preordain
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C2 verb /ˌpriːɔːrˈdeɪn/

preordain

prédéterminer
Meaning
To decide or determine an outcome in advance, especially by fate or divine will.
Example
They believed their meeting was preordained by destiny.
Ils croyaient que leur rencontre était prédestinée par le destin.
C2 noun /maɪˈkrɑː.skə.pi/

microscopy

microscopie
Meaning
The use of a microscope to observe small objects or organisms.
Example
Microscopy revealed the structure of the cells.
La microscopie a révélé la structure des cellules.
C2 noun /ˈsiːkənt/

secant

sécante
Meaning
A straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points.
Example
In geometry, a secant cuts the circle at two distinct points.
En géométrie, une sécante coupe le cercle en deux points distincts.
C2 noun /ˈmaʊntɪˌbæŋk/

mountebank

charlatan
Meaning
A charlatan or trickster who deceives others, often for personal gain.
Example
The crowd was fooled by the mountebank’s false promises.
La foule a été trompée par les fausses promesses du charlatan.
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 verb /dɪˈlæpɪdeɪt/

dilapidate

détériorer
Meaning
To cause something, especially a building, to fall into ruin or disrepair.
Example
The abandoned house began to dilapidate over the years.
La maison abandonnée a commencé à se détériorer au fil des ans.
C2 noun /ˈnɑːstrəm/

nostrum

remède inefficace
Meaning
a medicine or remedy, especially one that is not considered effective; a questionable solution
Example
The politician’s plan was dismissed as a mere nostrum for a complex problem.
Le plan du politicien a été rejeté comme un simple remède pour un problème complexe.
C2 noun /ˈtɜːrməɡənt/

termagant

femme autoritaire et irritable
Meaning
A harsh-tempered or overbearing woman.
Example
The character was portrayed as a loud and domineering termagant.
Le personnage a été dépeint comme une femme bruyante et dominatrice.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrljuː/

purlieu

zone périphérique
Meaning
The area near or surrounding a place; an outlying or neighboring district.
Example
They spent the afternoon exploring the purlieus of the ancient city.
Ils ont passé l'après-midi à explorer les purlieus de la ville ancienne.
C2 adjective /ˌænθrəpəˈmɔːrfəs/

anthropomorphous

anthropomorphe
Meaning
having the form or attributes of a human
Example
The statue had an anthropomorphous shape resembling a human.
La statue avait une forme anthropomorphe ressemblant à un humain.
C2 verb /ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪteɪt/

incapacitate

incapaciter
Meaning
to deprive someone or something of the ability or strength to function
Example
The severe injury incapacitated the player for the rest of the season.
La blessure grave a rendu le joueur incapable pour le reste de la saison.
C2 noun /ˈmɜːkinəs/

murkiness

obscurité
Meaning
The quality of being dark, gloomy, or unclear.
Example
The murkiness of the water made it hard to see the fish.
L'obscurité de l'eau rendait difficile de voir les poissons.
C2 adjective /ˌaɪdəˈlɑːtrɪəs/

idolatrious

idolâtre
Meaning
Excessively devoted or reverent towards idols or false gods.
Example
The ancient tribe was known for its idolatrious practices.
La tribu ancienne était connue pour ses pratiques idolâtres.
C2 noun /ˈɛkwɪpɪdʒ/

equipage

Équipement ou un carrosse avec ses accessoires
Meaning
Equipment or a carriage with its accessories.
Example
The nobleman arrived in a grand equipage.
Le noble est arrivé dans un grand carrosse.
C2 noun /ɪmˌpɜːrtərbəˈbɪləti/

imperturbability

imperturbabilité
Meaning
The quality of being calm and not easily disturbed or upset.
Example
Her imperturbability during the crisis impressed everyone.
Son imperturbabilité pendant la crise a impressionné tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪn.dʒəl/

Brinjal

aubergine
Meaning
a large purple vegetable that is white inside; also called eggplant
Example
My mother cooked brinjal curry for lunch.
Ma mère a cuisiné un curry d'aubergine pour le déjeuner.
C2 verb /ˌɛvəˈnɛs/

evanesce

s'évanouir
Meaning
To disappear gradually; to fade away.
Example
The mist began to evanesce as the sun rose higher.
La brume a commencé à s'évanouir à mesure que le soleil montait plus haut.
C2 noun /ˌvɛəriəˈɡeɪʃən/

variegation

variété
Meaning
The appearance of differently colored zones in the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants.
Example
Variegation makes the foliage look more attractive.
La variegation rend le feuillage plus attrayant.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndaɪˈdʒestəbəl/

Indigestible

indigeste; difficile à digérer
Meaning
difficult or impossible to digest; hard to process in the stomach
Example
The old bread became hard and indigestible.
Le vieux pain est devenu dur et indigeste.
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 /ˈmɪsəleɪni/

miscellany

panaché
Meaning
A collection or mixture of various things.
Example
The book is a miscellany of essays and poems.
Le livre est un panaché d'essais et de poèmes.
C2 noun /ˈɪd.i.ə.si/

Idiocy

idiotie
Meaning
extremely stupid behavior or actions; foolishness
Example
The decision to ignore safety protocols was pure idiocy that endangered everyone.
La décision d'ignorer les protocoles de sécurité était une pure idiotie qui mettait tout le monde en danger.
C2 noun ˈlɪɡ.nəʊˌsæt

LignoSat

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

nonplussed

déconcerté
Meaning
Past tense of nonplus; surprised and unsure how to react.
Example
He stood nonplussed at the strange remark.
Il est resté déconcerté par la remarque étrange.
C2 noun /bəˈnæləti/

banality

banalité
Meaning
The condition of being unoriginal, boring, or obvious; trite remark or quality.
Example
The speech was criticized for its banality and lack of originality.
Le discours a été critiqué pour sa banalité et son manque d'originalité.
C2 verb /ˈfæmɪʃ/

famish

mourir de faim
Meaning
to suffer or cause to suffer from extreme hunger
Example
The stranded hikers began to famish after several days without food.
Les randonneurs bloqués ont commencé à mourir de faim après plusieurs jours sans nourriture.
C2 adjective, noun /pləˈbiːən/

plebeian

personne commune
Meaning
common, ordinary, or belonging to the lower social classes
Example
The festival was enjoyed by both plebeian and noble citizens.
Le festival a été apprécié tant par les plébéiens que par les citoyens nobles.
C2 noun /ˌæriˈviːst/

arriviste

nouveau riche
Meaning
A person who has recently gained wealth or status but is considered arrogant or socially unsophisticated.
Example
The business world is full of ambitious arrivistes.
Le monde des affaires est rempli d’arrivistes ambitieux.
C2 noun /haɪˈdrɒl.ɪ.sɪs/

hydrolysis

hydrolyse
Meaning
A chemical process that breaks down compounds by adding water, splitting complex molecules into simpler forms.
Example
Hydrolysis breaks down complex molecules into simpler forms.
L'hydrolyse décompose les molécules complexes en formes plus simples.
C2 noun /kænˈtoʊnmənt/

Cantonment

cantonnement militaire
Meaning
a military base or permanent military station
Example
The soldiers lived in the cantonment outside the city.
Les soldats ont vécu dans le cantonnement militaire en dehors de la ville.
C2 adjective /ˌmɪsənˈθrɑːpɪk/

misanthropic

misanthropique
Meaning
having or showing a dislike of humankind
Example
His misanthropic attitude made it difficult for him to make friends.
Son attitude misanthropique rendait difficile de se faire des amis.
C2 noun /aɪˈdɒlətri/

idolatry

idolâtrie
Meaning
The worship of idols or extreme admiration for someone or something.
Example
The priest condemned the idolatry practiced in the village.
Le prêtre a condamné l'idolâtrie pratiquée dans le village.
C2 noun /ˈɛskwaɪər/

esquire

esquire
Meaning
A title of respect often used after a man's name, especially for lawyers in the United States.
Example
John Smith, Esquire, will be representing the client in court.
John Smith, Esquire, représentera le client au tribunal.
C2 adjective /ˈruːnɪk/

runic

relatif aux runes
Meaning
relating to or consisting of runes; mysterious or magical
Example
The old stone had strange runic carvings on it.
La vieille pierre avait des gravures runiques étranges.
C2 noun mɒnəˈtɑːskɪŋ

monotasking

faire une tâche à la fois
Meaning
The practice of dedicating oneself to a given task and minimizing potential interruptions until the task is completed or a significant period of time has elapsed.
Example
Monotasking can often lead to higher quality work.
Le monotasking conduit souvent à un travail de meilleure qualité.
C2 verb /ˈbeɪɪŋ/

baying

aboyer
Meaning
making a loud, prolonged barking or howling sound, especially of dogs
Example
The baying of the hounds echoed through the forest.
Les aboiements des chiens résonnaient à travers la forêt.
C2 noun /tækˈsɒnəmɪst/

taxonomist

taxonome
Meaning
A scientist who classifies organisms into groups based on their characteristics.
Example
The taxonomist discovered a new species of insect.
Le taxonome a découvert une nouvelle espèce d'insecte.
C2 noun /ˈhɒdʒ.pɒdʒ/

hodgepodge

mélange confus
Meaning
A confusing mixture of different things; a jumble.
Example
The essay was a hodgepodge of unrelated ideas.
L'essai était un mélange confus d'idées non liées.
C2 noun /ˌbeɪˈliː/

bailee

dépositaire
Meaning
a person or party who temporarily receives possession of goods or property from another under a legal agreement
Example
The bailee must take reasonable care of the goods while they are in his possession.
Le dépositaire doit prendre soin des biens.
C2 noun /ˌkɒntrəpəˈzɪʃən/

contraposition

contraposition
Meaning
the act of placing two things in opposition for contrast or comparison
Example
The contraposition of the two theories highlighted their differences.
La contraposition des deux théories a mis en lumière leurs différences.
C2 noun /ˈkrɛməˌtɔːri/

crematory

crématorium
Meaning
a place where dead bodies are cremated
Example
The crematory was located near the cemetery.
Le crématorium était situé près du cimetière.
C2 noun /ˈtʃælɪs/

chalice

calice
Meaning
A large cup or goblet, typically used for drinking wine in religious ceremonies.
Example
The priest lifted the golden chalice during the ceremony.
Le prêtre a levé le calice en or pendant la cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˈsɪɡnət/

cygnet

cygneon
Meaning
a young swan
Example
The cygnet swam closely behind its mother.
Le cygneon nageait juste derrière sa mère.
C2 verb /ˈdʒɛn.juˌflɛkt/

genuflect

se prosterner en signe de révérence
Meaning
to bend one or both knees as a sign of reverence or worship
Example
The worshippers genuflect before the altar.
Les adorateurs se prosternent devant l'autel.
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 verb /ˈɪndjʊˌreɪt/

indurate

endurcir
Meaning
To harden or make something physically or emotionally tough.
Example
Years of hardship indurated his spirit.
Des années de difficultés ont induré son esprit.
C2 adjective /ˌɛl.ɪˈdʒaɪ.ək/

elegiac

éligiaque
Meaning
Expressing sorrow, often for something past; resembling an elegy.
Example
The novel ends on an elegiac note, mourning the lost era.
Le roman se termine sur une note élégiaque, pleurant l'ère perdue.
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 /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 /ˈlaɪtoʊtiːz/

litotes

litote
Meaning
a figure of speech in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary
Example
Saying 'not bad' as a compliment is an example of litotes.
Dire 'pas mal' comme compliment est un exemple de litote.
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 adjective /pəˈrɛmptəri/

peremptory

péremptoire
Meaning
Insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a commanding way.
Example
The officer gave a peremptory order to evacuate the building.
L'officier a donné un ordre péremptoire d'évacuer le bâtiment.
C2 noun /ˈkaʊntɪŋˌhaʊs/

counting-house

bureau de comptabilité
Meaning
a business office where accounts are kept and financial transactions are managed
Example
The merchant spent most of his day in the counting-house reviewing ledgers.
Le marchand passait la majeure partie de sa journée dans le bureau de comptabilité à examiner les livres de comptes.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈfeɪnd/

unfeigned

authentique
Meaning
genuine; not pretended or insincere
Example
She expressed unfeigned joy at her friend's success.
Elle a exprimé une joie authentique lors du succès de son amie.
C2 noun /ˈʃaɪstər/

shyster

escroc
Meaning
a person, especially a lawyer, who uses unscrupulous or dishonest methods
Example
The businessman was exposed as a shyster who cheated clients.
L'homme d'affaires a été exposé comme un escroc qui trompait les clients.
C2 noun, verb /əˈfrʌnt/

affront

affront
Meaning
An action or remark that causes outrage or offense.
Example
He took her criticism as a personal affront.
Il a pris sa critique comme un affront personnel.
C2 noun /ˈɡeɪm.stər/

gamester

joueur
Meaning
A person who plays games, especially one who plays them skillfully or professionally.
Example
The old tavern was filled with gamesters competing in cards and dice.
L'ancienne taverne était remplie de joueurs qui se mesuraient dans des jeux de cartes et de dés.
C2 adjective /ˈoʊ.kən/

oaken

fait de chêne
Meaning
made of or resembling oak wood
Example
The villagers gathered around the oaken table in the hall.
Les villageois se sont rassemblés autour de la table en chêne dans la salle.
C2 noun /ˈfæn.feər/

fanfare

grande pompe, publicité
Meaning
a short ceremonial tune or display of publicity to attract attention
Example
The new product was launched with much fanfare.
Le nouveau produit a été lancé avec beaucoup de fanfare.
C2 verb /əˈɡræn.daɪz/

aggrandize

agrandir
Meaning
To increase the power, wealth, or importance of a person or entity.
Example
The politician tried to aggrandize himself through exaggerated claims.
Le politicien a essayé de s'aggrandir à travers des affirmations exagérées.
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 /ˈʃɛvrən/

chevron

symbole en forme de V
Meaning
A V-shaped pattern, often used in military insignia or design.
Example
The sergeant’s uniform displayed three chevrons on the sleeve.
L'uniforme du sergent affichait trois chevrons sur la manche.
C2 noun /dɪˈmʌrɪdʒ/

demurrage

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

emend

corriger
Meaning
to correct or revise a text, especially for errors
Example
The editor emended the manuscript before publication.
L'éditeur a corrigé le manuscrit avant la publication.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɛvəˈrɛnʃəl/

irreverential

irrévérencieux
Meaning
Showing a lack of respect for things that are generally taken seriously.
Example
His irreverential humor often shocked traditional audiences.
Son humour irrévérencieux choquait souvent les spectateurs traditionnels.
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 adjective /ˈplændʒənt/

plangent

son plaintif ou résonnant
Meaning
having a loud, mournful sound; resonant
Example
The plangent toll of the church bell echoed through the village.
Le son plaintif de la cloche de l'église résonnait à travers le village.
C2 verb /ˈflædʒəˌleɪt/

flagellate

flageller ou se fouetter comme une forme de punition ou d'autodiscipline
Meaning
to whip or flog someone, either literally or as a form of punishment or self-discipline
Example
In history, some monks would flagellate themselves as penance.
Dans l'histoire, certains moines se flagellaient comme pénitence.
C2 noun /ˈʒɑːndɑːrm/

gendarme

gendarme
Meaning
A French police officer, especially a member of a military-style police force.
Example
The gendarme stopped the car for a routine check.
Le gendarme a arrêté la voiture pour un contrôle de routine.
C2 adjective /ˈvɒkətɪv/

vocative

cas vocatif
Meaning
relating to a case in grammar used for directly addressing someone
Example
In Latin, the vocative case is used when directly calling someone by name.
En latin, le cas vocatif est utilisé pour appeler directement quelqu'un par son nom.
C2 noun /ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/

schadenfreude

plaisir dérivé du malheur d'autrui
Meaning
pleasure derived from another person's misfortune
Example
He felt a sense of schadenfreude when his rival failed.
Il a ressenti un sentiment de schadenfreude lorsque son rival a échoué.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɔːrtmənt/

deportment

comportement
Meaning
A person's behavior or manners, especially in a formal situation.
Example
Her deportment during the ceremony impressed everyone.
Son comportement pendant la cérémonie a impressionné tout le monde.
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 /ˌaɪ.kə.nəˈklæs.tɪk/

iconoclastic

Caractérisé par l'attaque ou le rejet des croyances, des traditions ou des valeurs établies.
Meaning
Characterized by attacking or rejecting cherished beliefs, traditions, or established values.
Example
Her iconoclastic views challenged the conventional wisdom of the industry.
Ses vues iconoclastes ont défié la sagesse conventionnelle de l'industrie.
C2 noun /ˌɪn.ɪˈbraɪ.ə.ti/

inebriety

ivresse
Meaning
the state of being drunk or intoxicated
Example
His frequent inebriety led to the loss of his job.
Son inconstance dans l'ivresse l'a conduit à perdre son travail.
C2 adjective /dɪˈlɛktəbl̩/

delectable

délicieux
Meaning
delicious or highly enjoyable
Example
The restaurant served a delectable meal.
Le restaurant a servi un repas délicieux.
C2 adjective /ˈfækʃəs/

factious

factionnel
Meaning
causing disagreement or division within a group; inclined to form factions
Example
The debate became factious, splitting the committee into rival camps.
Le débat est devenu factionnel, divisant le comité en camps rivaux.
C2 verb ɪɡˈzɔːrt

exhort

exhorter
Meaning
To strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.
Example
The teacher exhorted students to work hard for exams.
Le professeur a exhorté les élèves à travailler dur pour les examens.
C2 adjective /ˈæb.ə.rənt/

aberrant

aberrant
Meaning
deviating from what is normal or expected; abnormal
Example
His aberrant behavior shocked everyone at the meeting.
Son comportement aberrant a choqué tout le monde à la réunion.
C2 noun /ˈspuːnərɪzəm/

spoonerism

spounérisme
Meaning
A verbal error in which the initial sounds of words are swapped to create a humorous effect.
Example
He made a spoonerism by saying 'queer old dean' instead of 'dear old queen'.
Il a fait un spounérisme en disant 'vieux doyen bizarre' au lieu de 'vieille reine chère'.
C2 noun /ˈɡræn.juːl/

granule

granule
Meaning
A small compact particle of a substance.
Example
Each granule of salt sparkled under the sunlight.
Chaque granule de sel scintillait sous la lumière du soleil.
C2 verb /ˈɡrʌvəl/

grovel

se vautrer
Meaning
To act in an excessively humble or submissive way to gain favor.
Example
He groveled before his boss to avoid punishment.
il s'est vautré devant son patron pour éviter la punition.
C2 noun ˌhiː.məˈfɪl.i.ə

hemophilia

hémophilie
Meaning
A medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing the sufferer to bleed severely from even a slight injury.
Example
Hemophilia treatment benefits from genetic editing.
Le traitement de l'hémophilie bénéficie de l'édition génétique.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɛmbələr/

dissembler

hypocrite
Meaning
a person who conceals their real feelings or intentions; a hypocrite or pretender
Example
The politician was accused of being a dissembler who never revealed his true plans.
Le politicien a été accusé d'être un hypocrite qui n'a jamais révélé ses vrais projets.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtɜːr/

disinter

désenterrer
Meaning
to dig up something buried, especially a body
Example
The archaeologists disinterred ancient remains from the site.
Les archéologues ont désenterré des restes anciens du site.
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 noun /ˈnoʊmənˌkleɪtʃər/

nomenclature

nomenclature
Meaning
A system of names or terms used in a particular science, art, or field.
Example
The chemical nomenclature can be difficult for beginners to understand.
La nomenclature chimique peut être difficile à comprendre pour les débutants.
C2 adjective /ˈkælkjʊləbl/

calculable

calculable
Meaning
Capable of being calculated, estimated, or measured.
Example
The risk involved in the project is calculable.
Le risque impliqué dans le projet est calculable.
C2 noun /ˌhoʊ.mi.oʊˈsteɪ.sɪs/

homeostasis

équilibre interne du corps, stabilité physiologique maintenue par des processus physiologiques
Meaning
The tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.
Example
The human body maintains homeostasis through temperature regulation.
Le corps humain maintient l'homéostasie grâce à la régulation de la température.
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 adverb /ɪkˈstem.pɔːr/

Extempore

spontané; improvisé
Meaning
without preparation; spontaneously; improvised
Example
The speaker delivered an impressive extempore speech at the conference.
Le conférencier a prononcé un discours extemporané impressionnant à la conférence.
C2 noun /ˌdʒerənˈtɑːkrəsi/

gerontocracy

gérontocratie
Meaning
A system of government or control by old people.
Example
The country was seen as a gerontocracy, dominated by elderly leaders.
Le pays était perçu comme une gérontocratie, dominée par des dirigeants âgés.
C2 verb /ˈekspərˌɡeɪt/

expurgate

expurger
Meaning
To remove offensive or objectionable parts from a text or speech.
Example
The publisher decided to expurgate the novel before reprinting it.
L’éditeur a décidé d’expurger le roman avant de le réimprimer.
C2 adjective /ˈnɪɡərdli/

niggardly

avare
Meaning
unwilling to spend or give; stingy or miserly
Example
He was too niggardly to leave a decent tip.
Il était trop avare pour laisser un pourboire décent.
C2 verb /ˈpɜː.fə.reɪt/

perforate

perforer
Meaning
to make a hole or holes through something
Example
The machine can perforate sheets of paper for easy tearing.
La machine peut perforer des feuilles de papier pour faciliter la déchirure.
C2 adjective /woʊnt/ or /wɔːnt/

wont

habitué
Meaning
accustomed or used to doing something
Example
She rose early, as she was wont to do.
Elle se leva tôt, comme elle en avait l'habitude.
C2 adjective /stəˈkɑː.təʊ/

staccato

détaché
Meaning
short and detached in sound or style, often used in music
Example
The pianist played the notes in a staccato rhythm.
Le pianiste a joué les notes dans un rythme détaché.
C2 noun /ˈpɔːrtɛnt/

portent

prémonition
Meaning
A sign or warning that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen.
Example
The sudden drop in stock prices was seen as a portent of economic trouble.
La chute soudaine des prix des actions a été vue comme une prémonition de problèmes économiques.
C2 verb (past tense, past participle), adjective /ˈhæmstrʌŋ/

hamstrung

paralysé ou limité
Meaning
crippled or severely restricted in movement or progress.
Example
The team was hamstrung by lack of resources.
L'équipe était limitée par un manque de ressources.
C2 noun /ˈpæsɪt/

Passet

fromage blanc
Meaning
Fresh cheese curds; cottage cheese made from curdled milk
Example
The cook prepared fresh passet by curdling warm milk with lemon juice.
Le cuisinier a préparé du fromage blanc frais en caillant du lait chaud avec du jus de citron.
C2 noun /ˈmætrɪˌsaɪd/

matricide

matricide
Meaning
The act of killing one's own mother.
Example
The crime of matricide shocked the entire town.
Le crime de matricide a choqué toute la ville.
C2 noun /ˈoʊ.kəm/

oakum

fibre de corde usée
Meaning
loose fibers obtained by untwisting old ropes, used for caulking ships
Example
The shipbuilders used oakum to seal the gaps in the wooden planks.
Les charpentiers de marine ont utilisé de l'okum pour sceller les fissures dans les planches en bois.
C2 adjective /ænˈdrɒdʒɪnəs/

androgynous

androgyne
Meaning
Having both male and female characteristics; not clearly masculine or feminine.
Example
The fashion show featured models with an androgynous look.
Le défilé de mode a présenté des modèles avec un look androgyne.
C2 noun, verb /ˈmaɪər/

mire

marécage / enchevêtrement
Meaning
A stretch of swampy or boggy ground; as a verb, to entangle or involve someone in a difficult situation.
Example
The car was stuck in the mire after the heavy rain.
La voiture est restée coincée dans la boue après la forte pluie.
C2 verb /ɪnˈθroʊn/

enthrone

introniser
Meaning
to install someone on a throne or to give someone high status
Example
The king was enthroned in a grand ceremony.
Le roi fut intronisé lors d'une grande cérémonie.
C2 verb /dɒf/

doff

ôter (un chapeau) en signe de respect
Meaning
to take off an item of clothing, especially a hat, as a sign of respect
Example
He doffed his hat as the procession passed.
Il ôta son chapeau tandis que la procession passait.
C2 verb /ˌweɪˈleɪ/

waylay

arrêter / attaquer de manière inattendue
Meaning
to stop or interrupt someone unexpectedly, often to attack or detain them
Example
He was waylaid by reporters as he left the courthouse.
Il a été attaqué par des journalistes alors qu'il quittait le tribunal.
C2 verb /kəˈdʒoʊl/

cajole

cajoler
Meaning
To persuade someone to do something by flattery or gentle urging.
Example
She managed to cajole her friend into joining the trip.
Elle a réussi à cajoler son amie pour qu'elle se joigne au voyage.
C2 adjective /ˌsɛm.iˈsɪv.ə.laɪzd/

semicivilized

semi-civilisé
Meaning
Partially civilized; having some aspects of civilization but not fully developed.
Example
The tribe was described as semicivilized by early explorers.
La tribu a été décrite comme semi-civilisée par les premiers explorateurs.
C2 noun /ˈjuːʒəri/

usury

usure
Meaning
The practice of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates.
Example
The law strictly prohibits usury.
La loi interdit strictement l'usure.
C2 adverb /əˈmʌk/

amok

de manière incontrôlable
Meaning
Behaving uncontrollably and disruptively.
Example
The angry mob ran amok after the verdict was announced.
La foule en colère courut de manière incontrôlable après l'annonce du verdict.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrtləsnəs/

artlessness

simplicité, naturel
Meaning
The quality of being natural and simple without deceit or pretension.
Example
Her artlessness made her beloved by all.
Son artlessness la rendait aimée de tous.
C2 noun /ˈeɪʒən siː bæs/

Asian sea bass

bar asiatique
Meaning
a large predatory fish found in coastal waters and estuaries of the Indo-Pacific region, prized for its white meat
Example
Asian sea bass is highly valued in aquaculture for its fast growth.
Le bar asiatique est très apprécié en aquaculture pour sa croissance rapide.
C2 noun /məˈlɛvələns/

malevolence

malveillance
Meaning
The state or condition of being malevolent; having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
Example
His malevolence was clear in the cruel way he treated his rivals.
Sa malveillance était évidente dans la manière cruelle dont il traitait ses rivaux.
C2 adjective /ˈɒfɪʃ/

offish

distant
Meaning
Unfriendly, distant, or reserved in manner.
Example
He seemed offish at the party and avoided most conversations.
Il semblait distant à la fête et évitait la plupart des conversations.
C2 noun /ˈkwɪzlɪŋ/

quisling

traître
Meaning
A traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country.
Example
During the war, he was branded a quisling for aiding the invaders.
Pendant la guerre, il a été étiqueté comme un quisling pour avoir aidé les envahisseurs.
C2 adjective /sɪˈnɜːrdʒɪk/

synergic

synergique
Meaning
Working together in a cooperative and effective manner.
Example
The two departments have a synergic relationship that boosts productivity.
Les deux départements ont une relation synergique qui augmente la productivité.
C2 noun /ɪnˈdɛntʃər/

indenture

contrat d'indenture
Meaning
A formal legal agreement, contract, or document, often relating to work or service.
Example
In the 18th century, many workers came under indenture to work overseas.
Au XVIIIe siècle, de nombreux travailleurs étaient sous contrat d'indenture pour travailler à l'étranger.
C2 noun /kaɪˈmɪərə/

chimera

chimère
Meaning
A mythical creature with parts from different animals; also used to mean a fanciful illusion or unattainable dream.
Example
The idea of a perfect society is often a chimera.
L'idée d'une société parfaite est souvent une chimère.
C2 noun /ˌbenɪˈdɪkʃən/

Benediction

bénédiction
Meaning
a blessing, especially a ceremonial one; an expression of good wishes
Example
The priest gave his benediction to the newlyweds.
Le prêtre a donné sa bénédiction aux nouveaux mariés.
C2 noun /ˌdɛrɪˈlɪkʃən/

dereliction

négligence
Meaning
the state of being abandoned; neglect of duty
Example
The officer was charged with dereliction of duty.
L'officier a été accusé de négligence dans l'accomplissement de son devoir.