patrimony
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C2 noun /ˈpætrɪˌmoʊni/

patrimony

patrimoine
Meaning
Property or inheritance passed down from one's father or ancestors.
Example
The castle was part of his patrimony from his noble ancestors.
Le château faisait partie de son patrimoine provenant de ses ancêtres nobles.
C2 adjective /ænˈdrɒdʒɪnəs/

androgynous

androgyne
Meaning
Having both male and female characteristics; not clearly masculine or feminine.
Example
The fashion show featured models with an androgynous look.
Le défilé de mode a présenté des modèles avec un look androgyne.
C2 verb /əˈsɪdɪfaɪ/

acidify

acidifier
Meaning
to make something acidic or more acidic
Example
Farmers worry that pollution will acidify the soil.
Les agriculteurs craignent que la pollution acidifie le sol.
C2 noun /zɪˈnɑːnə/

Zenanna

zenanna
Meaning
the part of a house reserved for women; women's quarters in Muslim households; harem
Example
The zenanna was beautifully decorated with intricate patterns.
Le zenanna était magnifiquement décoré avec des motifs complexes.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈlɪdʒəs/

irreligious

irréligieux
Meaning
Indifferent or hostile to religion
Example
Some people in the community consider him irreligious because he never attends religious services.
Certaines personnes dans la communauté le considèrent comme irréligieux car il ne va jamais aux services religieux.
C2 adjective /ˈtɛnɪbrəs/

tenebrous

ténébreux
Meaning
dark, shadowy, or obscure
Example
The cave was damp and tenebrous, filled with eerie sounds.
La grotte était humide et ténébreuse, remplie de bruits étranges.
C2 noun /bəˈlɛəroʊ/

bolero

boléro (une danse espagnole ou une veste courte ouverte à l'avant)
Meaning
A Spanish dance in slow triple time, or a short jacket open at the front.
Example
The dancers performed a passionate bolero at the festival.
Les danseurs ont exécuté un boléro passionné lors du festival.
C2 noun /dɪˈstɪlər/

distiller

distillateur
Meaning
A person or company that makes alcoholic drinks or purified liquids by distillation.
Example
The distiller introduced a new brand of whiskey last year.
Le distillateur a lancé une nouvelle marque de whisky l'année dernière.
C2 noun /ˈbɜːrɡər/

burgher

bourgeois
Meaning
A citizen of a town, typically a member of the wealthy middle class.
Example
The burgher was respected as a prosperous merchant in the city.
Le bourgeois était respecté comme un marchand prospère dans la ville.
C2 noun /ˌvɛəriəˈɡeɪʃən/

variegation

variété
Meaning
The appearance of differently colored zones in the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants.
Example
Variegation makes the foliage look more attractive.
La variegation rend le feuillage plus attrayant.
C2 noun /hɪˈlærɪti/

hilarity

hilarité
Meaning
Extreme amusement, especially when expressed by laughter.
Example
The movie caused great hilarity among the audience.
Le film a causé une grande hilarité parmi le public.
C2 noun /ˈhaʊsˌbreɪkɪŋ/

housebreaking

infraction de domicile
Meaning
the crime of breaking into a house with intent to steal
Example
The thief was arrested for housebreaking.
Le voleur a été arrêté pour infraction de domicile.
C2 noun /ɡæsˈtraɪtɪs/

gastritis

gastrite
Meaning
Inflammation of the lining of the stomach.
Example
The doctor diagnosed him with gastritis after his endoscopy.
Le médecin a diagnostiqué une gastrite après sa coloscopie.
C2 verb /frɪsk/

frisk

fouiller
Meaning
To search a person by patting their clothing to check for concealed items.
Example
The security guard frisked the man at the entrance.
Le garde de sécurité a fouillé l'homme à l'entrée.
C2 noun /prɒɡˌnɒstɪˈkeɪʃən/

prognostication

prédiction
Meaning
The act of foretelling or predicting future events.
Example
The astrologer's prognostication fascinated the audience.
La prédiction de l'astrologue a fasciné l'audience.
C2 adjective /ˈfɛstəl/

festal

relatif à un festival, festif
Meaning
relating to a festival or celebration
Example
The hall was decorated in a festal manner for the wedding.
La salle a été décorée de manière festive pour le mariage.
C2 adjective /ˈɛrzæts/

ersatz

substitut
Meaning
made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one
Example
The cheap shoes were made of ersatz leather.
Les chaussures bon marché étaient en cuir artificiel.
C2 adjective /hərˈmɛtɪk/

hermetic

hermétique
Meaning
Completely sealed, especially so that no air can enter or escape.
Example
The medicine was kept in a hermetic container.
Le médicament a été conservé dans un conteneur hermétique.
C2 noun /ˈɡʌmp.ʃən/

gumption

courage, initiative
Meaning
Courage, resourcefulness, or initiative.
Example
It takes real gumption to start your own business.
Il faut du vrai courage pour démarrer son propre entreprise.
C2 adjective /ˈwæɡ.ɪʃ/

waggish

espiègle ou taquin
Meaning
playfully humorous or mischievous
Example
His waggish remarks made everyone laugh.
Ses remarques espiègles ont fait rire tout le monde.
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 /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 noun /wiːl/

weal

bonheur
Meaning
A raised mark on the skin left after a blow; or general well-being and prosperity.
Example
The charity worked for the common weal of the community.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /daɪˈvɛstɪtʃər/

divestiture

désinvestissement
Meaning
the action of selling off or disposing of business interests or assets
Example
The divestiture of the subsidiary was completed last year.
La désinvestissement de la filiale a été achevé l'année dernière.
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 adjective /ˈruːnɪk/

runic

relatif aux runes
Meaning
relating to or consisting of runes; mysterious or magical
Example
The old stone had strange runic carvings on it.
La vieille pierre avait des gravures runiques étranges.
C2 noun /ˈɪrɪtənsi/

irritancy

irritation
Meaning
the quality or state of causing irritation; legal or formal invalidation
Example
The constant noise became an irritancy to the neighbors.
Le bruit constant est devenu une irritation pour les voisins.
C2 noun /daɪn/

dyne

unité de force (système cgs)
Meaning
A unit of force in the centimeter-gram-second (cgs) system equal to 10⁻⁵ newtons.
Example
The physicist measured the force in dynes.
Le physicien a mesuré la force en dynes.
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.
C2 noun /vɜːrˈtuː/

virtu

goût pour l'art
Meaning
a love of or taste for fine art, antiques, or curiosities
Example
The collector’s house was filled with objects of virtu.
La maison du collectionneur était remplie d'objets de virtu.
C2 noun /ˈsɪbɪləns/

sibilance

son sifflant
Meaning
A hissing or hushing sound, especially in speech with 's' or 'sh'.
Example
The poet used sibilance to create a soft, hissing effect in the verse.
Le poète a utilisé la sibilance pour créer un effet doux et sifflant dans le vers.
C2 verb /ˈmɒrəlaɪz/

moralize

moraliser
Meaning
To comment on issues of right and wrong, often with an air of superiority.
Example
He tends to moralize about other people's choices.
Il a tendance à moraliser sur les choix des autres.
C2 adjective /veɪnˈɡlɔːriəs/

vainglorious

vaniteux
Meaning
Excessively proud of oneself or one’s achievements; boastful.
Example
The vainglorious leader boasted about his minor achievements.
Le leader vaniteux se vantait de ses petites réalisations.
C2 adjective /hɪk/

Hick

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

altercation

altercation, dispute
Meaning
a noisy argument or quarrel
Example
There was a brief altercation between the two drivers.
Il y a eu une brève altercation entre les deux conducteurs.
C2 verb /kənˈdʒiːl/

congeal

congeler
Meaning
to become thick or solid, especially from cooling
Example
The soup began to congeal after being left on the table.
La soupe a commencé à se congeler après avoir été laissée sur la table.
C2 verb /diːˈmoʊbəlaɪz/

demobilize

démobiliser
Meaning
To release from military service or to disband troops.
Example
The government decided to demobilize the army after the war.
Le gouvernement a décidé de démobiliser l'armée après la guerre.
C2 noun /ˈluː.mən/

lumen

lumen
Meaning
A unit of luminous flux, measuring the amount of visible light emitted by a source.
Example
The bulb produces 800 lumens of light.
L'ampoule produit 800 lumens de lumière.
C2 noun /ˌæv.oʊˈkeɪ.ʃən/

avocation

loisir
Meaning
a hobby or minor occupation pursued in addition to one's main work
Example
Painting is his avocation after office hours.
La peinture est son loisir après les heures de bureau.
C2 noun /ˈfɪlɪɡri/

filigree

travail ornemental délicat, généralement en or ou en argent
Meaning
delicate ornamental work of fine wire, usually of gold or silver
Example
The necklace was decorated with intricate gold filigree.
Le collier était décoré avec un filigrane en or complexe.
C2 noun /ˈfɛndər/

fender

pare-chocs
Meaning
a part of a vehicle that frames a wheel well to protect against mud or debris
Example
The car's fender was dented in the accident.
Le fender de la voiture a été enfoncé dans l'accident.
C2 noun mɒnəˈtɑːskɪŋ

monotasking

faire une tâche à la fois
Meaning
The practice of dedicating oneself to a given task and minimizing potential interruptions until the task is completed or a significant period of time has elapsed.
Example
Monotasking can often lead to higher quality work.
Le monotasking conduit souvent à un travail de meilleure qualité.
C2 noun /ˈmæl.kənˌtɛnt/

malcontent

personne mécontente
Meaning
A person who is dissatisfied or rebellious; one who is not content.
Example
The malcontent voiced his grievances against the government.
La personne mécontente a exprimé ses plaintes contre le gouvernement.
C2 noun /ˈskʌl.i.ən/

scullion

valet de cuisine
Meaning
a servant assigned the most menial kitchen tasks
Example
In medieval times, a scullion was responsible for cleaning pots and pans.
Au Moyen Âge, un scullion était responsable du nettoyage des casseroles et des poêles.
C2 verb /ʌnˈjoʊk/

unyoke

dételer
Meaning
To release from a yoke or to free from restraint or obligation.
Example
The farmer unyoked the oxen after a long day of work.
Le fermier a dételé les bœufs après une longue journée de travail.
C2 adjective /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/

pejorative

péjoratif
Meaning
Expressing contempt or disapproval.
Example
He used pejorative terms to insult his opponents.
Il a utilisé des termes péjoratifs pour insulter ses adversaires.
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 /ˈkɔːrmərənt/

cormorant

un grand oiseau marin noir qui attrape des poissons
Meaning
a large black sea bird that catches fish by diving
Example
The cormorant perched on the rock, drying its wings after a dive.
Le cormoran était perché sur la roche, séchant ses ailes après un plongeon.
C2 noun /kæd/

Cad

scélérat; grossier
Meaning
a man who behaves dishonorably, especially toward women
Example
Everyone at the party avoided him because he was known to be a cad.
Tout le monde à la fête l'a évité parce qu'il était connu pour être un scélérat.
C2 verb /ˈkɒndʒʊɡeɪt/

conjugate

conjuguer
Meaning
to list the different forms of a verb according to tense, person, and number
Example
Students are asked to conjugate the verb 'to be'.
Les étudiants sont invités à conjuguer le verbe 'être'.
C2 noun /ˈblʌfər/

bluffer

bluffeur
Meaning
a person who pretends to be more confident, skilled, or knowledgeable than they really are; someone who deceives others by bluffing
Example
Everyone eventually realized that he was just a bluffer with no real experience.
Tout le monde a compris qu’il était un simple bluffeur.
C2 noun ˌkɒmpjʊˈteɪʃənəl kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən

computational communication

communication computationnelle
Meaning
Digital exchange and automated interaction; the use of computational methods and systems to facilitate communication and information sharing.
Example
Computational communication is reshaping how we share information.
La communication computationnelle redéfinit la manière dont nous partageons les informations.
C2 verb /ɡɪld/

gild

doré
Meaning
to cover something with a thin layer of gold or to make something appear more attractive than it really is
Example
The craftsman gilded the frame to give it a luxurious look.
L'artisan a doré le cadre pour lui donner un aspect luxueux.
C2 adjective /ˈpjuːtətɪv/

putative

présumé
Meaning
commonly accepted or supposed; generally regarded as such
Example
He is the putative father of the child.
Il est le père présumé de l'enfant.
C2 noun /ˈpɜr.fɪ.di/

Perfidy

perfide
Meaning
deliberate breach of faith or trust; treachery; betrayal of trust
Example
His perfidy shocked all who had trusted him.
Sa perfidie choqua tous ceux qui lui avaient fait confiance.
C2 noun /ˈɜːrtʃɪn/

urchin

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

gyroscope

gyroscope
Meaning
A device consisting of a wheel or disk mounted so it can spin rapidly and maintain orientation, used for navigation and balance.
Example
The airplane's navigation system relies on a gyroscope for stability.
Le système de navigation de l'avion s'appuie sur un gyroscope pour la stabilité.
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 adjective /ˈtɔːdri/

tawdry

bon marché et voyante mais de mauvaise qualité
Meaning
cheap and showy but of poor quality
Example
She wore a tawdry necklace that broke easily.
Elle portait un collier bon marché et voyante qui s'est cassé facilement.
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 /ˈbroʊɡən/

brogan

chaussure lourde
Meaning
A heavy, sturdy shoe, often made of leather.
Example
The farmer wore old brogans while working in the field.
Le fermier portait de vieux brogans pendant qu'il travaillait dans le champ.
C2 noun /ˈnɛkrəˌmænsər/

necromancer

Meaning
a person who practices necromancy; a wizard or magician who claims to communicate with the dead
Example
The villagers feared the old necromancer who lived at the edge of the forest.
C2 adjective /səˈluːtəˌtɔri/

salutatory

discours de salutation
Meaning
Relating to or expressing a greeting or an address, especially at the beginning of a speech.
Example
She delivered a salutatory address at the graduation ceremony.
Elle a prononcé un discours de salutation lors de la cérémonie de remise des diplômes.
C2 adjective /sɪˈnɒptɪk/

synoptic

synoptique
Meaning
giving a general overview or summary; presenting a broad view
Example
The report offers a synoptic view of climate trends over the past century.
Le rapport offre une vue synoptique des tendances climatiques du siècle dernier.
C2 noun /kənˈtjuː.ʒən/

contusion

contusion, ecchymose
Meaning
a bruise or injury without breaking the skin
Example
The boxer had several contusions after the match.
Le boxeur avait plusieurs contusions après le match.
C2 noun /ˌpriːdɪˈlɛkʃən/

predilection

prédilection
Meaning
A strong liking or preference for something.
Example
She has a predilection for classical music.
Elle a une prédilection pour la musique classique.
C2 verb /ˈpjuːtrɪfaɪ/

putrefy

putréfier
Meaning
to decay or rot, producing a foul smell
Example
The meat began to putrefy in the heat.
La viande a commencé à pourrir sous la chaleur.
C2 adjective /ˈprɑːflɪɡət/

profligate

dissipateur
Meaning
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in resources
Example
The king was known for his profligate lifestyle.
Le roi était connu pour son style de vie dissipateur.
C2 verb /ˈwɪzn/

wizen

se faner
Meaning
To become dry, shrunken, and wrinkled.
Example
The flowers began to wizen after days without water.
Les fleurs ont commencé à se faner après plusieurs jours sans eau.
C2 adjective /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/

bracing

revigorant
Meaning
Invigorating, refreshing, or providing strength and energy.
Example
The hikers enjoyed the bracing mountain air.
Les randonneurs ont apprécié l'air vivifiant de la montagne.
C2 verb /ˈpɜː.fə.reɪt/

perforate

perforer
Meaning
to make a hole or holes through something
Example
The machine can perforate sheets of paper for easy tearing.
La machine peut perforer des feuilles de papier pour faciliter la déchirure.
C2 noun /kəˈliːdʒən/

collegian

étudiant universitaire
Meaning
a student of a college
Example
The collegians were preparing for the cultural festival.
Les collégiens se préparaient pour le festival culturel.
C2 noun /ˌɛksaɪˈteɪʃən/

excitation

excitation
Meaning
a state of great excitement or the process of stimulating activity
Example
The news created great excitation among the fans.
Les nouvelles ont créé une grande excitation parmi les fans.
C2 noun /ˈmaɪ.nə/

Mynah

maina
Meaning
a tropical bird with dark feathers that can mimic human speech
Example
The mynah bird repeated every word I said.
L'oiseau maina a répété chaque mot que j'ai dit.
C2 noun /səbˈmɜːrʒən/

submersion

submersion
Meaning
the state of being under water
Example
The submersion of the fields lasted for several days after the heavy rain.
La submersion des champs a duré plusieurs jours après la forte pluie.
C2 verb /ˌsɜːrkəmˈnævɪɡeɪt/

circumnavigate

faire le tour du monde
Meaning
to travel all the way around something, especially the earth
Example
Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe.
Magellan fut le premier à faire le tour du monde.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɛn.ɪ.tənt/

impenitent

impénitent
Meaning
Not feeling regret or shame about one's actions.
Example
The criminal remained impenitent after the trial.
Le criminel est resté impénitent après le procès.
C2 noun /ɪˈbʊliəns/

ebullience

exubérance
Meaning
the quality of being cheerful, enthusiastic, and full of energy
Example
The teacher's ebullience inspired her students.
L'enthousiasme de l'enseignante a inspiré ses élèves.
C2 verb /ˈlæs.ə.reɪt/

lacerate

lacérer, déchirer
Meaning
to tear or cut deeply in the skin or flesh
Example
The broken glass lacerated his hand.
Le verre brisé a lacéré sa main.
C2 noun /ˌmɪsˈruːl/

misrule

mauvaise gouvernance
Meaning
bad or poor governance
Example
The kingdom suffered for decades under misrule.
Le royaume a souffert pendant des décennies sous la mauvaise gouvernance.
C2 noun /ˈsɒfɪstri/

sophistry

sophistique
Meaning
the use of clever but false arguments, often to deceive
Example
The politician's speech was full of sophistry.
Le discours du politicien était plein de sophistique.
C2 noun /ˈsɛkstənt/

sextant

sextant
Meaning
a navigational instrument with a graduated arc of 60°, used to measure the angle between a celestial object and the horizon
Example
Using a sextant, the navigator fixed the ship’s position at noon.
En utilisant un sextant, le navigateur a fixé la position du navire à midi.
C2 adjective /flɛgˈmæt.ɪk/

phlegmatic

phlegmatique
Meaning
having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition
Example
Despite the chaos, he remained phlegmatic and composed.
Malgré le chaos, il est resté flégmatique et composé.
C2 noun /ˈlɑːrsəni/

larceny

vol
Meaning
The unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.
Example
He was arrested for committing larceny at the store.
Il a été arrêté pour avoir commis un vol dans le magasin.
C2 noun /ˈpɔːrtɛnt/

portent

prémonition
Meaning
A sign or warning that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen.
Example
The sudden drop in stock prices was seen as a portent of economic trouble.
La chute soudaine des prix des actions a été vue comme une prémonition de problèmes économiques.
C2 verb /ˈfʊl.mɪ.neɪt/

fulminate

protester violemment
Meaning
To express strong protest or criticism loudly and forcefully; to explode violently.
Example
The politician began to fulminate against corruption.
Le politicien a commencé à protester violemment contre la corruption.
C2 noun /niːˈɒkrəsi/

neocracy

Gouvernement dirigé par des fonctionnaires inexpérimentés ou nouveaux
Meaning
A government or leadership run by inexperienced or new officials.
Example
The sudden revolution led to a neocracy with inexperienced leaders.
La révolution soudaine a conduit à une néocratie avec des dirigeants inexpérimentés.
C2 verb /ˈbændi/

bandy

échanger
Meaning
To pass (words, ideas, or gossip) back and forth in a casual or argumentative way.
Example
They bandied jokes across the table.
Ils échangeaient des blagues à travers la table.
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 /prəˈpɪŋkwɪti/

propinquity

proximité
Meaning
the state of being close to someone or something; proximity
Example
The propinquity of their houses made them close friends.
La proximité de leurs maisons les a rendus amis proches.
C2 adjective /əbˈsiːkwɪəs/

obsequious

servile
Meaning
Excessively obedient or attentive in a servile way.
Example
The waiter gave an obsequious bow to every customer.
Le serveur fit une révérence servile à chaque client.
C2 noun /ˌpærəˈnɔɪæk/

paranoiac

personne paranoïaque
Meaning
A person who suffers from paranoia or exhibits extreme, irrational distrust and suspicion.
Example
The paranoiac refused to leave his house, fearing everyone was against him.
La personne paranoïaque a refusé de quitter sa maison, craignant que tout le monde soit contre lui.
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 noun /əˈkriːʃən/

accretion

accrétion
Meaning
The process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter.
Example
The accretion of wealth allowed him to invest in various projects.
L'accrétion de richesse lui a permis d'investir dans divers projets.
C2 noun /baɪt/

bight

courbure
Meaning
A bend or curve in a geographical feature, especially a coastline, or a loop in a rope.
Example
The sailors anchored in the calm waters of the bight.
Les marins ont jeté l'ancre dans les eaux calmes de la courbure.
C2 adjective /ˈæb.ə.rənt/

aberrant

aberrant
Meaning
deviating from what is normal or expected; abnormal
Example
His aberrant behavior shocked everyone at the meeting.
Son comportement aberrant a choqué tout le monde à la réunion.
C2 adjective /ˈbɔːdi/

bawdy

obscène
Meaning
humorously indecent or obscene, often in a sexual way
Example
The comedian’s bawdy jokes made the audience laugh and blush.
Les blagues obscènes du comédien ont fait rire le public et ont fait rougir certains.
C2 adjective /ˌsɪkəˈfæntɪk/

sycophantic

flatteur
Meaning
Behaving in a way that is excessively obedient or servile to gain favor.
Example
His sycophantic behavior annoyed his colleagues.
Son comportement flatteur agacé ses collègues.
C2 noun /ˈbælæst/

ballast

ballast
Meaning
heavy material used to stabilize a ship or vehicle
Example
The ship was loaded with ballast to remain steady in the storm.
Le navire a été chargé de ballast pour rester stable dans la tempête.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪˈsɛnʃəl/

inessential

non essentiel
Meaning
not necessary or important; not essential
Example
The report removes all inessential details to stay focused.
Le rapport supprime les détails non essentiels pour rester concentré.
C2 adjective /ˈæməˌtɔːri/

amatory

amoureux
Meaning
Relating to or expressing sexual love.
Example
The poet’s verses were filled with amatory themes.
Les vers du poète étaient remplis de thèmes amoureux.
C2 noun /ˌpriːɪɡˈzɪstəns/

preexistence

préexistence
Meaning
the state of existing before something else
Example
Philosophers often debated the preexistence of the soul.
Les philosophes débattaient souvent de la préexistence de l'âme.
C2 noun /əˈpɜːrtənənsɪz/

appurtenances

accessoires
Meaning
Additional items or accessories associated with something, often used in a legal or property context.
Example
The house was sold along with all its appurtenances, including the garage and garden.
La maison a été vendue avec tous ses accessoires, y compris le garage et le jardin.
C2 noun /ˌfoʊ.nəˈlɑː.dʒi/

phonology

phonologie
Meaning
the study of the sound system of a language
Example
She is studying phonology to understand how sounds function in English.
Elle étudie la phonologie pour comprendre comment les sons fonctionnent en anglais.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpɒs.tʃər/

Imposture

imposture; fraude; tromperie
Meaning
the practice of deceiving others by pretending to be someone else; fraudulent deception
Example
The elaborate imposture lasted for months before investigators uncovered the truth.
L'imposture élaborée a duré des mois avant que les enquêteurs ne découvrent la vérité.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkrɛpɪt/

decrepit

délabré
Meaning
worn out or weakened by age or neglect
Example
The decrepit old house was on the verge of collapse.
La vieille maison délabrée était sur le point de s'effondrer.
C2 noun /ˈoʊɡər/

ogre

ogre
Meaning
A mythical monster, often depicted as large, hideous, and cruel; metaphorically, a cruel or terrifying person.
Example
The villagers feared the ogre who lived in the dark forest.
Les villageois craignaient l'ogre qui vivait dans la forêt sombre.
C2 verb /kəˈriːn/

careen

se déplacer de manière incontrôlée
Meaning
To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way, especially in a specific direction.
Example
The car careened down the slippery road.
La voiture a dévalé la route glissante de manière incontrôlée.
C2 adjective /ˈsmɑːrmi/

smarmy

flatteur / fausse politesse
Meaning
Excessively flattering or ingratiating, often insincerely.
Example
The salesman gave a smarmy pitch that felt fake.
Le vendeur a donné un discours flatteur qui semblait faux.
C2 noun /mjuːˈlætoʊ/

mulatto

personne de race mixte (terme ancien et offensant)
Meaning
an outdated and now offensive term historically used to describe a person of mixed white and Black ancestry
Example
The word 'mulatto' is now considered outdated and offensive.
Le mot 'mulâtre' est maintenant considéré comme dépassé et offensant.
C2 noun /ˌmæləˈdɪkʃən/

Malediction

malédiction
Meaning
A magical word used to invoke a curse; an evil spell
Example
The witch uttered a terrible malediction upon her enemies.
La sorcière a prononcé une terrible malédiction sur ses ennemis.
C2 phrase /lɛt ðɛm ˈθɪə.ri/

let them theory

théorie de laisser les autres penser ce qu'ils veulent
Meaning
A philosophy of not trying to control others' actions or opinions and allowing them to be themselves.
Example
He follows the Let them theory and ignores negativity.
Il suit la théorie de 'les laisser' et ignore la négativité.
C2 noun /ˈprɒsədi/

prosody

prosodie
Meaning
The patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry and speech.
Example
The professor explained how prosody affects the mood of a poem.
Le professeur a expliqué comment la prosodie affecte l'humeur d'un poème.
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 noun /əbˈhɒrəns/

abhorrence

abhorrence
Meaning
a feeling of strong disgust or hatred
Example
He expressed his abhorrence of racial discrimination.
Il a exprimé son abhorrence de la discrimination raciale.
C2 adverb /əˈmʌk/

amuck

de manière débridée
Meaning
in a frenzied, uncontrolled, or chaotic manner
Example
The bull ran amuck through the village.
Le taureau a couru de manière débridée à travers le village.
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 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 noun /nɛˈkroʊsɪs/

necrosis

nécrose
Meaning
the death of body tissue due to disease, injury, or lack of blood supply
Example
The doctor explained that the patient’s wound showed signs of necrosis.
Le médecin a expliqué que la blessure du patient montrait des signes de nécrose.
C2 noun /ˈrɛv.ər.i/

reverie

rêverie; rêverie éveillée
Meaning
A state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream.
Example
Lost in reverie, he didn't hear his name being called.
Perdu dans la rêverie, il n’entendit pas son nom être appelé.