prefatory
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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 /pəˈtruːn/

poltroon

lâche
Meaning
a cowardly person
Example
He acted like a poltroon during the crisis.
Il a agi comme un lâche pendant la crise.
C2 adverb /ˈprɒksɪmətli/

proximately

près
Meaning
In a near or close manner; nearly.
Example
The village lies proximately to the river.
Le village est près de la rivière.
C2 verb /ˈpɛkjʊˌleɪt/

peculate

détourner
Meaning
To embezzle or steal money, especially public funds.
Example
The corrupt official was found guilty of peculating government funds.
Le fonctionnaire corrompu a été reconnu coupable d'avoir détourné des fonds publics.
C2 noun /ˌpænəˈdʒɪrɪk/

panegyric

panégyrique, éloge
Meaning
a formal speech or piece of writing in praise of someone or something
Example
The author wrote a panegyric on the bravery of the soldiers.
L'auteur a écrit un panégyrique sur le courage des soldats.
C2 noun /ˈpɜr.fɪ.di/

Perfidy

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

plentitude

abondance
Meaning
the condition of being full or abundant
Example
The garden offered a plentitude of flowers in spring.
Le jardin offrait une abondance de fleurs au printemps.
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 /ˈpɒlɪti/

polity

politique, système de gouvernement
Meaning
an organized society or form of government
Example
The ancient Greek polity had a system of city-states.
La politique grecque antique avait un système de cités-états.
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 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 /ˈprɛʃəns/ or /ˈpriːʃəns/

prescience

prescience
Meaning
the ability to know or predict what will happen in the future
Example
Her prescience about market trends saved the company.
Sa préscience des tendances du marché a sauvé l'entreprise.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdɪmənt/

pediment

fronton triangulaire
Meaning
a triangular gable found above the horizontal structure of a building, often in classical architecture
Example
The ancient temple had a pediment decorated with sculptures.
Le temple antique avait un fronton décoré de sculptures.
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 adjective /prɪˈsɛnʃənt/

presentient

présentiment
Meaning
Having a feeling or sense of something about to happen; predictive.
Example
She was presentient of the coming disaster.
Elle avait un pressentiment du désastre à venir.
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 verb /pɜːrl/

purl

couler avec un bruit de murmure
Meaning
To knit with a purl stitch; to flow with a murmuring sound (as a stream).
Example
The brook purled softly through the meadow.
Le ruisseau purla doucement à travers la prairie.
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 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 verb /ˈpjuːtrɪfaɪ/

putrefy

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

philology

l'étude de la langue dans les sources historiques écrites ; linguistique
Meaning
the study of language in written historical sources; linguistics
Example
She devoted her career to philology, researching ancient manuscripts.
Elle a consacré sa carrière à la philologie, en recherchant des manuscrits anciens.
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 adjective /ˈpaɪbɔːld/

piebald

à taches de deux couleurs
Meaning
having irregular patches of two colors, especially black and white
Example
The farmer owns a piebald horse with black and white spots.
Le fermier possède un cheval piebald avec des taches noires et blanches.
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 verb /prəˈroʊɡ/

prorogue

suspendre une session
Meaning
to discontinue a session of a parliament or assembly without dissolving it
Example
The president decided to prorogue parliament until the crisis was resolved.
Le président a décidé de suspendre le parlement jusqu'à ce que la crise soit résolue.
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 adjective /prɪˈzʌmptɪv/

presumptive

présumé
Meaning
Based on probability or assumption rather than proof.
Example
She is the presumptive nominee for the party.
Elle est la candidate présumée pour le parti.
C2 noun /ˈpɛrɪstaɪl/

peristyle

perronne entourée de colonnes
Meaning
A continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or courtyard.
Example
The Roman villa featured a beautiful peristyle garden.
La villa romaine présentait un beau jardin péristyle.
C2 noun /pəˈruːzl/

perusal

lecture attentive
Meaning
The action of reading or examining something carefully.
Example
The contract was given to the lawyer for perusal.
Le contrat a été remis à l'avocat pour une lecture attentive.
C2 noun /ˈpætrɪˌmoʊni/

patrimony

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

patronymic

patronymique
Meaning
a name derived from the name of a father or ancestor
Example
In many cultures, surnames are patronymic in origin.
Dans de nombreuses cultures, les noms de famille sont d'origine patronymique.
C2 noun /ˌpɜː.spɪˈkæs.ɪ.ti/

perspicacity

perspicacité
Meaning
Sharp insight, keen understanding and discernment.
Example
Her perspicacity in business decisions led to success.
Sa perspicacité dans les décisions commerciales a mené au succès.
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 adjective /ˈpruːdɪʃ/

prudish

prude
Meaning
having or revealing a tendency to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity
Example
She was too prudish to watch the movie with her friends.
Elle était trop prude pour regarder le film avec ses amis.
C2 adjective /ˈpɜːˌblaɪnd/

purblind

aveugle ou ignorant
Meaning
Having impaired or defective vision; lacking insight or understanding.
Example
The purblind approach to the problem led to many mistakes.
L'approche purblinde du problème a conduit à de nombreuses erreurs.
C2 noun /ˈproʊbɪti/

probity

probité
Meaning
The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Example
The judge was admired for his integrity and probity.
Le juge a été admiré pour son intégrité et sa probité.
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 /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 noun /ˌpriːɪɡˈzɪstəns/

preexistence

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

platitude

platitude, lieu commun
Meaning
a remark or statement that is overused and unoriginal
Example
He kept repeating the same platitudes during the speech.
Il n'a cessé de répéter les mêmes platitudes pendant son discours.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrvjuː/

purview

domaine
Meaning
the scope or range of authority, responsibility, or knowledge
Example
The case does not fall within the purview of this court.
L'affaire ne relève pas de la compétence de ce tribunal.
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 /ˈpjuːdʒɪlɪst/

pugilist

boxeur
Meaning
A professional or skilled boxer.
Example
The pugilist entered the ring with confidence.
Le boxeur est entré dans le ring avec confiance.
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 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 /ˈpriːskrɪpt/

prescript

prescription
Meaning
An authoritative rule or direction; something laid down as a command.
Example
The prescript of the organization required strict punctuality.
Le prescript de l'organisation exigeait une ponctualité stricte.
C2 verb /prɪˈpɒndəreɪt/

preponderate

prépondérer
Meaning
To be greater in influence, weight, or number.
Example
In the debate, logical arguments preponderated over emotional appeals.
Dans le débat, les arguments logiques ont prépondéré sur les appels émotionnels.
C2 noun /ˈpjuː.pɪ.lɪdʒ/

pupilage

état d'apprenti
Meaning
The state of being a pupil or under instruction.
Example
During his pupilage, he studied law under a senior barrister.
Pendant son état d'apprenti, il a étudié le droit sous un barrister senior.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrsɪflɑːʒ/

persiflage

moquerie légère
Meaning
light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter
Example
Their conversation was full of persiflage and jokes.
Leurs conversations étaient pleines de moquerie légère et de blagues.
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 adjective /ˌprɛsɪˈdɛnʃəl/

precedential

précédent
Meaning
Relating to, or serving as, a precedent; having authority as an example.
Example
The court’s decision has precedential value.
La décision de la cour a une valeur précédente.
C2 adjective /prɪˈmɒnɪtəri/ or /ˌpriːməˈnɪtəri/

premonitory

prémonitoire
Meaning
giving a warning or prediction about something, especially something unpleasant
Example
He ignored the premonitory signs of illness.
Il a ignoré les signes prémonitoires de la maladie.
C2 noun /proʊˈdʒɛnɪtər/

progenitor

ancêtre
Meaning
a direct ancestor; a person or thing that originates something
Example
Researchers traced the custom back to a common progenitor.
Les chercheurs ont retracé la coutume jusqu'à un ancêtre commun.
C2 adjective /ˌpɛstɪˈlɛnʃəl/

pestilential

pestilentiel
Meaning
Relating to or causing pestilence; very harmful, troublesome, or dangerous.
Example
The pestilential smell of the garbage filled the street.
L'odeur pestilentielle de la poubelle a rempli la rue.
C2 adjective /prɪˈhɛnsaɪl/

prehensile

préhensile
Meaning
adapted for seizing or grasping, especially by wrapping around an object
Example
The monkey used its prehensile tail to hang from the branch.
Le singe a utilisé sa queue préhensile pour se suspendre à la branche.
C2 adjective /ˈpɔːntʃi/

paunchy

ventru
Meaning
Having a large or protruding belly.
Example
The paunchy man struggled to button his shirt.
L'homme ventru peinait à boutonner sa chemise.
C2 noun /ˌpærəˈɡɔːrɪk/

paregoric

médicament contenant de l'opium
Meaning
a medicine containing opium, once used to relieve pain and diarrhea
Example
Doctors once prescribed paregoric to treat diarrhea in children.
Les médecins prescrivaient autrefois le paregoric pour traiter la diarrhée chez les enfants.
C2 adjective /prəˈvaɪzəri/

provisory

provisoire
Meaning
conditional; depending on certain terms being met
Example
The arrangement was only provisory until the final contract was signed.
L'arrangement était seulement provisoire jusqu'à ce que le contrat final soit signé.
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 /proʊˈsiː.ni.əm/

proscenium

proscénium
Meaning
the part of a theater stage in front of the curtain; the arch framing the stage
Example
The actors bowed at the proscenium before leaving the stage.
Les acteurs se sont inclinés devant le proscénium avant de quitter la scène.
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 /fɪˈlændərər/

philanderer

volage
Meaning
a man who habitually engages in casual romantic or sexual affairs
Example
The politician was exposed as a notorious philanderer.
Le politicien a été exposé comme un célèbre volage.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːrləs/

parlous

périlleux
Meaning
Full of danger or risk; precarious.
Example
The company is in a parlous financial state.
L'entreprise est dans un état financier précaire.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːmi/

palmy

prospère / glorieux
Meaning
prosperous, flourishing, or relating to palm trees
Example
He often reminisced about the palmy days of his youth.
Il se souvenait souvent des jours prospères de sa jeunesse.
C2 /ˈpæn.ə.pli/

panoply

panoplie
Meaning
A complete or impressive collection of things; a full set of armor.
Example
The museum displayed a panoply of ancient weapons.
Le musée a présenté une panoplie d'armements anciens.
C2 noun /ˌfəʊ.təʊ.sen.sɪˈtɪv.ɪ.ti/

photosensitivity

sensibilité à la lumière
Meaning
Sensitivity to light, especially abnormal sensitivity that may cause discomfort or damage.
Example
Overrubbing can increase photosensitivity.
Un frottement excessif peut augmenter la sensibilité à la lumière.
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 noun /ˌfɪziˈɒnəmi/

physiognomy

étude des traits du visage
Meaning
the study of facial features to judge character or personality
Example
He believed in physiognomy and tried to read people's personalities from their faces.
Il croyait à la physiognomonie et essayait de lire la personnalité des gens à partir de leurs visages.
C2 noun /prəˈlɪksɪti/

prolixity

prolixité
Meaning
the quality of being tediously wordy and long
Example
The book’s prolixity made it difficult to read in one sitting.
La prolixité du livre rendait difficile de le lire en une seule séance.
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 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 noun /ˈpjuːdʒɪlɪzəm/

pugilism

boxe
Meaning
The practice or sport of boxing.
Example
He studied the art of pugilism in his youth.
Il a étudié l'art de la boxe dans sa jeunesse.
C2 noun /pərˈsɪpiəns/

percipience

capacité de perception
Meaning
The ability to perceive, understand, or notice things quickly.
Example
His percipience in reading people made him a great negotiator.
Sa capacité de perception en lisant les gens a fait de lui un excellent négociateur.
C2 noun /ˌpɜːrspɪˈkjuːəti/

perspicuity

perspicuité
Meaning
Clarity and ease in speech or writing; the quality of being clearly expressed.
Example
The perspicuity of his lecture made it easy for students to understand complex topics.
La perspicuité de sa conférence a facilité la compréhension des sujets complexes par les étudiants.
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 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 /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 /ˈpʌdʒi/

pudgy

rond
Meaning
slightly fat or chubby in a way that is often cute
Example
The baby had pudgy cheeks that everyone adored.
Le bébé avait des joues rondes que tout le monde adorait.
C2 verb /poʊˈtɛnʃiˌeɪt/

potentiate

potentialiser
Meaning
To increase the power, effect, or likelihood of something.
Example
Caffeine can potentiate the effects of some medicines.
La caféine peut potentialiser les effets de certains médicaments.
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 adjective /ˈprɒɡnəθəs/

prognathous

prognathe
Meaning
Having jaws that project forward beyond the rest of the face.
Example
The fossil displayed a distinctly prognathous skull structure.
Le fossile affichait une structure de crâne distinctement prognathe.
C2 noun /ˈpɛstɪləns/

pestilence

peste
Meaning
A deadly or virulent epidemic disease that spreads rapidly.
Example
The medieval city was devastated by a pestilence.
La ville médiévale a été dévastée par une peste.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrkwɪzɪt raɪt/

perquisiteperquisiteright

droit aux avantages supplémentaires
Meaning
a legal right to certain benefits or privileges associated with a job or office
Example
The judge enjoyed certain perquisite rights attached to his position.
Le juge a profité de certains droits supplémentaires liés à sa fonction.
C2 noun /pɪˈdɒl.ə.dʒi/

pedology

science des sols
Meaning
The study of soils in their natural environment.
Example
Pedology helps scientists understand soil fertility.
La pédologie aide les scientifiques à comprendre la fertilité du sol.
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 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 adjective /ˌpærəˈdɪɡmətɪk/

paradigmatic

paradigmatique
Meaning
Serving as a typical example or model of something.
Example
Her success story is paradigmatic of the opportunities education can provide.
Son histoire de succès est paradigmatique des opportunités que l'éducation peut offrir.
C2 noun /ˌpɒl.iˈsɪl.ə.bəl/

polysyllable

mot polysyllabique
Meaning
a word with more than one syllable
Example
The word 'elephant' is a polysyllable because it has three syllables.
Le mot 'éléphant' est un mot polysyllabique car il a trois syllabes.
C2 verb /ˈprɒsəˌlaɪtaɪz/

proselytize

tenter de convertir
Meaning
To try to persuade someone to convert to a different belief or religion.
Example
They tried to proselytize the villagers with their new ideas.
Ils ont essayé de prosélytiser les villageois avec leurs nouvelles idées.
C2 verb /prɪmp/

primp

bonheur
Meaning
To spend time making minor adjustments to one's appearance.
Example
She primped in front of the mirror before the party.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
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 /ˈpɛtjʊləns/

petulance

pétulance
Meaning
The quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
Example
His petulance during the meeting annoyed everyone.
Sa pétulance pendant la réunion a agacé tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈfeɪlæŋks/

phalanx

phalanx
Meaning
A group of people or things arranged in a compact, close formation; also an ancient Greek military formation.
Example
A phalanx of reporters waited outside the courthouse.
Un groupe de journalistes attendait devant le tribunal.
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 noun /ˈpoʊ.ə.si/

poesy

poésie
Meaning
poetry; the art or composition of poems
Example
The anthology was filled with romantic poesy.
L'anthologie était remplie de poésie romantique.
C2 verb /ˈpʌlvəraɪz/

pulverize

pulvériser
Meaning
To crush or grind something into a fine powder; to completely defeat or destroy.
Example
The machine can pulverize stones into dust.
La machine peut pulvériser des pierres en poussière.
C2 noun /ˈpær.əkˌsɪz.əm/

paroxysm

crise soudaine
Meaning
A sudden, violent outburst of emotion or activity.
Example
She was seized by a paroxysm of laughter.
Elle a été saisie par une crise de rire.
C2 adjective /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəl/

penitential

pénitent
Meaning
Relating to or expressing penitence or penance.
Example
The priest delivered a penitential sermon on forgiveness.
Le prêtre a donné un sermon pénitent sur le pardon.
C2 noun ˈfaɪ.təʊˌnjuː.tri.ənts

phytonutrients

phytonutriments
Meaning
Bioactive compounds found in plants that have health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
Example
Green tea contains powerful phytonutrients.
Le thé vert contient des phytonutriments puissants.
C2 noun /ˈpɪnjən/

pinion

un petit engrenage ou la partie extérieure de l'aile d'un oiseau ; restreindre ou immobiliser
Meaning
a small gear or the outer part of a bird's wing; to restrain or immobilize
Example
The bird's pinion was injured, preventing it from flying.
Le pinion de l'oiseau était blessé, l'empêchant de voler.
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 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 /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 adjective /ˌpɛntəˈveɪlənt/

pentavalent

pentavalent
Meaning
Having a valence of five, especially in chemistry.
Example
Phosphorus can exist in a pentavalent state.
Le phosphore peut exister dans un état pentavalent.
C2 noun /prɪˈfɜːrmənt/

preferment

promotion
Meaning
promotion or advancement in rank, position, or office
Example
He hoped for preferment in the government office.
Il espérait une promotion dans le bureau du gouvernement.
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 noun /ˈpɔːrfəri/

porphyry

une roche ignée dure
Meaning
A hard igneous rock containing crystals, often used for decorative or building purposes.
Example
The ancient Romans used porphyry to make columns and statues.
Les anciens Romains ont utilisé le porphyre pour fabriquer des colonnes et des statues.
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 /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 verb /fɪˈlɒs.ə.faɪz/

philosophize

philosopher
Meaning
to think or talk about the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
Example
He likes to philosophize about life and its meaning.
Il aime philosopher sur la vie et son sens.
C2 noun /prɔːŋ/

prong

dent de fourchette
Meaning
a projecting pointed part, such as one of the pointed ends of a fork
Example
The fork has four prongs.
La fourchette a quatre dents.
C2 verb /pərˈtɪkjələrˌaɪz/

particularize

détailler
Meaning
to mention or describe something in detail
Example
The witness was asked to particularize the events of that night.
Le témoin a été demandé de détailler les événements de cette nuit.
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 /ˌpɪkəˈrɛsk/

picaresque

histoire d'un héros malicieux
Meaning
relating to a style of fiction depicting the adventures of a roguish hero
Example
The novel is a picaresque tale of a clever vagabond.
Le roman est une histoire picaresque d'un vagabond rusé.
C2 noun ˈpær.ə.ɡən

paragon

paragon
Meaning
A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality; a model of excellence.
Example
Neom is a paragon of sustainable urban design.
Neom est un paragon du design urbain durable.
C2 noun /ˈprɒm.ən.tɔːr.i/

promontory

promontoire
Meaning
A high point of land or rock projecting into a body of water.
Example
The lighthouse stood on a promontory overlooking the sea.
Le phare se trouvait sur un promontoire surplombant la mer.
C2 noun /pæˈstiːʃ/

pastiche

pastiche
Meaning
a work of art, literature, or music that imitates the style of another artist, period, or genre
Example
The film was a clever pastiche of 1950s detective movies.
Le film était un habile pastiche des films policiers des années 1950.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛkəbl/

peccable

pécheur
Meaning
liable to sin or error; capable of doing wrong
Example
Humans are peccable, but they strive for goodness.
Les humains sont pécheurs, mais ils s'efforcent de faire le bien.
C2 adjective /pəˈluːsɪd/

pellucid

transparent
Meaning
Transparently clear; easy to understand.
Example
The lake water was so pellucid that you could see the stones at the bottom.
L'eau du lac était tellement transparente que vous pouviez voir les pierres au fond.
C2 noun /ˈpærəpɛt/

parapet

mur de protection
Meaning
A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, balcony, or bridge.
Example
The soldier hid behind the parapet for protection.
Le soldat s'est caché derrière le parapet pour sa protection.
C2 noun /ˈpiːən/

paean

hymne de louange
Meaning
A song or piece of writing expressing great praise or triumph.
Example
The article was a paean to the beauty of nature.
L'article était un hymne à la beauté de la nature.