precession
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C2 noun /prɪˈsɛʃən/

precession

précession
Meaning
The slow movement of the axis of a spinning body around another axis, often referring to Earth's rotation.
Example
Astronomers study the precession of the equinoxes.
Les astronomes étudient la précession des équinoxes.
C2 noun /ˈplɔːdɪts/

plaudits

éloges
Meaning
expressions of praise or approval
Example
The scientist received plaudits from the international community.
Le scientifique a reçu des éloges de la part de la communauté internationale.
C2 noun /ˈklæpər/

clapper

pièce métallique à l'intérieur d'une cloche qui la frappe pour produire un son
Meaning
The free-swinging metal piece inside a bell that strikes it to produce sound.
Example
The clapper inside the bell was broken.
La pièce métallique à l'intérieur de la cloche était cassée.
C2 adjective /ˈleɪ.baɪl/ or /ˈlæb.aɪl/

labile

instable
Meaning
easily altered or unstable; prone to change
Example
Her mood was so labile that it changed several times in an hour.
Son humeur était tellement instable qu'elle a changé plusieurs fois en une heure.
C2 adjective /ˌæktʃuˈɛəriəl/

actuarial

actuariel
Meaning
Relating to actuaries or their work of analyzing financial risk and uncertainty, especially in insurance and pensions.
Example
The company relied on actuarial reports to set insurance premiums.
L'entreprise s'est appuyée sur des rapports actuariels pour fixer les primes d'assurance.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəbl/

dutiable

sujet à des droits de douane
Meaning
subject to customs duty or tax
Example
Imported electronics are often dutiable at the border.
Les électroniques importés sont souvent soumis à des droits de douane à la frontière.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡərəl/

doggerel

vers ridicule
Meaning
Comic or irregular verse, often poorly constructed and lacking in artistic quality.
Example
The poet’s work was dismissed as mere doggerel by the critics.
Le travail du poète a été rejeté comme simple vers ridicule par les critiques.
C2 verb /ˈeksɪkreɪt/

execrate

détester
Meaning
To feel or express great loathing or hatred for something.
Example
The community execrated the corrupt politician.
La communauté a détesté le politicien corrompu.
C2 noun /ˈneɪdɪər/

nadir

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

pachyderm

grand mammifère à peau épaisse
Meaning
a large mammal with thick skin, such as an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus
Example
The zoo had several pachyderms, including elephants and rhinos.
Le zoo avait plusieurs pachydermes, y compris des éléphants et des rhinocéros.
C2 noun /kərˈmʌdʒən/

curmudgeon

râleur
Meaning
a bad-tempered, cranky, or irritable person, usually old
Example
The old curmudgeon complained about everything in the neighborhood.
Le vieux râleur se plaignait de tout dans le quartier.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈlɒk/

interlock

emboîter
Meaning
to fit or connect together securely so that two or more things are joined
Example
The gears interlock to ensure smooth movement of the machine.
Les engrenages s'emboîtent pour assurer un mouvement fluide de la machine.
C2 adjective /ˈfæləbl/

fallible

capable de faire des erreurs
Meaning
capable of making mistakes or being wrong
Example
Even experts are fallible and can make errors.
Même les experts sont faillibles et peuvent faire des erreurs.
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 noun /ˈpɛnjʊri/

penury

pauvreté extrême
Meaning
extreme poverty or destitution
Example
He grew up in penury but became successful later in life.
Il a grandi dans la pénurie, mais il est devenu prospère plus tard dans la vie.
C2 verb /ˈbɪloʊ/

billow

se gonfler comme des vagues
Meaning
To swell or rise in large waves or surges; to flow outward in a rolling motion.
Example
Smoke billowed from the burning building.
La fumée se gonflait comme des vagues depuis le bâtiment en feu.
C2 noun /fləˈtɪlə/

flotilla

flottille
Meaning
A small fleet of ships or boats operating together.
Example
A flotilla of fishing boats left the harbor at dawn.
Une flottille de bateaux de pêche a quitté le port à l'aube.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪplɪŋ/

stripling

jeune homme
Meaning
a young man who is not yet fully grown
Example
The stripling dreamed of becoming a brave knight.
Le jeune homme rêvait de devenir un chevalier courageux.
C2 adjective, adverb /ˈsaɪdlɔːŋ/

sidelong

regard oblique
Meaning
Directed to the side; indirect, furtive, or not straightforward.
Example
She gave him a sidelong glance across the room.
Elle lui lança un regard oblique à travers la pièce.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

unexceptionable

irréprochable
Meaning
Not open to objection; acceptable and unobjectionable
Example
His behavior was unexceptionable throughout the event.
Son comportement était irréprochable tout au long de l'événement.
C2 adjective /kəˈnaɪ.vɪŋ/

conniving

rusé
Meaning
secretly scheming or plotting to help in wrongdoing
Example
He is a conniving politician who manipulates people for power.
C'est un homme politique rusé qui manipule les gens pour le pouvoir.
C2 noun /ˌmɑːhəˈrɑːdʒə/

maharaja

maharaja
Meaning
A great king, especially a ruler of one of the principal states in India.
Example
The maharaja lived in a grand palace surrounded by gardens.
Le maharaja vivait dans un grand palais entouré de jardins.
C2 verb /kənˈdjuːs/

conduce

contribuer
Meaning
To help bring about a particular result; to contribute to something.
Example
Regular exercise conduces to better health.
L'exercice régulier contribue à une meilleure santé.
C2 noun /məˈnɒkrəsi/

monocracy

monocratie
Meaning
A system of government by a single person; autocracy.
Example
The nation suffered under decades of monocracy.
La nation a souffert sous des décennies de monocratie.
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 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 adjective /ˈɛrzæts/

ersatz

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

lunacy

folie
Meaning
Extreme foolishness or madness; insanity.
Example
It was sheer lunacy to go hiking in the storm.
C'était de la pure folie de faire de la randonnée sous la tempête.
C2 noun /skæd/

scad

scad poisson
Meaning
A type of fish of the jack family; also informally means a large number or quantity.
Example
The fisherman caught a scad in the net.
Le pêcheur a attrapé un scad dans le filet.
C2 adjective /ˈklæmərəs/

clamorous

bruyant
Meaning
making a loud and confused noise; expressing strong demands noisily
Example
The clamorous audience demanded an encore from the band.
Le public bruyant a exigé un rappel du groupe.
C2 verb /ˈstjuːpɪˌfaɪ/

stupefy

stupéfier
Meaning
to make someone unable to think clearly, usually because of surprise or shock
Example
The magician's tricks stupefied the audience.
Les tours du magicien ont stupéfié le public.
C2 noun /ˌɪnvəˈluːʃən/

involution

involution
Meaning
a complicated or intricate form or state; in biology, the shrinking of an organ after its function has finished
Example
The story was full of involution, making it hard to follow.
L'histoire était pleine d'involution, ce qui la rendait difficile à suivre.
C2 verb /daʊz/

dowse

chercher de l'eau ou des minéraux avec une baguette divinatoire; ou tremper ou éteindre avec un liquide.
Meaning
To search for underground water or minerals using a divining rod; also to drench or extinguish with liquid.
Example
The farmer tried to dowse for water in the dry field.
Le fermier a essayé de chercher de l'eau dans le champ sec.
C2 noun /ˈmiːliərɪzəm/

meliorism

méliorisme
Meaning
The belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment.
Example
Her philosophy of meliorism kept her hopeful during difficult times.
Sa philosophie du méliorisme l'a maintenue pleine d'espoir pendant les moments difficiles.
C2 verb /ˈɡɑːrbəl/

garble

brouiller
Meaning
To reproduce a message in a confused, distorted, or unclear way.
Example
The poor phone connection garbled his words.
La mauvaise connexion téléphonique a brouillé ses mots.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːrməkəˈpiːə/

pharmacopoeia

pharmacopée
Meaning
An official book listing medicinal drugs, their effects, and directions for use.
Example
The doctor referred to the pharmacopoeia to check the drug's proper dosage.
Le médecin a consulté la pharmacopée pour vérifier la dose correcte du médicament.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/

diabolic

diabolique
Meaning
Extremely evil or cruel; characteristic of the devil.
Example
The villain devised a diabolic scheme.
Le méchant a imaginé un plan diabolique.
C2 adjective /ˈoʊ.pən ˈhɑrt.ɪd/

Open-hearted

chaleureux et généreux; sincère et honnête; réceptif chaleureusement;
Meaning
Kind and generous; sincere and honest; warmly receptive;
Example
She welcomed the strangers with an open-hearted smile and invited them for dinner.
Elle a accueilli les étrangers avec un sourire chaleureux et les a invités à dîner.
C2 adjective /rɪˈkæl.sɪ.trənt/

recalcitrant

récalcitrant, têtu, désobéissant
Meaning
Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.
Example
The recalcitrant student refused to follow rules.
L'étudiant récalcitrant a refusé de suivre les règles.
C2 noun /ˈʌŋɡwənt/

unguent

onguent
Meaning
A soothing or healing ointment applied to the skin.
Example
The doctor applied an unguent to heal the burn.
Le médecin a appliqué un onguent pour guérir la brûlure.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːrtətɔːri/

hortatory

hortatoire
Meaning
Intended to encourage or urge to action.
Example
The manager’s hortatory words inspired the team to work harder.
Les paroles exhortantes du directeur ont inspiré l'équipe à travailler plus dur.
C2 verb /ˈtɪtər/

titter

rire timidement
Meaning
to laugh in a quiet, nervous, or restrained way
Example
The students began to titter when the projector froze.
Les étudiants ont commencé à rire timidement lorsque le projecteur s'est figé.
C2 verb /əˈpraɪz/

apprise

informer
Meaning
to inform or notify someone
Example
The manager will apprise the staff of the new policies.
Le responsable informera le personnel des nouvelles politiques.
C2 noun /næˈteɪʃən/

natation

natation
Meaning
The act or sport of swimming.
Example
She took lessons in natation to improve her swimming skills.
Elle a pris des cours de natation pour améliorer ses compétences en natation.
C2 adjective /ˈdoʊlfəl/

Doleful

triste; lugubre;
Meaning
sorrowful; mournful; expressing grief or sadness
Example
She gave him a doleful look when he left.
Elle lui donna un regard triste lorsqu'il partit.
C2 noun /ˈɡrɑːtoʊ/

grotto

grotte
Meaning
a small picturesque cave, often artificial
Example
Tourists visited the grotto hidden behind the waterfall.
Les touristes ont visité la grotte cachée derrière la cascade.
C2 noun /ˌɪmpəˈtjuːəsəti/

impetuosity

impétuosité
Meaning
The quality of being rash or impulsive.
Example
His impetuosity often got him into trouble.
Son impétuosité le mettait souvent dans des ennuis.
C2 adjective, noun /bɪˈtroʊðd/

betrothed

fiancé
Meaning
Engaged to be married; a person who is engaged.
Example
She introduced him as her betrothed.
Elle l'a présenté comme son fiancé.
C2 verb /ˈdæli/

dally

traîner
Meaning
To act or move slowly; to waste time; also to engage in a casual romantic relationship.
Example
He dallied in the garden instead of starting his work.
Il a traîné dans le jardin au lieu de commencer son travail.
C2 adjective /kənˈvɜːrsənt/

conversant

familier, connaisseur
Meaning
familiar with or knowledgeable about something
Example
She is conversant with the latest developments in technology.
Elle est familière avec les derniers développements technologiques.
C2 verb /kəˈriːn/

careen

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

britannia

Britannia
Meaning
the personification of Britain, often shown as a woman with a helmet and shield
Example
Britannia has been a symbol of Britain since Roman times.
Britania est un symbole de la Grande-Bretagne depuis l'époque romaine.
C2 verb /ɪˈluːmɪn/

illumine

illuminer
Meaning
to light up or make clear
Example
The rising sun illumined the mountain peaks.
Le soleil levant illumina les cimes des montagnes.
C2 verb /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnd/

reprehend

réprimander
Meaning
to express disapproval or criticism of someone or something
Example
The teacher reprehended the student for being dishonest.
L'enseignant a réprimandé l'élève pour avoir été malhonnête.
C2 noun /ˈsɑːrdʒənt ət ɑːrmz/

sergeant-at-arms

sergent d'armes
Meaning
An officer responsible for maintaining order during meetings or legislative sessions.
Example
The sergeant-at-arms escorted the disruptive member out of the hall.
Le sergent d'armes a escorté le membre perturbateur hors de la salle.
C2 noun /əˈrɪə/

arrear

arriéré
Meaning
A debt or payment that is overdue and unpaid.
Example
He was sued for an arrear of rent.
Il a été poursuivi pour un arriéré de loyer.
C2 verb /ˈwɔːbəl/

warble

chanter ou siffler avec une voix tremblante ou des trilles
Meaning
To sing or whistle with a quavering voice or with trills.
Example
The bird warbled a sweet tune in the morning.
L'oiseau a chanté une douce mélodie le matin.
C2 noun /boʊ/

beau

amant
Meaning
a male admirer or boyfriend; a fashionable young man
Example
She arrived at the party with her beau.
Elle est arrivée à la fête avec son amant.
C2 adjective /ˈnʌpʃəl/

nuptial

nuptial
Meaning
Relating to marriage or weddings.
Example
The couple prepared for their nuptial ceremony with great joy.
Le couple s'est préparé pour leur cérémonie nuptiale avec grande joie.
C2 verb /lɑːl/

loll

s'asseoir paresseusement
Meaning
To sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way.
Example
He lolled on the sofa after a long day at work.
Après une longue journée de travail, il s'est affalé sur le canapé.
C2 adverb/adjective /lɪˈɡɑːtoʊ/

legato

en musique, joué ou chanté de manière fluide et connectée
Meaning
In music, played or sung smoothly and connectedly.
Example
The pianist played the passage legato, with each note flowing into the next.
Le pianiste a joué le passage legato, chaque note se fondant dans la suivante.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrbər/

arbor

abri ombragé formé par des arbres ou des plantes grimpantes
Meaning
a shady garden shelter formed by trees, climbing plants, or latticework
Example
They rested under the arbor covered with roses.
Ils se reposaient sous l'arbor couvert de roses.
C2 adjective /ˈmjuːtəbl/

mutable

mutable
Meaning
Capable of change or alteration.
Example
Human emotions are mutable and can shift rapidly.
Les émotions humaines sont mutables et peuvent changer rapidement.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɒrɪdʒəbəl/

incorrigible

incorrigible
Meaning
incapable of being corrected, improved, or reformed
Example
He is an incorrigible optimist who never loses hope.
C'est un optimiste incorrigible qui ne perd jamais espoir.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɑːzɪtər/

depositor

dépôtiste
Meaning
a person who places money in a bank or financial institution
Example
The bank provides insurance to protect depositors’ funds.
La banque fournit une assurance pour protéger les fonds des déposants.
C2 noun /ˈluː.mən/

lumen

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

coiffure

coiffure
Meaning
A person's hairstyle, typically an elaborate one.
Example
Her elegant coiffure impressed everyone at the party.
Sa coiffure élégante a impressionné tout le monde à la fête.
C2 noun /ˈkedʒ.ə.riː/

Kedgeree

kedgeree
Meaning
a European dish of cooked rice, fish, and hard-boiled eggs, originally from India
Example
The breakfast menu featured traditional kedgeree with smoked haddock and eggs.
Le menu du petit-déjeuner proposait un kedgeree traditionnel avec du haddock fumé et des œufs.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɒlɪti/

jollity

allégresse
Meaning
lively and cheerful activity or celebration
Example
The wedding was full of jollity and laughter.
Le mariage était plein de joie et de rires.
C2 noun /rɪˈdʒɔɪndər/

rejoinder

réplique
Meaning
a quick or witty reply; a response to a remark or argument
Example
His sharp rejoinder silenced the crowd.
Sa réplique acérée a fait taire la foule.
C2 verb /ˈdiːɪfaɪ/

deify

déifier
Meaning
to treat or worship someone or something as a god
Example
Some fans deify their favorite celebrities.
Certains fans déifient leurs célébrités préférées.
C2 adjective /səˈmætɪk/

somatic

somatique
Meaning
Relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind.
Example
Yoga can improve both somatic and mental health.
Le yoga peut améliorer à la fois la santé somatique et mentale.
C2 noun /ˈdrʌmɪt/

Drumet

drumet
Meaning
a small drum used in military or marching bands
Example
The drummer played a steady beat on the drumet during the parade.
Le batteur a joué un rythme constant sur le drumet pendant le défilé.
C2 adjective /ˈɡʌstəˌtɔːri/

gustatory

gustatif
Meaning
relating to the sense of taste
Example
The restaurant offered a gustatory experience unlike any other.
Le restaurant a offert une expérience gustative unique.
C2 adjective /loʊˈkweɪʃəs/

loquacious

loquace
Meaning
tending to talk a great deal; very talkative
Example
The loquacious child entertained everyone with endless stories.
L'enfant loquace a diverti tout le monde avec des histoires sans fin.
C2 noun /kənˌdʒiː.niˈæl.ə.t̬i/

congeniality

affabilité
Meaning
The quality of being pleasant, friendly, and easy to talk to.
Example
His congeniality makes him popular among friends.
Son affabilité le rend populaire parmi ses amis.
C2 noun /ˈkɒliər/

collier

mineur de charbon
Meaning
a person who works in coal mines or a ship carrying coal
Example
The collier spent long hours underground extracting coal.
Le mineur de charbon a passé de longues heures sous terre à extraire du charbon.
C2 noun /ˈpɔl.zi/

Palsy

paralysie
Meaning
paralysis, especially that which is accompanied by involuntary tremors; loss of muscle control
Example
The elderly man suffered from palsy in his hands.
L'homme âgé souffrait de la paralysie dans ses mains.
C2 noun /nɪˈkrɒlədʒi/

necrology

nécrologie
Meaning
An obituary notice or a list of people who have recently died.
Example
The newspaper published a necrology of notable figures who passed away that year.
Le journal a publié une nécrologie des personnalités notables décédées cette année.
C2 noun /ˈreɪləri/

raillery

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

flatulence

accumulation de gaz dans le système digestif
Meaning
the accumulation of gas in the digestive system; excessive gas in the stomach or intestines
Example
Eating beans can sometimes cause flatulence.
Manger des haricots peut parfois provoquer des flatulences.
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 /ˈfraɪəbl/

friable

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

gratis

gratuit
Meaning
Without charge; free of cost.
Example
The drinks at the event were provided gratis.
Les boissons à l'événement étaient fournies gratuitement.
C2 adjective /heɪl/

hale

vital
Meaning
strong and healthy, especially of an elderly person
Example
Despite his age, the man remained hale and active.
Malgré son âge, l'homme est resté en bonne santé et actif.
C2 noun /ˈɒbsɪkwiːz/

obsequies

rites funéraires
Meaning
Funeral rites or ceremonies.
Example
The obsequies for the late leader drew thousands of mourners.
Les rites funéraires du leader défunt ont attiré des milliers de personnes en deuil.
C2 verb /beɪt/

bate

réduire, atténuer
Meaning
to lessen or restrain; to diminish the force or intensity of something
Example
He spoke with bated breath as he waited for the result.
Il parla avec une respiration retenue en attendant le résultat.
C2 noun /ˈsɒfɪstri/

sophistry

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

dictum

dicton
Meaning
A formal pronouncement, authoritative statement, or maxim.
Example
The judge’s dictum clarified the principle of equality before the law.
Le dictum du juge a clarifié le principe de l'égalité devant la loi.
C2 noun /ˈɡʊrmənd/

gourmand

gourmand
Meaning
A person who enjoys eating a lot or has a great appetite for food.
Example
As a true gourmand, he never missed an opportunity to try new dishes.
En tant que véritable gourmand, il n'a jamais manqué une occasion d'essayer de nouveaux plats.
C2 adjective /ˈloʊð.səm/

Loathsome

répugnant
Meaning
causing hatred or disgust; repulsive
Example
The loathsome smell from the garbage made everyone leave the room.
L'odeur répugnante des déchets a fait quitter la pièce à tout le monde.
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 noun /əˌkædəˈmɪʃən/

academician

académicien
Meaning
a member of an academy; a scholar or expert in a field of study
Example
The academicians gathered to discuss the future of education.
Les académiciens se sont réunis pour discuter de l'avenir de l'éducation.
C2 adjective /ˈkreɪvən/

craven

lâche
Meaning
cowardly; lacking courage
Example
He was too craven to stand up for his beliefs.
Il était trop lâche pour défendre ses croyances.
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 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 /ˌɛvəˈnɛsənt/

evanescent

éphémère
Meaning
Quickly fading or disappearing; lasting for only a very short time.
Example
The beauty of the sunset was evanescent, fading within minutes.
La beauté du coucher du soleil était éphémère, disparaissant en quelques minutes.
C2 adjective /bəˈnɛfɪsənt/

beneficent

bénévole, généreux
Meaning
generous or doing good
Example
The beneficent leader donated funds to build a hospital.
Le leader bénéfique a donné des fonds pour construire un hôpital.
C2 verb /rɪˈkwaɪt/

requite

rendre
Meaning
to return or repay a favor, service, or feeling
Example
She requited his kindness with a thoughtful gift.
Elle a rendu sa gentillesse avec un cadeau réfléchi.
C2 noun /ˈdʒes.tər/

Jester

bouffon; comique
Meaning
a professional joker or fool at a medieval court; someone who jokes a lot
Example
The court jester entertained the king with witty remarks and amusing tricks.
Le bouffon de la cour divertissait le roi avec des remarques pleines d'esprit et des tours amusants.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈdjuːsəbl/

irreducible

irréductible
Meaning
impossible to reduce or simplify further
Example
The fraction 3/7 is irreducible.
La fraction 3/7 est irréductible.
C2 noun /ˈpɪnəs/

pinnace

petit bateau
Meaning
a small boat, often carried by a larger ship
Example
The sailors used a pinnace to reach the shore.
Les marins ont utilisé un petit bateau pour atteindre le rivage.
C2 noun /ˌθiːəˈloʊdʒən/

theologian

théologien
Meaning
A person who studies or is an expert in theology.
Example
Theologians often debate complex questions of faith and morality.
Les théologiens débattent souvent de questions complexes de foi et de moralité.
C2 noun /tiːˈtoʊtəlɪzəm/

teetotalism

abstinence totale d'alcool
Meaning
the practice or principle of abstaining completely from alcoholic drinks
Example
He practiced teetotalism throughout his life.
Il a pratiqué le teetotalisme toute sa vie.
C2 verb /trænsˈfɪɡjʊər/

transfigure

transfigurer
Meaning
To transform the outward appearance or form, often in a way that elevates or glorifies.
Example
The artist managed to transfigure simple clay into a beautiful sculpture.
L'artiste a réussi à transformer de l'argile simple en une belle sculpture.
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 /rɛtʃ/

wretch

misérable
Meaning
an unfortunate or miserable person; a despicable or contemptible person
Example
The poor wretch was left out in the cold with no shelter.
Le pauvre misérable a été laissé dehors dans le froid sans abri.
C2 noun /əˈbaɪdəns/

abidance

obéissance
Meaning
the act of following, accepting, or complying with something
Example
Her abidance by the rules impressed the committee.
Son obéissance aux règles a impressionné le comité.
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.
C2 adverb /əˈsɪdʒuəsli/

assiduously

assidûment
Meaning
with great care and persistence
Example
He worked assiduously to complete the project before the deadline.
Il a travaillé assidûment pour terminer le projet avant la date limite.
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 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbl/

inextricable

inextricable
Meaning
Impossible to separate or escape from.
Example
The two friends shared an inextricable bond.
Les deux amis partageaient un lien inextricable.
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 /ˌnɛɡlɪˈʒeɪ/

negligee

peignoir léger en soie
Meaning
A woman's light dressing gown, often made of thin or silky material.
Example
She wore a silk negligee before going to bed.
Elle portait un peignoir en soie avant de se coucher.
C2 noun /ˈætəvɪzəm/

atavism

atavisme
Meaning
The recurrence of traits or characteristics from a remote ancestor.
Example
The scientist noted atavism in the child’s physical features.
Le scientifique a noté de l'atavisme dans les caractéristiques physiques de l'enfant.
C2 noun ˌmɛtəkɒɡˈnɪʃən

metacognition

penser à la pensée
Meaning
Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes
Example
Metacognition enhances problem-solving abilities.
La métacognition améliore les capacités de résolution de problèmes.
C2 noun /ˈlɪɡ.ə.tʃər/

ligature

ligature
Meaning
A thing used for tying or binding tightly; in music/printing, two or more notes or letters joined together.
Example
The doctor used a ligature to stop the bleeding.
Le médecin a utilisé une ligature pour arrêter le saignement.
C2 noun /ˈmɪsɪv/

missive

missive
Meaning
a written message, especially a formal or official letter
Example
He sent a long missive to the governor.
Il a envoyé une longue missive au gouverneur.
C2 noun /ɛmˈpɪrɪˌsɪzəm/

empiricism

empirisme
Meaning
the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience
Example
Empiricism argues that knowledge comes from experience and observation.
L'empirisme soutient que la connaissance provient de l'expérience et de l'observation.
C2 adjective /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/

Languid

languide; paresseux; faible
Meaning
lacking energy or vitality; slow and relaxed; weak or faint
Example
After the long journey, she felt languid and needed to rest.
Après le long voyage, elle se sentait languissante et avait besoin de repos.
C2 noun /ˈkʌvən/

coven

un groupe de sorcières
Meaning
a group or gathering of witches
Example
The witches met secretly in a coven in the forest.
Les sorcières se sont réunies secrètement dans un coven dans la forêt.