divulgence
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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 adjective /dɪˈmɒtɪk/

demotic

relatif au langage populaire
Meaning
relating to ordinary people or everyday language
Example
The poet used demotic language to connect with common readers.
Le poète a utilisé un langage relatif au langage populaire pour se connecter avec les lecteurs ordinaires.
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.
C2 adjective /ˌdɒktrɪˈnɛər/

doctrinaire

doctrinaire
Meaning
stubbornly devoted to a theory or doctrine without regard to practical considerations
Example
His doctrinaire approach to politics alienated many supporters.
Son approche doctrinaire de la politique a aliéné de nombreux partisans.
C2 verb /ˈdɔːd(ə)l/

dawdle

traîner
Meaning
to waste time by being slow or idle
Example
Stop dawdling and finish your homework.
Arrête de traîner et finis tes devoirs.
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 noun /dɪˈsɛnʃən/

dissension

dissension
Meaning
Strong disagreement or difference of opinion, especially leading to discord within a group.
Example
The meeting ended in dissension among the committee members.
La réunion s'est terminée par une dissension parmi les membres du comité.
C2 verb /dɪˈfreɪ/

defray

financer
Meaning
to provide money to pay the costs of something
Example
The grant will help defray the cost of education.
La bourse aidera à financer le coût de l'éducation.
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/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 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

diacritical

diacritique
Meaning
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
Example
The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume.
Le mot 'résumé' a des marques diacritiques qui changent sa signification de 'resume'.
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 /draɪ ɡuːs ˈbɛri/

Dry goose berry

groseille séchée
Meaning
dehydrated amla fruit, rich in vitamin C and used for medicinal and culinary purposes
Example
Dry goose berry powder is excellent for hair growth.
La poudre de groseille séchée est excellente pour la croissance des cheveux.
C2 noun /daɪˈɡrɛʃən/

digression

digression
Meaning
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
Her story was full of interesting digressions.
Son histoire était pleine de digressions intéressantes.
C2 noun /ˈdjʊərəns/

durance

prison
Meaning
imprisonment or confinement
Example
The prisoner spent years in durance before his release.
Le prisonnier a passé des années en prison avant sa libération.
C2 noun /dɪˈdʒɛkʃən/

dejection

dépression
Meaning
a state of sadness, depression, or low spirits
Example
She sat in a state of dejection after hearing the bad news.
Elle était assise dans un état de dépression après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
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 /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 verb /ˈdɛpɪleɪt/

depilate

épiler
Meaning
to remove hair from the skin, especially by mechanical or chemical means
Example
She decided to depilate her legs before the event.
Elle a décidé de se dépiler les jambes avant l'événement.
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 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 verb /drəˈɡuːn/

dragoon

forcer
Meaning
to force someone to do something through coercion or intimidation
Example
The manager tried to dragoon the team into working overtime.
Le manager a essayé de forcer l'équipe à faire des heures supplémentaires.
C2 verb /ˈdɪðər/

dither

hésiter
Meaning
to be indecisive or unable to make a decision
Example
He dithered for hours before choosing a restaurant.
Il a hésité pendant des heures avant de choisir un restaurant.
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 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 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 adjective /dɪˈsɛnʃəs/

dissentious

diviseur
Meaning
Causing or likely to cause disagreement and conflict.
Example
His dissentious remarks divided the group further.
Ses remarques divisives ont encore plus divisé le groupe.
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 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 /ˈdɔɪən/

doyen

personne respectée
Meaning
The most respected or prominent person in a particular field.
Example
He is regarded as the doyen of modern literature in the country.
Il est considéré comme le doyen de la littérature moderne dans le pays.
C2 noun /ˌdɛkəˈsɪləbəl/

decasyllable

décasyllabe
Meaning
A line of verse with ten syllables.
Example
The poet often wrote in decasyllable form.
Le poète écrivait souvent en forme de décasyllabe.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪvəˈɡeɪʃən/

divagation

divagation
Meaning
digression; wandering from a path or subject
Example
His lecture was full of divagation, making it hard to follow the main point.
Sa conférence était pleine de divagations, ce qui rendait difficile de suivre le point principal.
C2 noun /ˈdʌlərd/

dullard

personne stupide
Meaning
a slow or stupid person
Example
He was considered a dullard by his classmates.
Il était considéré comme un idiot par ses camarades de classe.
C2 verb /ˈdɒɡmətaɪz/

dogmatize

dogmatiser
Meaning
To state opinions or beliefs as if they were absolute truths.
Example
The professor tended to dogmatize on political issues.
Le professeur avait tendance à dogmatiser sur les questions politiques.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌliːtər/

decaliter

dix litres
Meaning
A metric unit of capacity equal to ten liters.
Example
The container could hold up to one decaliter of water.
Le récipient peut contenir jusqu'à un décilitre d'eau.
C2 noun /dɜːrdʒ/

dirge

élégie
Meaning
A mournful song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief, often for the dead.
Example
The choir sang a solemn dirge at the funeral.
La chorale a chanté une élégie solennelle lors des funérailles.
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 noun /ˈdeɪ.ɪs/

Dais

estrade
Meaning
a raised platform, typically at one end of a room or hall, for speakers or honored guests
Example
The principal stood on the dais to address the entire school assembly.
Le directeur s'est tenu sur l'estrade pour s'adresser à toute l'assemblée scolaire.
C2 noun /dɪnt/

dint

effort, marque d'un coup
Meaning
an impression or hollow made by a blow; force or power
Example
By dint of hard work, he achieved success.
Par dint de travail acharné, il a atteint le succès.
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 /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 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 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 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 /dɪˈsweɪʒən/

dissuasion

dissuasion
Meaning
The act of persuading someone not to take a course of action.
Example
Her dissuasion prevented him from making a bad investment.
Sa dissuasion l'a empêché de faire un mauvais investissement.
C2 verb /diːˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt/

depopulate

dépeupler
Meaning
To reduce the number of people living in a place.
Example
The war threatened to depopulate the once-thriving town.
La guerre menaçait de dépeupler la ville autrefois prospère.
C2 adjective /daɪˈæfənəs/

diaphanous

diaphane
Meaning
Light, delicate, and translucent.
Example
She wore a diaphanous dress that shimmered in the sunlight.
Elle portait une robe diaphane qui scintillait sous la lumière du soleil.
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 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 adjective /dɪˈspjuːtəbl/

Disputable

discutable; douteux
Meaning
open to debate or argument; questionable
Example
The facts in the case are disputable and need further investigation.
Les faits dans l'affaire sont discutables et nécessitent une enquête plus approfondie.
C2 noun /dɪˈklɪvɪti/

declivity

pente
Meaning
a downward slope of ground
Example
They carefully climbed down the declivity of the hill.
Ils ont grimpé prudemment la pente de la colline.
C2 noun /ˈdɛskænt/

descant

mélodie supplémentaire
Meaning
An additional melody or counterpoint sung or played above the main melody.
Example
The choir added a beautiful descant to the hymn.
Le chœur a ajouté une belle mélodie supplémentaire à l'hymne.
C2 prefix /dɪs-/

dys-

préfixe signifiant anormal, mauvais, difficile ou défectueux
Meaning
A prefix meaning abnormal, bad, difficult, or impaired.
Example
Words like 'dysfunction' and 'dyslexia' use the prefix dys- to indicate difficulty or impairment.
Des mots comme 'dysfonction' et 'dyslexie' utilisent le préfixe dis- pour indiquer une difficulté ou un handicap.
C2 noun /djuːˈɛnə/

duenna

gouvernante
Meaning
an older woman acting as a governess or chaperone, especially in Spanish families
Example
The young lady was accompanied by a duenna during the festival.
La jeune fille était accompagnée par une duéna pendant le festival.
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 adjective /dɪsˈdʒʌŋktɪv/

disjunctive

disjonctif
Meaning
Serving to separate or divide; expressing a choice between alternatives.
Example
In grammar, 'or' is a disjunctive conjunction.
En grammaire, 'ou' est une conjonction disjonctive.
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 /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 adjective /dɛˈspɒtɪk/

despotic

despote
Meaning
exercising power in a cruel, oppressive, or authoritarian way
Example
The king’s despotic rule left the people in misery.
Le règne despote du roi a laissé le peuple dans la misère.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/

diphthong

diphtongue
Meaning
A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel and glides into another within the same syllable.
Example
The word 'coin' contains a diphthong.
Le mot 'coin' contient un diphtongue.
C2 adjective /dæŋk/

dank

humide et froid
Meaning
unpleasantly damp and cold
Example
The basement was dark and dank, filled with a musty smell.
Le sous-sol était sombre et humide, rempli d'une odeur nauséabonde.
C2 verb /deɪn/

deign

agir en-dessous de sa dignité
Meaning
to do something considered beneath one's dignity
Example
The king did not deign to reply to the commoner.
Le roi ne daigna pas répondre au roturier.
C2 verb /ˈdiːɪfaɪ/

deify

déifier
Meaning
to treat or worship someone or something as a god
Example
Some fans deify their favorite celebrities.
Certains fans déifient leurs célébrités préférées.
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 adjective /ˈdɪsənənt/

dissonant

dissonant
Meaning
Harsh and lacking harmony; conflicting.
Example
The orchestra produced a dissonant sound during rehearsal.
L'orchestre a produit un son dissonant pendant la répétition.
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 verb /ˈdɛsɪkreɪt/

desecrate

désacraliser
Meaning
to treat a sacred place or object with disrespect or violation
Example
The vandals desecrated the ancient temple walls with graffiti.
Les vandales ont désacralisé les murs du temple ancien avec des graffitis.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɜːrnəl/

diurnal

diurne
Meaning
active during the day; occurring daily
Example
Most birds are diurnal creatures, active in daylight hours.
La plupart des oiseaux sont des créatures diurnes, actives pendant les heures de clarté.
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 verb /ˌdɪskəˈmoʊd/

discommode

déranger
Meaning
To cause inconvenience or trouble to someone.
Example
I hope my request does not discommode you.
J'espère que ma demande ne vous dérangera pas.
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 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 /dɪˈdʒɛkt/

deject

dégrader
Meaning
to make someone feel sad, depressed, or dispirited
Example
The news of his failure seemed to deject him deeply.
Les nouvelles de son échec semblaient le déprimer profondément.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/

disrepute

mépris
Meaning
the state of being held in low esteem or having a bad reputation
Example
The scandal brought the politician into disrepute.
Le scandale a mis le politicien dans le mépris.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkʌmfɪtɪŋ/

discomfiting

gênant
Meaning
Causing unease, embarrassment, or discomfort.
Example
His discomfiting questions made everyone shift uncomfortably in their seats.
Ses questions gênantes ont fait en sorte que tout le monde se déplace mal à l'aise dans leurs sièges.
C2 noun /ˈdɛrɪk/

derrick

tour de forage
Meaning
A framework or tower used for supporting a crane, especially for oil drilling or lifting heavy loads.
Example
The workers assembled a derrick at the oil drilling site.
Les ouvriers ont assemblé une tour de forage sur le site de forage de pétrole.
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 /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 verb /diːˈfrɑːk/

defrock

révoquer un prêtre de sa fonction
Meaning
to officially remove a priest or minister from their position and authority
Example
The church decided to defrock the priest after the scandal.
L'église a décidé de démettre le prêtre après le scandale.
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 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 /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 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 /ˈdɛftnəs/

deftness

dextérité
Meaning
Skillfulness and quickness in action or thought.
Example
Her deftness with words impressed the audience.
Sa dextérité avec les mots a impressionné le public.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛndrɔɪd/

dendroid

en forme d'arbre
Meaning
tree-shaped or branching like a tree
Example
The coral has a dendroid structure.
Le corail a une structure dendroïde.
C2 noun /draɪd roʊz ˈpɛtəlz/

Dried Rose Petals

pétales de rose séchés
Meaning
dehydrated petals from roses used for culinary and aromatic purposes
Example
The dessert was garnished with dried rose petals.
Le dessert a été garni de pétales de rose séchés.
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 /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 /ˌdɛkləˈmeɪʃən/

declamation

déclamation
Meaning
a formal speech delivered with rhetorical or dramatic effect
Example
Her declamation captivated the audience at the competition.
Sa déclamation a captivé le public lors de la compétition.
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 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 noun /ˈdaɪˌsɪləbəl/

disyllable

mot dissyllabique
Meaning
a word consisting of two syllables
Example
The word 'happy' is a disyllable.
Le mot ‘heureux’ est un mot dissyllabique.
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 /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛsənt/

deliquescent

qui devient liquide en absorbant l'humidité
Meaning
tending to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
Example
Sugar is not deliquescent, but salt can be.
Le sucre n'est pas déliquescent, mais le sel peut l'être.
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 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 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 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 /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 /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 /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 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 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 /ˈdɪti/

ditty

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

disputatious

disputeur
Meaning
fond of or given to argument and debate
Example
His disputatious nature often led to heated conversations.
Sa nature disputée menait souvent à des conversations animées.
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 noun /ˈdrækmə/

drachma

drachme
Meaning
The basic monetary unit of Greece before the adoption of the euro.
Example
The old coin collection included a silver drachma.
La collection de pièces anciennes comprenait une drachme en argent.
C2 verb /dɪˈnɒmɪˌneɪt/

denominate

dénommer
Meaning
to give a name or designation to something
Example
The currency was denominated in dollars.
La monnaie a été dénommée en dollars.
C2 verb /djuːp/

dupe

tromper
Meaning
To deceive or trick someone into believing or doing something.
Example
He was duped into buying a fake watch.
Il a été dupé en achetant une montre contrefaite.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪfɪdənt/

diffident

diffident
Meaning
Shy or lacking confidence in one's own abilities.
Example
He was too diffident to ask a question in class.
Il était trop diffident pour poser une question en classe.
C2 noun /ˌdiːnəʊˈteɪʃən/

denotation

dénotation
Meaning
The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
Example
The denotation of the word 'rose' is a type of flower.
La dénotation du mot 'rose' est un type de fleur.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡərəl/

doggerel

vers ridicule
Meaning
Comic or irregular verse, often poorly constructed and lacking in artistic quality.
Example
The poet’s work was dismissed as mere doggerel by the critics.
Le travail du poète a été rejeté comme simple vers ridicule par les critiques.
C2 noun /ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən/

depredation

pillage
Meaning
An act of attacking or plundering; damage caused by such acts.
Example
The villagers feared the depredation of wild animals at night.
Les villageois craignaient le pillage des animaux sauvages la nuit.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɔːtʃ/

debauch

corrompre
Meaning
to corrupt morally; to lead into excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
Example
The novel shows how wealth can debauch a person's character.
Le roman montre comment la richesse peut débaucher le caractère d'une personne.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfɪdəns/

diffidence

manque de confiance en soi
Meaning
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
Example
Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public.
Son manque de confiance en elle rendait difficile de parler en public.
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 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 /dɪsˈpɛptɪk/

dyspeptic

dyspepsie, irritable
Meaning
Relating to indigestion or having a gloomy or irritable disposition.
Example
After the heavy meal, he felt dyspeptic and uncomfortable.
Après le repas copieux, il se sentait dyspeptique et mal à l'aise.
C2 noun /dreɪk/

Drake

canard mâle
Meaning
a male duck; a type of waterfowl
Example
The drake led his family of ducks across the pond.
Le drake a conduit sa famille de canards à travers l'étang.
C2 noun /ˈdoʊtɪdʒ/

dotage

vieillesse
Meaning
The period of old age, especially when one is weak or senile.
Example
He spent his dotage reminiscing about his youth.
Il a passé sa vieillesse à se remémorer sa jeunesse.