nadir
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C2 noun /ˈneɪdɪər/

nadir

le nadir
Meaning
The lowest point of a situation or condition.
Example
The company reached its nadir during the financial crisis.
L'entreprise a atteint son nadir pendant la crise financière.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊksl/

forecastle

forecastle
Meaning
The forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as living quarters for the crew.
Example
The sailors gathered in the forecastle after their shift.
Les marins se sont rassemblés dans le forecastle après leur quart.
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 noun /ˈkriːdoʊ/

credo

crédo
Meaning
A statement of the beliefs or aims that guide someone's actions.
Example
Honesty has always been the central credo of his life.
L'honnêteté a toujours été le crédo central de sa vie.
C2 noun dʒɛsˌtɪk.jʊˈleɪ.ʃənz

gesticulations

gesticulations
Meaning
Expressive hand or body movements while speaking to convey thoughts or emotions
Example
His energetic gesticulations made the speech more engaging.
Ses gesticulations énergiques ont rendu le discours plus captivant.
C2 noun /ˈmɜːkinəs/

murkiness

obscurité
Meaning
The quality of being dark, gloomy, or unclear.
Example
The murkiness of the water made it hard to see the fish.
L'obscurité de l'eau rendait difficile de voir les poissons.
C2 noun /eɪˈklɑː/

eclat

grand succès
Meaning
Brilliant success, acclaim, or great public approval.
Example
The artist's debut performance was met with great éclat.
La première performance de l'artiste a été accueillie avec un grand succès.
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 adjective /ʌnˈlɛtəd/

unlettered

analphabète
Meaning
lacking education or the ability to read and write; illiterate
Example
The unlettered villagers relied on oral traditions to preserve their history.
Les villageois analphabètes dépendaient des traditions orales pour préserver leur histoire.
C2 noun /roʊˈtʌn.də.ti/

rotundity

rondeur
Meaning
the quality of being round or plump
Example
The rotundity of the balloon made it float gracefully.
La rondeur du ballon l'a fait flotter gracieusement.
C2 noun /ˈveɪnɡlɔːri/

vainglory

vanité
Meaning
Excessive vanity or boastfulness about one's achievements.
Example
His speech was filled with vainglory and self-praise.
Son discours était rempli de vanité et d'autopromotion.
C2 adjective /ˈprɪɡɪʃ/

priggish

moraliste et prétentieux
Meaning
self-righteously moralistic and superior
Example
He came across as priggish when correcting everyone's manners.
Il semblait moraliste et prétentieux lorsqu'il corrigeait les manières de tout le monde.
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 verb /ɪˈnjʊər/

inure

habituer
Meaning
To become accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
Example
Soldiers quickly became inured to the harsh conditions.
Les soldats se sont rapidement habitués aux conditions difficiles.
C2 noun /kɒnˌtek.stʃu.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/

contextualization

contextualisation
Meaning
The process of placing something in its proper context or setting to understand it better.
Example
Contextualization of historical events helps students understand them better.
La contextualisation des événements historiques aide les étudiants à mieux les comprendre.
C2 adjective /ˈmɜːrkəntaɪl/

mercantile

commercial
Meaning
related to trade or commerce
Example
The city grew rapidly due to its mercantile activities.
La ville a rapidement prospéré grâce à ses activités mercantiles.
C2 noun /dɪˈbɔːtʃəri/

debauchery

débauche
Meaning
excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; corruption or vice
Example
The novel depicts the debauchery of the aristocrats in the city.
Le roman dépeint la débauche des aristocrates dans la ville.
C2 adjective /ˈfɛtɪd/

fetid

fétide, puant
Meaning
having a strong, unpleasant smell
Example
The fetid smell from the garbage was unbearable.
L'odeur fétide des ordures était insupportable.
C2 adjective /ˈprɒɡnəθəs/

prognathous

prognathe
Meaning
Having jaws that project forward beyond the rest of the face.
Example
The fossil displayed a distinctly prognathous skull structure.
Le fossile affichait une structure de crâne distinctement prognathe.
C2 noun /ˈrɪvjʊlət/

rivulet

ruisseau
Meaning
a small stream of water; a tiny brook
Example
A rivulet ran down the hillside after the rain.
Un ruisseau a descendu la colline après la pluie.
C2 noun ˈɔː.tɑː.ki

autarky

autarcie, autosuffisance
Meaning
Economic independence or self-sufficiency; a policy of establishing a self-sufficient national economy.
Example
Some nations aim for autarky to reduce reliance on imports.
Certaines nations visent l'autarcie pour réduire leur dépendance aux importations.
C2 noun /prəˈtuːbərəns/

protuberance

protubérance
Meaning
A rounded swelling or lump on a surface.
Example
The doctor examined the small protuberance on his arm.
Le médecin a examiné la petite protubérance sur son bras.
C2 adjective /ˈfʊl.səm/

fulsome

éloges excessifs
Meaning
Excessively flattering or insincere; abundant or generous in amount.
Example
He offered fulsome praise to his boss.
Il a offert des éloges excessifs à son patron.
C2 noun /ˈlænjæp/

lagniappe

cadeau supplémentaire
Meaning
A small gift or bonus given by a seller to a customer.
Example
The shopkeeper offered a piece of candy as a lagniappe.
Le commerçant a offert un bonbon comme cadeau supplémentaire.
C2 verb /ˌʌn.dɪˈsiːv/

undeceive

désillusionner
Meaning
To free someone from a misconception or false belief.
Example
She tried to undeceive him about the false rumors.
Elle a essayé de le désillusionner au sujet des fausses rumeurs.
C2 adjective /rɪˈfʌldʒənt/

refulgent

resplendissant
Meaning
Shining brightly; radiant.
Example
The refulgent sun lit up the entire valley.
Le soleil resplendissant éclaira toute la vallée.
C2 noun/verb /ɡraʊs/

grouse

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

caulk

calfeutrer
Meaning
to seal a crack or gap with a waterproof filler
Example
He caulked the window frames to stop the draft.
Il a calfeutré les cadres de fenêtres pour arrêter le courant d'air.
C2 adjective /ˈstɒlɪd/

stolid

impassible, stoïque
Meaning
Calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation.
Example
Despite the chaos around him, he remained stolid and composed.
Malgré le chaos autour de lui, il resta calme et posé.
C2 noun /kənˈfɛsər/

confessor

confesseur
Meaning
A person who confesses sins or secrets, especially to a priest.
Example
The confessor listened patiently to the troubled man.
Le confesseur écouta patiemment l'homme troublé.
C2 verb /ˌæpərˈteɪn/

appertain

appartenir
Meaning
to relate to or be connected with something
Example
The rules only appertain to members of the club.
Les règles ne s'appliquent qu'aux membres du club.
C2 adjective /ˈfraɪəbl/

friable

friable
Meaning
Easily crumbled or reduced to powder.
Example
The old brick wall was friable and broke apart at a touch.
Le vieux mur en briques était friable et se brisa au toucher.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛkəbl/

peccable

pécheur
Meaning
liable to sin or error; capable of doing wrong
Example
Humans are peccable, but they strive for goodness.
Les humains sont pécheurs, mais ils s'efforcent de faire le bien.
C2 noun /wɛlp/

whelp

chiot
Meaning
a young offspring of a dog or other carnivorous mammal; sometimes used to mean an impudent young person
Example
The farmer found a wolf whelp hiding near the barn.
Le fermier a trouvé un chiot de loup caché près de la grange.
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 noun, adjective /pəˈtrɪʃən/

patrician

patricien
Meaning
A person of noble rank or high social standing; relating to aristocracy.
Example
The patrician families of Rome wielded great power in politics.
Les familles patriciennes de Rome exerçaient une grande puissance en politique.
C2 noun /ˈɪkθiəˌsɔːrz/

ichthyosaurs

ichtyosaures (un type de reptile marin éteint)
Meaning
Extinct marine reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins, dominant during the Mesozoic era.
Example
Ichthyosaurs were swift predators of the ancient seas.
Les ichtyosaures étaient des prédateurs rapides des mers anciennes.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈtriːvəbl/

irretrievable

irrécupérable
Meaning
impossible to recover or regain
Example
The documents were lost in an irretrievable way after the fire.
Les documents ont été perdus de manière irrécupérable après l'incendie.
C2 adjective /ˈvɔːntɪd/

vaunted

excessivement vanté
Meaning
praised or boasted about, especially excessively
Example
The vaunted technology failed to deliver the expected results.
La technologie excessivement vantée n'a pas donné les résultats attendus.
C2 noun /ˈɪmɪˌteɪtər/

imitator

imitateur
Meaning
a person who copies the behavior, style, or actions of others
Example
He became famous as an imitator of popular singers.
Il est devenu célèbre en tant qu'imitateur de chanteurs populaires.
C2 noun /məˈbɒkrəsi/

mobocracy

gouvernance par la foule
Meaning
Rule or control by a mob or mass of people, often disorderly.
Example
The protest turned into mobocracy when the crowd started destroying property.
La protestation s'est transformée en mobocratie lorsque la foule a commencé à détruire des biens.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈsaɪklɔɪd/

cycloid

courbe cycloïdienne
Meaning
a curve traced by a point on the rim of a circle as it rolls along a straight line
Example
The cycloid is often studied in mathematics and physics.
La cycloïde est souvent étudiée en mathématiques et en physique.
C2 adjective /ˈtjuːtɪləri/

tutelary

tutélaire
Meaning
Relating to or serving as a guardian or protector, often used for deities or spirits.
Example
Athena was considered the tutelary goddess of Athens.
Athéna était considérée comme la déesse tutélaire d'Athènes.
C2 noun /bænˈdænə/

bandanna

grand foulard coloré
Meaning
A large, often brightly colored handkerchief, typically worn on the head or around the neck.
Example
He tied a red bandanna around his neck.
Il a attaché un foulard rouge autour de son cou.
C2 adjective /ˌlɪlɪˈpjuːʃən/

lilliputian

très petit
Meaning
Extremely small or tiny; trivial or petty.
Example
The model village was filled with lilliputian houses.
Le village modèle était rempli de petites maisons.
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 noun /əˈkʌmpənɪst/

accompanist

accompagnateur
Meaning
A person who plays a musical instrument to support a singer or another musician.
Example
The pianist served as the accompanist for the singer during the concert.
Le pianiste a joué le rôle d'accompagnateur pour le chanteur pendant le concert.
C2 adjective /ˈbɪbjələs/

bibulous

ivrogne
Meaning
Excessively fond of drinking alcohol.
Example
His bibulous habits worried his family.
Ses habitudes ivrognes inquiétaient sa famille.
C2 adjective ˌnjʊə.rəʊ.saɪənˈtɪ.fɪk

neuroscientific

relatif à la neurocience
Meaning
Related to the scientific study of the brain and nervous system.
Example
Neuroscientific research helps understand memory retention.
La recherche neuroscientifique aide à comprendre la rétention de la mémoire.
C2 noun /ˈθɛspiən/

thespian

acteur
Meaning
An actor or actress; relating to drama or theater.
Example
The festival was filled with talented thespians from across the country.
Le festival était rempli d'acteurs talentueux venus de tout le pays.
C2 noun /ˈfʌstɪən/

fustian

discours pompeux
Meaning
pompous or pretentious speech or writing; originally a type of thick cloth
Example
The politician's speech was filled with fustian and empty promises.
Le discours du politicien était rempli de fustian et de promesses vides.
C2 noun /ˈdʒʌɡjələr/

jugular

veine jugulaire
Meaning
A large vein in the neck that carries blood from the head back to the heart.
Example
The doctor checked the patient's jugular vein for signs of pressure.
Le médecin a examiné la veine jugulaire du patient à la recherche de signes de pression.
C2 noun /ˈkʌvi/

covey

un petit groupe d'oiseaux
Meaning
a small group of birds, especially partridges or quails
Example
A covey of quails flew across the field.
Un covey de cailles a volé à travers le champ.
C2 noun, verb /ˈbɛvəl/

bevel

biseau
Meaning
A sloping edge or surface; to cut or shape an edge at an angle.
Example
The carpenter beveled the edges of the table.
Le menuisier a biseauté les bords de la table.
C2 verb /ɪmˈpjuːn/

impugn

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

perspicacious

perspicace
Meaning
Having keen insight and understanding; showing acute mental discernment.
Example
The detective's perspicacious nature helped solve the mystery.
La nature perspicace du détective a aidé à résoudre le mystère.
C2 noun /ˈdʒuː.dɪˌkeɪ.tʃər/

judicature

système judiciaire
Meaning
the administration of justice or the system of courts
Example
The judicature ensures that laws are fairly applied.
Le système judiciaire veille à ce que les lois soient appliquées de manière équitable.
C2 noun /ˌbæstərdaɪˈzeɪʃən/

bastardization

dégénérescence / altération
Meaning
the act of corrupting, degrading, or misrepresenting something
Example
Critics called the remake a bastardization of the original film.
Les critiques ont qualifié le remake de bastardisation du film original.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtɛmpərd/

untempered

non tempéré
Meaning
not moderated or softened; lacking proper balance or control
Example
The untempered anger of the crowd caused chaos.
La colère non tempérée de la foule a provoqué le chaos.
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 /ˈkoʊltɪʃ/

coltish

fougueux
Meaning
Playful, energetic, and not fully mature or disciplined.
Example
The coltish boy ran around the field without a care.
Le garçon fougueux courait autour du champ sans souci.
C2 noun /ˌɛpɪzəʊˈɒtɪk/

epizootic

épizootie
Meaning
An outbreak of disease affecting many animals of one kind at the same time.
Example
The farmer feared an epizootic might wipe out his cattle.
L'agriculteur craignait qu'une épizootie n'élimine son bétail.
C2 verb /leɪv/

lave

laver
Meaning
To wash or bathe.
Example
She laved her face with cool water.
Elle a lavé son visage avec de l'eau froide.
C2 noun /kəmˈpɛndiəm/

compendium

compendium
Meaning
A collection of concise but detailed information about a subject.
Example
The book is a compendium of ancient myths and legends.
Le livre est un compendium de mythes et de légendes anciennes.
C2 verb /bɪˈfʌdəl/

befuddle

embrouiller
Meaning
to confuse someone completely; to make someone unable to think clearly
Example
The complex instructions befuddled the students.
Les instructions complexes ont embrouillé les étudiants.
C2 noun /ˌæfɛkˈteɪʃən/

affectation

affectation
Meaning
an unnatural behavior or speech intended to impress others
Example
Her British accent was just an affectation to sound sophisticated.
Son accent britannique n'était qu'une affectation destinée à paraître sophistiquée.
C2 noun /ˈmɔɪəti/

moiety

moitié ou portion
Meaning
One of two equal parts; a half or portion.
Example
The estate was divided into two moieties between the heirs.
La propriété a été divisée en deux moitiés entre les héritiers.
C2 noun /ˌæbsəˈluːʃən/

absolution

absolution
Meaning
formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment
Example
The priest granted him absolution for his sins.
Le prêtre lui a accordé l'absolution pour ses péchés.
C2 adjective /ɑːrˈθʊr.i.ən/

arthurian

relatif à Arthur
Meaning
Relating to the legendary King Arthur and the stories surrounding him.
Example
The novel is set in an Arthurian world of knights and castles.
Le roman se déroule dans un monde arthurien de chevaliers et de châteaux.
C2 verb /ˈkæn.tər/

canter

galop lent
Meaning
To ride a horse at a controlled, easy pace between a trot and a gallop.
Example
She cantered her horse across the field with ease.
Elle a canter son cheval à travers le champ avec aisance.
C2 noun /ˈʒɑːndɑːrm/

gendarme

gendarme
Meaning
A French police officer, especially a member of a military-style police force.
Example
The gendarme stopped the car for a routine check.
Le gendarme a arrêté la voiture pour un contrôle de routine.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈblʌʃɪŋ/

Unblushing

effronté; sans vergogne
Meaning
showing no shame or embarrassment; boldly shameless
Example
He told the unblushing lie without any hesitation.
Il a dit le mensonge effronté sans hésitation.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈfrændʒɪbəl/

irrefrangible

irréfragable
Meaning
Not to be broken, violated, or infringed
Example
The constitution guarantees certain irrefrangible rights to every citizen.
La constitution garantit certains droits irréfragables à chaque citoyen.
C2 adjective /dɪˈstreɪ/

distrait

distrait
Meaning
deeply distracted or absent-minded, often due to worry or grief
Example
He looked distrait after hearing the sad news.
Il avait l'air distrait après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C2 verb /fɔɪst/

foist

imposer de force
Meaning
To impose something unwelcome or unnecessary on someone.
Example
He tried to foist his old books onto his friends.
Il a essayé d'imposer ses vieux livres à ses amis.
C2 adjective /ɪˈmɛrɪtəs/

emeritus

professeur émérite
Meaning
having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor
Example
He is a professor emeritus at the university.
Il est professeur émérite à l'université.
C2 noun /ˈreɪləri/

raillery

moqueries amicales
Meaning
good-humored teasing or joking
Example
Their friendship was full of light-hearted raillery.
Leur amitié était pleine de railleries légères.
C2 noun /rɪˈsɪdɪvɪst/

recidivist

récidiviste
Meaning
A person who repeatedly commits crimes, especially after having been punished.
Example
The police identified him as a recidivist who had been arrested several times before.
La police l'a identifié comme un récidiviste qui avait été arrêté plusieurs fois auparavant.
C2 adjective/noun /ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪk/

hieroglyphic

hiéroglyphique
Meaning
Relating to or written in hieroglyphs; symbols or writing that is difficult to understand.
Example
The archaeologists studied the hieroglyphic inscriptions carefully.
Les archéologues ont étudié les inscriptions hiéroglyphiques avec soin.
C2 verb /ˈɛkskʌlpeɪt/

exculpate

exculper
Meaning
to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing
Example
The lawyer worked hard to exculpate his client.
L'avocat a travaillé dur pour exculper son client.
C2 noun /ˈpɒntɪf/

pontiff

pape ou un évêque de haut rang
Meaning
the pope or a high-ranking bishop in the Christian church
Example
The pontiff addressed the nation in a televised speech.
Le pape a adressé la nation dans un discours télévisé.
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 noun /ˈɛpɪɡræm/

epigram

épigramme
Meaning
A short, witty saying or poem that expresses an idea in a clever way.
Example
Oscar Wilde was famous for his sharp epigrams.
Oscar Wilde était célèbre pour ses épigrammes aiguisés.
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 adjective /vəˈreɪʃəs/

veracious

véridique
Meaning
Truthful, honest; habitually speaking the truth.
Example
She gave a veracious account of what happened that day.
Elle a donné un récit véridique de ce qui s'est passé ce jour-là.
C2 adjective ˌeə.rəʊˈstæt.ɪk

aerostatic

aérostatique
Meaning
Relating to or involving gases (especially air) in equilibrium and the equilibrium of balloons or aircraft under the influence of such gases.
Example
Aerostatic designs ensure stability at high altitudes.
Les conceptions aérostatiques assurent la stabilité à haute altitude.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛstɪv/

restive

agité
Meaning
unable to stay still or silent; restless and impatient
Example
The crowd grew restive as they waited for the concert to begin.
La foule est devenue agitée en attendant que le concert commence.
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 /ˈævərɪs/

avarice

avarice
Meaning
extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Example
His avarice led him to exploit his workers.
Son avarice l'a conduit à exploiter ses travailleurs.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒnstənt/

inconstant

inconstant
Meaning
frequently changing; not consistent or dependable
Example
His inconstant moods made it difficult to work with him.
Ses humeurs inconstantes rendaient difficile de travailler avec lui.
C2 noun /sɪˈdɪʃ.ən/

Sedition

sédition
Meaning
conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against authority; treason
Example
The activist was charged with sedition for his inflammatory speeches.
L'activiste a été accusé de sédition pour ses discours incendiaires.
C2 noun /ˈzuːəʊˌplæŋktən/

zooplankton

zooplancton
Meaning
Microscopic aquatic animals that drift in water bodies and form an essential part of the aquatic food chain, serving as food for fish and other marine organisms.
Example
Zooplankton plays an important role in the aquatic food chain.
Le zooplancton joue un rôle important dans la chaîne alimentaire aquatique.
C2 noun /ˈsɪʒ.ən/

scission

scission
Meaning
the act of cutting or dividing something
Example
The political party suffered a scission over ideological disputes.
Le parti politique a subi une scission en raison de différends idéologiques.
C2 verb /ˈmɔːrtɪfaɪ/

mortify

mortifier
Meaning
to cause someone to feel great embarrassment or shame
Example
She was mortified when she tripped on stage.
Elle était mortifiée lorsqu'elle a trébuché sur scène.
C2 noun /ˈoʊ.kəm/

oakum

fibre de corde usée
Meaning
loose fibers obtained by untwisting old ropes, used for caulking ships
Example
The shipbuilders used oakum to seal the gaps in the wooden planks.
Les charpentiers de marine ont utilisé de l'okum pour sceller les fissures dans les planches en bois.
C2 verb /əbˈhɔːr/

abhor

abhorrer
Meaning
to regard with disgust and hatred
Example
She abhors cruelty to animals.
Elle abhorre la cruauté envers les animaux.
C2 verb /dɪˈfoʊlieɪt/

defoliate

dépouiller
Meaning
to strip leaves from a tree, plant, or area, often using chemicals
Example
The farmers defoliated the fields before harvest.
Les agriculteurs ont dépouillé les champs avant la récolte.
C2 adjective /ˈmiː.di.əl/

medial

médial
Meaning
Situated in or pertaining to the middle; located toward the midline of the body or structure.
Example
The medial side of the knee is more prone to injury.
Le côté médial du genou est plus sujet aux blessures.
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 /ɪnˈveɪ/

inveigh

critiquer sévèrement
Meaning
To speak or write about something with great hostility and criticism.
Example
He inveighed against the corruption in government.
Il a critiqué sévèrement la corruption dans le gouvernement.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrbɪtər/

arbiter

arbitre
Meaning
a person who has the authority to settle a dispute or decide an issue
Example
The principal acted as the arbiter in the conflict between the students.
Le principal a agi en tant qu'arbitre dans le conflit entre les élèves.
C2 adjective /ˈnjuː.mər.ə.bəl/

Numerable

comptable; numérable
Meaning
capable of being counted; countable
Example
The stars in the sky are not numerable.
Les étoiles dans le ciel ne sont pas numérables.
C2 verb /ˈkʌzən/

cozen

tromper, arnaquer
Meaning
to deceive, cheat, or trick someone
Example
He cozened the old man out of his money.
Il a trompé le vieil homme et lui a pris son argent.
C2 verb /ˈnɪtˌpɪk/

nitpick

chercher des défauts
Meaning
To find and criticize small or unimportant faults in someone or something.
Example
She tends to nitpick about every little detail.
Elle a tendance à critiquer chaque petit détail.
C2 adjective /ˌmɔːrɡəˈnætɪk/

morganatic

mariage morganatique
Meaning
relating to a marriage in which one partner, usually of lower social rank, does not share the titles or privileges of the other
Example
The prince entered into a morganatic marriage with a commoner.
Le prince a épousé une roturière dans un mariage morganatique.
C2 noun /ˈkjʊriˌoʊ/

curio

objet curieux
Meaning
a small unusual or interesting object, often collected for its rarity
Example
She bought a curio from the antique shop.
Elle a acheté un objet curieux dans le magasin d'antiquités.
C2 noun /ˌɛksɪˈɡjuːɪti/

exiguity

insuffisance
Meaning
the quality of being scanty or meager in amount
Example
The exiguity of resources made the project difficult to complete.
L'insuffisance des ressources a rendu le projet difficile à terminer.
C2 noun /ˈdæl.i.əns/

Dalliance

flirt; aventure; liaison éphémère
Meaning
a casual romantic or sexual relationship; a brief involvement or experiment
Example
His dalliance with photography lasted only a few months before he lost interest.
Son flirt avec la photographie n'a duré que quelques mois avant qu'il perde de l'intérêt.
C2 noun /ˈɡrændɪləkwəns/

grandiloquence

langage pompeux
Meaning
Pompous or extravagant language, style, or manner, often intended to impress
Example
The politician’s speech was full of empty grandiloquence.
Le discours du politicien était rempli de langage pompeux et vide.
C2 verb /bɪˈkɑːm/

becalm

calmer
Meaning
to make calm or still; to deprive a sailing vessel of wind
Example
The captain tried to becalm the anxious crew.
Le capitaine a essayé de calmer l'équipage anxieux.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfər/

lexicographer

lexicographe
Meaning
A person who compiles, writes, or edits dictionaries.
Example
The lexicographer spent years compiling the dictionary.
Le lexicographe a passé des années à compiler le dictionnaire.
C2 noun /ˈhɛfər/

heifer

génisse
Meaning
a young cow that has not borne a calf
Example
The farmer raised a heifer for dairy production.
L'agriculteur a élevé une génisse pour la production laitière.
C2 noun /ɜːrˈbænɪti/

urbanity

urbanité
Meaning
refined courtesy, elegance, and sophistication in manner
Example
Her urbanity made her popular among diplomats and leaders.
Son urbanité la rendait populaire parmi les diplomates et les dirigeants.
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 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 /ˈsuːpaɪn/

supine

couché sur le dos
Meaning
Lying on the back, face upward; failing to act due to laziness or weakness.
Example
He lay supine on the grass, staring at the stars.
Il était allongé sur l'herbe, regardant les étoiles.
C2 noun /ˈkoʊ.tə.ri/

coterie

un petit groupe exclusif
Meaning
a small, exclusive group of people with shared interests
Example
He belonged to a coterie of artists who met every Friday.
Il faisait partie d'un groupe d'artistes qui se réunissaient chaque vendredi.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈɛksərəbl/

inexorable

inexorable
Meaning
Impossible to stop or prevent; relentless.
Example
The inexorable rise of technology is changing every aspect of life.
La montée inexorable de la technologie change chaque aspect de la vie.
C2 verb /ˈmiːliəˌreɪt/

meliorate

améliorer
Meaning
To make something better or improve a condition.
Example
The new policies aim to meliorate the living conditions of the poor.
Les nouvelles politiques visent à améliorer les conditions de vie des pauvres.
C2 noun /ˈɡlæsi fɪʃ/

Glassy fish

poisson de verre
Meaning
a transparent freshwater fish with a glassy appearance, popular in aquariums
Example
The glassy fish is known for its transparent body and peaceful nature.
Le poisson de verre est connu pour son corps transparent et sa nature paisible.
C2 noun /ˈvɪtəlz/

victuals

vivres
Meaning
Food or provisions, especially for human consumption.
Example
The travelers packed enough victuals for their long journey.
Les voyageurs ont emballé suffisamment de vivres pour leur long voyage.