prevaricate
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C2 verb /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/

prevaricate

échapper à dire la vérité
Meaning
to avoid telling the truth by not giving a direct answer
Example
The politician began to prevaricate when asked about the scandal.
Le politicien a commencé à éviter lorsqu'on lui a posé des questions sur le scandale.
C2 noun /vəˈliːɪti/

velleity

désir faible
Meaning
A wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action.
Example
His interest in painting never grew beyond a mere velleity.
Son intérêt pour la peinture n'a jamais dépassé un simple désir faible.
C2 verb /ˈɡæmbəl/

gambol

sauter joyeusement
Meaning
to run or jump about playfully
Example
The lambs gamboled in the field under the sun.
Les agneaux sautaient joyeusement dans le champ sous le soleil.
C2 noun /ɛnˈsɪklɪkəl/

encyclical

Lettre encyclique
Meaning
a formal letter sent by the Pope to Catholic churches, usually addressing important issues
Example
The Pope issued an encyclical on climate change and moral responsibility.
Le Pape a publié une lettre encyclique sur le changement climatique et la responsabilité morale.
C2 adjective /ˈpɪrɪk/

pyrrhic

victoire pyrrhique
Meaning
A victory won at such a great cost that it is almost equivalent to defeat.
Example
The general declared the battle a pyrrhic victory due to heavy losses.
Le général a déclaré la bataille comme une victoire pyrrhique en raison des lourdes pertes.
C2 noun /ɑːlˈfækʃən/

olfaction

olfaction
Meaning
The sense of smell; the process of detecting and perceiving odors.
Example
Dogs have a highly developed sense of olfaction.
Les chiens ont un sens de l'olfaction très développé.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːrtətɪv/

hortative

hortatoire
Meaning
Giving strong encouragement or urging.
Example
The teacher gave a hortative speech to motivate the students before the exam.
Le professeur a prononcé un discours hortatoire pour motiver les élèves avant l'examen.
C2 verb /ˌoʊvərˈliːp/

overleap

sauter par-dessus
Meaning
To jump over something; to omit or disregard something.
Example
He managed to overleap the fence easily.
Il a réussi à sauter la clôture facilement.
C2 noun /ɪˌkliːziˈæstɪk/

ecclesiastic

ecclésiastique
Meaning
A member of the clergy or church official.
Example
The council was attended by several high-ranking ecclesiastics.
Le conseil a été assisté par plusieurs ecclésiastiques de haut rang.
C2 noun /juːˌtrɑː.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

eutrophication

excès de nutriments dans un lac ou un autre plan d'eau
Meaning
Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
Example
Excess fertilizers lead to eutrophication in lakes.
Les fertilisants excessifs entraînent l'eutrophisation dans les lacs.
C2 noun /fɪˈlæt.əl.i/

philately

philatélie
Meaning
the collection and study of postage stamps
Example
Philately is a hobby enjoyed by people of all ages.
La philatélie est un passe-temps apprécié des personnes de tous âges.
C2 noun /ˈæmpərˌsænd/

ampersand

esperluette
Meaning
The symbol '&' used to represent the word 'and'.
Example
Use an ampersand instead of writing the word 'and' in the company name.
Utilisez une esperluette au lieu d'écrire le mot 'et' dans le nom de l'entreprise.
C2 noun /ˈskɜː.vi/

scurvy

Scorbut
Meaning
A disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, leading to weakness, gum disease, and bleeding.
Example
Sailors often suffered from scurvy during long sea voyages without fresh fruits.
Les marins souffraient souvent du scorbut lors de longs voyages en mer sans fruits frais.
C2 verb /ˈɛkskʌlpeɪt/

exculpate

exculper
Meaning
to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing
Example
The lawyer worked hard to exculpate his client.
L'avocat a travaillé dur pour exculper son client.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɪŋɡoʊ/

jingo

nationaliste belliqueux
Meaning
a person who strongly supports warlike or aggressive foreign policy; an extreme nationalist
Example
The leader was criticized as a reckless jingo.
Le leader a été critiqué comme un jingo imprudent.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈsɛʃən/

intercession

intercession
Meaning
the act of intervening or pleading on behalf of another person
Example
The prisoner was released due to the intercession of influential leaders.
Le prisonnier a été libéré grâce à l'intercession de leaders influents.
C2 adjective /ˌɪn.ɪˈlʌk.tə.bəl/

ineluctable

inéluctable
Meaning
Impossible to avoid or escape; inevitable.
Example
Death is an ineluctable part of human existence.
La mort est une partie inéluctable de l'existence humaine.
C2 noun /ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/

catechism

catéchisme
Meaning
A summary of religious principles often in the form of questions and answers; also a set of fixed questions or beliefs.
Example
The priest taught the children the catechism every Sunday.
Le prêtre a enseigné aux enfants le catéchisme chaque dimanche.
C2 noun /bɛl/

belle

belle femme
Meaning
A beautiful woman, especially the most attractive woman at a gathering.
Example
She was the belle of the ball that evening.
Elle était la belle du bal ce soir-là.
C2 noun ˌæɡ.roʊˈiː.koʊˌsɪs.təm

agroecosystem

agrosystème
Meaning
An ecological system centered on agricultural activities and processes.
Example
A healthy agroecosystem improves soil fertility.
Un agroécosystème sain améliore la fertilité du sol.
C2 noun /məˈnɒkrəsi/

monocracy

monocratie
Meaning
A system of government by a single person; autocracy.
Example
The nation suffered under decades of monocracy.
La nation a souffert sous des décennies de monocratie.
C2 verb /bɪˈdɛk/

bedeck

décorer
Meaning
to decorate or adorn something in a showy way
Example
The hall was bedecked with flowers for the wedding.
La salle a été décorée de fleurs pour le mariage.
C2 verb /kædʒ/

cadge

quémander
Meaning
To beg or obtain something, especially food or money, without paying for it.
Example
He tried to cadge a free meal from the restaurant.
Il a essayé de quémander un repas gratuit au restaurant.
C2 noun /ˈʌm.brə/

Umbra

ombre totale, région sombre d'une tache solaire
Meaning
the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object; the dark center of a sunspot
Example
During the eclipse, we stood in the moon's umbra.
Pendant l'éclipse, nous nous sommes tenus dans l'ombre de la lune.
C2 noun /ˈkoʊdə/

coda

coda
Meaning
the concluding passage of a piece of music or a literary work
Example
The novel ends with a reflective coda that ties up the themes.
Le roman se termine par une coda réfléchie qui relie les thèmes.
C2 verb /ˈdiːfælˌkeɪt/

defalcate

détourner des fonds
Meaning
to misuse or embezzle money that one is responsible for
Example
The accountant was accused of defalcating company funds.
Le comptable a été accusé de détournement des fonds de l'entreprise.
C2 adjective /ˈtɜːrbɪd/

turbid

trouble
Meaning
Cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter; confused or obscure in meaning.
Example
The river water became turbid after the heavy rains.
L'eau de la rivière est devenue trouble après les fortes pluies.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnɪmˈpiːtʃəbl/

unimpeachable

irréprochable
Meaning
Not able to be doubted, questioned, or criticized; completely trustworthy.
Example
She is known for her unimpeachable honesty.
Elle est connue pour son honnêteté irréprochable.
C2 noun /ˈɛpənɪm/

eponym

personne dont le nom a été donné à une invention ou un lieu
Meaning
A person after whom a discovery, invention, place, or other thing is named.
Example
Sandwich is an eponym named after the Earl of Sandwich.
Sandwich est un éponyme nommé d'après le comte de Sandwich.
C2 verb /ˈtʃeɪfɪŋ/

chafing

irriter par frottement
Meaning
To make sore by rubbing; to become irritated.
Example
The rough shoes were chafing his heels.
Les chaussures rugueuses lui frottaient les talons.
C2 verb /ʌnˈfrɒk/

unfrock

dévêtir un prêtre de sa position
Meaning
To remove a priest from his position or deprive someone of a rank.
Example
The corrupt priest was unfrocked after the investigation.
Le prêtre corrompu a été défroqué après l'enquête.
C2 noun /ˌdoʊ.məˈstɪs.ə.ti/

domesticity

domesticité
Meaning
Life at home or devotion to family life.
Example
She enjoys the domesticity of cooking and gardening.
Elle apprécie la domesticité de la cuisine et du jardinage.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːfdəm/

serfdom

servage
Meaning
The status or condition of being a serf, bound to work for a lord.
Example
Many peasants in medieval Europe lived under serfdom.
De nombreux paysans de l'Europe médiévale vivaient sous le servage.
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 /ˈleɪ.ɪ.ti/

laity

laïcs
Meaning
Ordinary members of a religious community who are not clergy.
Example
The church welcomed the laity to participate in the event.
L'église a accueilli les laïcs pour participer à l'événement.
C2 adjective /ˈoʊ.pən ˈhæn.dɪd/

Open-handed

généreux; libéral
Meaning
Generous; liberal; giving freely;
Example
He is very open-handed with his money and always helps those in need.
Il est très généreux avec son argent et aide toujours ceux qui en ont besoin.
C2 noun /ɡlʌt/

glut

excédent d'approvisionnement
Meaning
An excessive supply of something; more than is needed.
Example
There was a glut of cheap smartphones in the market.
Il y avait un excédent de smartphones bon marché sur le marché.
C2 noun /ˈmɪsəl/

missal

missel
Meaning
a book containing the texts used in the Catholic Mass throughout the year
Example
The priest read from the missal during the ceremony.
Le prêtre a lu dans le missel pendant la cérémonie.
C2 adjective /kəˈkɒfənəs/

cacophonous

cacophonique
Meaning
Producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
Example
The cacophonous sounds of the city kept her awake all night.
Les bruits cacophoniques de la ville l'ont empêchée de dormir toute la nuit.
C2 noun /ˈlɛvi/

levee

levée
Meaning
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river or to hold back water.
Example
The town built a levee to protect itself from flooding.
La ville a construit une levée pour se protéger des inondations.
C2 noun /ˈdeɪ.mæn/

day-man

travailleur journalier
Meaning
a worker employed by the day; a day laborer
Example
The farmer hired a day-man to help with the harvest.
Le fermier a embauché un travailleur journalier pour aider à la récolte.
C2 adjective /ˈplɛntɪəs/

plenteous

abondant
Meaning
existing in great quantity; abundant
Example
The harvest was plenteous, providing enough food for the entire village.
La récolte était abondante, fournissant suffisamment de nourriture pour tout le village.
C2 adjective /ˌpɛrənˈθɛtɪkəl/

parenthetical

commentaire entre parenthèses
Meaning
Relating to or expressed in parentheses; a side remark or digression.
Example
He added a parenthetical comment during the lecture.
Il a ajouté un commentaire entre parenthèses pendant la conférence.
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 adjective /sɛnˈtrɪfjʊɡəl/

centrifugal

centrifuge
Meaning
Moving or tending to move away from a center.
Example
The centrifugal force pushes the clothes to the sides of the washing machine.
La force centrifuge pousse les vêtements vers les bords de la machine à laver.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrmərənt/

cormorant

un grand oiseau marin noir qui attrape des poissons
Meaning
a large black sea bird that catches fish by diving
Example
The cormorant perched on the rock, drying its wings after a dive.
Le cormoran était perché sur la roche, séchant ses ailes après un plongeon.
C2 noun /ˈdɔɪən/

doyen

personne respectée
Meaning
The most respected or prominent person in a particular field.
Example
He is regarded as the doyen of modern literature in the country.
Il est considéré comme le doyen de la littérature moderne dans le pays.
C2 noun /ˌɪnəməˈrɑːtə/

inamorata

amante
Meaning
A woman with whom someone is in love; a female lover.
Example
He wrote a poem dedicated to his inamorata.
Il a écrit un poème dédié à son amante.
C2 adjective /ˈklæmərəs/

clamorous

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

spume

écume
Meaning
Froth or foam, especially found on waves or liquids.
Example
The waves crashed against the rocks, leaving spume in the air.
Les vagues se sont écrasées contre les rochers, laissant de l'écume dans l'air.
C2 adjective /ɪmˈplækəbl/

implacable

implacable
Meaning
unable to be appeased, calmed, or pacified
Example
The soldiers faced an implacable enemy who refused to surrender.
Les soldats ont affronté un ennemi implacable qui a refusé de se rendre.
C2 verb /ˈbɒtənaɪz/

botanize

étudier les plantes
Meaning
to study plants in their natural environment
Example
They went to the forest to botanize during their vacation.
Ils sont allés dans la forêt pour étudier les plantes pendant leurs vacances.
C2 noun /ˈklæpər/

clapper

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

pillory

dispositif de châtiment public
Meaning
a device for publicly punishing someone / to expose to public ridicule
Example
The corrupt official was placed in the pillory for the town to jeer at.
Le fonctionnaire corrompu a été mis en pilori pour que la ville se moque de lui.
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 /ˈmɪlk pɒt/

Milk-pot

pot à lait
Meaning
a container specifically used for storing or serving milk
Example
She poured fresh milk from the milk-pot into her glass.
Elle a versé du lait frais du pot à lait dans son verre.
C2 noun /ˈkjʊriˌoʊ/

curio

objet curieux
Meaning
a small unusual or interesting object, often collected for its rarity
Example
She bought a curio from the antique shop.
Elle a acheté un objet curieux dans le magasin d'antiquités.
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 /ˈbrɛviˌɛri/

breviary

livre de prières
Meaning
A book containing the service for each day, used in Christian liturgy.
Example
The monk read from the breviary during morning prayers.
Le moine a lu du livre de prières pendant les prières du matin.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌsti/

musty

moisi, moisissure ou odeur humide
Meaning
having a stale, moldy, or damp smell
Example
The old books had a musty odor.
Les vieux livres avaient une odeur de moisi.
C2 noun /sɑːrˈkɒfəɡəs/

sarcophagus

cercueil en pierre
Meaning
A stone coffin, often decorated, used in ancient times.
Example
The museum displayed a beautifully carved sarcophagus from ancient Egypt.
Le musée a exposé un cercueil en pierre magnifiquement sculpté de l'Égypte ancienne.
C2 adjective /ˈædɪˌpoʊs/

adipose

adipeux
Meaning
Relating to or consisting of animal fat; fatty.
Example
The doctor explained that the tissue was mainly adipose in nature.
Le médecin a expliqué que le tissu était principalement adipeux par nature.
C2 noun /vɪˈsɪsɪtjuːd/

vicissitude

vicissitudes de la vie
Meaning
A natural change or succession of one thing to another; the ups and downs of life.
Example
The vicissitude of life often teaches resilience.
Les vicissitudes de la vie enseignent souvent la résilience.
C2 verb ˈɪnʌndeɪt

inundate

inonder, submerger quelqu'un ou quelque chose avec des choses ou des personnes à traiter
Meaning
To flood; overwhelm someone or something with things or people to be dealt with
Example
The company was inundated with requests after the advertisement.
L'entreprise a été inondée de demandes après la publicité.
C2 noun /dɪˌlæpɪˈdeɪʃən/

dilapidation

dilapidation
Meaning
The state of disrepair or ruin as a result of neglect.
Example
The old temple was in a state of dilapidation.
Le vieux temple était dans un état de dilapidation.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɔːtʃ/

debauch

corrompre
Meaning
to corrupt morally; to lead into excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
Example
The novel shows how wealth can debauch a person's character.
Le roman montre comment la richesse peut débaucher le caractère d'une personne.
C2 noun /əˈluːviən/

alluvion

alluvion
Meaning
The gradual increase of land by the deposit of soil from water; also, a flood or overflow of water.
Example
The river’s alluvion added new fertile land to the village fields.
L'alluvion de la rivière a ajouté de nouvelles terres fertiles aux champs du village.
C2 adjective /ˈhʌmdrʌm/

humdrum

monotone
Meaning
Lacking excitement or variety; dull and monotonous.
Example
She grew tired of the humdrum routine of office life.
Elle en avait marre de la routine monotone de la vie de bureau.
C2 noun əˌmæl.ɡəˈmeɪ.ʃən

amalgamation

fusion, amalgame, intégration
Meaning
The action, process, or result of combining or uniting.
Example
The amalgamation of AI and big data is transforming industries.
La fusion de l'IA et des grandes données transforme les industries.
C2 noun /ˈsɛkstənt/

sextant

sextant
Meaning
a navigational instrument with a graduated arc of 60°, used to measure the angle between a celestial object and the horizon
Example
Using a sextant, the navigator fixed the ship’s position at noon.
En utilisant un sextant, le navigateur a fixé la position du navire à midi.
C2 verb /bɪˈtaɪd/

betide

arriver
Meaning
to happen or occur, usually of something that befalls someone
Example
Woe betide anyone who breaks the rules.
Quiconque enfreint les règles, subira les conséquences.
C2 noun/verb /ˈmæn.ə.kəl/

manacle

entrave
Meaning
A metal shackle for fastening someone's hands or ankles; also to restrain with such shackles.
Example
The prisoner was manacled before being taken to court.
Le prisonnier a été enchaîné avant d'être emmené au tribunal.
C2 adjective /ɪˈrɛfrəɡəbəl/

irrefragable

irréfutable
Meaning
Impossible to refute, deny, or break
Example
The lawyer presented irrefragable evidence that proved his client’s innocence.
L'avocat a présenté des preuves irréfutables qui ont prouvé l'innocence de son client.
C2 adjective səˈluː.bri.əs

salubrious

salubre
Meaning
Health-giving; healthy; promoting health and well-being.
Example
The mountain air is salubrious and refreshing.
L'air de la montagne est salubre et rafraîchissant.
C2 verb /məʊlt/

molt

muet
Meaning
To shed old feathers, skin, or hair to make way for new growth.
Example
Birds molt their feathers once a year.
Les oiseaux muent leurs plumes une fois par an.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈspɒzɪtəri/

expository

expositif
Meaning
intended to explain or describe something
Example
The teacher gave an expository lecture on the topic.
Le professeur a donné une conférence expositive sur le sujet.
C2 noun /ˈɡʌmp.ʃən/

gumption

courage, initiative
Meaning
Courage, resourcefulness, or initiative.
Example
It takes real gumption to start your own business.
Il faut du vrai courage pour démarrer son propre entreprise.
C2 verb ˈlev.ɪ.teɪ.tɪŋ

levitating

lévitation
Meaning
Rising and hovering in the air, especially as a result of supernatural or magical power.
Example
The levitating structure is an engineering marvel.
La structure lévitante est une merveille d'ingénierie.
C2 adjective /ˈfætʃuəs/

fatuous

fatuo
Meaning
silly or foolish, especially in a self-satisfied way
Example
His fatuous comments during the meeting annoyed everyone.
Ses commentaires fatuos pendant la réunion ont agacé tout le monde.
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 verb /ˈlæs.ə.reɪt/

lacerate

lacérer, déchirer
Meaning
to tear or cut deeply in the skin or flesh
Example
The broken glass lacerated his hand.
Le verre brisé a lacéré sa main.
C2 noun /əˈrɔɪ.oʊ/

arroyo

ruisseau sec
Meaning
A dry creek or stream bed that temporarily fills with water after heavy rain.
Example
After the storm, the arroyo quickly filled with rushing water.
Après la tempête, le ruisseau s'est rapidement rempli d'eau.
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 /ɡrænˈdɪləkwənt/

grandiloquent

langage pompeux
Meaning
Using lofty, pompous, or extravagant language to impress others.
Example
The politician’s grandiloquent speech failed to connect with ordinary people.
Le discours pompeux du politicien n'a pas réussi à se connecter avec le peuple ordinaire.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈsɜːrnəbl/

indiscernible

indiscernable
Meaning
Impossible or difficult to see, notice, or distinguish.
Example
The difference between the two shades was almost indiscernible.
La différence entre les deux teintes était presque indiscernable.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪrəl/

virile

viril
Meaning
having traditionally masculine qualities, such as strength, energy, and sexual vigor
Example
The actor was admired for his virile appearance.
L'acteur a été admiré pour son apparence virile.
C2 verb /bɪˈɡaɪl/

beguile

charmer / séduire par la tromperie
Meaning
to charm or enchant someone, often in a deceptive way
Example
She beguiled the audience with her storytelling.
Elle a charmé l'auditoire avec ses récits.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛsɪkeɪtɪd/

desiccated

desséché
Meaning
completely dried, having had all moisture removed
Example
The museum displayed desiccated specimens of plants.
Le musée a exposé des spécimens desséchés de plantes.
C2 noun /əˈbeɪəns/

abeyance

suspension temporaire
Meaning
a state of temporary suspension or inactivity
Example
The project was held in abeyance until funds became available.
Le projet a été suspendu jusqu'à ce que les fonds deviennent disponibles.
C2 adjective /ˈtʃɛəri/

chary

prudent
Meaning
cautious or wary about doing something
Example
She was chary of investing in the new business venture.
Elle était prudente à investir dans la nouvelle entreprise.
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 /klɛərˈvɔɪəns/

clairvoyance

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

latish

un peu en retard
Meaning
Somewhat late; occurring or arriving later than usual but not very late.
Example
We arrived latish to the party but still caught most of the fun.
Nous sommes arrivés un peu en retard à la fête, mais nous avons quand même profité de la plupart du plaisir.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛl.ɪˈtɪə.ri.əs/

deleterious

nuisible
Meaning
Causing physical or mental harm or damage.
Example
Smoking has deleterious effects on health.
Fumer a des effets nuisibles sur la santé.
C2 verb /rɛnd/

rend

déchirer
Meaning
to tear something apart violently or forcefully
Example
The explosion rent the air with a deafening noise.
L'explosion déchira l'air avec un bruit assourdissant.
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 /pluːˈtɒkrəsi/

plutocracy

gouvernement des riches
Meaning
a system of government where the wealthy hold power
Example
The country was ruled as a plutocracy.
Le pays était dirigé comme une ploutocratie.
C2 noun əˌten.juˈeɪ.ʃən

attenuation

atténuation, réduction, affaiblissement
Meaning
The reduction of the force, effect, or value of something.
Example
The attenuation of sound waves affects communication.
L'atténuation des ondes sonores affecte la communication.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrɡoʊ/

argot

argot spécialisé
Meaning
the specialized vocabulary or jargon of a particular group, especially one with a common interest or occupation
Example
The thieves communicated in an argot that outsiders could not understand.
Les voleurs ont communiqué dans un argot que les étrangers ne pouvaient pas comprendre.
C2 noun /ˈswɑːvɪti/

suavity

douceur et charme
Meaning
smoothness and charm in manner
Example
His suavity made him popular in social gatherings.
Sa douceur et son charme le rendaient populaire dans les rassemblements sociaux.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈlæpɪˌdɛri/

lapidary

lapidaire
Meaning
As noun: a person who cuts, polishes, or engraves precious stones; As adjective: relating to such work.
Example
The museum displayed lapidary tools used in ancient times.
Le musée a exposé des outils lapidaires utilisés dans les temps anciens.
C2 verb /ˌænɪmədˈvɜːt/

animadvert

critiquer
Meaning
To comment critically or unfavorably.
Example
The teacher animadverted on the student's careless mistakes.
Le professeur a critiqué les erreurs négligentes de l'élève.
C2 adjective /ˈsætərˌnaɪn/

saturnine

saturnien
Meaning
slow and gloomy in mood
Example
His saturnine expression made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
Son expression saturnienne rendait tout le monde dans la pièce mal à l'aise.
C2 noun /ˈplɛdʒiː/

pledgee

la personne à qui quelque chose est attribué comme garantie
Meaning
a person to whom something is pledged or given as security
Example
The bank is the pledgee of the collateral until the loan is repaid.
La banque est le créancier du bien jusqu'à ce que le prêt soit remboursé.
C2 noun /hoʊ/

Hoe

binette
Meaning
a gardening tool with a thin metal blade used for breaking up soil and removing weeds
Example
The farmer used a hoe to remove weeds from his vegetable garden.
Le fermier a utilisé une binette pour enlever les mauvaises herbes de son jardin de légumes.
C2 noun /ˌpoʊpʊˈriː/

potpourri

mélange de fleurs séchées
Meaning
a mixture of dried flowers and spices kept in a bowl to perfume a room; a miscellaneous collection
Example
The living room was filled with the scent of potpourri.
Le salon était rempli du parfum du potpourri.
C2 noun /əˈsper.ɪ.ti/

asperity

asperité
Meaning
Harshness of tone, manner, or surface.
Example
She spoke with asperity when she was interrupted.
Elle parla avec aspérité lorsqu'elle fut interrompue.
C2 adjective əˈdrɔɪt

adroit

habile, astucieux, adroit
Meaning
clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.
Example
She is adroit at solving complex problems.
Elle est habile à résoudre des problèmes complexes.
C2 noun /ˌviːələnsɛloʊ/

violoncello

violoncelle
Meaning
The full name of the cello, a large string instrument played with a bow and held between the knees.
Example
He practiced the violoncello for hours each day.
Il a pratiqué le violoncelle pendant des heures chaque jour.
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 /kəmˈprɛsəbl̩/

compressible

compressible
Meaning
Capable of being compressed or reduced in volume.
Example
Air is a compressible substance, unlike water.
L'air est une substance compressible, contrairement à l'eau.
C2 noun /səˈvɑːnt/

savant

bonheur
Meaning
a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist or scholar; sometimes used in the phrase ‘savant syndrome’ for someone with exceptional abilities alongside developmental differences
Example
The conference keynote was delivered by a linguistic savant who studies endangered languages.
Elle ne pouvait cacher sa bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpʌlʃən/

impulsion

impulsion
Meaning
a strong urge or drive to act; the act of impelling
Example
His impulsion to travel made him leave his job suddenly.
Son impulsion de voyager l'a poussé à quitter son travail soudainement.
C2 verb /ˈæpɪtaɪz/

appetize

stimuler l’appétit
Meaning
to stimulate the appetite; to make someone eager or interested
Example
The aroma of fresh bread will appetize the guests before dinner.
L’odeur du pain frais va stimuler l’appétit des invités.
C2 noun /sɜːrˈsiːs/

surcease

cessation
Meaning
a temporary or final ending or stopping of something
Example
The noise finally came to a surcease after midnight.
Le bruit a finalement cessé après minuit.
C2 verb /næʃ/

gnash

grincer des dents
Meaning
to grind or strike the teeth together, often in anger or frustration
Example
He began to gnash his teeth in rage.
Il a commencé à grincer des dents de rage.
C2 noun /ˌsɪŋ.krəˈnɪs.ɪ.ti/

synchronicity

synchronicité
Meaning
The meaningful coincidence of two or more events that are not planned.
Example
The synchronicity of their thoughts amazed everyone.
La synchronicité de leurs pensées a étonné tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈkwɒdrʊpɛd/

quadruped

quadrupède
Meaning
an animal that walks on four feet
Example
Most mammals are quadruped creatures adapted for running and stability.
La plupart des mammifères sont des créatures quadrupèdes adaptées à la course et à la stabilité.
C2 adjective /kəˈprɪʃəs/

capricious

capricieux
Meaning
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Example
The stock market can be capricious, shifting dramatically without warning.
Le marché boursier peut être capricieux, changeant de manière spectaculaire sans avertissement.
C2 noun /mjuːˈnɪfəsəns/

munificence

munificence
Meaning
great generosity or lavish giving
Example
The hospital was built thanks to the munificence of a wealthy donor.
L'hôpital a été construit grâce à la munificence d'un riche donateur.