dowdy
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C2 adjective /ˈdaʊ.di/

dowdy

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

hypochondriac

hypocondriaque
Meaning
a person who is excessively worried about having a serious illness
Example
She is a hypochondriac who visits the doctor every week.
Elle est une hypocondriaque qui consulte le médecin chaque semaine.
C2 noun /ˈʃɪbəˌlɛθ/

shibboleth

expression ou croyance distinctive d'un groupe particulier
Meaning
A custom, phrase, or belief distinguishing a particular group of people, often used to identify outsiders.
Example
The phrase became a political shibboleth during the campaign.
La phrase est devenue un chibboleth politique pendant la campagne.
C2 noun /ˈsuːpsɒ̃/

soupcon

une petite quantité
Meaning
a very small quantity of something; a trace
Example
She added just a soupcon of spice to the dish.
Elle a ajouté juste une petite quantité d'épices au plat.
C2 adjective /ˈhɜːrsuːt/

hirsute

hirsute
Meaning
Having a lot of hair, especially in an unusual place.
Example
The hirsute man stood out in the crowd with his long beard.
L'homme hirsute se démarquait de la foule avec sa longue barbe.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈdjuːsəbl/

irreducible

irréductible
Meaning
impossible to reduce or simplify further
Example
The fraction 3/7 is irreducible.
La fraction 3/7 est irréductible.
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 /spliːn/

spleen

rate; colère
Meaning
an organ in the body that produces lymphocytes and filters blood; also refers to bad temper or spite
Example
He vented his spleen on his coworkers after the meeting.
Il a exprimé sa colère sur ses collègues après la réunion.
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 /ˌkɑːnfɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

conformation

conformation
Meaning
The shape, structure, or arrangement of something.
Example
The scientist studied the molecular conformation of the protein.
Le scientifique a étudié la conformation moléculaire de la protéine.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrtləsnəs/

artlessness

simplicité, naturel
Meaning
The quality of being natural and simple without deceit or pretension.
Example
Her artlessness made her beloved by all.
Son artlessness la rendait aimée de tous.
C2 verb (past tense, past participle), adjective /ˈhæmstrʌŋ/

hamstrung

paralysé ou limité
Meaning
crippled or severely restricted in movement or progress.
Example
The team was hamstrung by lack of resources.
L'équipe était limitée par un manque de ressources.
C2 noun /ˈɪnˌɡreɪt/

ingrate

ingrat
Meaning
An ungrateful person; someone who shows no appreciation.
Example
He worked hard for his friend, but the ingrate never thanked him.
Il a travaillé dur pour son ami, mais l'ingrat ne l'a jamais remercié.
C2 verb /ɪnˈdjuː/

endue

doter
Meaning
To provide or endow with a quality or ability.
Example
The leader was endued with wisdom and courage.
Le leader a été doté de sagesse et de courage.
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 adjective /məˈnaɪəkəl/

maniacal

maniaque
Meaning
behaving like a maniac; showing excessive enthusiasm or madness
Example
He gave a maniacal laugh during the movie.
Il a éclaté d'un rire maniaque pendant le film.
C2 adjective /ˌɪlˈneɪ.tʃəd/

ill-natured

de mauvaise nature
Meaning
Having a bad or unpleasant character; unkind or malicious.
Example
He made an ill-natured remark about his colleague.
Il a fait une remarque de mauvaise nature à propos de son collègue.
C2 noun /ˈpɔl.zi/

Palsy

paralysie
Meaning
paralysis, especially that which is accompanied by involuntary tremors; loss of muscle control
Example
The elderly man suffered from palsy in his hands.
L'homme âgé souffrait de la paralysie dans ses mains.
C2 verb /əˈɡriːv/

aggrieve

affliger
Meaning
to cause distress or make someone feel resentful
Example
She felt aggrieved by the unfair decision.
Elle s'est sentie contrariée par la décision injuste.
C2 noun /ˈkɪzmɛt/

kismet

destin
Meaning
Destiny or fate.
Example
Meeting her on that day felt like pure kismet.
La rencontrer ce jour-là a ressemblé à un pur destin.
C2 noun /hɪˈdʒɛməni/ or /ˈhɛdʒəmoʊni/

hegemony

hégémonie
Meaning
leadership or dominance, especially by one state or group over others
Example
The empire maintained its hegemony over neighboring states.
L'empire a maintenu sa hégémonie sur les états voisins.
C2 verb /ˈekspərˌɡeɪt/

expurgate

expurger
Meaning
To remove offensive or objectionable parts from a text or speech.
Example
The publisher decided to expurgate the novel before reprinting it.
L’éditeur a décidé d’expurger le roman avant de le réimprimer.
C2 noun /əˈluː.vi.əm/

alluvium

alluvion
Meaning
Fertile soil deposited by flowing water, especially in riverbanks.
Example
The alluvium in riverbanks is highly fertile for agriculture.
L'alluvion sur les rives des rivières est très fertile pour l'agriculture.
C2 adjective /ɛkˈstrɪnzɪk/

extrinsic

extrinsèque
Meaning
Not part of the essential nature of someone or something; coming from outside.
Example
His motivation was largely extrinsic, driven by rewards and recognition.
Sa motivation était en grande partie extrinsèque, motivée par des récompenses et de la reconnaissance.
C2 verb /əˈsɛvəˌreɪt/

asseverate

affirmer
Meaning
to affirm or declare positively and earnestly
Example
He asseverated that he had never seen the man before.
Il a affirmé qu'il n'avait jamais vu l'homme avant.
C2 noun /ˌfoʊˈtɑːmɪtər/

photometer

photomètre
Meaning
an instrument for measuring the intensity of light
Example
The scientist used a photometer to measure the light in the laboratory.
Le scientifique a utilisé un photomètre pour mesurer la lumière dans le laboratoire.
C2 noun /ˌfɔːrɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

foreordination

prédestination
Meaning
the act of determining something in advance; predestination
Example
The doctrine of foreordination suggests that events are fixed by divine will.
La doctrine de la prédestination suggère que les événements sont fixés par la volonté divine.
C2 verb /ˌweɪˈleɪ/

waylay

arrêter / attaquer de manière inattendue
Meaning
to stop or interrupt someone unexpectedly, often to attack or detain them
Example
He was waylaid by reporters as he left the courthouse.
Il a été attaqué par des journalistes alors qu'il quittait le tribunal.
C2 noun /ˌɪnvəˈkeɪʃən/

invocation

invocation
Meaning
the act of calling upon a higher power for help, blessing, or inspiration
Example
The ceremony began with an invocation to the gods.
La cérémonie a commencé par une invocation aux dieux.
C2 noun /flɛk/

fleck

tache petite
Meaning
a small spot or mark, often of a different color
Example
There was a fleck of paint on the floor.
Il y avait une tache de peinture sur le sol.
C2 noun ˌiːkwəˈnɪməti

equanimity

Calme mental, maîtrise de soi et équilibre, surtout dans une situation difficile
Meaning
Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.
Example
She handled the news with remarkable equanimity.
Elle a géré la nouvelle avec une equanimité remarquable.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɒlɪti/

jollity

allégresse
Meaning
lively and cheerful activity or celebration
Example
The wedding was full of jollity and laughter.
Le mariage était plein de joie et de rires.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪ.nəˌʃʊr/

cynosure

le centre de toutes les attentions
Meaning
A person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.
Example
She was the cynosure of all eyes at the party.
Elle était le centre de toutes les attentions à la fête.
C2 noun /ˈseɪnjər/

seignior

seigneur féodal
Meaning
A feudal lord; a man of authority in medieval Europe.
Example
The seignior demanded taxes from the peasants.
Le seigneur féodal a exigé des taxes des paysans.
C2 noun /ˈrɛk.tɪ.tjuːd/

rectitude

rectitude
Meaning
Morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness and integrity.
Example
His rectitude earned him respect in society.
Sa rectitude lui a valu le respect dans la société.
C2 noun /ˈtɜːrpɪtuːd/

turpitude

dépravation
Meaning
depraved or wicked behavior or character
Example
The judge condemned the criminal’s act of moral turpitude.
Le juge a condamné l'acte de dépravation morale du criminel.
C2 noun /ˈhɔɪdən/

hoyden

fille turbulente
Meaning
a boisterous or tomboyish girl
Example
The hoyden preferred climbing trees to playing with dolls.
La fille turbulente préférait grimper aux arbres plutôt que de jouer avec des poupées.
C2 noun /ɪˈfjuːʒən/

effusion

effusion
Meaning
An unrestrained outpouring of words, feelings, or emotions.
Example
His letter was an effusion of love and longing.
Sa lettre était une effusion d'amour et de désir.
C2 adjective /ˈkʌvətəs/

covetous

convoiteux
Meaning
having or showing a strong desire for someone else's possessions
Example
She gave him a covetous look when he showed his new watch.
Elle lui lança un regard convoiteux lorsqu'il montra sa nouvelle montre.
C2 noun /kəˈlɒsəti/

callosity

peau épaissie
Meaning
A thickened or hardened area of skin; insensitivity or hardness of character.
Example
Years of manual labor left callosity on his hands.
Des années de travail manuel ont laissé de la callosité sur ses mains.
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 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 noun /ˈædʒ.ə.tənt/

Adjutant

cigogne adjoint
Meaning
a large water bird with long legs and neck, also known as adjutant stork
Example
The adjutant stork stood motionless in the shallow water.
La cigogne adjoint était immobile dans l'eau peu profonde.
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 verb /ɪsˈtʃuː/

eschew

éviter
Meaning
to deliberately avoid or abstain from something
Example
She chose to eschew junk food for a healthier diet.
Elle a choisi d'éviter la malbouffe pour un régime plus sain.
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 /ɪnˈtræn.sɪ.dʒəns/

intransigence

intransigeance
Meaning
Refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.
Example
The negotiations failed due to the intransigence of both parties.
Les négociations ont échoué en raison de l'intransigeance des deux parties.
C2 noun /pəˈtiːnə/

patina

un film ou une brillance sur le métal, la pierre ou le bois dû à l'âge ou à l'usage; aussi, une apparence superficielle
Meaning
a surface film or sheen on metal, stone, or wood due to age or use; also, a superficial appearance
Example
The bronze statue developed a green patina after years in the sea air.
La statue en bronze a développé une patine verte après des années passées dans l'air marin.
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/adjective /prɪˈsɪpɪtənt/

precipitant

précipitant
Meaning
As a noun: a substance that causes a substance to be deposited from a solution; as an adjective: acting hastily or impulsively.
Example
The chemist added a precipitant to the solution to observe the reaction.
Le chimiste a ajouté un précipitant à la solution pour observer la réaction.
C2 adjective /bɪˈwɪtʃɪŋ/

bewitching

ensorcelant
Meaning
charming, enchanting, or captivating in a magical or irresistible way
Example
She wore a bewitching smile that captivated everyone in the room.
Elle portait un sourire ensorcelant qui a captivé tout le monde dans la pièce.
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 noun /ˈlɔːndrəs/

laundress

blanchisseuse
Meaning
A woman whose job is washing clothes and linens.
Example
The laundress delivered the freshly cleaned clothes to the household.
La blanchisseuse a livré les vêtements fraîchement lavés à la maison.
C2 noun /pʌɡˈnæsɪti/

pugnacity

pugnacité
Meaning
A natural disposition to be combative or aggressive.
Example
The coach admired the player's pugnacity on the field.
L'entraîneur admirait la pugnacité du joueur sur le terrain.
C2 adjective /kənˈtraɪt/

contrite

contrit
Meaning
feeling or showing remorse or guilt
Example
She was contrite after realizing her mistake.
Elle était contrite après avoir réalisé son erreur.
C2 noun /ˌɒpəˈrɛtə/

operetta

opéra léger
Meaning
a short opera with light and humorous themes
Example
The theater staged a famous operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Le théâtre a présenté une célèbre opérette de Gilbert et Sullivan.
C2 adjective /prɪˈmɒnɪtəri/ or /ˌpriːməˈnɪtəri/

premonitory

prémonitoire
Meaning
giving a warning or prediction about something, especially something unpleasant
Example
He ignored the premonitory signs of illness.
Il a ignoré les signes prémonitoires de la maladie.
C2 noun /ˈslʌɡərd/

sluggard

paresseux
Meaning
A lazy, sluggish person.
Example
The sluggard refused to get out of bed even at noon.
Le paresseux a refusé de sortir du lit même à midi.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːrtəbl/

partible

divisible
Meaning
capable of being divided or separated
Example
The estate was partible among the heirs.
Le bien était divisible entre les héritiers.
C2 adjective /ˈfrɪski/

Frisky

vivant; énergique; joueur; espiègle
Meaning
lively; energetic; playful; mischievous
Example
The frisky puppy ran around the garden playfully.
Le chiot frisky courait autour du jardin de manière enjouée.
C2 noun /ɪˈlɪksər/

elixir

élixir
Meaning
A magical or medicinal potion believed to cure illnesses or grant immortality.
Example
The old legend spoke of an elixir that could grant eternal youth.
La vieille légende parlait d'un élixir qui pourrait accorder la jeunesse éternelle.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈsɛsər/

intercessor

intercesseur
Meaning
a person who intervenes or pleads on behalf of another
Example
He acted as an intercessor to resolve the conflict between the two families.
Il a agi en tant qu'intercesseur pour résoudre le conflit entre les deux familles.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpjuːɪsəns/

impuissance

impuissance
Meaning
inability to take effective action; helplessness
Example
The government’s impuissance in the face of crisis frustrated the people.
L’impuissance du gouvernement face à la crise a frustré la population.
C2 verb /ˈpʌkər/

pucker

froncer
Meaning
to tighten or contract into small folds or wrinkles
Example
She puckered her lips before kissing the child.
Elle a froncé les lèvres avant d'embrasser l'enfant.
C2 verb /koʊˈæɡjəˌleɪt/

coagulate

coaguler
Meaning
to cause a liquid, especially blood, to change into a solid or semi-solid state
Example
The blood quickly coagulated after the cut.
Le sang s'est coagulé rapidement après la coupure.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndaɪˈdʒestəbəl/

Indigestible

indigeste; difficile à digérer
Meaning
difficult or impossible to digest; hard to process in the stomach
Example
The old bread became hard and indigestible.
Le vieux pain est devenu dur et indigeste.
C2 noun /ˌɪmbəˈsɪləti/

imbecility

imbécillité
Meaning
Extreme foolishness, stupidity, or weakness of mind.
Example
The plan was abandoned due to its sheer imbecility.
Le plan a été abandonné en raison de son imbecilité pure.
C2 adjective /daɪˈvɜːrtɪbəl/

divertible

détournable
Meaning
capable of being turned aside or redirected
Example
Funds from the budget are not legally divertible.
Les fonds du budget ne peuvent pas être légalement détournés.
C2 noun /ˈmædʒɪstrəsi/

magistracy

bureau judiciaire
Meaning
The office, authority, or district of a magistrate.
Example
He was proud to serve in the local magistracy for over a decade.
Il était fier de servir dans le bureau judiciaire local pendant plus d'une décennie.
C2 noun /ˈeə.rəm/

Arum

arum
Meaning
a plant with large arrow-shaped leaves and a white spathe, also known as taro
Example
Arum leaves are commonly used in Bengali cuisine for cooking.
Les feuilles d'Arum sont couramment utilisées dans la cuisine indienne pour la cuisson.
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 adjective /ˌbiːəˈtɪfɪk/

beatific

béatifique
Meaning
blissfully happy or showing great joy
Example
She had a beatific smile after hearing the good news.
Elle avait un sourire béatifique après avoir entendu les bonnes nouvelles.
C2 noun /ˈɪsməs/ or /ˈɪsθməs/

isthmus

isthme
Meaning
A narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas, often with water on either side.
Example
The Panama Canal cuts through the Isthmus of Panama.
Le canal de Panama traverse l'isthme de Panama.
C2 noun /rɪˈdʒɔɪndər/

rejoinder

réplique
Meaning
a quick or witty reply; a response to a remark or argument
Example
His sharp rejoinder silenced the crowd.
Sa réplique acérée a fait taire la foule.
C2 noun /ˈklævɪkəl/

clavicle

clavicule
Meaning
the collarbone, a long bone that serves as a strut between the shoulder blade and the sternum
Example
He fractured his clavicle in the accident.
Il a fracturé sa clavicule dans l'accident.
C2 noun /ˈmeɪvən/

maven

expert
Meaning
an expert or connoisseur in a particular field
Example
He is a tech maven who always knows the latest trends.
Il est un expert en technologie qui connaît toujours les dernières tendances.
C2 noun /ˌtrænsfəˈriː/

transferee

cessionnaire
Meaning
A person to whom a right, property, or responsibility is transferred.
Example
The transferee must sign the contract before taking ownership.
Le cessionnaire doit signer le contrat avant de prendre possession.
C2 adjective /ˈmɒn.teɪn/

montane

relatif aux régions montagneuses; trouvé dans les environnements montagneux
Meaning
Relating to mountainous regions; found in mountain environments.
Example
Montane forests host a variety of unique species.
Les forêts montagnardes abritent une variété d'espèces uniques.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪk.bæt/

Brickbat

un morceau de brique; critique sévère ou censure
Meaning
a piece of brick, especially one used as a missile; harsh criticism or censure
Example
The angry protesters threw brickbats at the building windows.
Les manifestants en colère ont lancé des briques contre les fenêtres du bâtiment.
C2 verb /ɪˈmeɪʃieɪt/

emaciate

amaigrir
Meaning
To make abnormally thin or weak, usually because of illness or lack of food.
Example
The prisoners were emaciated after months without proper food.
Les prisonniers ont été amaigris après des mois sans nourriture appropriée.
C2 adjective /ˈkrɛstˌfɔːlən/

crestfallen

abattu
Meaning
sad and disappointed
Example
He looked crestfallen after hearing the bad news.
Il avait l'air abattu après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C2 adjective /ˈneb.jə.ləs/

Nebulous

vague; flou; nébuleux
Meaning
vague or unclear; lacking definite form; hazy
Example
His plans for the future remain nebulous and unclear.
Ses projets pour l'avenir restent nébuleux et flous.
C2 verb /ˌæd ˈlɪb/

ad-lib

dire improvisé
Meaning
to speak or perform without preparation; to improvise
Example
The comedian ad-libbed a joke when the microphone failed.
Le comédien a improvisé une blague lorsque le microphone a échoué.
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 noun /ˈskæb.ərd/

scabbard

fourreau
Meaning
A sheath for the blade of a sword or dagger, typically made of leather or metal.
Example
The knight drew his sword from the scabbard.
Le chevalier a sorti son épée du fourreau.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈmɪt/

intermit

interrompre
Meaning
To suspend or stop for a time; to pause intermittently.
Example
The rain would intermit and then start again.
La pluie s'interromprait puis recommencerait.
C2 adjective /ˌsɛm.iˈkɒn.ʃəs/

semiconscious

semi-conscient
Meaning
Only partly conscious; not fully aware of surroundings.
Example
He was semiconscious after the accident and could barely respond.
Il était semi-conscient après l'accident et pouvait à peine répondre.
C2 noun /dɪsˈtɛmpər/

distemper

maladie virale affectant les animaux, en particulier les chiens
Meaning
a viral disease affecting animals, especially dogs; also refers to a state of disorder
Example
The dog was diagnosed with distemper and needed immediate care.
Le chien a été diagnostiqué avec la distemper et avait besoin de soins immédiats.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ˈpepər/

Long pepper

poivre long
Meaning
a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit which is used as a spice
Example
Long pepper was more valuable than black pepper in ancient times.
Le poivre long était plus précieux que le poivre noir dans les temps anciens.
C2 verb /ɪkˈstɛnjueɪt/

extenuate

excuser
Meaning
to make an offense, fault, or situation seem less serious by providing an excuse or explanation
Example
The lawyer tried to extenuate his client's actions by highlighting his difficult childhood.
L'avocat a essayé d'excuser les actions de son client en mettant en lumière son enfance difficile.
C2 verb /ˈmæŋɡəl/

mangle

détruire
Meaning
to severely damage or mutilate something, often by tearing or crushing
Example
The car was mangled in the accident.
La voiture a été détruite dans l'accident.
C2 noun /meɪˈlɑːnʒ/

melange

mélange
Meaning
A mixture of different things or styles.
Example
The festival offered a melange of music, food, and art.
Le festival a offert un mélange de musique, de nourriture et d'art.
C2 noun /ˈtaɪtwɒd/

tightwad

avare
Meaning
a person who is unwilling to spend money; a miser
Example
Everyone calls him a tightwad because he never buys gifts.
Tout le monde l'appelle avare parce qu'il n'achète jamais de cadeaux.
C2 verb /kædʒ/

cadge

quémander
Meaning
To beg or obtain something, especially food or money, without paying for it.
Example
He tried to cadge a free meal from the restaurant.
Il a essayé de quémander un repas gratuit au restaurant.
C2 noun /əˈbrɪdʒmənt/

abridgment

abrégé
Meaning
A shortened version of a larger work, such as a book or speech.
Example
The publisher released an abridgment of the lengthy novel for students.
L'éditeur a publié un abrégé du long roman pour les étudiants.
C2 noun /ˈɔːspɪs/

auspice

augure, patronage
Meaning
A sign, omen, or divine token; also refers to protection or support.
Example
The project was launched under the auspice of the government.
Le projet a été lancé sous l'auspice du gouvernement.
C2 noun /ˈbɛnɪsən/

benison

bénédiction
Meaning
A blessing or benefit.
Example
The rain was a benison for the drought-stricken farmers.
La pluie était une bénédiction pour les agriculteurs frappés par la sécheresse.
C2 noun /ˈkɒn.tɪ.nəns/

continence

continence
Meaning
self-restraint, especially regarding bodily functions or desires
Example
He practiced continence to maintain focus on his studies.
Il a pratiqué la continence pour maintenir son attention sur ses études.
C2 noun /ʃɪˈkeɪnəri/

chicanery

tromperie
Meaning
The use of trickery or deception to achieve a purpose.
Example
The politician was accused of chicanery to win the election.
Le politicien a été accusé de tromperie pour gagner l'élection.
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 /koʊˈtɜːr.mɪ.nəs/

coterminous

coextensif
Meaning
having the same boundaries or extent in space, time, or meaning
Example
The two jurisdictions are coterminous, sharing the same borders.
Les deux juridictions sont coextensives, partageant les mêmes frontières.
C2 noun /blæk ˈkɑːr.də.məm/

Black Cardamom

cardamome noir
Meaning
a large aromatic spice pod with a smoky flavor, commonly used in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking
Example
Add black cardamom to the curry for a rich, smoky flavor.
Ajoutez du cardamome noir au curry pour une saveur riche et fumée.
C2 verb /bɪˈmjuːz/

bemuse

déranger
Meaning
To confuse or puzzle someone.
Example
The complex instructions bemused the new employees.
Les instructions complexes ont déconcerté les nouveaux employés.
C2 noun /ɔːl/

awl

alêne
Meaning
a small pointed tool used for making holes, especially in leather
Example
The cobbler used an awl to punch holes in the leather.
Le cordonnier a utilisé une alêne pour faire des trous dans le cuir.
C2 noun /ɪˌledʒ.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Illegibility

illégibilité
Meaning
the quality of being impossible or difficult to read; unclear writing or print
Example
The doctor's handwriting was famous for its illegibility among the pharmacy staff.
L'écriture du médecin était célèbre pour son illisibilité parmi le personnel de la pharmacie.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːrpɪd/

torpid

léthargique
Meaning
Mentally or physically inactive; sluggish or lethargic.
Example
After the long hike, he felt torpid and unmotivated.
Après la longue randonnée, il se sentait léthargique et démotivé.
C2 verb /ɪˈfeɪs/

efface

effacer
Meaning
To erase or wipe out something; to make oneself inconspicuous.
Example
Time had effaced the letters on the old gravestone.
Le temps avait effacé les lettres sur la vieille pierre tombale.
C2 adjective /vaɪˈkɛəriəs/

vicarious

bonheur
Meaning
experienced through the feelings or actions of another person
Example
She felt vicarious excitement watching her son win the award.
Elle ne pouvait cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 verb /ˈɔːltərˌkeɪt/

altercate

disputer
Meaning
to argue or dispute angrily or noisily
Example
The neighbors began to altercate over the boundary wall.
Les voisins ont commencé à discuter sur le mur de la frontière.
C2 noun /ˈflæɡ ˌɒfɪsər/

flag-officer

officier de pavillon
Meaning
a senior naval officer entitled to fly a flag to mark the command
Example
The flag-officer reviewed the fleet before the ceremony.
L'officier de pavillon a examiné la flotte avant la cérémonie.
C2 adjective /əˈprəʊ.bri.əs/

opprobrious

désobligeant
Meaning
Expressing strong criticism or scorn.
Example
He made opprobrious remarks about his opponent.
Il a fait des remarques désobligeantes sur son adversaire.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsuːpərəbl/

insuperable

insurmontable
Meaning
Impossible to overcome or surpass.
Example
The team faced insuperable challenges during the expedition.
L'équipe a fait face à des défis insurmontables lors de l'expédition.
C2 adverb /ˌfɔːrθˈwɪθ/

Forthwith

immédiatement; sans retard; sur-le-champ
Meaning
immediately; without delay; at once
Example
The manager ordered the employee to stop the unsafe practice forthwith.
Le directeur a ordonné à l'employé d'arrêter immédiatement la pratique dangereuse.
C2 noun /buːb/

boob

idiot; sein (familier)
Meaning
a foolish or clumsy person; an informal and sometimes rude term for a woman's breast
Example
He felt like a complete boob after forgetting the meeting.
Il s'est senti comme un idiot complet après avoir oublié la réunion.
C2 noun lɑːˈʒɛs

largesse

générosité
Meaning
Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others.
Example
His largesse towards the charity was greatly appreciated.
Sa largesse envers la charité a été grandement appréciée.
C2 adjective /ˈɒfɪʃ/

offish

distant
Meaning
Unfriendly, distant, or reserved in manner.
Example
He seemed offish at the party and avoided most conversations.
Il semblait distant à la fête et évitait la plupart des conversations.
C2 noun /ˈniːəˌfaɪt/

neophyte

néophyte
Meaning
A beginner or novice in a subject, skill, or belief.
Example
As a neophyte in programming, she often asked for guidance from her mentor.
En tant que néophyte en programmation, elle demandait souvent des conseils à son mentor.
C2 noun /breɪ/

brae

versant
Meaning
A hillside or slope, especially in Scotland.
Example
They climbed up the grassy brae to see the sunset.
Ils ont grimpé la lisière herbeuse pour voir le coucher du soleil.
C2 noun /ˌmænjəˈmɪʃən/

manumission

émancipation des esclaves
Meaning
The act of a slave owner freeing their slaves.
Example
The manumission of the slaves marked a turning point in history.
L'émancipation des esclaves a marqué un tournant dans l'histoire.
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 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.