pledgee
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C2 noun /ˈplɛdʒiː/

pledgee

la personne à qui quelque chose est attribué comme garantie
Meaning
a person to whom something is pledged or given as security
Example
The bank is the pledgee of the collateral until the loan is repaid.
La banque est le créancier du bien jusqu'à ce que le prêt soit remboursé.
C2 noun /aɪˈoʊtə/

iota

une quantité infime
Meaning
An extremely small amount.
Example
He did not show an iota of fear.
Il n'a montré même pas une infime quantité de peur.
C2 adjective /ɒmˈnɪʃ.ənt/

Omniscient

omniscient
Meaning
having complete knowledge; all-knowing
Example
The narrator in the novel appears to be omniscient, knowing every character's thoughts.
Le narrateur dans le roman semble être omniscient, connaissant toutes les pensées des personnages.
C2 verb /dɪˈpreɪv/

deprave

pervertir
Meaning
to corrupt morally; to make someone immoral or wicked
Example
The novel was criticized for attempting to deprave the minds of young readers.
Le roman a été critiqué pour avoir tenté de pervertir l'esprit des jeunes lecteurs.
C2 noun /ˌrɛprəˈbeɪʃən/

reprobation

réprobation
Meaning
Strong disapproval or condemnation; rejection by God as beyond salvation.
Example
The teacher’s face showed clear reprobation at the student’s rude remark.
Le visage du professeur montrait une réprobation nette face à la remarque impolie de l'étudiant.
C2 noun /ˈæpəplɛksi/

apoplexy

Perte soudaine de conscience ou de contrôle due à un AVC ou à une colère extrême
Meaning
A sudden loss of consciousness or control due to stroke or extreme anger.
Example
The old man nearly had apoplexy when he heard the shocking news.
Le vieil homme a failli avoir une apoplexie lorsqu'il a entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C2 noun /ˈkælvɪnɪzəm/

calvinism

calvinisme
Meaning
A Protestant theological system based on John Calvin’s teachings, emphasizing predestination and the sovereignty of God.
Example
Calvinism played a major role in shaping Protestant theology.
Le calvinisme a joué un rôle majeur dans la formation de la théologie protestante.
C2 noun /ˈfʊl.krəm/

fulcrum

point d'appui
Meaning
The point or support on which a lever pivots; a central or essential point of activity or support.
Example
The teacher became the fulcrum of change in the school.
Le professeur est devenu le fulcrum du changement à l'école.
C2 noun /ˌdʒer.ɪˈmaɪ.æd/

Jeremiad

complainte prolongée; lamentation; liste de malheurs
Meaning
a long mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes; a prolonged expression of grief
Example
The newspaper editorial was a jeremiad about the decline of moral values in society.
L'éditorial du journal était un jeremiad sur le déclin des valeurs morales dans la société.
C2 noun /ˈpɒlɪɡæmɪst/

polygamist

polygame
Meaning
a person who has more than one spouse at the same time
Example
The polygamist had three wives living in different houses.
Le polygame avait trois femmes vivant dans des maisons différentes.
C2 verb /ˈdʒæbər/

jabber

bavarder
Meaning
To talk quickly and excitedly but with little sense.
Example
The children jabbered happily after the show.
Les enfants bavardaient joyeusement après le spectacle.
C2 noun ˈsɒmnələns

somnolence

somnolence
Meaning
A state of drowsiness or sleepiness; inclination to sleep.
Example
The somnolence after a heavy meal made it hard to concentrate.
La somnolence après un repas copieux a rendu difficile la concentration.
C2 adjective ɪnˈdɒm.ɪ.tə.bəl

indomitable

indomptable
Meaning
Impossible to subdue or defeat.
Example
Her indomitable spirit helped her overcome adversity.
Son esprit indomptable l'a aidée à surmonter l'adversité.
C2 noun /ˈmæntl̩/

mantel

étagère au-dessus de la cheminée
Meaning
A shelf above a fireplace, often used for decoration.
Example
She placed family photos on the mantel above the fireplace.
Elle a posé des photos de famille sur l'étagère au-dessus de la cheminée.
C2 adjective /ˈhaɪd.baʊnd/

hidebound

borné
Meaning
unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention
Example
He is too hidebound to accept new ideas.
Il est trop borné pour accepter de nouvelles idées.
C2 noun /ʃiːt fɪʃ/

Sheat-fish

silure
Meaning
A large freshwater catfish with a broad flat head and long barbels
Example
The sheat-fish is one of the largest freshwater fish in South Asia.
Le silure est l’un des plus grands poissons d’eau douce d’Asie du Sud.
C2 noun /ˈɛmbəˌlɪzəm/

embolism

embolie
Meaning
the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by a clot or other foreign matter
Example
The patient suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism.
Le patient a souffert d'une embolie pulmonaire fatale.
C2 noun /ˈreɪdɪks/

radix

base
Meaning
the base or root of something; the number on which a system of numeration is built
Example
In mathematics, the decimal system has a radix of ten.
En mathématiques, le système décimal a une base de dix.
C2 noun /ˈvaɪnəri/

vinery

vignoble
Meaning
A place where vines are cultivated, especially a vineyard or greenhouse for vines.
Example
The old vinery was filled with grapevines.
Le vieux vignoble était rempli de vignes.
C2 noun /ˈhæŋ.kər.ɪŋ/

hankering

désir ardent
Meaning
a strong desire or craving for something.
Example
She had a hankering for chocolate late at night.
Elle avait un désir ardent de chocolat tard dans la nuit.
C2 noun /əˈnɔɪnt.mənt/

anointment

onction
Meaning
The act of anointing, usually with oil, as part of a ritual or ceremony.
Example
The anointment of the new leader was a sacred ritual.
L'onction du nouveau leader était un rituel sacré.
C2 verb /dɔːb/

daub

badigeonner
Meaning
to spread a thick or sticky substance carelessly on a surface
Example
The children daubed paint all over the walls.
Les enfants ont badigeonné la peinture partout sur les murs.
C2 adjective /ˌæl.ɪˈmen.tər.i/

alimentary

relatif à la digestion
Meaning
relating to nourishment or the organs of digestion
Example
The doctor explained the role of the alimentary canal in digestion.
Le médecin a expliqué le rôle du canal alimentaire dans la digestion.
C2 noun /hɑrˈmoʊniəm/

Harmonium

harmonium
Meaning
a keyboard musical instrument similar to an organ, using air to produce sound
Example
She played devotional songs on the harmonium at the temple.
Elle jouait des chants dévotionnels sur l'harmonium au temple.
C2 noun /ˈɡæŋ.weɪ/

gangway

passerelle
Meaning
A narrow passage or walkway; also an exclamation used to clear the way.
Example
The sailors lowered the gangway for passengers to board.
Les marins ont abaissé la passerelle pour permettre aux passagers de monter.
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 adjective /rɪˈfrɪndʒənt/

refringent

réfringent
Meaning
Capable of refracting light or other waves.
Example
The refringent properties of the crystal bent the light into a spectrum.
Les propriétés réfringentes du cristal ont courbé la lumière en un spectre.
C2 adjective /trænzˈmɪsəbl/

transmissible

transmissible
Meaning
able to be passed or spread from one person or thing to another
Example
COVID-19 is a highly transmissible disease.
COVID-19 est une maladie hautement transmissible.
C2 noun /ɪˌdʒækjʊˈleɪʃən/

ejaculation

éjaculation / exclamation soudaine
Meaning
The action of suddenly saying something or the release of semen during sexual climax.
Example
His sudden ejaculation of joy surprised everyone in the room.
Son éjaculation soudaine de joie a surpris tout le monde dans la pièce.
C2 noun /ɪmˈprɑːvɪdəns/

improvidence

imprévoyance
Meaning
Lack of foresight or care for future needs.
Example
His improvidence led to financial difficulties.
Son imprévoyance l'a conduit à des difficultés financières.
C2 noun /pɛlf/

pelf

argent malhonnête
Meaning
Money, especially when gained dishonorably.
Example
The corrupt official was motivated only by pelf.
Le fonctionnaire corrompu était motivé uniquement par l'argent malhonnête.
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 /ˈvɪlɪfaɪ/

vilify

bonheur
Meaning
to speak or write about someone in an abusive or disparaging manner
Example
The politician was vilified in the media for his controversial remarks.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˌkæstɪˈɡeɪʃən/

castigation

critique sévère ou punition
Meaning
Severe criticism or punishment for wrongdoing.
Example
The manager’s harsh castigation shocked the entire team.
La sévère castigation du manager a choqué toute l'équipe.
C2 noun /ˌænɪˈmɒmɪtər/

anemometer

anémomètre
Meaning
An instrument used to measure the speed and direction of wind.
Example
The scientist used an anemometer to record the wind speed during the storm.
Le scientifique a utilisé un anémomètre pour enregistrer la vitesse du vent pendant la tempête.
C2 verb /bɪˈnʌm/

benumb

engourdir
Meaning
to make physically numb or without sensation; to make mentally dull or insensitive
Example
The freezing wind seemed to benumb his fingers within minutes.
Le vent glacial semblait lui engourdir les doigts en quelques minutes.
C2 noun /ˈrɛkwiəm/

requiem

messe de requiem
Meaning
A mass, music, or ceremony for the repose of the souls of the dead.
Example
The choir performed a requiem in memory of the late leader.
Le chœur a interprété un requiem en mémoire du leader décédé.
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 /voʊˈsɪfəˌreɪt/

vociferate

vociférer
Meaning
to shout, complain, or argue loudly or vehemently
Example
The protesters vociferated against the unfair law.
Les manifestants ont vociféré contre la loi injuste.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrklət/

circlet

diadème
Meaning
A small circular band, typically worn as an ornament on the head.
Example
The princess wore a golden circlet on her forehead.
La princesse portait un diadème en or sur le front.
C2 noun /fɔːrˈbɛrəns/

forbearance

tolérance
Meaning
Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance, especially in difficult situations.
Example
She showed remarkable forbearance during the heated argument.
Elle a montré une tolérance remarquable pendant la dispute animée.
C2 noun /ɪmp/

imp

petit diablotin espiègle
Meaning
a small mischievous devil or sprite; a playful troublemaker
Example
The child was acting like a little imp, hiding his toys everywhere.
L'enfant agissait comme un petit diablotin, cachant ses jouets partout.
C2 verb /ˌmæn.juˈmɪt/

manumit

libérer de l'esclavage
Meaning
to release from slavery or servitude; to set free
Example
The landowner decided to manumit his slaves.
Le propriétaire a décidé de libérer ses esclaves.
C2 verb /ɪnˈhjuːm/

inhume

inhumer
Meaning
to bury a dead body in the ground
Example
They inhumed the warrior with full honors.
Ils ont inhumé le guerrier avec tous les honneurs.
C2 noun /ˈɪrˌʃɑːt/

earshot

plage d'audition
Meaning
the range or distance within which a sound can be heard
Example
The children whispered secrets out of earshot of their parents.
Les enfants ont chuchoté des secrets hors de portée de leurs parents.
C2 adjective /ˈɪndələnt/

indolent

paresseux
Meaning
Wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
Example
The indolent cat slept in the sun all afternoon.
Le chat paresseux a dormi au soleil toute l'après-midi.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnrɪˈmɪtɪŋ/

unremitting

ininterrompu
Meaning
Never relaxing or stopping; persistent.
Example
Her unremitting efforts finally paid off.
Ses efforts ininterrompus ont finalement porté leurs fruits.
C2 adjective /mæɡˈnɪləkwənt/

magniloquent

langage pompeux
Meaning
using high-flown or pompous language
Example
The politician’s magniloquent speech impressed the crowd.
Le discours pompeux du politicien a impressionné la foule.
C2 adjective /ɡɑːrˈɡæntʃuən/

gargantuan

gigantesque
Meaning
Extremely large; enormous.
Example
They served a gargantuan meal at the feast.
Ils ont servi un repas gigantesque au banquet.
C2 verb /bɪˈhəʊv/

behove

être approprié
Meaning
British spelling of 'behoove'; to be appropriate or necessary
Example
It would behove the company to listen to its customers.
Il serait approprié que l'entreprise écoute ses clients.
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 /ˈweɪvlət/

wavelet

petite vague
Meaning
a small wave or ripple on the surface of water or another medium
Example
The pond was disturbed only by the tiny wavelets caused by the breeze.
L'étang n'a été perturbé que par les petites vagues causées par la brise.
C2 adjective /ˌiːvənˈhændɪd/

evenhanded

impartial
Meaning
Fair and impartial; showing no bias or favoritism.
Example
The judge was praised for her evenhanded approach to the case.
Le juge a été félicité pour son approche impartiale du cas.
C2 adjective /ˌfærɪˈseɪɪkəl/

pharisaical

pharisaïque
Meaning
Excessively concerned with formal rules or outward show of morality, often in a hypocritical way.
Example
His pharisaical behavior made people doubt his sincerity.
Son comportement pharisaïque a fait douter les gens de sa sincérité.
C2 noun /ˈmɒnəɡrɑːf/

monograph

monographie
Meaning
A detailed written study of a single specialized subject or aspect of it.
Example
The professor published a monograph on ancient pottery.
Le professeur a publie une monographie sur la poterie antique.
C2 noun /ˌbeɪt ˈnwɑːr/

bete noire

une chose détestée
Meaning
A person or thing that one particularly dislikes or fears.
Example
Grammar has always been his bete noire.
La grammaire a toujours été sa bête noire.
C2 adjective /ˈvækjuəs/

vacuous

vide
Meaning
Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
Example
She gave a vacuous smile during the serious discussion.
Elle a souri de façon vide pendant la discussion sérieuse.
C2 noun /vərˈmɪl.jən/

Vermillion

couleur rouge-orangée brillante; un pigment de cette couleur
Meaning
a bright red-orange color; a pigment of this color
Example
The artist used vermillion paint for the sunset.
L'artiste a utilisé de la peinture vermillon pour le coucher du soleil.
C2 noun /ˈʃʊərəti/

surety

caution
Meaning
a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, such as appearing in court or paying a debt
Example
The landlord required a surety before renting the apartment.
Le propriétaire a exigé une caution avant de louer l'appartement.
C2 noun /kəˌmɒd.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

commodification

marchandisation
Meaning
The transformation of goods, services, ideas, or social relations into market commodities.
Example
The commodification of education has increased tuition costs.
La marchandisation de l'éducation a augmenté les frais de scolarité.
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 noun /ˈkɒnsənəns/

consonance

consonance, harmonie
Meaning
Agreement or harmony among parts; a pleasing combination of sounds in music or words.
Example
The consonance between their ideas made the project successful.
La consonance entre leurs idées a rendu le projet réussi.
C2 adjective /daɪˈdæktɪk/

didactic

didactique
Meaning
Intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.
Example
The novel is not just entertaining but also didactic in nature.
Le roman n'est pas seulement divertissant, mais aussi didactique par nature.
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 əˌten.juˈeɪ.ʃən

attenuation

atténuation, réduction, affaiblissement
Meaning
The reduction of the force, effect, or value of something.
Example
The attenuation of sound waves affects communication.
L'atténuation des ondes sonores affecte la communication.
C2 noun /ˈmʌrɪn/

murrain

maladie infectieuse du bétail
Meaning
An infectious disease that affects cattle and other animals, often fatal.
Example
The farmer lost many cows during the outbreak of murrain.
Le fermier a perdu de nombreuses vaches lors de l'épidémie de murrain.
C2 noun /ˈfɪl.ɪ.staɪn/

philistine

personne indifférente ou hostile à la culture et aux arts
Meaning
a person who is indifferent or hostile to culture and the arts
Example
He was criticized as a philistine for dismissing modern art.
Il a été critiqué comme un philistin pour avoir rejeté l'art moderne.
C2 noun mʌnˈdeɪ.nɪ.ti

mundanity

banalité
Meaning
The quality of being ordinary, routine, or lacking excitement.
Example
The mundanity of office life can be exhausting.
La banalité de la vie au bureau peut être épuisante.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈpɔːrtʃənət/

importunate

importun
Meaning
Persistent to the point of annoyance or intrusion
Example
The importunate salesman kept calling despite repeated refusals.
Le vendeur importun a continué à appeler malgré les refus répétés.
C2 noun /ˈtʌtʃ.stoʊn/

Touchstone

étalon; critère
Meaning
a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized; a test of genuineness
Example
His honesty became the touchstone by which all other employees were measured.
Son honnêteté est devenue l'étalon par lequel tous les autres employés étaient mesurés.
C2 noun /ˈsɪŋ.krə.ni/

synchrony

synchronie
Meaning
Coordination in time, harmony in action or movement.
Example
Their dance performance showed perfect synchrony.
Leurs performances de danse ont montré une synchronie parfaite.
C2 noun /ˌɪmpjuˈteɪʃən/

imputation

imputation
Meaning
an accusation or attribution of blame
Example
The politician denied the imputation of corruption.
Le politicien a nié l'imputation de corruption.
C2 verb /prəˈpɪʃieɪt/

propitiate

apaiser
Meaning
to win or regain the favor of someone by doing something that pleases them
Example
He offered gifts to propitiate the angry gods.
Il a offert des cadeaux pour apaiser les dieux en colère.
C2 noun /sɪˈnɛrəsɪs/

syneresis

synthérèse
Meaning
The contraction of two adjacent vowels into a single syllable or the separation of liquid from a gel.
Example
The yogurt showed syneresis when liquid separated on top.
Le yaourt a montré une synthérèse lorsque le liquide s'est séparé sur le dessus.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkrʌˈsteɪʃən/

incrustation

croûte
Meaning
a crust or hard coating formed on the surface of something
Example
The old pipes were blocked due to heavy incrustation of minerals.
Les vieilles tuyauteries étaient bloquées en raison d'une incrustation importante de minéraux.
C2 verb /diːˈlɪmɪt/

delimit

délimiter
Meaning
to fix the boundaries or limits of something
Example
The treaty was signed to delimit the borders of the two countries.
Le traité a été signé pour délimiter les frontières des deux pays.
C2 noun /ˈɪndələns/

indolence

indolence
Meaning
Avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.
Example
His indolence kept him from finishing the project on time.
Son indolence l'a empêché de terminer le projet à temps.
C2 adjective /ˈnæti/

natty

chic
Meaning
Neat, stylish, and fashionable in appearance.
Example
He looked very natty in his new suit.
Il avait l'air très chic dans son nouveau costume.
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 noun /ˌær.əˈbesk/

arabesque

design orné
Meaning
a complex, ornate design featuring intertwined flowing lines, often used in architecture or ballet poses
Example
The ceiling was decorated with delicate arabesque patterns.
Le plafond était décoré de délicats motifs arabesques.
C2 noun /dɪˈmʌrɪdʒ/

demurrage

démurrage
Meaning
a charge payable to the owner of a ship or vehicle for not loading or unloading on time
Example
The company had to pay demurrage for delaying the unloading of goods.
L'entreprise a dû payer des frais de démurrage pour avoir retardé le déchargement des marchandises.
C2 verb /diːˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt/

depopulate

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

extrajudicial

extrajudiciaire
Meaning
done outside the authority of the legal system or judicial process
Example
The activists condemned the extrajudicial killings.
Les militants ont condamné les meurtres extrajudiciaires.
C2 adjective /ˌpaɪroʊˈtɛknɪk/

pyrotechnic

pyrotechnique
Meaning
Relating to fireworks or spectacular displays involving fire.
Example
The city celebrated with a grand pyrotechnic display on New Year's Eve.
La ville a célébré avec un grand spectacle pyrotechnique lors de la veille du Nouvel An.
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 adjective /ˌʌnsɛrəˈmoʊniəs/

unceremonious

sans cérémonie/rude
Meaning
Done without formality or courtesy; abrupt or rude.
Example
He made an unceremonious exit from the party.
Il a fait une sortie sans cérémonie de la fête.
C2 noun /ˈlɑːrdər/

larder

garde-manger
Meaning
A place, such as a pantry, where food is stored.
Example
The larder was full of fresh bread and cheese.
Le garde-manger était plein de pain frais et de fromage.
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 noun /ˈdʒaɪər/

gyre

tourbillon, courant océanique circulaire
Meaning
A circular or spiral motion or form, especially a giant circular oceanic surface current.
Example
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is trapped in a gyre.
Le grand patch de déchets du Pacifique est coincé dans un tourbillon.
C2 noun ˈlɪɡ.nəʊˌsæt

LignoSat

satellite en bois
Meaning
A wooden satellite that demonstrates the use of wood in space technology.
Example
LignoSat demonstrates the use of wood in space.
LignoSat démontre l'utilisation du bois dans l'espace.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrtɪfɪs/

artifice

artifice
Meaning
clever or cunning devices or tricks used to deceive others
Example
The politician's charm was nothing but artifice.
Le charme du politicien n'était rien d'autre qu'un artifice.
C2 noun /ˈseɪpiəns/

sapience

sagesse
Meaning
Wisdom or intelligence.
Example
Her sapience in solving problems earned her the respect of her colleagues.
Sa sagesse dans la résolution de problèmes lui a valu le respect de ses collègues.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɛtsəm/

jetsam

matériaux indésirables ou biens jetés par-dessus bord depuis un navire et échoués sur le rivage
Meaning
Unwanted material or goods thrown overboard from a ship and washed ashore.
Example
The beach was littered with jetsam after the storm.
La plage était couverte de jetsam après la tempête.
C2 adjective /əˈsɜːrbɪk/

acerbic

acerbe
Meaning
sharp, harsh, or bitter in tone or taste
Example
His acerbic comments offended many people in the meeting.
Ses commentaires acerbes ont offensé de nombreuses personnes lors de la réunion.
C2 adjective /ˈfjuːzəbl/

fusible

fusionnable
Meaning
Capable of being melted or fused.
Example
The engineer used a fusible alloy in the experiment.
L'ingénieur a utilisé un alliage fusionnable dans l'expérience.
C2 adjective /pɒnˈtɪfɪkəl/

pontifical

relatif à un pape ou un évêque ; pompeux ou prétentieux
Meaning
relating to a pope or bishop; pompous or self-important
Example
His pontifical manner annoyed the other members of the committee.
Son comportement prétentieux agaçait les autres membres du comité.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpaɪ.ə.ti/

Impiety

impiété
Meaning
lack of piety or reverence, especially for a god; disrespect or irreverence toward religious matters
Example
His impiety shocked the religious community when he mocked their sacred ceremonies.
Son impiété a choqué la communauté religieuse lorsqu'il s'est moqué de leurs cérémonies sacrées.
C2 adjective /ˌɛkjʊˈmɛnɪkəl/

ecumenical

unité religieuse œcuménique
Meaning
Promoting unity among different Christian churches or religions.
Example
The leaders gathered for an ecumenical conference to encourage dialogue.
Les dirigeants se sont réunis pour une conférence œcuménique afin de favoriser le dialogue.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪskəmˈbɑːbjuleɪtɪd/

discombobulated

désorienté
Meaning
confused and disoriented; feeling unsettled
Example
She looked discombobulated after hearing the unexpected news.
Elle avait l'air désorientée après avoir entendu la nouvelle inattendue.
C2 adjective /səˈræfɪk/

seraphic

angélique
Meaning
Of or like a seraph; angelic, pure, and blissful.
Example
She gave him a seraphic smile that calmed his fears.
Elle lui donna un sourire angélique qui calma ses peurs.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪspi/

wispy

fins et fragiles
Meaning
Thin, delicate, and weak in appearance or form.
Example
Her wispy hair blew gently in the breeze.
Ses cheveux fins soufflaient doucement dans la brise.
C2 adjective /ˌsuː.pər.ɪˈrɑː.ɡə.tɔːr.i/

supererogatory

superflu
Meaning
Going beyond what is required or expected; more than necessary.
Example
His donation was supererogatory, far beyond what anyone had asked for.
Sa donation était superflue, bien au-delà de ce que quelqu'un avait demandé.
C2 noun /mɪˌsɛdʒəˈneɪʃən/

miscegenation

métissage
Meaning
the interbreeding of people considered to be of different racial types
Example
The law once prohibited miscegenation in many countries.
La loi interdisait autrefois la miscegénation dans de nombreux pays.
C2 noun /poʊˈzɜːr/

poseur

poseur
Meaning
A person who pretends to be something they are not, often to impress others.
Example
Many considered him a poseur because he exaggerated his accomplishments.
Beaucoup le considéraient comme un poseur parce qu'il exagérait ses réalisations.
C2 noun /ˈprɒvəndər/

provender

fourrage pour le bétail
Meaning
food or provisions, especially for livestock
Example
The barn was filled with provender for the cattle.
La grange était remplie de fourrage pour le bétail.
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 verb /rɪˈspaɪər/

respire

respirer
Meaning
To breathe in and out; to inhale and exhale.
Example
Plants also respire to release energy.
Les plantes respirent aussi pour libérer de l'énergie.
C2 noun /ˌmæk.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

Machination

machination; intrigue;
Meaning
a clever scheme or artful plot, usually with evil intent; crafty designing or plotting
Example
The villain's machinations were finally exposed.
Les machinations du méchant ont finalement été exposées.
C2 adjective /beɪˈkoʊniən/

baconian

baconien
Meaning
Relating to the philosopher Francis Bacon or his method of scientific reasoning.
Example
The researcher followed a Baconian approach to observation and experimentation.
Le chercheur a suivi une approche baconienne de l'observation et de l'expérimentation.
C2 noun /ˈbɪvuˌæk/

bivouac

bivouac
Meaning
a temporary camp without tents or cover, usually used by soldiers or mountaineers
Example
The climbers set up a bivouac on the mountainside.
Les grimpeurs ont installé un bivouac sur le flanc de la montagne.
C2 verb /ɪnˈdɒktrɪˌneɪt/

indoctrinate

endoctriner
Meaning
To teach someone to fully accept a set of beliefs or ideas without question.
Example
The regime tried to indoctrinate the youth with propaganda.
Le régime a tenté d'endoctriner la jeunesse avec de la propagande.
C2 verb /əˈkɒst/

accost

aborder de manière agressive
Meaning
to approach and speak to someone boldly or aggressively
Example
The reporter was accosted by protesters outside the courthouse.
Le reporter a été abordé par des manifestants devant le tribunal.
C2 verb /bɪˈtroʊð/

betroth

se fiancer
Meaning
To formally promise to marry someone; to engage.
Example
He was betrothed to the princess at a young age.
Il a été fiancé à la princesse à un jeune âge.
C2 adjective /ˈɔːrnəri/

ornery

irritable
Meaning
bad-tempered and combative; stubborn
Example
The ornery old man refused to leave his chair.
Le vieil homme irritable a refusé de quitter sa chaise.
C2 verb /ˈhæloʊ/

hallow

sanctifier
Meaning
to honor as holy; to make sacred or greatly respected
Example
The ancient temple was hallowed by centuries of worship.
L'ancien temple a été sanctifié par des siècles de dévotion.
C2 noun /səˈlɛrɪti/

celerity

célérité
Meaning
swiftness of movement; speed
Example
The soldier moved with great celerity to deliver the message.
Le soldat s'est déplacé avec une grande célérité pour livrer le message.
C2 noun /əˈnæθəmə/

anathema

anathème / chose détestée
Meaning
something or someone intensely disliked or strongly condemned
Example
Violence is anathema to her peaceful nature.
La violence est un anathème pour sa nature pacifique.
C2 noun /ˌɡlæd.iˈoʊ.ləs/

Gladiolus

glaïeul
Meaning
A tall flowering plant with sword-shaped leaves and colorful spike-like flower clusters, popular in gardens and floral arrangements
Example
The gladiolus stood tall and elegant in the flower bed.
Le glaïeul se tenait droit et élégant dans le parterre de fleurs.
C2 adjective /ˌhæfˈhɑːr.tɪd/

halfhearted

démotivé
Meaning
lacking enthusiasm or determination; unenthusiastic
Example
His halfhearted attempt to study did not bring good results.
Son essai démotivé pour étudier n'a pas donné de bons résultats.
C2 verb /ˈɛnərˌveɪt/

enervate

affaiblir
Meaning
To weaken or drain someone of strength or vitality.
Example
The long hours of work enervated him.
Les longues heures de travail l'ont affaibli.
C2 adjective /ˈfraʊzi/

frowsy

négligé
Meaning
Scruffy and neglected in appearance; musty or stale in smell.
Example
He wore a frowsy old jacket that smelled of damp.
Il portait une veste négligée et vieille qui sentait l'humidité.