perfectible
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C2 adjective /pərˈfɛktəbl/

perfectible

perfectible
Meaning
capable of being made perfect or improved
Example
Human nature is imperfect but perfectible.
La nature humaine est imparfaite, mais perfectible.
C2 noun /ˈpɪərɪdʒ/

peerage

noblesse
Meaning
the title or rank of a peer; the nobility as a group
Example
He was elevated to the peerage by the king.
Il a été élevé à la noblesse par le roi.
C2 verb /priːˈfɪɡjər/

prefigure

préfigurer
Meaning
to represent, show, or foreshadow something in advance
Example
The economic reforms prefigure major social changes.
Les réformes économiques préfigurent des changements sociaux majeurs.
C2 noun /ˈpɔːpərɪzəm/

pauperism

pauvreté
Meaning
The state of being extremely poor.
Example
The country struggled with rising pauperism in the 19th century.
Le pays a lutté contre le paupérisme croissant au XIXe siècle.
C2 noun /ˈprɒsɪlaɪt/

proselyte

prosélyte
Meaning
A person who has converted from one belief, opinion, or religion to another.
Example
She became a proselyte after converting to a new faith.
Elle est devenue un prosélyte après s'être convertie à une nouvelle foi.
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 /ˌpoʊpʊˈriː/

potpourri

mélange de fleurs séchées
Meaning
a mixture of dried flowers and spices kept in a bowl to perfume a room; a miscellaneous collection
Example
The living room was filled with the scent of potpourri.
Le salon était rempli du parfum du potpourri.
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 ˈfaɪ.təʊˌnjuː.tri.ənt

phytonutrient

phytonutriment
Meaning
Chemical compounds produced by plants that are beneficial to human health but not essential nutrients.
Example
Broccoli is rich in phytonutrients that enhance immunity.
Le brocoli est riche en phytonutriments qui renforcent l'immunité.
C2 adjective /ˌpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/

prepossessing

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

peregrination

pérégrination
Meaning
A long journey or wandering, especially on foot.
Example
Their peregrination across Asia lasted two years.
Leurs pérégrinations à travers l'Asie ont duré deux ans.
C2 noun /praɪˈveɪʃən/

privation

privation, manque
Meaning
A state in which things essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are lacking.
Example
The refugees suffered great privation during the harsh winter.
Les réfugiés ont souffert de grande privation pendant l'hiver rigoureux.
C2 noun /pərˈdɪʃən/

perdition

bonheur
Meaning
A state of eternal spiritual ruin, often referring to hell or damnation.
Example
The preacher warned that greed would lead to perdition.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˈpætrɪsaɪd/

patricide

patricide
Meaning
The act of killing one's own father.
Example
The ancient myth describes a son committing patricide to take the throne.
Le mythe ancien décrit un fils commettant un patricide pour prendre le trône.
C2 noun /ˈpeɪpəsi/

papacy

papauté
Meaning
The office or authority of the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church.
Example
The papacy played a significant role in medieval European politics.
La papauté a joué un rôle important dans la politique médiévale européenne.
C2 noun /proʊˈskrɪp.ʃən/

proscription

interdiction
Meaning
the act of forbidding something, especially by law
Example
The proscription of child labor is an important human rights achievement.
L'interdiction du travail des enfants est une réalisation importante des droits humains.
C2 noun /ˈpɒsi/

posse

gang / groupe d'amis
Meaning
A group of people, often friends or a group organized to support or enforce the law.
Example
He arrived at the party with his posse of friends.
Il est arrivé à la fête avec son groupe d'amis.
C2 noun /pəˈlɛmɪks/

polemics

polémique
Meaning
the art or practice of engaging in controversial debate or dispute
Example
The conference was full of polemics on economic reforms.
La conférence était pleine de polémiques sur les réformes économiques.
C2 noun /ˈpriːsɛpt/

precept

précepte
Meaning
A general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.
Example
Honesty is a fundamental precept in all religions.
L'honnêteté est un précepte fondamental dans toutes les religions.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛktərəl/

pectoral

pectoral
Meaning
Relating to the chest or breast.
Example
The athlete focused on strengthening his pectoral muscles.
L'athlète s'est concentré sur le renforcement de ses muscles pectoraux.
C2 adjective /pəˈlædʒ.ɪk/

pelagic

relatif à l'océan ouvert
Meaning
Relating to the open sea or ocean water column, away from the shore.
Example
Pelagic fish like tuna are found far from the coast.
Les poissons pélagiques comme le thon se trouvent loin de la côte.
C2 noun /ˈper.ɪ.dʒiː/

perigee

le point le plus proche dans l'orbite de la lune ou d'un satellite de la Terre
Meaning
the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest to the Earth
Example
The moon appeared much larger during its perigee.
La lune apparaissait beaucoup plus grande pendant son périgée.
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 adjective /prɪˈskrɪptɪbəl/

prescriptible

prescriptible
Meaning
Capable of being prescribed or laid down as a rule or directive.
Example
Certain regulations are prescriptible under the law.
Certaines régulations sont prescrites par la loi.
C2 adjective /pərˈfɪdiəs/

perfidious

traître
Meaning
deceitful and untrustworthy
Example
The spy was executed for his perfidious actions.
L'espion a été exécuté pour ses actions perfides.
C2 adjective /ˈpeɪli/

paly

rayé
Meaning
striped with different colors, usually used in heraldry
Example
The knight’s shield was decorated with paly stripes of red and gold.
Le bouclier du chevalier était décoré de rayures rayées rouges et dorées.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪəl/

phial

petite fiole
Meaning
a small glass container for liquids, especially medicines
Example
The doctor gave her a phial of medicine.
Le médecin lui a donné un flacon de médicament.
C2 adjective /pərˈsuːənt/

pursuant

conformément
Meaning
in accordance with or following something, especially a law or rule
Example
The decision was made pursuant to the regulations.
La décision a été prise conformément aux règlements.
C2 noun /ˈpʌndʒənsi/

pungency

pungence
Meaning
The quality of having a strong, sharp taste or smell.
Example
The pungency of garlic filled the kitchen.
La pungence de l'ail a rempli la cuisine.
C2 verb /proʊˈskraɪb/

proscribe

interdire
Meaning
to forbid something by law or authority
Example
The new law will proscribe the use of harmful chemicals in farming.
La nouvelle loi interdira l'utilisation de produits chimiques nuisibles dans l'agriculture.
C2 noun /ˈpær.ɪ.saɪd/

parricide

parricide
Meaning
The act of killing one's father, mother, or other close relative.
Example
The court tried him for parricide after the tragic incident.
Le tribunal l'a jugé pour parricide après l'incident tragique.
C2 noun, verb /ˌpæm.fləˈtɪər/

pamphleteer

écrivain de pamphlets
Meaning
a person who writes or distributes pamphlets, often to promote a political or social cause
Example
In the 18th century, many pamphleteers influenced public opinion.
Au XVIIIe siècle, de nombreux écrivains de pamphlets ont influencé l'opinion publique.
C2 noun /ˌpɛntəˈhiːdrən/

pentahedron

pentaèdre
Meaning
A solid geometric figure with five faces.
Example
In geometry class, the teacher explained the structure of a pentahedron.
Dans le cours de géométrie, le professeur a expliqué la structure d'un pentaèdre.
C2 noun /ˈpɒtˌbɔɪlə/

potboiler

livre de série B
Meaning
a book, play, or film produced quickly to make money rather than for artistic value
Example
The novel was dismissed by critics as a mere potboiler.
Le roman a été rejeté par les critiques comme un simple livre de série B.
C2 verb /ˈpælieɪt/

palliate

atténuer
Meaning
to make a disease, symptoms, or problem less severe without removing the cause
Example
The doctor prescribed medicine to palliate the patient's pain.
Le médecin a prescrit des médicaments pour atténuer la douleur du patient.
C2 noun /pɜːr bɔɪld raɪs/

Per boiled rice

riz précuit
Meaning
Rice that has been partially boiled in the husk before milling; parboiled rice
Example
Per boiled rice retains more nutrients than regular white rice.
Le riz précuit conserve plus de nutriments que le riz blanc ordinaire.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛndjʊləs/

pendulous

bonheur
Meaning
hanging down loosely; drooping
Example
The pendulous fruit weighed down the branch.
Elle ne pouvait cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle reçut le prix.
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 /ˈfærɪsiː/

pharisee

personne hypocrite
Meaning
A member of an ancient Jewish sect; by extension, a self-righteous or hypocritical person.
Example
He acted like a pharisee, judging others while ignoring his own faults.
Il agissait comme un pharisien, jugeant les autres tout en ignorant ses propres défauts.
C2 noun /ˌpraɪvəˈtɪə/

privateer

corsaire
Meaning
A privately owned armed ship authorized by a government to attack enemy ships during war.
Example
The privateer captured several enemy vessels during the conflict.
Le corsaire a capturé plusieurs navires ennemis pendant le conflit.
C2 noun /ˈpɪkəloʊ/

piccolo

petite flûte
Meaning
a small flute, higher in pitch than the regular flute
Example
She played a lively tune on the piccolo during the concert.
Elle a joué une mélodie vive sur le piccolo pendant le concert.
C2 noun /ˌproʊɪˈbɪʃənɪst/

prohibitionist

interdictionniste
Meaning
A person who supports or advocates prohibition, especially of alcohol.
Example
The prohibitionist campaigned against the sale of liquor in the town.
L'interdictionniste a mené une campagne contre la vente d'alcool dans la ville.
C2 noun /ˈpɒliˌɑːrki/

polyarchy

polyarchie
Meaning
government by many people
Example
Polyarchy allows multiple parties to share power.
La polyarchie permet à plusieurs partis de partager le pouvoir.
C2 verb /ˈpɔːltər/

palter

parler de manière floue, tromper
Meaning
to act insincerely or deceitfully; to equivocate or lie
Example
He paltered when asked about his involvement in the deal.
Il a évité la question lorsqu'on lui a demandé son implication dans l'accord.
C2 adjective /ˌfæntæzməˈɡɒrɪkəl/

phantasmagorical

fantasmagorique
Meaning
Having a fantastic, dreamlike, or surreal appearance, often shifting or illusory.
Example
The movie created a phantasmagorical vision of another world.
Le film a créé une vision fantasmagorique d'un autre monde.
C2 adjective /pərˈfɜrvɪd/

perfervid

extrêmement enthousiaste
Meaning
intensely passionate or fervent
Example
She gave a perfervid speech in defense of human rights.
Elle a fait un discours extrêmement enthousiaste en défense des droits de l'homme.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːr.kə.tri/

parquetry

l'art de poser des planchers en parquet
Meaning
The art or technique of laying parquet floors.
Example
The craftsman specialized in parquetry for luxury homes.
L'artisan s'est spécialisé dans la parqueterie pour les maisons de luxe.
C2 verb /ˈpælpɪˌteɪt/

palpitate

palpiter rapidement
Meaning
to beat rapidly and strongly, often because of fear, excitement, or illness
Example
Her heart began to palpitate with fear.
Son cœur a commencé à palpiter de peur.
C2 adjective /ˈprɒvɪdənt/

provident

prévoyant
Meaning
making or indicative of timely preparation for the future
Example
She was provident in saving money for her children’s education.
Elle était prévoyante en économisant de l'argent pour l'éducation de ses enfants.
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 /ˈpɜːrviəs/

pervious

perméable
Meaning
Allowing water, air, or other substances to pass through; permeable.
Example
The soil here is pervious to rainwater.
Le sol ici est perméable à l'eau de pluie.
C2 adjective /ˌpɑːrsɪˈmoʊniəs/

parsimonious

avare
Meaning
unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy
Example
The company was too parsimonious to invest in better equipment.
L'entreprise était trop avare pour investir dans de meilleurs équipements.
C2 adjective /prɪˈhɛnsɪbəl/

prehensible

préhensible
Meaning
capable of being grasped or seized
Example
The tool has a prehensible handle that improves safety.
L'outil a une prise préhensible qui améliore la sécurité.
C2 verb /pɑːrtʃ/

parch

sècher
Meaning
to make something extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat
Example
The scorching sun began to parch the fields.
Le soleil brûlant a commencé à sécher les champs.
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 /paɪd/

pied

de couleurs variées
Meaning
having two or more different colors, typically in blotches
Example
The pied cat had black and white patches all over its body.
Le chat piebald avait des taches noires et blanches sur tout son corps.
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 noun /ˌsuːdəʊəˈpɒsəl/

pseudapostle

faux apôtre
Meaning
a false or pretended apostle
Example
The preacher was condemned as a pseudapostle.
Le prédicateur a été condamné en tant que faux apôtre.
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 adjective /ˈprɛʃənt/ or /ˈpriːʃənt/

prescient

prévoyant
Meaning
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place
Example
The prescient investor sold his shares just before the market crashed.
L'investisseur prévoyant a vendu ses actions juste avant que le marché ne s'effondre.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪˈstæblɪʃ/

preestablish

préalablement établir
Meaning
To establish or set up beforehand.
Example
Certain rules were preestablished before the meeting.
Certaines règles ont été préétablies avant la réunion.
C2 verb /prɒɡˈnɒstɪkeɪt/

prognosticate

prédire
Meaning
To foretell or predict future events, especially based on current signs.
Example
Experts attempted to prognosticate the outcome of the election.
Les experts ont tenté de pronostiquer le résultat de l'élection.
C2 noun /pəˈræm.bjə.leɪ.tər/

Perambulator

poussette
Meaning
a four-wheeled carriage for a baby; baby stroller or pram
Example
She pushed the perambulator through the park while the baby slept peacefully.
Elle poussait le pérambulateur à travers le parc pendant que le bébé dormait paisiblement.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛkənt/

peccant

coupable
Meaning
Guilty of a moral offense or wrongdoing; sinful.
Example
The judge declared the peccant official unfit for office.
Le juge a déclaré l'officiel coupable inapte à son poste.
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 verb /priːˈdɛstɪn/

predestine

prédestiner
Meaning
to determine or decide something in advance, often regarded as being fixed by fate or divine will
Example
They believed their paths were predestined by fate.
Ils croyaient que leurs chemins étaient prédestinés par le destin.
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 noun /ˌpɛdəˈɡɒdʒɪks/

pedagogics

pédagogie
Meaning
the science or art of teaching
Example
He studied pedagogics to become a better teacher.
Il a étudié la pédagogie pour devenir un meilleur enseignant.
C2 noun /pɒmˈpɒsəti/

pomposity

pomposité, arrogance
Meaning
self-important behavior or exaggerated dignity
Example
His speech was full of pomposity and arrogance.
Son discours était plein de pomposité et d'arrogance.
C2 noun /ˈpɜr.kwɪ.zɪt/

Perquisite

avantage
Meaning
an additional benefit or privilege given to an employee beyond their regular salary; a special right or advantage
Example
Company car was one of the perquisites of his executive position.
La voiture de fonction etait l'un des avantages lies a son poste de cadre.
C2 noun /ˈpætwɑː/

patois

patois
Meaning
a regional or social dialect, especially one considered nonstandard or informal
Example
The guide slipped into local patois when chatting with the fishermen.
Le guide a commencé à parler en patois local en discutant avec les pêcheurs.
C2 noun /ˈpɛntæd/

pentad

groupe de cinq
Meaning
A group or set of five things.
Example
The committee was divided into a pentad of working groups.
Le comité a été divisé en cinq groupes de travail.
C2 verb /ˈprɛsɪdʒ/

presage

présage
Meaning
to be a sign or warning that something will happen; to foreshadow
Example
Dark clouds presage a storm.
Les nuages sombres présagent une tempête.
C2 noun /prəˈfjuːʒən/

profusion

profusion
Meaning
an abundance or large quantity of something
Example
Spring brought a profusion of wildflowers to the valley.
Le printemps a apporté une profusion de fleurs sauvages dans la vallée.
C2 noun /ˈpraɪəri/

priory

prieuré
Meaning
a small monastery or convent governed by a prior or prioress
Example
The old priory was converted into a museum.
L'ancien prieuré a été transformé en musée.
C2 adjective /ˈproʊtiən/

protean

polyvalent
Meaning
tending or able to change frequently or easily; versatile
Example
She is a protean artist who experiments with many styles.
C'est une artiste polyvalente qui expérimente avec de nombreux styles.
C2 adjective /pəˈlɛmɪkəl/

polemical

polemique
Meaning
relating to or involving strongly critical or controversial writing or speech
Example
She wrote a polemical article challenging traditional beliefs.
Elle a écrit un article polémique remettant en question les croyances traditionnelles.
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 adjective /ˌpɛrənˈθɛtɪkəl/

parenthetical

commentaire entre parenthèses
Meaning
Relating to or expressed in parentheses; a side remark or digression.
Example
He added a parenthetical comment during the lecture.
Il a ajouté un commentaire entre parenthèses pendant la conférence.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊ.nə.ɡræm/

phonogram

symbole phonétique
Meaning
a written symbol representing a speech sound
Example
The teacher showed how each phonogram represents a particular sound.
L'enseignant a montré comment chaque phonogramme représente un son particulier.
C2 adjective /ˌpɛrɪpəˈtɛtɪk/

peripatetic

nomade
Meaning
Traveling from place to place, especially for work or based on lifestyle.
Example
He led a peripatetic life as a traveling teacher.
Il menait une vie de nomade en tant qu'enseignant itinérant.
C2 noun /pɪˈlɑːf/

Pillaw

pilav
Meaning
a dish of rice cooked in seasoned broth, often with meat and vegetables
Example
We enjoyed a delicious chicken pillaw for dinner.
Nous avons dégusté un délicieux pilav au poulet pour le dîner.
C2 noun /pəˈveɪʒən/

pervasion

pervasion
Meaning
the act of spreading through or being present everywhere in something
Example
There was a pervasion of hope throughout the community.
Il y avait une pervasion d'espoir dans toute la communauté.
C2 noun /ˌpɛkəˈdɪloʊ/

peccadillo

petite erreur
Meaning
a small or minor fault or sin
Example
Forgetting to call was just a small peccadillo, not a serious mistake.
Oublier de téléphoner était juste une petite erreur, pas une grosse faute.
C2 noun /ˈplænɪsfɪr/

planisphere

planisphère
Meaning
a rotating star chart used to display the visible stars for any time and date
Example
The astronomer used a planisphere to identify the constellations.
L'astronome a utilisé un planisphère pour identifier les constellations.
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 verb /ˈpɒntɪfɪkeɪt/

pontificate

parler ou agir de manière pompeuse ou dogmatique; officier en tant que pontife
Meaning
to speak or act in a pompous or dogmatic way; to officiate as a pontiff
Example
He pontificated on the importance of education for over an hour.
Il a pontifié pendant plus d'une heure sur l'importance de l'éducation.
C2 noun prəˈklɪv.ə.ti

proclivity

propension
Meaning
A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing.
Example
She has a proclivity for learning new languages.
Elle a une propension pour apprendre de nouvelles langues.
C2 adjective /pruːˈdɛnʃəl/

prudential

prudentiel
Meaning
involving or showing prudence, especially in financial or business matters
Example
The bank has set prudential rules to protect depositors.
La banque a mis en place des règles prudentielles pour protéger les déposants.
C2 adjective /pʌɡˈneɪʃəs/

pugnacious

agressif
Meaning
Having a quarrelsome or combative nature; eager to fight.
Example
His pugnacious attitude often got him into trouble.
Son attitude agressive le mettait souvent dans des ennuis.
C2 noun /pʌntʃ ˈfoʊrən/

Panch Phoron

panch phoron
Meaning
a Bengali spice blend containing five whole spices: cumin, fennel, fenugreek, nigella, and mustard seeds
Example
The aroma filled the kitchen when she heated panch phoron in oil.
L'arôme a rempli la cuisine lorsqu'elle a chauffé le panch phoron dans de l'huile.
C2 adjective /ˈpɔːrtli/

portly

corpulent
Meaning
Having a stout or somewhat fat body, often implying dignity or authority.
Example
The portly man entered the room with confidence.
L'homme corpulent est entré dans la pièce avec confiance.
C2 adjective /ˈpjʊəraɪl/

puerile

infantile
Meaning
childishly silly or immature
Example
His puerile jokes annoyed the audience.
Ses blagues infantiles ont agacé le public.
C2 adjective /ˈpʌkɪʃ/

puckish

espiègle
Meaning
playfully mischievous
Example
The child gave a puckish grin before hiding the toy.
L'enfant a donné un sourire espiègle avant de cacher le jouet.
C2 noun /pəˈlæv.ər/

palaver

discussion inutile / agitation
Meaning
prolonged and idle discussion; fuss or unnecessary talk
Example
After much palaver, they finally agreed on the plan.
Après beaucoup de discussion inutile, ils ont finalement accepté le plan.
C2 noun /ˌpɜːrtərˈbeɪʃn/

perturbation

perturbation
Meaning
A state of anxiety, disturbance, or disorder.
Example
The announcement caused a perturbation in the financial markets.
L'annonce a causé une perturbation sur les marchés financiers.
C2 noun /ˌperəˈreɪʃən/

peroration

discours de conclusion
Meaning
The concluding part of a speech, often intended to inspire or persuade.
Example
The politician's peroration left the audience applauding enthusiastically.
La pérotation du politicien a fait applaudir le public avec enthousiasme.
C2 noun /ˈpɛtrəˌɡræf/

petrograph

description des roches
Meaning
a description or representation of rocks, especially in detailed scientific writing
Example
The scientist studied the petrograph to understand the rock composition.
Le scientifique a étudié le pétrographe pour comprendre la composition de la roche.
C2 noun /priˈɛmpʃən/

preemption

droit de préemption
Meaning
The act of taking action before someone else; the right to purchase or act before others.
Example
The company exercised preemption to acquire the land before competitors.
L'entreprise a exercé son droit de préemption pour acquérir le terrain avant les concurrents.
C2 adjective /ˈpɪrɪk/

pyrrhic

victoire pyrrhique
Meaning
A victory won at such a great cost that it is almost equivalent to defeat.
Example
The general declared the battle a pyrrhic victory due to heavy losses.
Le général a déclaré la bataille comme une victoire pyrrhique en raison des lourdes pertes.
C2 noun /ˈpæsɪt/

Passet

fromage blanc
Meaning
Fresh cheese curds; cottage cheese made from curdled milk
Example
The cook prepared fresh passet by curdling warm milk with lemon juice.
Le cuisinier a préparé du fromage blanc frais en caillant du lait chaud avec du jus de citron.
C2 adjective /ˌpəʊstˈprændɪəl/

postprandial

postprandial
Meaning
Occurring after a meal.
Example
He went for a postprandial walk after dinner.
Il est allé faire une promenade postprandiale après le dîner.
C2 noun /ˈpælɪmpsɛst/

palimpsest

palimpseste
Meaning
a manuscript or document that has been written over but still bears traces of earlier writing; something reused or altered but still retaining traces of its earlier form
Example
The ancient manuscript was a palimpsest, showing faint traces of previous texts beneath the new writing.
Le manuscrit ancien était un palimpseste, montrant des traces subtiles de textes précédents sous la nouvelle écriture.
C2 adjective /pərˈsɪpiənt/

percipient

perspicace
Meaning
Having good understanding or insight; able to perceive things clearly.
Example
As a percipient critic, she recognized the deeper meaning of the play.
En tant que critique perspicace, elle a reconnu la signification plus profonde de la pièce.
C2 verb /ˈprætəl/

prattle

bavarder
Meaning
to talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way
Example
The children would prattle on about their games.
Les enfants bavardaient de leurs jeux.
C2 noun ˌpɜː.tɪˈnæs.ɪ.ti

pertinacity

détermination ferme et persévérance
Meaning
Firm determination and persistence in achieving something.
Example
His pertinacity in achieving his goals was inspiring.
Sa détermination inébranlable à atteindre ses objectifs était inspirante.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːrləns/

parlance

jargon
Meaning
a particular way of speaking or using words, common to a group
Example
In legal parlance, the term has a different meaning.
En langage juridique, le terme a une signification différente.
C2 verb /ˈpɜːrdʒər/

perjure

parjurer
Meaning
To knowingly tell a lie in a court of law after swearing to tell the truth.
Example
He was accused of trying to perjure himself during the trial.
Il a été accusé d'avoir essayé de parjurer pendant le procès.
C2 noun /prɪˈpɒndərəns/

preponderance

prépondérance
Meaning
The quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance.
Example
There was a preponderance of evidence against the defendant.
Il y avait une prépondérance de preuves contre l'accusé.
C2 adjective /ˈprɛfətɔːri/

prefatory

prélude
Meaning
serving as an introduction or preface
Example
He made some prefatory remarks before the lecture began.
Il a fait quelques remarques préliminaires avant que la conférence ne commence.
C2 noun /fɪˈlæt.əl.i/

philately

philatélie
Meaning
the collection and study of postage stamps
Example
Philately is a hobby enjoyed by people of all ages.
La philatélie est un passe-temps apprécié des personnes de tous âges.
C2 verb /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/

prevaricate

échapper à dire la vérité
Meaning
to avoid telling the truth by not giving a direct answer
Example
The politician began to prevaricate when asked about the scandal.
Le politicien a commencé à éviter lorsqu'on lui a posé des questions sur le scandale.
C2 verb /pəˈræmbjʊˌleɪt/

perambulate

flâner
Meaning
To walk through or travel around, especially for leisure.
Example
They perambulated the old town, enjoying the sights.
Ils ont flâné dans la vieille ville, profitant des vues.
C2 noun /fɪˈlæt.əl.ɪst/

philatelist

collectionneur de timbres
Meaning
a person who collects or studies postage stamps
Example
The philatelist spent years building a rare stamp collection.
Le philatéliste a passé des années à constituer une collection rare de timbres.
C2 adjective /ˈpliːnəri/

plenary

plénier
Meaning
complete in every way; fully attended or absolute
Example
The committee held a plenary session to discuss all matters of importance.
Le comité a tenu une séance plénière pour discuter de toutes les questions importantes.
C2 noun /ˈplɔːdɪt/

plaudit

éloge
Meaning
an expression of praise or approval
Example
The actor received plaudit for his outstanding performance.
L'acteur a reçu des éloges pour sa performance exceptionnelle.
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 noun /ˈproʊtoʊˌplæzəm/

protoplasm

protoplasme
Meaning
The living substance inside a cell, including the cytoplasm and nucleus.
Example
Scientists observed the movement of protoplasm under the microscope.
Les scientifiques ont observé le mouvement du protoplasme sous le microscope.
C2 adjective /pərˈspɪkjuəs/

perspicuous

clair
Meaning
Clearly expressed and easily understood; lucid.
Example
The teacher gave a perspicuous explanation of the theory.
L'enseignant a donné une explication claire de la théorie.
C2 adjective, noun /pləˈbiːən/

plebian

commun, du peuple
Meaning
alternate spelling of 'plebeian'; common or ordinary
Example
His tastes were rather plebian, favoring simple food and clothes.
Ses goûts étaient assez communs, il préférait la nourriture simple et des vêtements simples.
C2 noun /foʊˈtɑːmɪtri/

photometry

science de la mesure de la lumière
Meaning
the science of measuring visible light in terms of its perceived brightness to human eyes
Example
Photometry helps in designing efficient lighting systems.
La photométrie aide à concevoir des systèmes d'éclairage efficaces.