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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 /ˈɒnwiː/ or /ˈɑːnwiː/

ennui

ennui
Meaning
A feeling of boredom, listlessness, or dissatisfaction arising from lack of excitement.
Example
After weeks of doing nothing, he sank into a deep sense of ennui.
Après des semaines à ne rien faire, il est tombé dans un profond ennui.
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 /dɪˈstɛnʃən/

distention

distension
Meaning
The state of being swollen due to internal pressure.
Example
The patient complained of abdominal pain and distention.
Le patient s'est plaint de douleurs abdominales et de distension.
C2 verb /ˈtrʌk.əl/

truckle

se soumettre
Meaning
To submit or yield obsequiously to someone in power.
Example
He refused to truckle to the demands of the corrupt officials.
Il a refusé de se soumettre aux demandes des fonctionnaires corrompus.
C2 noun /lænˈtɑː.nə/

Lantana

lantana
Meaning
a tropical flowering plant with clusters of small colorful flowers
Example
The lantana flowers attract butterflies to the garden.
Les fleurs de lantana attirent les papillons dans le jardin.
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 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 adjective /kənˈsʌmptɪv/

consumptive

consumptif
Meaning
Relating to or characterized by consumption; historically used to describe someone suffering from tuberculosis.
Example
The doctor advised against consumptive habits.
Le médecin a déconseillé les habitudes consumptives.
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 /æmˈbroʊʒə/

ambrosia

ambroisie
Meaning
The food of the gods in classical mythology; something extremely pleasing to taste or smell.
Example
The dessert was so delicious that it tasted like ambrosia.
Le dessert était tellement délicieux qu'il avait le goût d'ambrosia.
C2 noun /ɔːrˈθɑːɡrəfi/

orthography

orthographe
Meaning
The conventional spelling system of a language.
Example
English orthography can be confusing for learners.
L'orthographe anglaise peut être déroutante pour les apprenants.
C2 adjective /ˌɪntəˈrɒɡətəri/

interrogatory

interrogatif
Meaning
expressed in the form of a question; relating to questioning
Example
The lawyer’s interrogatory tone made the witness uncomfortable.
Le ton interrogatif de l'avocat a rendu le témoin mal à l'aise.
C2 noun ˈɛn.ɡræm

Engram

Signaux physiques dans le cerveau pour le stockage et la récupération de la mémoire
Meaning
Physical signs or patterns in the brain for memory storage and retrieval
Example
Scientists study engrams to understand how memories are stored.
Les scientifiques étudient les engrammes pour comprendre comment les souvenirs sont stockés.
C2 verb /ˈdɔːd(ə)l/

dawdle

traîner
Meaning
to waste time by being slow or idle
Example
Stop dawdling and finish your homework.
Arrête de traîner et finis tes devoirs.
C2 noun /kəˈtæb.ə.lɪ.zəm/

catabolism

catabolisme
Meaning
The breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones together with the release of energy; destructive metabolism.
Example
Catabolism plays a crucial role in cellular energy production.
Le catabolisme joue un rôle crucial dans la production d'énergie cellulaire.
C2 verb /ˈmɒlikɒdl/

mollycoddle

gâter
Meaning
To treat someone in an overprotective and indulgent way.
Example
Parents should avoid mollycoddling their children too much.
Les parents devraient éviter de gâter trop leurs enfants.
C2 adverb /əˈskæns/

askance

d'un air méfiant
Meaning
With suspicion, mistrust, or disapproval.
Example
She looked askance at his unusual proposal.
Elle regarda sa proposition étrange d'un air méfiant.
C2 noun /ˈlændˌhoʊl.dər/

landholder

propriétaire foncier
Meaning
a person who owns land, especially in large amounts
Example
The landholder leased part of his property to local farmers.
Le propriétaire foncier a loué une partie de sa propriété à des agriculteurs locaux.
C2 noun /ˈsɪbəraɪt/

sybarite

sybarite
Meaning
a person who loves luxury and pleasure
Example
The millionaire was a true sybarite who lived only for comfort and enjoyment.
Le millionnaire était un véritable sybarite qui vivait uniquement pour le confort et le plaisir.
C2 adjective /ˌhaɪ ˈfloʊn/

high-flown

grandiloquent
Meaning
Using fancy or pretentious language; lofty in style but often overblown.
Example
The politician gave a high-flown speech full of promises.
Le politicien a donné un discours grandiloquent plein de promesses.
C2 verb /ˈlɛvɪteɪt/

levitate

léviter
Meaning
to rise or float in the air, usually without visible support.
Example
The magician made the table levitate during the show.
Le magicien a fait léviter la table pendant le spectacle.
C2 noun /ˈhæk.ni ˈkær.ɪdʒ/

Hackney carriage

voiture de location
Meaning
A taxi; a car licensed to carry passengers for hire
Example
I called a hackney carriage to get to the airport.
J'ai appelé une voiture de location pour aller à l'aéroport.
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 noun /ˈmɒrəlɪst/

moralist

moraliste
Meaning
A person who teaches or promotes moral principles and values.
Example
The author was known as a strict moralist in his writings.
L'auteur était connu comme un moraliste strict dans ses écrits.
C2 noun /ˈɪntərˌveɪl/

intervale

terre basse le long d'une rivière, généralement fertile et plate
Meaning
A low-lying tract of land along a river, usually fertile and flat.
Example
The farmers cultivated crops on the lush intervale by the river.
Les agriculteurs ont cultivé des cultures dans l'intervalle fertile près de la rivière.
C2 noun /ˈdoʊtɪdʒ/

dotage

vieillesse
Meaning
The period of old age, especially when one is weak or senile.
Example
He spent his dotage reminiscing about his youth.
Il a passé sa vieillesse à se remémorer sa jeunesse.
C2 noun /juːˈkeɪs/

ukase

décret
Meaning
An authoritative decree or order, especially one issued by a sovereign or government.
Example
The czar issued a ukase restricting the freedom of the press.
Le tsar a émis un décret restreignant la liberté de la presse.
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 /ˌnjuːmɪzˈmætɪk/

numismatic

numismatique
Meaning
relating to the study or collection of coins, currency, and medals
Example
He has a numismatic collection of rare coins from around the world.
Il possède une collection numismatique de pièces rares provenant du monde entier.
C2 noun /ˈɪl.i.æd/

iliad

Iliade
Meaning
An ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, describing the events of the Trojan War.
Example
Students studied the Iliad to understand Greek mythology and heroism.
Les étudiants ont étudié l'Iliade pour comprendre la mythologie grecque et l'héroïsme.
C2 noun /ˈsɛpəlkər/

sepulcher

tombeau
Meaning
A small room or monument, cut in rock or built of stone, in which a dead person is buried.
Example
The ancient king was laid to rest in a grand sepulcher.
Le roi ancien a été enterré dans un grand tombeau.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdrəˈstætɪks/

hydrostatics

hydrostatique
Meaning
The branch of science concerned with the mechanical properties of fluids at rest.
Example
Hydrostatics is essential in understanding how dams and reservoirs function.
L'hydrostatique est essentielle pour comprendre comment fonctionnent les barrages et les réservoirs.
C2 noun /trʌs/

truss

treillis
Meaning
a framework, typically consisting of rafters, posts, and struts, supporting a roof, bridge, or other structure
Example
The engineer designed a strong truss for the new bridge.
L'ingénieur a conçu un solide treillis pour le nouveau pont.
C2 adjective /ˈvɛndɪbəl/

vendible

vendable
Meaning
Capable of being sold; marketable.
Example
Only vendible products were displayed at the trade fair.
Seuls les produits vendables ont été exposés à la foire commerciale.
C2 adjective /ˌsuːpərˈnuːmərɛri/

supernumerary

supplémentaire
Meaning
Exceeding the usual number; extra or unnecessary.
Example
The play included several supernumerary actors to fill the background scenes.
La pièce a inclus plusieurs acteurs supplémentaires pour remplir les scènes de fond.
C2 adjective fəˈleɪ.ʃəs

fallacious

fallacieux
Meaning
Based on false reasoning or misleading arguments.
Example
His argument was based on fallacious reasoning.
Son argument était basé sur des raisonnements fallacieux.
C2 verb /ˈwaŋɡl/

wangle

obtenir quelque chose par astuce
Meaning
To achieve something by clever or sometimes dishonest persuasion or trickery.
Example
He wangled a free ticket to the concert.
Il a obtenu un billet gratuit pour le concert par astuce.
C2 verb /ɪˈvɪns/

evince

démontrer
Meaning
to show or demonstrate clearly
Example
She evinced her interest in the project through active participation.
Elle a montré son intérêt pour le projet par une participation active.
C2 noun /ˌkɑːrt ˈblɑːnʃ/

carte blanche

carte blanche
Meaning
complete freedom to act as one wishes
Example
The manager gave her team carte blanche to design the project.
Le responsable a donné à son équipe carte blanche pour concevoir le projet.
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 /breɪ/

brae

versant
Meaning
A hillside or slope, especially in Scotland.
Example
They climbed up the grassy brae to see the sunset.
Ils ont grimpé la lisière herbeuse pour voir le coucher du soleil.
C2 noun /ˌkɒnsaɪˈniː/

consignee

destinataire
Meaning
the person or company to whom goods are delivered
Example
The consignee received the shipment on time.
Le destinataire a reçu l'envoi à temps.
C2 verb /ˈkæn.tər/

canter

galop lent
Meaning
To ride a horse at a controlled, easy pace between a trot and a gallop.
Example
She cantered her horse across the field with ease.
Elle a canter son cheval à travers le champ avec aisance.
C2 noun /ˈɛksplɪkeɪtər/

explicator

explicateur
Meaning
a person who explains or interprets something in detail
Example
The critic served as an explicator of the poet’s complex works.
Le critique a servi d'explicateur des œuvres complexes du poète.
C2 noun /ˈɪn.fɪ.del/

Infidel

infidèle
Meaning
a person who does not believe in religion or whose religious beliefs differ from one's own
Example
In historical contexts, crusaders often referred to their enemies as infidels.
Dans des contextes historiques, les croisés se référaient souvent à leurs ennemis comme des infidèles.
C2 verb /ɪnˈkʌmbər/

encumber

encombrer
Meaning
to burden or weigh down something, making it difficult to move or progress
Example
She was encumbered by the heavy luggage during her journey.
Elle était encombrée par les bagages lourds pendant son voyage.
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 noun /dɪˌlɪniˈeɪʃən/

delineation

délimitation
Meaning
the precise description, drawing, or outlining of something
Example
The artist’s delineation of the landscape was remarkably accurate.
La délimitation du paysage par l'artiste était remarquablement précise.
C2 noun /ˌæɡ.rəˈdeɪ.ʃən/

aggradation

processus de construction de la terre par dépôt de sédiments
Meaning
The process of land being built up by sediment deposition.
Example
Aggradation helps in the natural expansion of riverbanks.
L'aggradation aide à l'expansion naturelle des rives des rivières.
C2 noun /krəˈdjuːlɪti/

credulity

crédule
Meaning
A tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.
Example
The scam succeeded because of the victim's credulity.
L'escroquerie a réussi en raison de la crédulité de la victime.
C2 adjective /ˈɪn.dɪ.dʒənt/

indigent

indigent
Meaning
lacking the necessities of life due to poverty; very poor
Example
The hospital offers free care to indigent patients.
L'hôpital offre des soins gratuits aux patients indigents.
C2 noun /ˈtʃaɪ.nə roʊz/

China-rose

hibiscus
Meaning
a tropical flowering plant with large, showy flowers in various colors
Example
The bright red China-rose flowers decorated the entrance of the house.
Les fleurs rouges vives d'hibiscus décoraient l'entrée de la maison.
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 /ˈhʌmbʌɡ/

humbug

foutaises, balivernes
Meaning
Deceptive or false talk or behavior; nonsense.
Example
He dismissed the idea as humbug.
Il a rejeté l'idée comme des foutaises.
C2 adjective /ˈvjuː.ləs/

Viewless

invisible; sans opinions
Meaning
invisible; having no views or opinions
Example
The ghost remained viewless to most people in the haunted house.
Le fantôme est resté invisible pour la plupart des gens dans la maison hantée.
C2 noun ˈoʊʃən ˌstrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

ocean stratification

stratification océanique
Meaning
The formation of layers in ocean water due to differences in density.
Example
Ocean stratification affects marine biodiversity.
La stratification océanique affecte la biodiversité marine.
C2 noun /ˈdændi/

dandy

homme qui accorde trop d'attention à son apparence et à ses vêtements
Meaning
a man who gives too much attention to his appearance and clothes
Example
The young dandy spent hours grooming himself before the party.
Le jeune dandy a passé des heures à se préparer avant la fête.
C2 verb /ˈtrʌŋkeɪt/

truncate

tronquer
Meaning
to shorten something by cutting off the top or the end
Example
The article was truncated to fit the limited space.
L'article a été tronqué pour tenir dans l'espace limité.
C2 noun /bəˈlɛəroʊ/

bolero

boléro (une danse espagnole ou une veste courte ouverte à l'avant)
Meaning
A Spanish dance in slow triple time, or a short jacket open at the front.
Example
The dancers performed a passionate bolero at the festival.
Les danseurs ont exécuté un boléro passionné lors du festival.
C2 noun /əbˈstrʌkʃənɪst/

obstructionist

obstructionniste
Meaning
a person who deliberately delays or prevents progress by being uncooperative or oppositional
Example
The obstructionist in the committee kept delaying the decision-making process.
L'obstructionniste au sein du comite a continue a retarder le processus de prise de decision.
C2 noun /liːdʒ/

liege

seigneur féodal
Meaning
A feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service; a loyal subject.
Example
The knight pledged loyalty to his liege.
Le chevalier prêta allégeance à son seigneur féodal.
C2 noun /ˈspɛndˌθrɪft/

spendthrift

dépensier
Meaning
A person who spends money extravagantly or wastefully.
Example
The young prince was known as a spendthrift, wasting his fortune on lavish parties.
Le jeune prince était connu comme un dépensier, gaspillant sa fortune dans des fêtes somptueuses.
C2 noun /ˌdɪpsəˈmeɪniæk/

dipsomaniac

alcoolique
Meaning
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks.
Example
The novel portrayed the tragic downfall of a dipsomaniac who lost everything to alcohol.
Le roman a dépeint la chute tragique d'un alcoolique qui a tout perdu à cause de l'alcool.
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 /ˌtɜːdʒɪvərˈseɪʃən/

tergiversation

évasion, retournement
Meaning
Evasion of straightforward action or speech; changing sides or being inconsistent.
Example
The politician’s tergiversation frustrated his supporters.
La tergiversation du politicien a frustré ses partisans.
C2 verb /ˌsuːpərɪnˈtɛnd/

superintend

superviser
Meaning
to oversee and direct the work or operation of something
Example
She was hired to superintend the construction project.
Elle a été engagée pour superviser le projet de construction.
C2 noun /ˌmɪstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

mystification

mystification, confusion
Meaning
the act of making something unclear or confusing; a state of being puzzled or bewildered
Example
The audience watched in mystification as the magician performed his tricks.
Le public regardait dans la mystification pendant que le magicien réalisait ses tours.
C2 noun /θiˈɒsəfi/

theosophy

théosophie
Meaning
A religious or philosophical belief system that seeks direct knowledge of the mysteries of life and the divine.
Example
Theosophy attracted people interested in mysticism and spiritual growth.
La théosophie a attiré des personnes intéressées par le mysticisme et la croissance spirituelle.
C2 verb /ˈæsəneɪt/

assonate

asonner
Meaning
To correspond or agree in sound, especially by vowel sounds; to rhyme approximately.
Example
The lines assonate beautifully, giving the song a unique flow.
Les lignes asonnent magnifiquement, donnant à la chanson un flux unique.
C2 noun /kənˈtraɪ.vəns/

contrivance

appareil ou plan
Meaning
a device or plan that is cleverly or artificially created
Example
The clock was an intricate contrivance of gears and springs.
L'horloge était un dispositif complexe de rouages et de ressorts.
C2 noun /ˌrækənˈtɜːr/

Raconteur

bonheur
Meaning
a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way
Example
The old man was a gifted raconteur who entertained everyone with his stories.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ˌfrɪdʒɪˈdɛːriəm/

frigidarium

bain froid
Meaning
a large cold pool in ancient Roman baths used for cooling off after hot baths
Example
The ruins of the Roman frigidarium are still visible today.
Les ruines du frigidarium romain sont encore visibles aujourd'hui.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪələˈtɪʃən/

dialectician

dialecticien
Meaning
A person skilled in dialectic or logical argument.
Example
Socrates is often considered the greatest dialectician in history.
Socrate est souvent considéré comme le plus grand dialecticien de l'histoire.
C2 noun /ˈlɪmərɪk/

limerick

un poème humoristique en cinq vers
Meaning
a humorous five-line poem with a specific rhythm and rhyme scheme (AABBA).
Example
She recited a funny limerick at the party.
Elle a récité un limerick amusant à la fête.
C2 noun /ˌɑːrtʃˈdiːkən/

archdeacon

archidiacre
Meaning
A senior clergyman in the Christian Church ranking below a bishop.
Example
The archdeacon assisted the bishop in administrative duties.
L'archidiacre a aidé l'évêque dans les tâches administratives.
C2 noun /ˌdɪskwɪˈzɪʃən/

disquisition

disquisition
Meaning
A long or elaborate discussion or written essay on a particular subject.
Example
The professor gave a lengthy disquisition on ancient philosophy.
Le professeur a donné une disquisition approfondie sur la philosophie antique.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊˈfoʊbiə/

hydrophobia

hydrophobie
Meaning
Extreme or irrational fear of water; historically, another name for rabies.
Example
After being bitten by a stray dog, the man was treated for hydrophobia.
Après avoir été mordu par un chien errant, l'homme a été traité pour l'hydrophobie.
C2 adjective /ˌpəʊstˈprændɪəl/

postprandial

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

confluent

confluant
Meaning
Flowing together or merging; coming together at one point.
Example
The confluent streams formed a mighty river.
Les ruisseaux confluent pour former une grande rivière.
C2 noun /ɪnˈkwɪzɪtər/

inquisitor

inquisiteur
Meaning
A person who asks many questions, often in an official or harsh manner.
Example
The inquisitor demanded detailed answers from the witness.
L'inquisiteur a exigé des réponses détaillées du témoin.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈklɛmɛnt/

inclement

météo inclemente
Meaning
unpleasantly cold, wet, or stormy (usually weather)
Example
The match was canceled due to inclement weather.
Le match a été annulé à cause du mauvais temps.
C2 noun /mæŋˈɡoʊ.li.ə/

Mangolia

magnolia
Meaning
a type of flowering tree with large, fragrant pink or white flowers
Example
The beautiful magnolia tree bloomed in spring with pink flowers.
Le magnifique arbre de magnolia a fleuri au printemps avec des fleurs roses.
C2 noun /ˈmæsəkɪst/

masochist

masochiste
Meaning
a person who derives pleasure from their own pain or humiliation
Example
He was called a masochist for enjoying tough challenges.
Il a été appelé masochiste pour apprécier les défis difficiles.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈspɛərɪŋ/

unsparing

implacable
Meaning
Showing no mercy or generosity; harsh or severe.
Example
The critic was unsparing in his review of the play.
Le critique était implacable dans sa critique de la pièce.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈplaɪəbl/

impliable

impliquable
Meaning
Capable of being implied or suggested.
Example
The meaning of the statement is not directly clear but is impliable from the context.
Le sens de la déclaration n'est pas directement clair, mais il est impliquable à partir du contexte.
C2 noun /dɪˈprævɪti/

depravity

dégrégation morale
Meaning
moral corruption; wickedness
Example
The film portrays the moral depravity of a corrupt society.
Le film dépeint la dégradation morale d'une société corrompue.
C2 noun /fækˈtoʊtəm/

factotum

homme à tout faire
Meaning
an employee who does many different types of work; a general servant
Example
He worked as a factotum, handling both clerical and maintenance duties.
Il travaillait comme un factotum, s'occupant à la fois des tâches administratives et de maintenance.
C2 verb /ˌɪntərˈpoʊz/

interpose

interposer
Meaning
To place or insert between one thing and another; to intervene in a situation.
Example
He quickly interposed himself between the fighters to stop the quarrel.
Il s'est rapidement interposé entre les combattants pour arrêter la querelle.
C2 noun /ˌpɑːrtjʊˈrɪʃən/

parturition

accouchement
Meaning
The act of giving birth; childbirth.
Example
The doctor explained the stages of parturition to the students.
Le médecin a expliqué les étapes de l'accouchement aux étudiants.
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 adjective /ˈskʌr.ɪ.ləs/

scurrilous

calomnieux
Meaning
Using or expressed in coarse, abusive, or slanderous language.
Example
The politician faced criticism for his scurrilous remarks about his opponent.
Le politicien a fait face à des critiques pour ses remarques calomnieuses sur son adversaire.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnˈekspɜːrt/

inexpert

inexpérimenté
Meaning
not skilled or experienced; lacking expertise
Example
The inexpert handling of the machine caused several mistakes.
La manipulation inexpérimentée de la machine a causé plusieurs erreurs.
C2 adjective /həˈrɛtɪkəl/

heretical

hérétique
Meaning
Relating to or characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards, especially in religion.
Example
The priest condemned the book as heretical.
Le prêtre a condamné le livre comme hérétique.
C2 noun /ˈmæl.əˌfæk.tər/

malefactor

criminel
Meaning
A person who commits a crime or does evil.
Example
The malefactor was arrested for the robbery.
Le criminel a été arrêté pour le vol.
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 verb /ɛksˈproʊprieɪt/

expropriate

exproprier
Meaning
To take property from its owner, especially by authority or for public use.
Example
The government decided to expropriate the land for a new highway.
Le gouvernement a décidé d'exproprier la terre pour une nouvelle autoroute.
C2 verb /rɪˈdaʊnd/

redound

contribuer
Meaning
to contribute greatly to a result or consequence, usually beneficial
Example
His hard work will redound to the success of the company.
Son travail acharné contribuera au succès de l'entreprise.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊtənˌteɪt/

potentate

potentat
Meaning
A monarch or ruler, especially one with absolute power.
Example
The ancient land was ruled by a powerful potentate.
L'ancienne terre était gouvernée par un puissant potentat.
C2 adjective, adverb /əˈfʊt/

afoot

en cours
Meaning
In progress; happening or being prepared.
Example
There are several new projects afoot in the company.
Il y a plusieurs nouveaux projets en cours dans l'entreprise.
C2 verb /əˈniːl/

anneal

durcir par la chaleur
Meaning
To heat and cool metal or glass to make it stronger or less brittle.
Example
The blacksmith annealed the steel to improve its durability.
Le forgeron a anilé l'acier pour améliorer sa durabilité.
C2 noun /əbˈsɪdiən/

obsidian

obsidienne (roche volcanique noire et vitreuse)
Meaning
A hard, dark, glasslike volcanic rock formed by rapid solidification of lava.
Example
The knife was made from sharp obsidian.
Le couteau était fabriqué à partir d'obsidienne tranchante.
C2 adjective /kɒnˈsæŋɡwɪn/

consanguine

consanguin
Meaning
Of the same blood or origin; related by birth.
Example
The two families were consanguine through their grandparents.
Les deux familles étaient consanguines par leurs grands-parents.
C2 noun /ˌɪlɪbəˈræləti/

illiberality

intolérance
Meaning
The quality of being illiberal; lack of tolerance or generosity.
Example
The illiberality of the new laws alarmed the citizens.
L'illibéralité des nouvelles lois a alarmé les citoyens.
C2 verb /bɪˈleɪbə/

belabour

s'appesantir sur
Meaning
to explain something repeatedly or with excessive detail; to criticize or attack verbally at length
Example
The teacher did not belabour the point once the students understood it.
Le professeur ne s'est pas appesanti sur le point une fois que les élèves ont compris.
C2 noun /ˈvɜːrdɪɡriːs/

verdigris

dépôt vert ou bleu
Meaning
A green or bluish deposit that forms on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces due to oxidation.
Example
The old statue was covered in verdigris after years of exposure to the rain.
La vieille statue était couverte de verdigris après des années d'exposition à la pluie.
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 /ˌrɒŋˈhɛd.ɪd/

wrongheaded

à l'esprit tordu
Meaning
Having or showing bad judgment or stubbornly holding to wrong ideas.
Example
The policy was considered wrongheaded and harmful.
La politique a été considérée comme ayant l'esprit tordu et nuisible.
C2 adjective /ɑːrˈbɔːr.i.əl/

arboreal

relatif aux arbres
Meaning
Relating to trees or living in trees; tree-dwelling.
Example
Monkeys are arboreal animals that spend most of their time in trees.
Les singes sont des animaux arboricoles qui passent la majeure partie de leur temps dans les arbres.
C2 noun /raɪm/

rime

givre
Meaning
frost formed on cold surfaces by freezing water vapor
Example
The trees were covered with a white rime after the cold night.
Les arbres étaient recouverts de givre blanc après la nuit froide.
C2 adjective ɪnˈfiː.zə.bəl

infeasible

infaisable
Meaning
Not possible to do easily or conveniently; impracticable.
Example
Restoring the forest may become infeasible if destruction continues.
Restaurer la forêt peut devenir infaisable si la destruction continue.
C2 verb /pərˈveɪ/

purvey

fournir
Meaning
to supply or provide goods, services, or information, often as a business
Example
The company purveys organic food to health-conscious customers.
L'entreprise fournit des aliments biologiques aux clients soucieux de leur santé.
C2 noun /bəˈfuːn/

buffoon

bouffon
Meaning
A ridiculous but amusing person; a clown or jester.
Example
He acted like a buffoon at the party, making everyone laugh.
Il a agi comme un bouffon à la fête, faisant rire tout le monde.
C2 verb /bɪˈkɑːm/

becalm

calmer
Meaning
to make calm or still; to deprive a sailing vessel of wind
Example
The captain tried to becalm the anxious crew.
Le capitaine a essayé de calmer l'équipage anxieux.
C2 noun /ɪnˈkʌmbrəns/

encumbrance

fardeau / obstacle
Meaning
a burden or obstacle that makes progress or movement difficult
Example
Debt can become a serious encumbrance in life.
La dette peut devenir un fardeau sérieux dans la vie.
C2 adjective /koʊˈtɜːr.mɪ.nəs/

coterminous

coextensif
Meaning
having the same boundaries or extent in space, time, or meaning
Example
The two jurisdictions are coterminous, sharing the same borders.
Les deux juridictions sont coextensives, partageant les mêmes frontières.
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 /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 /ɜːrˈbænɪti/

urbanity

urbanité
Meaning
refined courtesy, elegance, and sophistication in manner
Example
Her urbanity made her popular among diplomats and leaders.
Son urbanité la rendait populaire parmi les diplomates et les dirigeants.
C2 noun /bɛk/

beck

geste de signe / petit ruisseau
Meaning
a gesture of beckoning; a small stream or brook (chiefly Northern English)
Example
The servant came at his master's beck and call.
Le serviteur est venu à l'appel de son maître.
C2 noun kwɔːrk

quark

quark
Meaning
A fundamental subatomic particle that combines to form protons and neutrons.
Example
Quarks form protons and neutrons.
Les quarks forment des protons et des neutrons.