disabuse
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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 /ˌpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

prepossessing

attirant
Meaning
Attractive or appealing in appearance or manner.
Example
She had a prepossessing smile that charmed everyone.
Elle avait un sourire attrayant qui a charmé tout le monde.
C2 noun /dɪˈdʒɛnərəsi/

degeneracy

dégénérescence
Meaning
The state of decline or deterioration, often in moral, cultural, or physical qualities.
Example
The novel portrays the moral degeneracy of a corrupt society.
Le roman dépeint la dégénérescence morale d'une société corrompue.
C2 verb /diːˈnæʃənəlaɪz/

denationalize

dénationaliser
Meaning
to transfer ownership from the government to private individuals or companies
Example
The government decided to denationalize the bank to encourage private investment.
Le gouvernement a décidé de dénationaliser la banque pour encourager les investissements privés.
C2 adjective /ˌmɛrəˈtrɪʃəs/

meretricious

artificiel
Meaning
apparently attractive but having no real value or integrity.
Example
The design was flashy but meretricious.
Le design était flashy mais artificiel.
C2 verb /rɛtʃ/

retch

bonheur
Meaning
to make the sound and movement of vomiting without bringing anything up
Example
The smell of spoiled food made him retch violently.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher sa joie lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /fækˈtoʊtəm/

factotum

homme à tout faire
Meaning
an employee who does many different types of work; a general servant
Example
He worked as a factotum, handling both clerical and maintenance duties.
Il travaillait comme un factotum, s'occupant à la fois des tâches administratives et de maintenance.
C2 adjective /vaɪˈtjuːpərəbl̩/

vituperable

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

harborage

refuge
Meaning
A place of shelter or refuge for pests or animals.
Example
Pests need a harborage site to survive and breed.
Les nuisibles ont besoin d'un refuge pour survivre et se reproduire.
C2 adverb /əˈsʌndər/

asunder

en morceaux
Meaning
into separate parts; apart
Example
The ancient empire was torn asunder by war.
L'empire ancien a été déchiré en morceaux par la guerre.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈprəʊtʃəbl̩/

irreproachable

irréprochable
Meaning
Beyond criticism; faultless.
Example
The judge was known for his irreproachable integrity.
Le juge était connu pour son intégrité irréprochable.
C2 adjective /ˈvækjuəs/

vacuous

vide
Meaning
Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
Example
She gave a vacuous smile during the serious discussion.
Elle a souri de façon vide pendant la discussion sérieuse.
C2 adjective /ɪˈfɛmɪnət/

effeminate

efféminé
Meaning
Having traits, tastes, or habits traditionally considered feminine, often used negatively for men.
Example
The critics described him as effeminate due to his gentle manner.
Les critiques l'ont décrit comme efféminé à cause de sa manière douce.
C2 noun /məˈdɒn.ə/

madonna

madonna (Vierge Marie)
Meaning
An artistic representation of the Virgin Mary; also used as a respectful form of address for a woman in Italian culture.
Example
The Renaissance painting depicts a Madonna holding child Jesus.
La peinture de la Renaissance dépeint une Madonna tenant l'enfant Jésus.
C2 noun /ˈæpəˌlɔːɡ/

apologue

récit moral
Meaning
a short moral story or fable intended to teach a lesson
Example
The teacher used an old apologue to explain honesty to the children.
Le professeur a utilisé un ancien récit moral pour expliquer l'honnêteté aux enfants.
C2 noun /məˈræs/

morass

situation compliquée
Meaning
A complicated or confused situation; a swampy or boggy ground.
Example
The project got stuck in a bureaucratic morass.
Le projet est coincé dans un marasme bureaucratique.
C2 verb /fleɪl/

flail

agiter ou balancer quelque chose sauvagement; se débattre
Meaning
to wave or swing something about wildly; to thrash about
Example
He flailed his arms to keep afloat in the water.
Il agitait ses bras pour rester à flot dans l'eau.
C2 noun /ˈlɪɡ.ə.tʃər/

ligature

ligature
Meaning
A thing used for tying or binding tightly; in music/printing, two or more notes or letters joined together.
Example
The doctor used a ligature to stop the bleeding.
Le médecin a utilisé une ligature pour arrêter le saignement.
C2 noun /ˈmiːliərɪzəm/

meliorism

méliorisme
Meaning
The belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment.
Example
Her philosophy of meliorism kept her hopeful during difficult times.
Sa philosophie du méliorisme l'a maintenue pleine d'espoir pendant les moments difficiles.
C2 noun /drʌdʒ/

drudge

travailleur assidu
Meaning
A person made to do hard, menial, or dull work.
Example
He felt like a drudge, stuck in repetitive tasks all day.
Il se sentait comme un travailleur assidu, coincé dans des tâches répétitives toute la journée.
C2 adjective /spraɪ/

spry

dynamique
Meaning
active and lively, especially in old age
Example
The spry grandmother surprised everyone with her quick dance steps.
La grand-mère dynamique a surpris tout le monde avec ses pas de danse rapides.
C2 verb /traɪˈsɛkt/

trisect

diviser en trois parties
Meaning
To divide into three parts.
Example
The teacher asked the students to trisect the line segment.
Le professeur a demandé aux élèves de diviser le segment de ligne en trois parties.
C2 noun /sɛnˈsɔːrɪəm/

sensorium

centre sensoriel
Meaning
The part of the brain or mind concerned with the reception and interpretation of sensory stimuli.
Example
The patient’s sensorium was clouded after the accident.
Le sensorium du patient était brouillé après l'accident.
C2 verb /ɪnˈtwaɪn/

entwine

entrelaçer
Meaning
to twist or wind together; to become closely connected or involved
Example
The vines entwine around the old fence.
Les vignes s'enroulent autour de la vieille clôture.
C2 noun /ˌluː.mɪˈnɛs.əns/

luminescence

luminescence
Meaning
The emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat; a type of cold light.
Example
The luminescence of the fireflies lit up the forest.
La luminescence des lucioles a éclairé la forêt.
C2 verb /kəˈvɔrt/

cavort

danser avec enthousiasme
Meaning
to jump or dance around excitedly
Example
The children cavorted happily in the garden.
Les enfants sautaient joyeusement dans le jardin.
C2 noun /dʒenˈtɪl.ə.ti/

Gentility

gentillesse; raffinement
Meaning
social superiority as demonstrated by polite and refined manners; the quality of being well-mannered and refined
Example
Her natural gentility and grace made her popular among high society circles.
Sa gentillesse et sa grâce naturelles l'ont rendue populaire parmi les cercles de la haute société.
C2 verb /ˈkɒsɪt/

cosset

choyer
Meaning
to care for and protect in an overindulgent way
Example
The little girl was cosseted by her grandparents.
La petite fille était choyée par ses grands-parents.
C2 noun /kənˈtɔːrʃənz/

contortions

pluriel de contorsion; plusieurs formes tordues ou déformées
Meaning
plural form of contortion; multiple twisted or bent shapes
Example
The magician's contortions left the crowd in awe.
Les contorsions du magicien ont laissé la foule bouche bée.
C2 noun /ˈbʊljən/

bullion

or ou argent en vrac
Meaning
Gold or silver in bulk before being coined or made into jewelry.
Example
The bank stores gold bullion in its vaults.
La banque conserve de l'or en vrac dans ses coffres.
C2 verb /ˈtʃeɪfɪŋ/

chafing

irriter par frottement
Meaning
To make sore by rubbing; to become irritated.
Example
The rough shoes were chafing his heels.
Les chaussures rugueuses lui frottaient les talons.
C2 noun /ˌpɜːrspɪˈkjuːəti/

perspicuity

perspicuité
Meaning
Clarity and ease in speech or writing; the quality of being clearly expressed.
Example
The perspicuity of his lecture made it easy for students to understand complex topics.
La perspicuité de sa conférence a facilité la compréhension des sujets complexes par les étudiants.
C2 noun /pɛlf/

pelf

argent malhonnête
Meaning
Money, especially when gained dishonorably.
Example
The corrupt official was motivated only by pelf.
Le fonctionnaire corrompu était motivé uniquement par l'argent malhonnête.
C2 noun /ˈkreɪniəm/

cranium

crâne
Meaning
the skull, especially the part enclosing the brain
Example
The archaeologists carefully examined the ancient cranium.
Les archéologues ont soigneusement examiné le crâne ancien.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɪpiənt/

incipient

incipient
Meaning
in an initial stage; beginning to develop
Example
The incipient storm made the sky turn dark and heavy.
La tempête incipiente a fait assombrir le ciel et le rendre lourd.
C2 adjective /əˈvʌŋkjələr/

avuncular

sympathique comme un oncle
Meaning
kind and friendly, like an uncle
Example
He had an avuncular manner that made everyone feel comfortable.
Il avait une manière avunculaire qui mettait tout le monde à l'aise.
C2 adjective /əˈsɛt.ɪk/

ascetic

ascétique
Meaning
Practicing strict self-denial and abstaining from worldly pleasures, often for religious reasons.
Example
He lived an ascetic life in the mountains, far from worldly comforts.
Il vivait une vie ascétique dans les montagnes, loin des conforts mondains.
C2 verb /ɛmˈbɔs/

emboss

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

knavery

fourberie
Meaning
dishonest or deceitful behavior; trickery
Example
The politician’s knavery was exposed by the media.
La fourberie du politicien a été exposée par les médias.
C2 noun /ˈmɪsənˌθroʊp/

misanthrope

misanthrope
Meaning
a person who dislikes or distrusts humankind
Example
The old man was considered a misanthrope who avoided all social gatherings.
L'homme âgé était considéré comme un misanthrope qui évitait tous les rassemblements sociaux.
C2 noun /ɪnˈsɪɡniə/

insignia

insigne
Meaning
A badge or symbol that shows rank, position, or membership.
Example
The soldier proudly wore the insignia of his regiment.
Le soldat portait fièrement l'insigne de son régiment.
C2 verb /bɪˈlaɪ/

belie

démentir
Meaning
To give a false impression of something; to contradict.
Example
His calm face belied his inner anxiety.
Son visage calme démentait son anxiété intérieure.
C2 noun /ˈhænd ˌrɪŋɪŋ/

hand-wringing

inquiétude excessive
Meaning
excessive worry or concern expressed in a visible or dramatic way.
Example
There was much hand-wringing over the political crisis.
Il y avait beaucoup de gestes dramatiques à propos de la crise politique.
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 /ˈwɪnsəm/

winsome

charmant
Meaning
pleasant and attractive in a fresh, innocent, or charming way
Example
Her winsome smile instantly put the nervous guests at ease.
Son sourire charmant a immédiatement mis les invités nerveux à l'aise.
C2 noun ˈpɑː.stər.ə.lɪ.zəm

pastoralism

pastoralisme, système de pâturage basé sur l'herbe
Meaning
A form of animal husbandry where domesticated animals are released onto large vegetated outdoor lands for grazing.
Example
Pastoralism is a traditional way of managing livestock.
Le pastoralisme est une manière traditionnelle de gérer le bétail.
C2 adjective /ˈslʌvənli/

slovenly

négligé
Meaning
Untidy or careless in appearance, habits, or work.
Example
His slovenly appearance made a bad impression at the interview.
Son apparence négligée a laissé une mauvaise impression lors de l'entretien.
C2 adjective /ˈtʃɜːrlɪʃ/

churlish

rude
Meaning
Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
Example
It would be churlish to refuse her kind invitation.
Ce serait impoli de refuser son aimable invitation.
C2 noun /kɪˈrɒpədɪst/

chiropodist

pédicure-podologue
Meaning
A healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats foot problems.
Example
The chiropodist treated her painful corns and calluses.
Le pédicure-podologue a traité ses cors et callosités douloureux.
C2 noun /ˈbækənæl/

bacchanal

fête sauvage
Meaning
A noisy party involving drinking and revelry.
Example
The festival turned into a wild bacchanal by midnight.
Le festival s'est transformé en une fête sauvage à minuit.
C2 noun /ˈɡɜːrn.zi/

Guernsey

pull-over
Meaning
a knitted sweater; a type of woolen pullover
Example
He wore a warm guernsey during the cold winter evening.
Il portait un pull chaud lors de la froide soirée d'hiver.
C2 noun /koʊˈæɡjələnt/

coagulant

coagulant
Meaning
a substance that causes blood or another liquid to clot
Example
The doctor applied a coagulant to stop the bleeding quickly.
Le médecin a appliqué un coagulant pour arrêter rapidement le saignement.
C2 adjective /ˈfɪliəl/

filial

relatif à un fils ou une fille ; montrer du respect ou de l'affection envers les parents
Meaning
relating to a son or daughter; showing respect or affection toward parents
Example
He showed filial respect by caring for his aging parents.
Il a montré du respect filial en prenant soin de ses parents âgés.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɔːrˈdeɪn/

preordain

prédéterminer
Meaning
To decide or determine an outcome in advance, especially by fate or divine will.
Example
They believed their meeting was preordained by destiny.
Ils croyaient que leur rencontre était prédestinée par le destin.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrɡoʊ/

argot

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

unitarian

unitaire
Meaning
A person who believes that God exists as one entity rather than as a Trinity; a member of a religious denomination that emphasizes individual freedom of belief.
Example
The Unitarian church is known for its inclusive and open-minded approach.
L'église unitaire est connue pour son approche inclusive et ouverte d'esprit.
C2 adjective əˈdrɔɪt

adroit

habile, astucieux, adroit
Meaning
clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
Example
She is adroit at solving complex problems.
Elle est habile à résoudre des problèmes complexes.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈnoʊmər/

misnomer

mauvais nom
Meaning
A wrong or inaccurate name or designation.
Example
Calling the tiny dog a 'giant' is a misnomer.
Appeler le petit chien un 'géant' est un mauvais nom.
C2 adjective /mɜːrˈkjʊriəl/

mercurial

instable
Meaning
subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
Example
She is known for her mercurial temperament.
Elle est connue pour son tempérament instable.
C2 verb /ˈtʃæfɪŋ/

chaffing

taquiner
Meaning
Teasing or joking in a lighthearted way.
Example
They were chaffing each other during lunch.
Ils se taquinaient pendant le déjeuner.
C2 verb /ˈvɪʃieɪt/

vitiate

vicié
Meaning
to spoil, weaken, or make something less effective
Example
One careless remark can vitiate the entire argument.
Une remarque imprudente peut vicié tout l'argument.
C2 noun /ˈlɪbərəlɪst/

liberalist

libéraliste
Meaning
a person who supports liberal ideas and principles
Example
He is a well-known liberalist advocating human rights.
Il est un libéraliste bien connu qui défend les droits de l'homme.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪtɪˌsɪzəm/

briticism

mot ou caractéristique de l'anglais britannique
Meaning
a word, phrase, or characteristic feature of British English
Example
The word 'lorry' is a well-known Briticism.
Le mot 'lorry' est un briticisme bien connu.
C2 verb /ˈwiːdəl/

wheedle

flatter pour convaincre
Meaning
to persuade or coax someone by using flattery or smooth talk
Example
She managed to wheedle extra pocket money from her father.
Elle a réussi à obtenir de l'argent de poche supplémentaire de son père.
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 /pəˈtruːn/

poltroon

lâche
Meaning
a cowardly person
Example
He acted like a poltroon during the crisis.
Il a agi comme un lâche pendant la crise.
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 noun /kɒɡˈnoʊmən/

cognomen

nom de famille / surnom
Meaning
A family name or surname; an additional name or nickname.
Example
His cognomen became widely known in literary circles.
Son nom de famille est devenu largement connu dans les cercles littéraires.
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 /sɪər/

sere

sec
Meaning
Dry or withered, especially vegetation.
Example
The sere leaves crumbled under his feet.
Les feuilles sèches se sont effritées sous ses pieds.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛɡnənt/

regnant

régnant
Meaning
Reigning; currently holding power, authority, or dominance.
Example
The regnant queen introduced several reforms during her reign.
La reine régnante a introduit plusieurs réformes durant son règne.
C2 adjective /ɜːrˈbeɪn/

urbane

urbain
Meaning
showing polished manners, refinement, and sophistication
Example
He was an urbane gentleman who charmed everyone at the party.
C'était un gentleman urbain qui a charmé tout le monde à la fête.
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 adjective /baɪˈkæmərəl/

bicameral

bicaméral
Meaning
Having two branches or chambers, especially in a legislature.
Example
The United States has a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Les États-Unis ont une législature bicamérale composée du Sénat et de la Chambre des représentants.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrsər/

courser

cheval rapide ou cheval de chasse
Meaning
a swift horse or a hunting horse
Example
The knight rode a fast courser into battle.
Le chevalier monta un coursier rapide au combat.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

unprepossessing

peu attrayant
Meaning
not attractive or appealing in appearance
Example
Despite his unprepossessing looks, he was very kind and intelligent.
Malgré son apparence peu attrayante, il était très gentil et intelligent.
C2 adjective /ˈkreɪvən/

craven

lâche
Meaning
cowardly; lacking courage
Example
He was too craven to stand up for his beliefs.
Il était trop lâche pour défendre ses croyances.
C2 adverb /əˈbɛd/

abed

au lit
Meaning
in bed
Example
She stayed abed all day due to illness.
Elle est restée au lit toute la journée à cause de la maladie.
C2 adjective /ˈmɔːrɪbʌnd/

Moribund

moribond; en déclin ou mourant
Meaning
near death; dying; in a state of decline or decay
Example
The moribund patient was in critical condition.
Le patient moribond était dans un état critique.
C2 adjective /ɡoʊʃ/

gauche

gauche
Meaning
lacking social grace, sensitivity, or tact; awkward
Example
His gauche remarks embarrassed everyone at the dinner party.
Ses remarques gauches ont embarrassé tout le monde à la soirée.
C2 adjective /ˌstætʃuˈɛsk/

statuesque

statuesque
Meaning
Having the grace, beauty, or dignity of a statue; tall and attractively proportioned.
Example
She had a statuesque figure that turned heads wherever she went.
Elle avait une silhouette statuaire qui attirait les regards partout où elle allait.
C2 verb /skʌlk/

skulk

se faufiler
Meaning
to move or hide secretly, often because you are planning something bad or are feeling guilty
Example
He tried to skulk in the shadows to avoid being seen.
Il a essayé de se faufiler dans l'ombre pour éviter d'être vu.
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 /ˈkɒŋɡruənt/

congruent

congruente
Meaning
in agreement or harmony; having the same shape and size in geometry
Example
Their values are congruent with the goals of the organization.
Leurs valeurs sont congruentes avec les objectifs de l'organisation.
C2 adjective /ˈtriːzənəbl/

treasonable

trahison
Meaning
Relating to or involving the crime of treason.
Example
The general was accused of treasonable conduct.
Le général a été accusé de conduite traitresse.
C2 noun /tɑːrn/

tarn

lac de montagne
Meaning
A small mountain lake or pool.
Example
We camped near a tranquil tarn in the highlands.
Nous avons campé près d'un lac de montagne tranquille dans les Highlands.
C2 verb /ˌækwiˈɛs/

acquiesce

accepter sans protester
Meaning
to accept something reluctantly but without protest
Example
She decided to acquiesce to her parents’ wishes.
Elle a décidé d'accepter sans protester les souhaits de ses parents.
C2 verb /ɪˈfeɪsɪŋ/

effacing

effacer / se rendre invisible
Meaning
erasing or making oneself inconspicuous; to remove or diminish in significance
Example
She kept effacing herself during the meeting so that others could shine.
Elle continuait à s'effacer pendant la réunion pour permettre aux autres de briller.
C2 noun /ˌsɪnjuˈɒsɪti/

sinuosity

sinuité
Meaning
The quality or state of being winding, curving, or having many turns.
Example
The sinuosity of the river made navigation challenging.
La sinuité du fleuve rendait la navigation difficile.
C2 noun /ˈmaɪtər/

miter

mitre
Meaning
a tall, pointed hat worn by bishops; also a type of joint made between two pieces of material
Example
The bishop placed the miter on his head during the ceremony.
L'évêque a posé la mitre sur sa tête pendant la cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˌɪn.ɪˈbraɪ.ə.ti/

inebriety

ivresse
Meaning
the state of being drunk or intoxicated
Example
His frequent inebriety led to the loss of his job.
Son inconstance dans l'ivresse l'a conduit à perdre son travail.
C2 noun /mɪˈtɒnɪmi/

metonymy

métaphore par substitution
Meaning
A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted with another closely related word or concept.
Example
In the phrase 'the crown will decide,' 'crown' is a metonymy for monarchy.
Dans l'expression 'la couronne décidera', 'couronne' est une métaphore par substitution pour la monarchie.
C2 adjective /ˈleɪ.baɪl/ or /ˈlæb.aɪl/

labile

instable
Meaning
easily altered or unstable; prone to change
Example
Her mood was so labile that it changed several times in an hour.
Son humeur était tellement instable qu'elle a changé plusieurs fois en une heure.
C2 verb /ˈstjuːpɪˌfaɪ/

stupefy

stupéfier
Meaning
to make someone unable to think clearly, usually because of surprise or shock
Example
The magician's tricks stupefied the audience.
Les tours du magicien ont stupéfié le public.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/

infinitesimal

infinitésimal
Meaning
Extremely small in size or amount; so tiny as to be almost negligible.
Example
The error was so infinitesimal that it didn’t affect the results.
L'erreur était si infinitésimale qu'elle n'a pas affecté les résultats.
C2 noun /tʃæf/

Chaff

balles; choses sans valeur; plaisanteries légères
Meaning
the husks of corn or other seed separated by winnowing; worthless things; light-hearted joking
Example
The farmer separated the wheat from the chaff using traditional methods.
Le fermier a séparé le blé de la balle en utilisant des méthodes traditionnelles.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪndmoʊst/

hindmost

dernier
Meaning
Farthest back; last in position.
Example
The hindmost car in the convoy broke down first.
La voiture la plus arrière du convoi est tombée en panne en premier.
C2 noun /hɜːrs/

Hearse

voiture funéraire;
Meaning
a vehicle for conveying the coffin at a funeral; a funeral car
Example
The black hearse slowly made its way to the cemetery, followed by a procession of mourners.
Le corbillard noir s'est lentement dirigé vers le cimetière, suivi par une procession de personnes en deuil.
C2 verb /dɪˈskraɪ/

descry

apercevoir au loin
Meaning
to catch sight of something, especially something distant or obscure
Example
From the hilltop, they descried a small village in the distance.
Depuis le sommet de la colline, ils ont aperçu un petit village au loin.
C2 verb /kəˈnoʊt/

connote

connoter
Meaning
To suggest or imply an additional meaning beyond the literal one.
Example
The word 'youthful' connotes energy and vitality.
Le mot 'juvénile' connoté énergie et vitalité.
C2 verb /ɪˈnəʊbəl/

ennoble

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

antiphony

antiphonie
Meaning
a form of music in which two or more groups or choirs sing alternately in response to each other
Example
The cathedral's architecture was designed to enhance the effect of antiphony.
L'architecture de la cathédrale a été conçue pour améliorer l'effet de l'antiphonie.
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 /bɒmˈbæstɪk/

bombastic

pompeux
Meaning
using pompous or inflated language with little meaning
Example
The professor’s bombastic lecture impressed no one.
Le discours pompeux du professeur n'a impressionné personne.
C2 noun /ˈʌm.brə/

Umbra

ombre totale, région sombre d'une tache solaire
Meaning
the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object; the dark center of a sunspot
Example
During the eclipse, we stood in the moon's umbra.
Pendant l'éclipse, nous nous sommes tenus dans l'ombre de la lune.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.ərn.wʊd/

Ironwood

bois de fer
Meaning
a hard, dense wood from various trees; also the tree itself that produces small flowers
Example
The ironwood tree blooms with tiny white flowers.
L'arbre de bois de fer fleurit avec de petites fleurs blanches.
C2 noun ˌfjuːmɪˈɡeɪʃən

fumigation

fumigation
Meaning
The practice of disinfecting or purifying an area using gas or smoke.
Example
Fumigation is an effective method to control pest infestations.
La fumigation est une méthode efficace pour contrôler les infestations de parasites.
C2 adjective /əˈbɑː.mə.nə.bəl/

abominable

abominable
Meaning
causing moral revulsion; extremely unpleasant
Example
The prisoners were kept in abominable conditions.
Les prisonniers ont été gardés dans des conditions abominables.
C2 noun /ˈɪntəˌkrɒpɪŋ/

intercropping

cultures intercalaires
Meaning
The agricultural practice of cultivating two or more crops simultaneously in the same field to maximize land use efficiency and improve soil health.
Example
Intercropping can help improve soil fertility and pest control.
Les cultures intercalaires peuvent aider à améliorer la fertilité du sol et à contrôler les ravageurs.
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 noun /ˈmæntl̩/

mantel

étagère au-dessus de la cheminée
Meaning
A shelf above a fireplace, often used for decoration.
Example
She placed family photos on the mantel above the fireplace.
Elle a posé des photos de famille sur l'étagère au-dessus de la cheminée.
C2 verb /ɪˈfjuːz/

effuse

effuser
Meaning
To pour out or express feelings freely and openly.
Example
She effused gratitude for the help she received.
Elle a exprimé sa gratitude pour l'aide qu'elle a reçue.
C2 noun /ˌniːoʊˈpeɪɡənɪzəm/

neopaganism

néopaganisme
Meaning
Modern religious movements influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe.
Example
Neopaganism has gained popularity as people seek spiritual alternatives to mainstream religions.
Le néopaganisme a gagné en popularité à mesure que les gens recherchent des alternatives spirituelles aux religions dominantes.
C2 verb /kənˈstrɪndʒ/

constringe

contracter
Meaning
to cause to shrink or contract; to constrict
Example
The medicine helped constringe the swollen tissues.
Le médicament a aidé à contracter les tissus enflés.
C2 noun /ˈɔːlmənæk/

almanac

almanach
Meaning
An annual publication containing calendars, weather forecasts, astronomical data, and other useful information.
Example
He consulted the almanac to check the phases of the moon.
Il a consulté l'almanach pour vérifier les phases de la lune.
C2 adjective /ˌmælˈoʊdərəs/

malodorous

malodorant
Meaning
Having a very unpleasant smell.
Example
The malodorous room made everyone leave quickly.
La pièce malodorante a fait partir tout le monde rapidement.
C2 noun /proʊˈbɑːsɪs/

proboscis

trompe
Meaning
The long, flexible nose of some animals, especially an elephant, or a tubular feeding and sucking organ in insects.
Example
The elephant used its proboscis to grab food.
L'éléphant a utilisé sa trompe pour attraper de la nourriture.
C2 adjective /ɪˈlɪbərəl/

illiberal

illibéral
Meaning
Opposed to liberal principles; restricting freedom of thought or behavior.
Example
The government was criticized for its illiberal policies.
Le gouvernement a été critiqué pour ses politiques illibérales.
C2 adjective /əˈsɜːrbɪk/

acerbic

acerbe
Meaning
sharp, harsh, or bitter in tone or taste
Example
His acerbic comments offended many people in the meeting.
Ses commentaires acerbes ont offensé de nombreuses personnes lors de la réunion.
C2 noun /pɪks/

pyx

petit récipient pour conserver l'hostie consacrée
Meaning
a small container, often used in Christian liturgy to carry the consecrated host
Example
The priest placed the consecrated host into the pyx before visiting the sick.
Le prêtre a placé l'hostie consacrée dans le pyx avant de rendre visite aux malades.
C2 verb /ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/

sublimate

transformer en activités supérieures
Meaning
to redirect strong emotions or desires into socially acceptable activities or channels
Example
She sublimated her anger into painting beautiful landscapes.
Elle a sublimé sa colère en peignant de beaux paysages.