punctilious
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C2 adjective /pʌŋkˈtɪliəs/

punctilious

pointilleux
Meaning
Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.
Example
She was punctilious in her attention to etiquette.
Elle était pointilleuse dans son attention à l'étiquette.
C2 noun /əˈnjuː.ɪ.ti/

annuity

rente annuelle
Meaning
a fixed sum of money paid to someone each year, typically for the rest of their life
Example
She receives an annuity from her late husband's insurance policy.
Elle reçoit une rente annuelle de la police d'assurance de son défunt mari.
C2 noun /ˈɪnˌɡreɪt/

ingrate

ingrat
Meaning
An ungrateful person; someone who shows no appreciation.
Example
He worked hard for his friend, but the ingrate never thanked him.
Il a travaillé dur pour son ami, mais l'ingrat ne l'a jamais remercié.
C2 noun /ˈkɒkskoʊm/

Cockscomb

fleur de crête de coq
Meaning
a tropical plant with bright, velvety flowers that resemble a rooster's comb
Example
The bright red cockscomb flowers added vibrant color to the garden bed.
Les fleurs rouges de crête de coq ont ajouté une couleur vibrante au parterre de jardin.
C2 verb /ˈvɪvɪfaɪ/

vivify

vivifier
Meaning
to give life or energy to something; to animate or enliven
Example
The teacher’s enthusiasm helped vivify the boring lecture.
L'enthousiasme du professeur a aidé à vivifier la conférence ennuyeuse.
C2 verb /ɪnˈtriːt/

entreat

supplier
Meaning
To ask earnestly or beg someone to do something.
Example
She entreated him to stay a little longer.
Elle le supplia de rester un peu plus longtemps.
C2 noun /ɪnˈsuːsiəns/

insouciance

insouciance
Meaning
Casual lack of concern; indifference.
Example
She carried herself with an air of insouciance, unbothered by the challenges ahead.
Elle marchait avec un air d'insouciance, sans se soucier des défis à venir.
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 /ˈlɪmpɪd/

limpid

limpide
Meaning
Clear and transparent, easily understood.
Example
The limpid water of the lake reflected the sky perfectly.
L'eau limpide du lac reflétait parfaitement le ciel.
C2 adjective /ˈreə.rɪ.faɪd/

rarefied

rarefié
Meaning
Of high moral, intellectual, or cultural value; distant from ordinary life.
Example
He works in the rarefied world of classical music.
Il travaille dans le monde rarefié de la musique classique.
C2 verb /ˈpɒntɪfɪkeɪt/

pontificate

parler ou agir de manière pompeuse ou dogmatique; officier en tant que pontife
Meaning
to speak or act in a pompous or dogmatic way; to officiate as a pontiff
Example
He pontificated on the importance of education for over an hour.
Il a pontifié pendant plus d'une heure sur l'importance de l'éducation.
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 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 verb /beɪst/

baste

verser ou badigeonner de la graisse fondue, du jus ou du liquide sur la viande pendant la cuisson pour la garder humide
Meaning
to pour or brush melted fat, juices, or liquid over meat during cooking to keep it moist
Example
She basted the turkey every 30 minutes to keep it juicy.
Elle a badigeonné la dinde toutes les 30 minutes pour la garder juteuse.
C2 adjective /ˌɛsəˈtɛrɪk/

esoteric

ésotérique
Meaning
intended for or understood by only a small number of people with special knowledge
Example
The professor gave an esoteric lecture on ancient philosophy.
Le professeur a donné une conférence ésotérique sur la philosophie ancienne.
C2 noun /əˈmɛrɪkəˌnɪzəm/

americanism

américanisme
Meaning
A word, phrase, or practice characteristic of American English or culture.
Example
The term 'sidewalk' is an Americanism, while 'pavement' is used in British English.
Le terme « sidewalk » est un américanisme, tandis que « pavement » est utilisé dans l'anglais britannique.
C2 adjective /ˌpɪkəˈjuːn/

picayune

insignifiant, trivial
Meaning
of little value or importance; trivial
Example
He complained about the picayune details of the contract.
Il se plaignait des détails triviaux du contrat.
C2 verb /ɪnˈdʒɛst/

ingest

ingérer
Meaning
To take food, drink, or another substance into the body, usually by swallowing.
Example
The patient must ingest the medicine with water.
Le patient doit ingérer le médicament avec de l'eau.
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 noun /ˈbrɒŋkəs/

bronchus

bronche
Meaning
either of the two main branches of the trachea that lead directly into the lungs
Example
The left bronchus carries air into the left lung.
Le bronchus gauche transporte l'air dans le poumon gauche.
C2 adjective /ˈmɔːkɪʃ/

mawkish

trop sentimental
Meaning
excessively sentimental, often to the point of being sickly
Example
The movie was criticized for its mawkish sentimentality.
Le film a été critiqué pour son sentimentalisme excessif.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnæprɪˈhɛnsəbl/

inapprehensible

incompréhensible
Meaning
not understandable; incomprehensible
Example
The concept was so abstract that it seemed inapprehensible to most students.
Le concept était si abstrait qu'il semblait incompréhensible pour la plupart des étudiants.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkɒnsələt/

disconsolate

désespéré
Meaning
very unhappy and unable to be comforted
Example
She was disconsolate after hearing the bad news.
Elle était désespérée après avoir entendu la mauvaise nouvelle.
C2 noun /ˈdɪti/

ditty

petite chanson
Meaning
a short, simple song or poem
Example
She sang a cheerful little ditty while cooking.
Elle chanta une petite chanson joyeuse en cuisinant.
C2 verb /ˈstræɡəl/

straggle

se déplacer de manière irrégulière
Meaning
To move or spread in an irregular, scattered, or untidy way.
Example
The children began to straggle behind on the long hike.
Les enfants ont commencé à traîner derrière pendant la longue randonnée.
C2 adjective /ˈvækjuəs/

vacuous

vide
Meaning
Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
Example
She gave a vacuous smile during the serious discussion.
Elle a souri de façon vide pendant la discussion sérieuse.
C2 noun /ˈdɛntɪfrɪs/

dentifrice

dentifrice
Meaning
a substance such as powder, paste, or liquid used to clean teeth
Example
He bought a new herbal dentifrice from the pharmacy.
Il a acheté un nouveau dentifrice à base de plantes à la pharmacie.
C2 adjective /ˈfɛtɪd/

fetid

fétide, puant
Meaning
having a strong, unpleasant smell
Example
The fetid smell from the garbage was unbearable.
L'odeur fétide des ordures était insupportable.
C2 verb /frɪz/

frizz

former les cheveux en boucles serrées ou rendre les cheveux éparse et emmêlés
Meaning
to form into small, tight curls or cause hair to become fuzzy and tangled
Example
The humid weather caused her hair to frizz.
Le temps humide a causé l'ondulation de ses cheveux.
C2 verb /ˈnuːkliˌeɪt/

nucleate

nucléaire
Meaning
to form into a nucleus or bring together into a central part
Example
The droplets began to nucleate around tiny particles in the air.
Les gouttes ont commencé à se nucléer autour des petites particules dans l'air.
C2 adjective /ˈfɪliəl/

filial

relatif à un fils ou une fille ; montrer du respect ou de l'affection envers les parents
Meaning
relating to a son or daughter; showing respect or affection toward parents
Example
He showed filial respect by caring for his aging parents.
Il a montré du respect filial en prenant soin de ses parents âgés.
C2 noun /ˈjoʊkəl/

yokel

paysan
Meaning
An uneducated and unsophisticated person from the countryside; a bumpkin.
Example
The city folks laughed at the yokel's simple ways.
Les citadins se sont moqués des manières simples du paysan.
C2 noun/verb /ˈsʌkər/

succor

secours
Meaning
Assistance and support in times of hardship or distress.
Example
The charity provided succor to the flood victims.
La charité a fourni du secours aux victimes des inondations.
C2 adjective /ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/

maladroit

maladroit
Meaning
clumsy or awkward in movement or behavior
Example
His maladroit attempt at fixing the chair made it worse.
Sa tentative maladroite de réparer la chaise l'a empirée.
C2 verb /ɪˈmæskjʊleɪt/

emasculate

émasculer
Meaning
To make someone weaker or less effective; to deprive of strength or vigor.
Example
The constant criticism emasculated his confidence.
La critique constante a émoussé sa confiance.
C2 adverb /əˈθwɔːrt/

athwart

en travers, en opposition
Meaning
Across or in opposition to something.
Example
A fallen tree lay athwart the road, blocking traffic.
Un arbre tombé était allongé en travers de la route, bloquant la circulation.
C2 adjective /eɪˈsɛfələs/

acephalous

sans tête
Meaning
having no leader or head; headless
Example
The acephalous group soon fell into disorganization.
Le groupe sans tête tomba bientôt dans la désorganisation.
C2 verb /kɔːk/

calk

calfeutrer les fissures d'un bateau
Meaning
To make a boat or ship watertight by filling seams or cracks.
Example
The workers calked the seams of the old boat to prevent leaks.
Les ouvriers ont calfeutré les coutures du vieux bateau pour éviter les fuites.
C2 noun /ˌɛntəˈmɒlədʒi/

entomology

entomologie
Meaning
The scientific study of insects.
Example
She studied entomology to understand the behavior of bees.
Elle a étudié l'entomologie pour comprendre le comportement des abeilles.
C2 noun /ˈɪntərˌloʊpər/

interloper

intrus
Meaning
A person who becomes involved in a situation or place where they are not wanted.
Example
He felt like an interloper at the private family gathering.
Il se sentait comme un intrus lors de la réunion familiale privée.
C2 noun /ˌfaɪ.təʊˈkem.ɪ.kəlz/

phytochemicals

phytocomposés
Meaning
Natural chemical compounds produced by plants that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, often having antioxidant properties.
Example
Phytochemicals in green tea help reduce inflammation.
Les phytocomposés dans le thé vert aident à réduire l'inflammation.
C2 noun /ˌmæləˈdɪkʃən/

Malediction

malédiction
Meaning
A magical word used to invoke a curse; an evil spell
Example
The witch uttered a terrible malediction upon her enemies.
La sorcière a prononcé une terrible malédiction sur ses ennemis.
C2 adjective /ˈkwɒdreɪt/

quadrate

carré
Meaning
square or nearly square; having four sides or being suited or corresponding to something
Example
The tiles had a neat quadrate shape that made the floor look orderly.
Les carreaux avaient une forme carrée nette qui donnait à le sol un aspect ordonné.
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 adjective /kənˌtɛmpəˈreɪniəs/

contemporaneous

contemporané
Meaning
existing, happening, or occurring at the same time
Example
The two artists were contemporaneous and often influenced each other.
Les deux artistes étaient contemporains et se sont souvent influencés mutuellement.
C2 noun /haɪˈdrɒmɪtər/

hydrometer

hydromètre
Meaning
An instrument used to measure the density or specific gravity of liquids.
Example
The brewer used a hydrometer to test the sugar content of the solution.
Le brasseur a utilisé un hydromètre pour tester la teneur en sucre de la solution.
C2 adjective /tɒnˈsɔːriəl/

tonsorial

relatif au barbier
Meaning
relating to barbers or hairdressing
Example
The town's new barber offered a wide range of tonsorial services.
Le nouveau barbier de la ville a offert une large gamme de services tonsoriaux.
C2 noun /ˈtʃɜː.nɪŋ stɪk/

Churning stick

bâton de barattage
Meaning
a wooden stick used for stirring and churning butter, milk, or other liquids
Example
Grandmother used a churning stick to make fresh butter.
La grand-mère a utilisé un bâton de barattage pour faire du beurre frais.
C2 noun /ˈfænˌtæzəm/

phantasm

fantôme
Meaning
an illusion, ghost, or figment of the imagination
Example
The child claimed to see a phantasm in the old house.
L'enfant prétendait avoir vu un fantôme dans la vieille maison.
C2 verb /ˈsæŋktɪfaɪ/

sanctify

sanctifier
Meaning
to make holy or sacred; to purify
Example
The priest will sanctify the marriage ceremony.
Le prêtre sanctifiera la cérémonie de mariage.
C2 noun /ˈɡʌl.i/

gully

ravin, fossé
Meaning
A narrow channel or ravine worn away by water.
Example
After the storm, the road was cut by a deep gully.
Après la tempête, la route a été coupée par un ravin profond.
C2 noun /ˈpɛnjʊri/

penury

pauvreté extrême
Meaning
extreme poverty or destitution
Example
He grew up in penury but became successful later in life.
Il a grandi dans la pénurie, mais il est devenu prospère plus tard dans la vie.
C2 noun /ˈɪn.tɪ.ɡreɪ.tɪv dɪˈpləʊ.mə.si/

integrative diplomacy

diplomatie intégrative
Meaning
A diplomatic approach that seeks to combine or coordinate different elements, interests, or parties into a unified whole.
Example
Integrative diplomacy strengthens alliances.
La diplomatie intégrative renforce les alliances.
C2 noun /ˈkærɪt/

caret

caret (^)
Meaning
A proofreading symbol (^) used to indicate where something should be inserted.
Example
The editor placed a caret to show where the missing word should go.
L'éditeur a placé un caret pour montrer où le mot manquant devrait aller.
C2 noun /ˈlɑːrdər/

larder

garde-manger
Meaning
A place, such as a pantry, where food is stored.
Example
The larder was full of fresh bread and cheese.
Le garde-manger était plein de pain frais et de fromage.
C2 noun /aɪˈoʊtə/

iota

une quantité infime
Meaning
An extremely small amount.
Example
He did not show an iota of fear.
Il n'a montré même pas une infime quantité de peur.
C2 adjective /ˈtaɪmwɔːrn/

timeworn

usé par le temps
Meaning
Worn or impaired by age; old and used many times.
Example
The timeworn house carried a sense of history and nostalgia.
La maison usée par le temps portait un sens de l'histoire et de la nostalgie.
C2 noun /skæd/

scad

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

Psychographics

L'étude et la classification des personnes en fonction de leurs attitudes, aspirations et autres critères psychologiques
Meaning
The study and classification of people according to their attitudes, aspirations, and other psychological criteria.
Example
Psychographics reveal consumer buying motives.
Les psychographies révèlent les motifs d'achat des consommateurs.
C2 verb /ɪˈspaɪ/

espy

apercevoir
Meaning
To catch sight of or notice something, especially from a distance.
Example
From the hilltop, she espied a small village in the valley.
Depuis le sommet de la colline, elle aperçut un petit village dans la vallée.
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 /dɪˈdʒɛkʃən/

dejection

dépression
Meaning
a state of sadness, depression, or low spirits
Example
She sat in a state of dejection after hearing the bad news.
Elle était assise dans un état de dépression après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C2 verb /əˈdʒʊər/

adjure

adjurer
Meaning
to urge or command someone solemnly, often under oath or a strong sense of duty
Example
The witness was adjured to tell the truth in court.
Le témoin a été adjuré de dire la vérité au tribunal.
C2 noun, verb /ˈkæŋkər/

canker

cancro
Meaning
A fungal disease of plants; an ulcerous sore in the mouth; to corrupt or destroy slowly
Example
The tree was infected with a canker that damaged its bark.
L'arbre était infecté par un chancre qui endommagait son écorce.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪt.ləs/

Witless

imbécile; stupide; sans intelligence
Meaning
lacking intelligence or wisdom; foolish
Example
His witless remarks during the meeting embarrassed everyone present.
Ses remarques stupides pendant la réunion ont embarrassé tous les présents.
C2 adjective, adverb /əˈbʌvˌbɔːrd/

aboveboard

Honnête et ouvert
Meaning
Open and honest; without deception or trickery.
Example
The business deal was completely aboveboard.
L'accord commercial était complètement honnête et ouvert.
C2 verb /ˈkɒndʒʊɡeɪt/

conjugate

conjuguer
Meaning
to list the different forms of a verb according to tense, person, and number
Example
Students are asked to conjugate the verb 'to be'.
Les étudiants sont invités à conjuguer le verbe 'être'.
C2 noun /ˈfriːˌθɪŋkər/

freethinker

librepenseur
Meaning
A person who forms opinions based on reason and independent thought rather than tradition or authority.
Example
Voltaire was considered a great freethinker of his time.
Voltaire a été considéré comme un grand librepenseur de son époque.
C2 noun /foʊl fʊt/

Foal-foot

fleur de sabot de cheval
Meaning
a yellow flowering plant with leaves shaped like a horse's hoof, also known as coltsfoot
Example
The foal-foot plant grows wild in many meadows and is often the first flower to bloom in spring.
La plante de fleur de sabot de cheval pousse sauvagement dans de nombreuses prairies et est souvent la première à fleurir au printemps.
C2 adjective /lʌɡˈʒʊəriənt/

luxuriant

luxuriant
Meaning
abundant in growth or richly abundant
Example
The luxuriant forest was teeming with life.
La forêt luxuriante regorgeait de vie.
C2 noun /ˈɪmpjʊdəns/

impudence

impudence
Meaning
Rude and disrespectful behavior.
Example
The student's impudence shocked the entire class.
L'impudence de l'étudiant a choqué toute la classe.
C2 adjective /ˈbræsi/

brassy

tapageur
Meaning
loud and showy in a way that lacks good taste; resembling brass in color or sound
Example
She wore a brassy necklace that caught everyone’s attention.
Elle portait un collier tapageur qui attirait l'attention de tout le monde.
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 /ɡoʊʃ/

gauche

gauche
Meaning
lacking social grace, sensitivity, or tact; awkward
Example
His gauche remarks embarrassed everyone at the dinner party.
Ses remarques gauches ont embarrassé tout le monde à la soirée.
C2 noun /ˈfʌstɪən/

fustian

discours pompeux
Meaning
pompous or pretentious speech or writing; originally a type of thick cloth
Example
The politician's speech was filled with fustian and empty promises.
Le discours du politicien était rempli de fustian et de promesses vides.
C2 verb /ˌmɪsæprɪˈhɛnd/

misapprehend

mal comprendre
Meaning
to misunderstand or misinterpret something
Example
He misapprehended the teacher’s instructions and did the task incorrectly.
Il a mal compris les instructions du professeur et a fait la tâche incorrectement.
C2 noun /hɔːɡ plʌm/

Hog plum

prune de hog
Meaning
tropical fruit with yellow skin and sour taste
Example
Hog plums are often used to make pickles and chutneys.
Les prunes de hog sont souvent utilisées pour faire des cornichons et des chutneys.
C2 adjective /ˈlæmbənt/

lambent

luisant doucement
Meaning
glowing or flickering softly; having a gentle radiance
Example
The lambent light of the candle filled the room with warmth.
La lumière luisante de la bougie remplit la pièce de chaleur.
C2 noun /kəˈmɛstɪbəl/

comestible

comestible
Meaning
An item of food that can be eaten.
Example
The picnic basket was full of delicious comestibles.
Le panier de pique-nique était plein de délicieuses comestibles.
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 verb /ˈmɒlɪfaɪ/

mollify

apaiser
Meaning
To calm or soothe someone's anger or anxiety.
Example
The manager tried to mollify the angry customers with discounts.
Le responsable a essayé d'apaiser les clients en colère avec des réductions.
C2 adjective /ˌʌn.təˈwɔːrd/

untoward

inattendu
Meaning
Unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.
Example
The meeting ended without any untoward incidents.
La réunion s'est terminée sans incidents inattendus.
C2 noun /ˈstiː.vəˌdɔːr/

stevedore

dockeur
Meaning
A person employed to load and unload cargo from ships.
Example
The stevedores worked tirelessly to unload the cargo before dawn.
Les dockeurs ont travaillé sans relâche pour décharger la cargaison avant l'aube.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrnɪs/

cornice

corniche
Meaning
an ornamental molding around the wall of a room just below the ceiling
Example
The elegant cornice added a classical touch to the living room.
La corniche élégante a ajouté une touche classique au salon.
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 /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 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.
C2 noun /ˈmɒdɪkəm/

modicum

une petite quantité
Meaning
a small or moderate amount of something, especially something valuable or desirable
Example
She showed a modicum of patience during the long meeting.
Elle a montré une petite quantité de patience pendant la longue réunion.
C2 noun /ˈɡrænəri/

granary

grange
Meaning
A storehouse for grain; a region that produces a large amount of grain
Example
The farmers stored their harvest in the village granary.
Les agriculteurs ont stocké leur récolte dans le grenier du village.
C2 noun /ˈhjuːməs/

humus

humus
Meaning
The dark, organic material in soil formed from decayed plants and animals.
Example
The gardener enriched the soil with humus to improve plant growth.
Le jardinier a enrichi le sol avec du humus pour améliorer la croissance des plantes.
C2 noun /ˈsɛpəlˌtʃər/

Sepulture

tombeau; sépulture;
Meaning
the act of burying a dead body; burial; a grave or tomb
Example
The ancient king's sepulture was discovered by archaeologists.
Le sépulcre du roi ancien a été découvert par les archéologues.
C2 adjective /bɪˈnɪɡnənt/

benignant

bienveillant, généreux
Meaning
Kindly and benevolent in nature.
Example
The teacher’s benignant attitude made the students feel comfortable.
L'attitude bénigne du professeur a rendu les étudiants à l'aise.
C2 noun /wɛlt/

welt

marque
Meaning
A raised mark on the skin, usually from a blow or allergic reaction.
Example
He had a red welt on his arm after the bee sting.
Il avait une marque rouge sur son bras après la piqûre d'abeille.
C2 noun /ˈpɔːrfəri/

porphyry

une roche ignée dure
Meaning
A hard igneous rock containing crystals, often used for decorative or building purposes.
Example
The ancient Romans used porphyry to make columns and statues.
Les anciens Romains ont utilisé le porphyre pour fabriquer des colonnes et des statues.
C2 noun /pəˈtiːnə/

patina

un film ou une brillance sur le métal, la pierre ou le bois dû à l'âge ou à l'usage; aussi, une apparence superficielle
Meaning
a surface film or sheen on metal, stone, or wood due to age or use; also, a superficial appearance
Example
The bronze statue developed a green patina after years in the sea air.
La statue en bronze a développé une patine verte après des années passées dans l'air marin.
C2 adjective /ˈslæp.dæʃ/

slapdash

fait à la va-vite
Meaning
done too quickly and carelessly; hasty and careless
Example
The report was written in a slapdash manner, full of errors.
Le rapport a été rédigé à la va-vite, plein d'erreurs.
C2 verb /ˈʌndərˌraɪt/

underwrite

garantir un soutien financier
Meaning
To guarantee financial support, especially by agreeing to cover losses or risks; in insurance, to assess and accept risks.
Example
The bank agreed to underwrite the company's new bond issue.
La banque a accepté de souscrire à la nouvelle émission d'obligations de l'entreprise.
C2 verb /bɪˈfuːl/

befool

tromper
Meaning
to deceive or trick someone into believing something false; to make someone appear foolish
Example
The scammer tried to befool innocent people with fake promises.
L'escroc a essayé de tromper des personnes innocentes avec de fausses promesses.
C2 noun /ˈbɛnɪsən/

benison

bénédiction
Meaning
A blessing or benefit.
Example
The rain was a benison for the drought-stricken farmers.
La pluie était une bénédiction pour les agriculteurs frappés par la sécheresse.
C2 adjective /ˈʌndjʊləs/

undulous

ondulé
Meaning
Having a wavy surface or form.
Example
The artist painted the undulous sea at sunset.
L'artiste a peint la mer ondulée au coucher du soleil.
C2 adjective /sɪˈbeɪʃəs/

sebaceous

relatif au sébum
Meaning
Relating to or secreting sebum, an oily substance from the skin.
Example
Acne is often caused by overactive sebaceous glands.
L'acné est souvent causée par des glandes sébacées hyperactives.
C2 verb /bɪˈstraɪd/

bestride

dominer
Meaning
To sit or stand astride something; to dominate over.
Example
The statue bestrides the city square.
La statue domine la place de la ville.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkəmˈbʌstəbl/

incombustible

incombustible
Meaning
Not capable of catching fire or burning.
Example
This material is incombustible and safe for construction.
Ce matériau est incombustible et sûr pour la construction.
C2 noun /pəˈlɛmɪk/

polemic

attaque polémique
Meaning
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
Example
The article was a fierce polemic against the government's policies.
L'article était une attaque polémique contre les politiques du gouvernement.
C2 noun /ˌsɪmjʊˈleɪkrəm/

simulacrum

simulacre
Meaning
an image or representation of someone or something; a superficial likeness
Example
The statue was only a simulacrum of the ancient god.
La statue n'était qu'un simulacre de l'ancien dieu.
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 /ˈsɒfɪzəm/

sophism

sophisme
Meaning
a clever but misleading argument; fallacious reasoning
Example
The politician's speech was full of sophism designed to mislead voters.
Le discours du politicien était plein de sophisme conçu pour tromper les électeurs.
C2 noun /ˈkrɪsəndəm/

christendom

christendom
Meaning
the worldwide body or community of Christians
Example
The news spread quickly across Christendom.
La nouvelle s'est rapidement propagée à travers le christendom.
C2 noun /ˈhæŋ.kər/

Hanker

désir ardent, envie
Meaning
a feeling of yearning or craving; a strong desire for something
Example
After years abroad, she developed a deep hanker for her homeland's traditional cuisine.
Après des années à l'étranger, elle a développé un profond désir pour la cuisine traditionnelle de sa patrie.
C2 verb /sɛkˈstuːpəl/

sextuple

sextupler
Meaning
to make or become six times as great or as many
Example
Within two quarters, the campaign sextupled their daily sign-ups.
En deux trimestres, la campagne a sextuplé leurs inscriptions quotidiennes.
C2 verb /ˈɪməleɪt/

immolate

immoler
Meaning
To kill or sacrifice, especially by burning.
Example
The protesters threatened to immolate themselves in front of the building.
Les manifestants ont menacé de s'immoler devant le bâtiment.
C2 noun /ˈbɒmbæst/

bombast

langage pompeux
Meaning
speech or writing that is overly pompous and inflated
Example
His campaign speech was full of bombast but lacked real substance.
Son discours de campagne était rempli de bombast mais manquait de véritable substance.
C2 adjective /kwəʊˈtɪdiən/

quotidian

quotidien, ordinaire
Meaning
Ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane.
Example
He focused on the quotidian details of family life.
Il s'est concentré sur les détails quotidiens de la vie familiale.
C2 noun ˌɛr.jʊˈdɪʃ.ən

erudition

érudition
Meaning
The quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship.
Example
His erudition in history impressed the entire audience.
Son érudition en histoire a impressionné tout le public.
C2 adjective /ˈlʌstrəs/

lustrous

lustré
Meaning
having a gentle sheen or soft glow
Example
Her hair looked smooth and lustrous.
Ses cheveux semblaient lisses et lustrés.
C2 noun, adjective /ˌæntiˌspæzˈmɒdɪk/

antispasmodic

antispasmodique
Meaning
A drug or agent that relieves or prevents muscle spasms.
Example
The doctor prescribed an antispasmodic to ease the pain.
Le médecin a prescrit un antispasmodique pour soulager la douleur.
C2 adjective /ˈhæŋ.dɔːɡ/

hangdog

embarrassé
Meaning
looking or feeling ashamed, guilty, or defeated.
Example
He gave me a hangdog look after being caught lying.
Il m'a donné un regard embarrassé après avoir été pris en train de mentir.
C2 adjective /ˌɛvəˈnɛsənt/

evanescent

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

apophthegm

dicton ou maxime courte, concise et éducative
Meaning
A short, pithy, and instructive saying or maxim.
Example
She always had a witty apophthegm to share at meetings.
Elle avait toujours un apophtegme spirituel à partager lors des réunions.
C2 noun /ˈmædrɪɡəl/

madrigal

madrigal
Meaning
A short, lyrical poem set to music, typically from the Renaissance period.
Example
The choir performed a beautiful madrigal from the 16th century.
Le chœur a interprété un magnifique madrigal du XVIe siècle.