polemics
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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 /ˈtɜːrpɪtuːd/

turpitude

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

insensate

insensible
Meaning
lacking physical sensation or empathy; without feeling or sensitivity
Example
The dictator's insensate cruelty shocked the world.
La cruauté insensible du dictateur a choqué le monde.
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 /rɪˈtɪkjʊlət/

reticulate

réticulé
Meaning
Having a net-like pattern or structure.
Example
The leaf had a reticulate pattern of veins.
La feuille avait un motif réticulé de veines.
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 adjective /bruːsk/ or /brʌsk/

brusque

brusque
Meaning
abrupt or blunt in manner or speech, often seen as rude
Example
His brusque reply ended the conversation.
Sa réponse brusque a mis fin à la conversation.
C2 adjective /ˈsɛrid/

serried

serré
Meaning
pressed or crowded together, often in rows or ranks
Example
The soldiers stood in serried ranks, ready for inspection.
Les soldats étaient en rangs serrés, prêts pour l'inspection.
C2 verb /ˈmæŋɡəl/

mangle

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

Venial

pardonnable; pas gravement faux; mineur
Meaning
forgivable; not seriously wrong; minor
Example
His late arrival was considered a venial offense.
Son arrivée tardive a été considérée comme une infraction vénielle.
C2 verb /ʃiːð/

sheathe

remettre dans le fourreau
Meaning
to put a sword or knife back into its cover
Example
He quickly sheathed his sword after the duel.
Il remit rapidement son épée dans son fourreau après le duel.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌmeɪsən/

freemason

franc-maçon membre
Meaning
A member of an international fraternity known as Freemasonry, focused on moral and spiritual values.
Example
His grandfather was a respected freemason in the community.
Son grand-père était un franc-maçon respecté dans la communauté.
C2 noun /ˌɛmjʊˈleɪ.ʃən/

emulation

émulation
Meaning
Reproducing something or following someone to achieve success.
Example
The software allows the emulation of old video games on modern devices.
Le logiciel permet l'émulation de vieux jeux vidéo sur des appareils modernes.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvʌlnərəbl/

invulnerable

invulnérable
Meaning
Impossible to harm, damage, or defeat.
Example
The fortress was thought to be invulnerable to attack.
La forteresse était considérée comme invulnérable aux attaques.
C2 verb /ˈwɪni/

whinny

hennissement
Meaning
to make the high-pitched sound a horse makes
Example
The horse whinnied when it saw its rider.
Le cheval hennit quand il a vu son cavalier.
C2 noun /hæp/

hap

chance, fortune, hasard
Meaning
luck, fortune, or chance occurrence
Example
By sheer hap, he discovered the old letter hidden in the drawer.
Par pur hasard, il a découvert la vieille lettre cachée dans le tiroir.
C2 noun /kəˈpærɪsən/

caparison

revêtement orné pour un cheval ; vêtements ou décoration riche et élaborée
Meaning
an ornamental covering for a horse; rich and elaborate clothing or decoration
Example
The king’s horse was adorned with a golden caparison.
Le cheval du roi était décoré d'un caparison en or.
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 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 noun /ˈkæt.aɪ.ɒn ɪksˌtʃeɪndʒ/

cation-exchange

échange cationique
Meaning
A chemical process in soil that helps retain nutrients.
Example
The cation-exchange capacity of soil affects plant growth.
La capacité d'échange cationique du sol influence la croissance des plantes.
C2 noun /ˌlɪk.wəˈfeɪ.ʃənt/

liquefacient

liquéfiant
Meaning
a substance that causes something to become liquid
Example
The chemist explained how the liquefacient worked in the experiment.
Le chimiste a expliqué comment le liquide fonctionnait dans l'expérience.
C2 noun /ˌkiː.təʊˈdʒen.ɪ.sɪs/

ketogenesis

processus de production de cétones
Meaning
The metabolic process by which the liver produces ketones from fatty acids, providing an alternative energy source during low carbohydrate availability.
Example
Ketogenesis occurs during fasting or low-carb diets.
La cétogenèse se produit lors du jeûne ou des régimes pauvres en glucides.
C2 adjective /ˈkɑːrnəl/

carnal

carnel
Meaning
Relating to physical, especially sexual, desires and appetites.
Example
The book explores the conflict between spiritual and carnal desires.
Le livre explore le conflit entre les désirs spirituels et carnels.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtiːtʃəbəl/

unteachable

impossible à enseigner
Meaning
not able or willing to learn; resistant to instruction or guidance
Example
He was so stubborn that he became almost unteachable.
Il était si têtu qu’il est devenu presque impossible à enseigner.
C2 noun, verb /ˈkæŋkər/

canker

cancro
Meaning
A fungal disease of plants; an ulcerous sore in the mouth; to corrupt or destroy slowly
Example
The tree was infected with a canker that damaged its bark.
L'arbre était infecté par un chancre qui endommagait son écorce.
C2 noun /ˈkɒn.tjʊ.mə.li/

contumely

insulte, mépris
Meaning
insulting or humiliating treatment
Example
He endured the contumely of his colleagues with patience.
Il a supporté le mépris de ses collègues avec patience.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈstɛnsəbl/

inextensible

inextensible
Meaning
Not capable of being stretched or extended.
Example
This rope is made of an inextensible material.
Cette corde est faite d’un matériau inextensible.
C2 noun /ɪnˈvaɪtər/

invitor

invitant
Meaning
a person who invites someone to an event, meeting, or place
Example
The invitor greeted all the guests warmly at the entrance.
L’invitant a accueilli les invités à l’entrée.
C2 noun /vɛnˈdɪʃən/

vendition

vente
Meaning
The act of selling; sale.
Example
The auction was a formal vendition of the estate's assets.
La vente aux enchères était une vente formelle des actifs de la propriété.
C2 adjective /ˌnɒnˈtrɪviəl/

nontrivial

non trivial
Meaning
Not simple or easy; requiring effort or significant thought.
Example
Solving the equation turned out to be a nontrivial task.
Résoudre l'équation s'est avéré être une tâche non triviale.
C2 noun /ˌæpəˈleɪʃən/

appellation

titre / nom
Meaning
a name or title
Example
The city has earned the appellation 'The Big Apple'.
La ville a gagné le titre 'La Grande Pomme'.
C2 adjective /ˌpɒliˈæn.ɪ.ɪʃ/

pollyannaish

excessivement optimiste
Meaning
overly or blindly optimistic
Example
Her pollyannaish attitude ignored the obvious problems.
Son attitude excessivement optimiste ignorait les problèmes évidents.
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 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 noun /ɡiː/

Ghee

ghee
Meaning
clarified butter used in South Asian cooking
Example
She used ghee instead of butter for cooking the rice.
Elle a utilisé du ghee au lieu du beurre pour cuisiner le riz.
C2 verb /məˈmɔːriəlaɪz/

memorialize

commémorer
Meaning
to preserve the memory of a person or event, often through a ceremony, monument, or record
Example
The city decided to memorialize the hero with a statue in the central square.
La ville a décidé de commémorer le héros avec une statue sur la place centrale.
C2 noun /ɑːmz/

alms

aumône
Meaning
Money, food, or goods given to the poor as charity.
Example
The monk distributed alms to the needy villagers.
Le moine a distribué des aumônes aux pauvres villageois.
C2 adjective /ˈsteɪ.dʒi/

stagy

trop théâtral
Meaning
Overly theatrical, artificial, or exaggerated in manner or style.
Example
Her performance felt stagy and unnatural.
Sa performance semblait trop théâtrale et artificielle.
C2 noun /ˌkæl.sɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

calcification

calcification
Meaning
The process of calcium accumulation in soil, making it hard.
Example
Calcification reduces soil permeability and affects crop growth.
La calcification réduit la perméabilité du sol et affecte la croissance des cultures.
C2 noun /nɑnˈen.tə.ti/

Nonentity

personne sans importance; quelque chose qui n'existe pas
Meaning
a person of no importance or influence; something that does not exist
Example
He felt like a nonentity in the large corporation.
Il se sentait comme une non-entité dans la grande entreprise.
C2 adjective /ˈhæŋ.dɔːɡ/

hangdog

embarrassé
Meaning
looking or feeling ashamed, guilty, or defeated.
Example
He gave me a hangdog look after being caught lying.
Il m'a donné un regard embarrassé après avoir été pris en train de mentir.
C2 noun /ˌdɪləˈtænt/

dilettante

amateur
Meaning
A person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a superficial way.
Example
He was dismissed as a dilettante in the art world because he lacked formal training.
Il a été rejeté comme un amateur dans le monde de l'art car il manquait de formation formelle.
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 verb /dɪsˈkaʊntənəns/

discountenance

désapprouver
Meaning
To disapprove of or discourage something.
Example
The teacher strongly discountenanced cheating in exams.
Le professeur a fermement désapprouvé la triche lors des examens.
C2 verb /dɪsˈkʌmfɪt/

discomfit

déconcerter
Meaning
to make someone feel uneasy, embarrassed, or confused
Example
The interviewer’s tough questions discomfited the candidate.
Les questions difficiles de l'intervieweur ont déstabilisé le candidat.
C2 noun /ˌmɛtəmˌsaɪˈkoʊsɪs/

metempsychosis

réincarnation de l'âme
Meaning
The supposed transmigration of the soul, especially its reincarnation after death.
Example
Ancient philosophers often debated the idea of metempsychosis.
Les anciens philosophes débattaient souvent de la réincarnation de l'âme.
C2 verb /kənˈtɔːrt/

contort

tordre
Meaning
to twist or bend out of the normal shape
Example
She contorted her face in pain after the injury.
Elle tordit son visage de douleur après la blessure.
C2 noun /ˈæl.baɪt/

albite

albite
Meaning
A white or colorless mineral of the feldspar group, often found in igneous rocks.
Example
Geologists discovered albite crystals in the rock sample.
Les géologues ont découvert des cristaux d'albite dans l'échantillon de roche.
C2 adjective /ˈnɒmɪk/

nomic

relatif à la loi
Meaning
Relating to laws, rules, or systems.
Example
The philosopher discussed the nomic necessity of natural laws.
Le philosophe a discuté de la nécessité nomique des lois naturelles.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪ.ə.lɪz.əm/

sciolism

prétention de savoir superficiel
Meaning
pretentious show of superficial knowledge
Example
His speech was full of sciolism, impressing no one.
Son discours était rempli de sciolisme, sans impressionner personne.
C2 verb /ɪˈvɪsəˌreɪt/

eviscerate

éviscérer, détruire
Meaning
to remove the internal organs of; to deprive of essential content
Example
The critics eviscerated the movie for its weak storyline.
les critiques ont détruit le film à cause de son histoire faible.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪstrəfi/

antistrophe

antistrophé (un dispositif rhétorique)
Meaning
A rhetorical device in which a word or phrase is repeated at the end of successive clauses; in Greek choral poetry, the part of the ode sung by the chorus in return movement.
Example
The poet used antistrophe to emphasize the repeated phrase.
Le poète a utilisé l'antistrophé pour souligner la phrase répétée.
C2 noun /ˈnaɪsəti/

nicety

subtilité
Meaning
a fine or subtle detail, or a refined, delicate aspect of something
Example
The lawyer explained the legal niceties of the case.
L'avocat a expliqué les subtilités juridiques de l'affaire.
C2 noun /ˌrɛv.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/

revocation

révocation
Meaning
The act of officially canceling or withdrawing something.
Example
The court ordered the revocation of his license.
Le tribunal a ordonné la révocation de sa licence.
C2 noun /miːn/

mien

mine
Meaning
A person's appearance or manner, especially as an indication of their character or mood.
Example
His serious mien made everyone fall silent.
Son air sérieux fit taire tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈθiː.ɑːr.ki/

thearchy

théarchie
Meaning
Rule or government by the gods; divine sovereignty.
Example
In ancient cultures, some societies believed in thearchy where gods directly guided human affairs.
Dans les cultures anciennes, certaines sociétés croyaient en la théarchie où les dieux guidaient directement les affaires humaines.
C2 noun /ˈpɒm.əl/

pommel

le bouton arrondi sur le pommeau d'une épée ou d'une selle
Meaning
the rounded knob on the handle of a sword or saddle
Example
He gripped the sword firmly by the pommel.
Il saisit fermement l'épée par le pommel.
C2 adjective /ɪˈnɪm.ɪ.tə.bəl/

inimitable

inimitable
Meaning
So good or unusual as to be impossible to copy; unique.
Example
His inimitable writing style made him a literary legend.
Son style d'écriture inimitable a fait de lui une légende littéraire.
C2 adjective /ˈnjuː.ɡə.tɔːr.i/

nugatory

futile
Meaning
Of little or no value; worthless or insignificant.
Example
His efforts were nugatory and did not change the outcome.
Ses efforts étaient futiles et n'ont pas changé le résultat.
C2 adjective /ˈbɒni/

Bonny

joli; charmant; joyeux
Meaning
cheerful; pretty; attractive
Example
The bonny child played happily in the garden.
L'enfant joli a joué joyeusement dans le jardin.
C2 noun /ˈtuːb.roʊz/

Tube-rose

tubéreuse
Meaning
a night-blooming flower with an intensely sweet fragrance, native to Mexico
Example
The tuberose flowers filled the evening air with their heavenly scent.
Les fleurs de tubéreuse ont rempli l'air du soir de leur parfum céleste.
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 /eɪˈsɛptɪk/

aseptic

sans germes
Meaning
Free from contamination caused by harmful microorganisms; sterile.
Example
Surgeons must work in an aseptic environment to prevent infection.
Les chirurgiens doivent travailler dans un environnement aseptique pour prévenir les infections.
C2 noun /ˈfrækɑː/

fracas

bagarre
Meaning
A noisy disturbance or quarrel.
Example
The fracas outside the bar drew the attention of the police.
La bagarre à l'extérieur du bar a attiré l'attention de la police.
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 /ˈlɒkətɪv/

locative

locatif
Meaning
a grammatical case indicating location or place
Example
In Latin, the locative case is used to indicate location.
En latin, le cas locatif est utilisé pour indiquer un lieu.
C2 noun /tʃɜːrl/

churl

rustre
Meaning
A rude, boorish, or ill-mannered person.
Example
The waiter was such a churl that customers left unhappy.
Le serveur était un tel rustre que les clients sont partis mécontents.
C2 adjective /daɪˈvɜːrtɪbəl/

divertible

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

desultory

désordonné
Meaning
lacking a clear plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
Example
His desultory conversation bored the audience.
Sa conversation désordonnée ennuyait le public.
C2 noun /ˈlɛvi/

levee

levée
Meaning
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river or to hold back water.
Example
The town built a levee to protect itself from flooding.
La ville a construit une levée pour se protéger des inondations.
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 adverb /əˈbæk/

Aback

surpris
Meaning
by surprise; unexpectedly
Example
I was taken aback by his sudden announcement.
J'ai été surpris par son annonce soudaine.
C2 noun /ˈɔːldərmən/

alderman

membre du conseil municipal
Meaning
An elected member of a municipal council in certain cities and towns.
Example
The alderman proposed a new plan for community parks.
L'adjoint au maire a proposé un nouveau plan pour les parcs communautaires.
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 /ˈkɒnk.leɪv/

conclave

conclave secret
Meaning
a private meeting, especially a secret or important one
Example
The leaders met in a secret conclave to discuss the strategy.
Les dirigeants se sont réunis dans un conclave secret pour discuter de la stratégie.
C2 noun /ˌpɪəriəˈdɪsɪti/

periodicity

périodicité
Meaning
The quality or state of being regular or recurring at intervals.
Example
The periodicity of the moon’s phases has fascinated humans for centuries.
La périodicité des phases de la lune fascine les humains depuis des siècles.
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 /ɪmˈpɑːlɪtɪk/

impolitic

imprudent
Meaning
Unwise or imprudent; not showing good judgment.
Example
It would be impolitic to criticize them openly.
Il serait imprudent de les critiquer ouvertement.
C2 noun/verb /ˈʌpˌkæst/

upcast

lancer vers le haut
Meaning
Verb: To cast or throw upward. Noun: Something thrown or directed upward.
Example
The fisherman upcast his net into the air.
Le pêcheur a lancé son filet dans les airs.
C2 noun /weɪf/

Waif

un enfant sans abri ou abandonné; une personne ou un animal errant
Meaning
a homeless or abandoned child; a stray person or animal
Example
The charity helps waifs and strays find homes and families.
La charité aide les orphelins et les vagabonds à trouver des foyers et des familles.
C2 adjective /krʌˈsteɪʃəs/

crustaceous

à carapace dure
Meaning
relating to or having a hard shell like a crustacean
Example
The scientist studied the crustaceous fossils.
Le scientifique a étudié les fossiles à carapace dure.
C2 noun /juːˌtrɑː.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

eutrophication

excès de nutriments dans un lac ou un autre plan d'eau
Meaning
Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
Example
Excess fertilizers lead to eutrophication in lakes.
Les fertilisants excessifs entraînent l'eutrophisation dans les lacs.
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 /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 noun /ˌkɛəriˈætɪd/

caryatid

colonne avec une figure féminine sculptée
Meaning
A stone carving of a draped female figure, used as a supporting column in architecture.
Example
The ancient temple featured a caryatid holding up the roof.
Le temple antique comportait une caryatide soutenant le toit.
C2 noun /ˈbiːtənd raɪs/

Beatened rice

riz battu
Meaning
flattened rice; rice that has been parboiled, dried, and beaten into flat flakes
Example
Beaten rice is commonly eaten with milk and sugar for breakfast.
Le riz battu est généralement mangé avec du lait et du sucre au petit-déjeuner.
C2 noun /ˈpɛd.ən.tri/

pedantry

préoccupation excessive pour les détails ou les règles mineures
Meaning
Excessive concern with minor details or rules.
Example
His pedantry made the meeting unnecessarily long.
Sa pédanterie a rendu la réunion inutilement longue.
C2 noun /ˈæntɪfɒn/

antiphon

antienne
Meaning
a short chant or verse sung responsively in Christian worship, typically sung before or after a psalm or canticle
Example
The choir sang the antiphon before beginning the main hymn.
Le chœur a chanté l'antienne avant de commencer l'hymne principal.
C2 verb /ˈtɪtəleɪt/

titillate

exciter
Meaning
To excite or amuse, especially in a slightly sexual or playful way.
Example
The comedian's jokes titillated the audience.
Les blagues du comédien excitaient le public.
C2 noun /ˈændaɪərn/

andiron

support en métal pour bois
Meaning
a metal support used in a fireplace to hold logs
Example
The logs rested on the andirons in the old fireplace.
Les bûches reposaient sur les andirons dans l'ancienne cheminée.
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 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 adjective /ˈbɪz.ən.taɪn/ or /ˈbaɪ.zənˌtiːn/

byzantine

complexe
Meaning
Extremely complicated and detailed; relating to the Byzantine Empire or its style.
Example
The new tax regulations are so byzantine that few understand them.
Les nouvelles réglementations fiscales sont tellement complexes que peu de gens les comprennent.
C2 noun /ˈɔːlmənæk/

almanac

almanach
Meaning
An annual publication containing calendars, weather forecasts, astronomical data, and other useful information.
Example
He consulted the almanac to check the phases of the moon.
Il a consulté l'almanach pour vérifier les phases de la lune.
C2 noun /ˌæd.ʌmˈbreɪ.ʃən/

adumbration

présage vague
Meaning
a vague foreshadowing or symbolic representation of something
Example
The play offers an adumbration of the political unrest to come.
La pièce offre un présage vague du malaise politique à venir.
C2 noun /ˈlɒdʒ.mənt/

lodgment

hébergement temporaire
Meaning
The act of lodging or a place of temporary stay; also a deposit of something.
Example
The soldiers found lodgment in the abandoned house.
Les soldats ont trouvé un hébergement temporaire dans la maison abandonnée.
C2 adjective /luːˈɡuːbriəs/

lugubrious

lugubre
Meaning
looking or sounding sad and dismal
Example
His lugubrious expression made everyone feel uneasy.
Son expression lugubre a mis tout le monde mal à l'aise.
C2 adjective /ˌʌltrəˈmɒnteɪn/

ultramontane

partisan du Pape
Meaning
beyond the mountains, especially referring to support for the Pope over local church authority
Example
The debate highlighted the ultramontane position in church politics.
Le débat a mis en lumière la position ultramontaine dans la politique ecclésiastique.
C2 adjective /pɔːrˈtɛntəs/

portentous

portentueux, grave
Meaning
Giving a sign or warning that something, often bad or serious, is going to happen; or overly solemn and pompous.
Example
His portentous tone made everyone nervous about the news.
Son ton porteur de présages a rendu tout le monde nerveux à propos des nouvelles.
C2 noun /ˈkæʒuɪstri/

casuistry

casuistique
Meaning
The use of clever but false reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions.
Example
The lawyer’s argument was dismissed as mere casuistry.
L'argument de l'avocat a été rejeté comme étant une simple casuistique.
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 verb /slʌf/ or /sluː/

slough

mue de peau / zone marécageuse
Meaning
To shed or cast off (like dead skin); also a swampy or muddy area.
Example
The snake sloughed off its old skin.
Le serpent s'est débarrassé de sa vieille peau.
C2 noun /rɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/

renunciation

renonciation
Meaning
the formal rejection or giving up of something, usually a belief, claim, or way of life
Example
His renunciation of worldly pleasures impressed the monks.
Sa renonciation aux plaisirs mondains a impressionné les moines.
C2 noun /bel ˈæp.əl/

Bell apple

pomme cloche
Meaning
a tropical fruit with a crisp texture and sweet taste, scientifically known as Syzygium malaccense
Example
The bell apple tree produces beautiful red fruits that are popular in tropical regions.
L'arbre de pomme cloche produit de beaux fruits rouges populaires dans les régions tropicales
C2 verb /kəˈmɪŋɡəl/

commingle

mélanger
Meaning
To mix or blend different things together.
Example
The charity does not commingle donations with operational funds.
La charité ne mélange pas les dons avec les fonds opérationnels.
C2 adjective /ˈɡlɑːbjələr/

globular

sphérique
Meaning
Having the shape of a globe; spherical.
Example
The scientist studied the globular cluster of stars.
Le scientifique a étudié le groupe globulaire d'étoiles.
C2 verb /ɪnˈtɜːr/

inter

enterrer
Meaning
To bury a dead body in the ground.
Example
They decided to inter the soldier with full honors.
Ils ont décidé d'enterrer le soldat avec tous les honneurs.
C2 noun /ˈkɒkskoʊm/

Cockscomb

fleur de crête de coq
Meaning
a tropical plant with bright, velvety flowers that resemble a rooster's comb
Example
The bright red cockscomb flowers added vibrant color to the garden bed.
Les fleurs rouges de crête de coq ont ajouté une couleur vibrante au parterre de jardin.
C2 noun /ˌdeɪnuːˈmɒ̃/

denouement

dénouement
Meaning
The final resolution or conclusion of a story, drama, or complicated situation.
Example
The novel's denouement was both surprising and satisfying.
Le dénouement du roman était à la fois surprenant et satisfaisant.
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 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 adjective /fəˈloʊniəs/

felonious

relatif à un crime grave
Meaning
relating to or involved in serious criminal activity
Example
He was charged with felonious assault after the incident.
Il a été accusé d'agression grave après l'incident.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈsiːd/

intercede

intercéder
Meaning
to act or plead on behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble; to intervene between parties to help resolve a dispute
Example
She interceded with the teacher to give her brother another chance.
Elle a intercédé auprès du professeur pour donner une autre chance à son frère.
C2 adjective /vɪˈtjuːpərətɪv/

vituperative

vitupératif
Meaning
Characterized by abusive or harsh language.
Example
The teacher’s vituperative remarks left the students in tears.
Les remarques vitupératives du professeur ont laissé les élèves en larmes.
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 /ˌsɪləbɪˈkeɪʃən/

syllabication

syllabation
Meaning
The division of words into syllables.
Example
Proper syllabication helps in correct pronunciation.
Une bonne syllabation aide à une prononciation correcte.
C2 noun /klɛərˈvɔɪəns/

clairvoyance

clairvoyance
Meaning
the supposed ability to perceive events beyond normal sensory contact; psychic insight
Example
She claimed to have clairvoyance and predicted the future.
Elle a prétendu avoir de la clairvoyance et a prédit l'avenir.
C2 noun /ˈkʌstərd ˈæpəl/

Custard Apple

pomme à la crème
Meaning
a tropical fruit with sweet creamy white flesh and black seeds
Example
The custard apple has a sweet and creamy texture.
La pomme à la crème a une texture douce et crémeuse.
C2 verb /ɪnˈdɛmnɪfaɪ/

indemnify

indemniser
Meaning
to compensate someone for harm or loss; to secure against future damage or cost
Example
The insurance company agreed to indemnify the client for the damages.
La compagnie d'assurance a accepté d'indemniser le client pour les dommages.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈflæpəbəl/

unflappable

imperturbable
Meaning
calm and composed, especially in difficult situations
Example
Despite the crisis, he remained unflappable and confident.
Malgré la crise, il est resté imperturbable et confiant.