column, away from the shore.
Example
Pelagic fish like tuna are found far from the coast.
Les poissons pélagiques comme le thon se trouvent loin de la côte.
C2 adjective /voʊˈsɪfərəs/

vociferous

vociférant
Meaning
expressing feelings or opinions in a loud and forceful way
Example
The vociferous crowd demanded justice.
La foule vociférante a exigé justice.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrkwɪzɪt raɪt/

perquisiteperquisiteright

droit aux avantages supplémentaires
Meaning
a legal right to certain benefits or privileges associated with a job or office
Example
The judge enjoyed certain perquisite rights attached to his position.
Le juge a profité de certains droits supplémentaires liés à sa fonction.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɑːlɪtɪk/

impolitic

imprudent
Meaning
Unwise or imprudent; not showing good judgment.
Example
It would be impolitic to criticize them openly.
Il serait imprudent de les critiquer ouvertement.
C2 noun /pərˈdɪʃən/

perdition

bonheur
Meaning
A state of eternal spiritual ruin, often referring to hell or damnation.
Example
The preacher warned that greed would lead to perdition.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˈwɪndbæɡ/

windbag

bavard
Meaning
a person who talks too much, especially in a boring or boastful way
Example
Everyone avoided the windbag at the party because he never let anyone else speak.
Tout le monde a évité le bavard à la fête parce qu'il ne laissait jamais les autres parler.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpruː.dəns/

Imprudence

imprudence; négligence; témérité
Meaning
the quality of being imprudent; lack of care for consequences; recklessness
Example
His financial imprudence led to bankruptcy within just two years.
Son imprudence financière a conduit à la faillite en seulement deux ans.
C2 noun /ˈlæki/

lackey

domestique
Meaning
a person who is overly willing to serve or obey someone else
Example
He treated his assistant like a mere lackey.
Il a traité son assistant comme un simple domestique.
C2 noun /ˈsɛpəlkər/

sepulcher

tombeau
Meaning
A small room or monument, cut in rock or built of stone, in which a dead person is buried.
Example
The ancient king was laid to rest in a grand sepulcher.
Le roi ancien a été enterré dans un grand tombeau.
C2 noun /ˌnɒn ˈsɛkwɪtər/

non sequitur

commentaire hors sujet
Meaning
a statement or conclusion that does not logically follow from the previous statement
Example
His comment about the weather was a complete non sequitur during the budget discussion.
Son commentaire sur la météo était un véritable commentaire hors sujet pendant la discussion sur le budget.
C2 noun /ˈɔːldərmən/

alderman

membre du conseil municipal
Meaning
An elected member of a municipal council in certain cities and towns.
Example
The alderman proposed a new plan for community parks.
L'adjoint au maire a proposé un nouveau plan pour les parcs communautaires.
C2 noun /ˈiːɒn/ or /ˈiːən/

aeon

éon
Meaning
An indefinitely long period of time; an age or eternity.
Example
Dinosaurs roamed the Earth millions of aeons ago.
Les dinosaures ont parcouru la Terre il y a des millions d'éons.
C2 noun /niːp/

neap

marée basse
Meaning
A tide just after the first or third quarters of the moon when the difference between high and low tide is least.
Example
During a neap tide, the water level change is minimal.
Pendant une marée basse, le changement du niveau de l'eau est minimal.
C2 noun /ˈeɪʒən swɒmp iːl/

Asian swamp eel

anguille des marais asiatique
Meaning
a snake-like freshwater fish that can survive in muddy waters and is considered a delicacy in South Asian cuisine
Example
Asian swamp eel can breathe air and survive in shallow muddy waters.
L’anguille des marais asiatique peut respirer de l’air et survivre dans des eaux peu profondes et boueuses.
C2 verb /dɪˈtruːd/

detrude

pousser vers le bas ou vers l'extérieur
Meaning
To thrust or force something downward or outward.
Example
The violent waves detruded rocks from the cliff.
Les vagues violentes ont poussé les roches de la falaise.
C2 adjective /ˈmɒnɪtəri/

monitory

avertisseur
Meaning
Giving a warning or cautionary advice; serving to warn.
Example
His monitory tone made everyone cautious about their next move.
Son ton monitory a rendu tout le monde prudent quant à leur prochain mouvement.
C2 noun /kɒzˈmɒɡ.ə.ni/

cosmogony

cosmogonie
Meaning
the study or theory of the origin of the universe
Example
The book provides an overview of different cosmogonies throughout history.
Le livre présente un aperçu des différentes cosmogonies à travers l'histoire.
C2 adjective /ˈprɛfətɔːri/

prefatory

prélude
Meaning
serving as an introduction or preface
Example
He made some prefatory remarks before the lecture began.
Il a fait quelques remarques préliminaires avant que la conférence ne commence.
C2 verb /ˈrʌmpəl/

rumple

froisser
Meaning
to make something untidy or wrinkled by creasing or crumpling
Example
She accidentally rumpled her dress while packing.
Elle a accidentellement froissé sa robe en emballant.
C2 adjective /ˈfluːtɪd/

fluted

strié
Meaning
having grooves or ridges, often for decoration
Example
The vase had a beautiful fluted design around the rim.
Le vase avait un beau design strié autour du bord.
C2 adverb /pəˈfɔːs/

perforce

inévitablement
Meaning
by necessity; inevitably
Example
He had to perforce accept the decision.
Il a dû accepter la décision inévitablement.
C2 noun /noʊl/

Knoll

petite colline; monticule
Meaning
a small rounded hill or mound
Example
The old oak tree stood majestically on top of the grassy knoll.
Le vieux chêne se dressait majestueusement au sommet de la petite colline herbeuse.
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 noun /ˈliː.vɪŋz/

Leavings

restes; restes de repas
Meaning
things that have been left behind or remain; remnants or scraps
Example
The leavings from dinner were given to the dog.
Les restes du dîner ont été donnés au chien.
C2 verb /ˌʌndərˈɡɜːrd/

undergird

soutenir, renforcer
Meaning
to provide support or foundation for; to strengthen
Example
Strong values undergird a healthy society.
Les valeurs fortes soutiennent une société saine.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌɡræm/

decagram

décagramme
Meaning
A metric unit of mass equal to ten grams.
Example
The package weighed exactly one decagram.
Le paquet pesait exactement un décagramme.
C2 noun /lɒx/ or /lɒk/

lough

lac
Meaning
An Irish or Scottish word for a lake or sea inlet.
Example
The fishermen lived by the lough for generations.
Les pêcheurs vivaient près du lac pendant des générations.
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 noun /ˈkrɪptəɡræm/

cryptogram

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

junta

junte militaire
Meaning
A military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.
Example
The junta seized power after the coup.
La junte a pris le pouvoir après le coup d'État.
C2 adjective /ˈhed.i/

Heady

enivrant
Meaning
having a strong or exhilarating effect; intoxicating; exciting
Example
The heady perfume of jasmine filled the garden.
Le parfum enivrant du jasmin remplit le jardin.
C2 noun /fiːf/

fief

un terrain de terre détenu sous le système féodal ; un domaine ou une zone de contrôle
Meaning
an estate of land held under the feudal system; a domain or area of control
Example
The knight was granted a fief by the lord for his service.
Le chevalier a reçu un fief du seigneur pour ses services.
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 verb /ˈblændɪʃ/

blandish

flatter
Meaning
to flatter or coax someone with kind words or praise in order to influence them
Example
He blandished the officials with compliments to gain their support.
Il a flatté les responsables pour obtenir leur soutien.
C2 verb /ˌmɪskənˈstruː/

misconstrue

mal interpréter
Meaning
To interpret something wrongly or misunderstand the meaning.
Example
She misconstrued his silence as anger.
Elle a mal interprété son silence comme de la colère.
C2 adjective /kəˈdævərəs/

cadaverous

cadavérique
Meaning
Resembling a corpse; very pale, thin, or bony.
Example
His cadaverous appearance shocked everyone at the party.
Son apparence cadavérique a choqué tout le monde à la fête.
C2 noun /ˈdɛnɪzən/

denizen

habitant
Meaning
an inhabitant or resident of a particular place
Example
The forest is home to many nocturnal denizens.
La forêt abrite de nombreux habitants nocturnes.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪdənˌhʊd/

maidenhood

jeunesse
Meaning
The state of being a maiden; girlhood or virginity.
Example
The poem celebrated the innocence of maidenhood.
Le poème a célébré l'innocence de la jeunesse.
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 /əˈnæb.ə.lɪ.zəm/

anabolism

anabolisme
Meaning
The set of metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units, involving tissue repair and growth.
Example
Anabolism is essential for muscle growth and tissue repair.
L'anabolisme est essentiel pour la croissance musculaire et la réparation des tissus.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒnfluənt/

confluent

confluant
Meaning
Flowing together or merging; coming together at one point.
Example
The confluent streams formed a mighty river.
Les ruisseaux confluent pour former une grande rivière.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈɡlɔːriəs/

inglorious

honteux
Meaning
Causing shame or disgrace; not bringing honor or glory.
Example
The army suffered an inglorious defeat.
L'armée a subi une défaite honteuse.
C2 noun /ˈʃaɪstər/

shyster

escroc
Meaning
a person, especially a lawyer, who uses unscrupulous or dishonest methods
Example
The businessman was exposed as a shyster who cheated clients.
L'homme d'affaires a été exposé comme un escroc qui trompait les clients.
C2 adjective /ˈtrʌk.jʊ.lənt/

truculent

agressif
Meaning
Eager or quick to argue, fight, or show aggression.
Example
She became truculent when her ideas were challenged.
Elle est devenue agressive lorsque ses idées ont été contestées.
C2 noun /sneɪk ɡɔːrd/

Snake gourd

courge serpent
Meaning
a long, curved vegetable that resembles a snake, commonly used in South Asian cuisine
Example
The snake gourd grows in a twisted, serpentine shape in the garden.
La courge serpent pousse dans une forme tordue et serpentine dans le jardin.
C2 noun /ˈvɛstmənt/

vestment

vêtement religieux
Meaning
a garment, especially a ceremonial or official robe worn during religious services
Example
The priest wore a golden vestment during the ceremony.
Le prêtre portait un vêtement doré lors de la cérémonie.
C2 noun /troʊp/

trope

trop littéraire
Meaning
A common or overused theme, idea, or device in literature, film, or speech.
Example
The film avoided the usual superhero tropes.
Le film a évité les tropes habituels des super-héros.
C2 verb /rɪˈspaɪər/

respire

respirer
Meaning
To breathe in and out; to inhale and exhale.
Example
Plants also respire to release energy.
Les plantes respirent aussi pour libérer de l'énergie.
C2 noun /ˌkiː ˈviːv/

qui vive

alerte
Meaning
A state of alertness or vigilance.
Example
The guards were on the qui vive during the night.
Les gardes étaient en alerte pendant la nuit.
C2 adjective /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/

Languid

languide; paresseux; faible
Meaning
lacking energy or vitality; slow and relaxed; weak or faint
Example
After the long journey, she felt languid and needed to rest.
Après le long voyage, elle se sentait languissante et avait besoin de repos.