reverie
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C2 noun /ˈrɛv.ər.i/

reverie

rêverie; rêverie éveillée
Meaning
A state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream.
Example
Lost in reverie, he didn't hear his name being called.
Perdu dans la rêverie, il n’entendit pas son nom être appelé.
C2 noun /ˈmɛtrəˌnoʊm/

metronome

métronome
Meaning
A device that produces regular ticks or beats to help musicians maintain tempo.
Example
She practiced the piano with a metronome to keep steady timing.
Elle pratiquait le piano avec un métronome pour garder un rythme régulier.
C2 verb /ɪkˈstɛmpəraɪz/

extemporize

improviser
Meaning
To speak or perform without preparation; improvise.
Example
The actor had to extemporize when he forgot his lines.
L'acteur a dû improviser lorsqu'il a oublié ses répliques.
C2 adjective /ˌpɑːrsɪˈmoʊniəs/

parsimonious

avare
Meaning
unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy
Example
The company was too parsimonious to invest in better equipment.
L'entreprise était trop avare pour investir dans de meilleurs équipements.
C2 adjective /ˈmɪn.ɪ.skjuːl/

miniscule

minuscule
Meaning
Extremely small or tiny.
Example
The error was so miniscule that nobody noticed it.
L'erreur était si minuscule que personne ne l'a remarquée.
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 /dɪˈsɪstəns/

desistance

désistance
Meaning
The act of stopping or ceasing from some action or behavior.
Example
The court urged his desistance from further unlawful activities.
Le tribunal l'a encouragé à cesser toute activité illégale supplémentaire.
C2 noun /ˌhæŋ.ər ˈɒn/

hanger-on

accro
Meaning
a person who spends time with a powerful or famous person to gain benefits.
Example
The celebrity was always surrounded by hangers-on.
La célébrité était toujours entourée d'accros.
C2 noun /ɪmˈpruː.dəns/

Imprudence

imprudence; négligence; témérité
Meaning
the quality of being imprudent; lack of care for consequences; recklessness
Example
His financial imprudence led to bankruptcy within just two years.
Son imprudence financière a conduit à la faillite en seulement deux ans.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈsɒljʊbl/

indissoluble

Indissoluble
Meaning
Unable to be destroyed, broken, or dissolved.
Example
Marriage was once considered an indissoluble bond.
Le mariage était autrefois considéré comme un lien indissoluble.
C2 noun /ˈfɪɡmənt/

figment

invention, imagination
Meaning
something invented or imaginary; a fabrication of the mind
Example
The story of the haunted house is just a figment of her imagination.
L'histoire de la maison hantée n'est qu'un produit de son imagination.
C2 adjective /ˈɡɛə.rɪʃ/

garish

excessivement brillant et voyant
Meaning
Excessively bright and showy, often in a tasteless or unattractive way.
Example
The room was decorated with garish neon lights.
La pièce était décorée avec des lumières néon excessivement brillantes.
C2 noun /ˈlæriət/

lariat

lasso
Meaning
A long rope with a noose at one end used to catch animals such as cattle or horses.
Example
The cowboy threw his lariat to catch the stray horse.
Le cow-boy a lancé son lasso pour attraper le cheval errant.
C2 verb /ˈɪmprɪkeɪt/

imprecate

imprécation
Meaning
To utter a curse or invoke evil upon someone.
Example
The old woman imprecated her enemies with dark words.
La vieille femme a impréqué ses ennemis avec des mots sombres.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈstɛnsəbl/

extensible

extensible
Meaning
able to be extended; capable of expansion.
Example
The software is designed to be extensible with new features.
Le logiciel est conçu pour être extensible avec de nouvelles fonctionnalités.
C2 noun /fɪˈlɒl.ə.dʒi/

philology

l'étude de la langue dans les sources historiques écrites ; linguistique
Meaning
the study of language in written historical sources; linguistics
Example
She devoted her career to philology, researching ancient manuscripts.
Elle a consacré sa carrière à la philologie, en recherchant des manuscrits anciens.
C2 noun dʒɛsˌtɪk.jʊˈleɪ.ʃənz

gesticulations

gesticulations
Meaning
Expressive hand or body movements while speaking to convey thoughts or emotions
Example
His energetic gesticulations made the speech more engaging.
Ses gesticulations énergiques ont rendu le discours plus captivant.
C2 noun /ˌæprəˈbeɪʃən/

approbation

approbation / éloge
Meaning
approval or praise
Example
The plan won the approbation of the board members.
Le plan a reçu l'approbation des membres du conseil.
C2 noun /rɪˈsɪdɪˌvɪzəm/

recidivism

récidivisme
Meaning
The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend or relapse into criminal behavior.
Example
The government introduced new programs to reduce recidivism among former inmates.
Le gouvernement a mis en place de nouveaux programmes pour réduire le récidivisme chez les anciens détenus.
C2 noun /ˈsækrɪsti/

sacristy

sacristie
Meaning
a room in a church where sacred vessels and vestments are kept
Example
The priest entered the sacristy before the mass began.
Le prêtre est entré dans la sacristie avant que la messe ne commence.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrtɪˌtjuːd/

certitude

certitude
Meaning
Absolute certainty or conviction about something.
Example
She spoke with certitude about the outcome of the case.
Elle a parlé avec certitude du résultat de l'affaire.
C2 verb /ɪˈfeɪs/

efface

effacer
Meaning
To erase or wipe out something; to make oneself inconspicuous.
Example
Time had effaced the letters on the old gravestone.
Le temps avait effacé les lettres sur la vieille pierre tombale.
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 adjective /ˈmiː.di.əl/

medial

médial
Meaning
Situated in or pertaining to the middle; located toward the midline of the body or structure.
Example
The medial side of the knee is more prone to injury.
Le côté médial du genou est plus sujet aux blessures.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛkriənt/

recreant

lâche, traître
Meaning
cowardly or unfaithful to duty
Example
The recreant soldier abandoned his post in fear.
Le soldat lâche abandonna son poste par peur.
C2 verb /ɪˈnjʊər/

inure

habituer
Meaning
To become accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
Example
Soldiers quickly became inured to the harsh conditions.
Les soldats se sont rapidement habitués aux conditions difficiles.
C2 adjective /ˈɡɔːdi/

gaudy

voyant
Meaning
excessively showy or flashy, often in a tasteless way
Example
She wore a gaudy necklace that clashed with her elegant dress.
Elle portait un collier voyant qui jurait avec sa robe élégante.
C2 noun /ˈkɒŋ.kɔː.dæt/

concordat

concordat
Meaning
An agreement or treaty, especially between the Vatican and a secular government.
Example
The concordat established the rights of the church within the country.
Le concordat a établi les droits de l'église dans le pays.
C2 adjective /əbˈtruːsɪv/

obtrusive

intrusif
Meaning
noticeable in an unpleasant or unwelcome way; intrusive
Example
The advertisement was so obtrusive that it ruined the user’s experience.
La publicité était tellement intrusive qu'elle a ruiné l'expérience de l'utilisateur.
C2 noun /ˈkærəm/

Carom

carvi
Meaning
aromatic seeds of a plant used as a spice, especially in Indian cooking
Example
Carom seeds are often used in traditional Indian bread recipes.
Les graines de carvi sont souvent utilisées dans les recettes traditionnelles de pain indien.
C2 noun, verb /ɡɔːl/

gall

audace, déranger
Meaning
Annoyance, boldness, or to irritate.
Example
She had the gall to question his decision.
Elle avait l'audace de remettre en question sa décision.
C2 adjective /həˈrɛtɪkəl/

heretical

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

fulcrum

point d'appui
Meaning
The point or support on which a lever pivots; a central or essential point of activity or support.
Example
The teacher became the fulcrum of change in the school.
Le professeur est devenu le fulcrum du changement à l'école.
C2 noun /ˌɪndɛnˈteɪʃən/

indentation

indentation
Meaning
A space left at the beginning of a line of text; a notch or deep recess on a surface.
Example
The teacher asked the students to use proper indentation in their essays.
Le professeur a demandé aux élèves d'utiliser une indentation correcte dans leurs essais.
C2 noun /nɪt/

nit

œuf de pou
Meaning
The egg or young form of a louse or other parasitic insect.
Example
The teacher noticed nits in the child’s hair.
L'enseignant a remarqué des œufs de pou dans les cheveux de l'enfant.
C2 adjective /sɪmˈfoʊniəs/

symphonious

harmonieux
Meaning
Harmonious; producing a pleasant sound or agreement of sound.
Example
The choir's voices were symphonious and filled the hall with beauty.
Les voix du chœur étaient harmonieuses et remplissaient la salle de beauté.
C2 adjective /ˈpʌkɪʃ/

puckish

espiègle
Meaning
playfully mischievous
Example
The child gave a puckish grin before hiding the toy.
L'enfant a donné un sourire espiègle avant de cacher le jouet.
C2 noun /ˈbɪɡ.ə.mi/

bigamy

bigamie
Meaning
The act of marrying one person while still legally married to another.
Example
He was charged with bigamy after his second marriage was discovered.
Il a été accusé de bigamie après que son second mariage ait été découvert.
C2 verb /bɪˈtəʊkən/

betoken

présager
Meaning
to be a sign or indication of something
Example
Dark clouds betoken an approaching storm.
Les nuages sombres présagent une tempête qui approche.
C2 adjective /ˈɡlʌt.ən.əs/

gluttonous

glouton
Meaning
Excessively greedy in eating or consuming.
Example
His gluttonous appetite shocked everyone at the dinner table.
Son appétit glouton a choqué tout le monde à la table du dîner.
C2 noun /bəˈfuːnəri/

buffoonery

bouffonnerie
Meaning
Foolish or ridiculous behavior intended to amuse.
Example
His constant buffoonery irritated the serious audience.
Sa bouffonnerie constante irritait le public sérieux.
C2 verb /əˈdʌltəreɪt/

adulterate

adulterer
Meaning
to make something poorer in quality by adding another substance, usually of lower quality
Example
The company was fined for adulterating its products with cheap chemicals.
L'entreprise a été condamnée à une amende pour avoir adultéré ses produits avec des produits chimiques bon marché.
C2 noun /ˈruː.mɪ.nənt/

ruminant

ruminant
Meaning
a cud-chewing mammal, such as a cow or sheep
Example
Cows are ruminants that chew cud.
Les vaches sont des ruminants qui mâchent le bol alimentaire.
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 adjective /ˈmɒθ ˌiːtən/

moth-eaten

mangé par les mites
Meaning
Damaged or worn out, especially by moths or age.
Example
He wore a moth-eaten sweater on the cold day.
Il portait un pull mangé par les mites par une journée froide.
C2 adjective /æbˈstiːmiəs/

abstemious

abstème
Meaning
not allowing oneself much food or drink; marked by moderation
Example
She lived an abstemious life, avoiding all luxuries.
Elle a vécu une vie abstemie, évitant tous les luxes.
C2 adjective /ˌvɪtriˈɑːlɪk/

vitriolic

critiqué acerbe
Meaning
filled with bitter criticism or malice
Example
His vitriolic remarks hurt everyone in the room.
Ses remarques acerbes ont blessé tout le monde dans la salle.
C2 noun /ˈɪndɪkənt/

indicant

indicateur
Meaning
Something that indicates or points to a fact or condition.
Example
High fever is often an indicant of infection.
La fièvre élevée est souvent un indicateur d'infection.
C2 adjective/adverb /ˌæ.prəˈpoʊ/

apropos

approprié
Meaning
Appropriate to the situation; relevant. As an adverb, it means 'with reference to' or 'regarding'.
Example
His comments were not apropos of the discussion.
Ses commentaires n'étaient pas appropriés à la discussion.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/

diphthong

diphtongue
Meaning
A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel and glides into another within the same syllable.
Example
The word 'coin' contains a diphthong.
Le mot 'coin' contient un diphtongue.
C2 noun /ˈɪl.i.æd/

iliad

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

affray

bagarre publique
Meaning
A public fight or noisy disturbance that causes alarm.
Example
The police were called to break up an affray outside the stadium.
La police a été appelée pour arrêter une altercation à l'extérieur du stade.
C2 noun /əˌbɑː.məˈneɪ.ʃən/

abomination

abomination
Meaning
a thing that causes disgust or hatred
Example
Slavery was considered an abomination.
L'esclavage était considéré comme une abomination.
C2 verb /ɪnˈvaɪərən/

environ

entourer
Meaning
to surround or enclose; to encircle
Example
Mountains environ the small valley.
Les montagnes entourent la petite vallée.
C2 adjective /ˈkæloʊ/

callow

immature
Meaning
Inexperienced and immature.
Example
The callow intern made several mistakes on his first day.
Le stagiaire immature a fait plusieurs erreurs lors de son premier jour.
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 noun /ˌæɡ.rəˈdeɪ.ʃən/

aggradation

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

parlous

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

obtrude

intruser
Meaning
to force oneself or one's ideas into a situation uninvited or inappropriately
Example
He didn’t want to obtrude into their private conversation.
Il ne voulait pas intruser dans leur conversation privée.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdənt/

pedant

personne pédante
Meaning
A person who is excessively concerned with minor details or rules, often in a showy way.
Example
The professor was criticized as a pedant who focused too much on trivial details.
Le professeur a été critiqué comme un pédant qui se concentrait trop sur des détails triviaux.
C2 adjective /ˈvæpɪd/

vapid

insipide
Meaning
lacking liveliness, flavor, or interest; dull and uninspired
Example
The lecture was so vapid that half the audience fell asleep.
La conférence était tellement insipide que la moitié du public s'est endormie.
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 /kænˈtɑː.tə/

cantata

cantate
Meaning
A vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
Example
The choir performed a beautiful cantata during the festival.
Le chœur a interprété une belle cantate pendant le festival.
C2 noun /hæp/

hap

chance, fortune, hasard
Meaning
luck, fortune, or chance occurrence
Example
By sheer hap, he discovered the old letter hidden in the drawer.
Par pur hasard, il a découvert la vieille lettre cachée dans le tiroir.
C2 adjective /ˈkeəwɔːn/

careworn

fatigué et préoccupé
Meaning
Showing signs of worry, stress, or exhaustion.
Example
His careworn face revealed years of struggle.
Son visage fatigué révélait des années de lutte.
C2 adjective /ˈiːkwaɪn/

equine

relatif aux chevaux
Meaning
Relating to or resembling a horse.
Example
The veterinarian specialized in equine medicine.
Le vétérinaire s'est spécialisé en médecine équine.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

diacritical

diacritique
Meaning
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
Example
The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume.
Le mot 'résumé' a des marques diacritiques qui changent sa signification de 'resume'.
C2 adverb, adjective /ˈɡrætɪs/ or /ˈɡreɪtɪs/

gratis

gratuit
Meaning
Without charge; free of cost.
Example
The drinks at the event were provided gratis.
Les boissons à l'événement étaient fournies gratuitement.
C2 noun /prəˈfʌn.dɪ.ti/

profundity

profondeur ou perspicacité
Meaning
Deep insight; great depth of knowledge or thought.
Example
The profundity of his words left a lasting impact.
La profondeur de ses paroles a laissé un impact durable.
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 adjective /ɪˈfɛmɪnət/

effeminate

efféminé
Meaning
Having traits, tastes, or habits traditionally considered feminine, often used negatively for men.
Example
The critics described him as effeminate due to his gentle manner.
Les critiques l'ont décrit comme efféminé à cause de sa manière douce.
C2 adjective /droʊl/

droll

drôle
Meaning
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement
Example
He had a droll sense of humor that made everyone laugh.
Il avait un sens de l'humour drôle qui faisait rire tout le monde.
C2 noun /əˈbaɪdəns/

abidance

obéissance
Meaning
the act of following, accepting, or complying with something
Example
Her abidance by the rules impressed the committee.
Son obéissance aux règles a impressionné le comité.
C2 noun /ˌfɔːrɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

foreordination

prédestination
Meaning
the act of determining something in advance; predestination
Example
The doctrine of foreordination suggests that events are fixed by divine will.
La doctrine de la prédestination suggère que les événements sont fixés par la volonté divine.
C2 noun /ˈfræŋkɪnsɛns/

frankincense

encens
Meaning
An aromatic gum resin used in incense and perfumes, often in religious ceremonies.
Example
The temple was filled with the sweet smell of burning frankincense.
Le temple était rempli de l'odeur douce de l'encens brûlant.
C2 adjective /ˌfoʊtoʊɪˈlɛktrɪk/

photoelectric

photoélectrique
Meaning
relating to the emission of electrons or other free carriers when light shines on a material
Example
The photoelectric effect is fundamental in solar panels.
L'effet photoélectrique est fondamental dans les panneaux solaires.
C2 noun /ɪnˈkwɪzɪtər/

inquisitor

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

ad-lib

dire improvisé
Meaning
to speak or perform without preparation; to improvise
Example
The comedian ad-libbed a joke when the microphone failed.
Le comédien a improvisé une blague lorsque le microphone a échoué.
C2 noun /ˈjuːər/

ewer

verseuse
Meaning
a large jug with a wide mouth, especially used in the past for carrying water
Example
The servant filled the ewer with fresh water.
Le serviteur a rempli la verseuse d'eau fraîche.
C2 adverb /ˌðeərˈwɪð/

Therewith

avec cela;
Meaning
together with that; in addition to that
Example
He handed me the contract and the pen therewith.
Il m'a remis le contrat et le stylo avec cela.
C2 verb /ˈbækbaɪt/

backbite

médire
Meaning
to speak negatively about someone who is not present; to slander behind someone’s back
Example
It is wrong to backbite your colleagues behind their backs.
Il est mal de médire de ses collègues en leur absence.
C2 verb /poʊˈtɛnʃiˌeɪt/

potentiate

potentialiser
Meaning
To increase the power, effect, or likelihood of something.
Example
Caffeine can potentiate the effects of some medicines.
La caféine peut potentialiser les effets de certains médicaments.
C2 noun /ɪkˈstɛnsər/

extensor

muscle extenseur
Meaning
a muscle that serves to extend or straighten a limb or part of the body.
Example
The extensor muscles in the arm help straighten the elbow.
Les muscles extenseurs du bras aident à redresser le coude.
C2 adjective /ˈkreɪvən/

craven

lâche
Meaning
cowardly; lacking courage
Example
He was too craven to stand up for his beliefs.
Il était trop lâche pour défendre ses croyances.
C2 adjective /sɪˈnæp.tɪk/

synaptic

synaptique
Meaning
Related to the signal transmission process between nerve cells.
Example
Learning strengthens synaptic connections in the brain.
L'apprentissage renforce les connexions synaptiques dans le cerveau.
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 noun /ˌlɪt.əˈrɑː.ti/

literati

littérateurs
Meaning
well-educated, literary, or scholarly people
Example
The event was attended by poets, critics, and other members of the literati.
L'événement a été assisté par des poètes, des critiques et d'autres membres des littérateurs.
C2 verb /rɪˈfrækt/

refract

réfracter
Meaning
To bend light, sound, or heat as it passes through a medium.
Example
The water refracts light, making the straw look bent.
L'eau réfracte la lumière, faisant apparaître la paille comme courbée.
C2 verb /dɪsˈmɛmbər/

dismember

dismembrer
Meaning
to cut or tear the limbs from a body; to divide into separate parts
Example
The king ordered his enemies to be dismembered.
Le roi a ordonné que ses ennemis soient dismembrés.
C2 adjective /ˈstraɪ.eɪ.tɪd/

striated

striée
Meaning
marked with thin lines, grooves, or stripes
Example
The muscle fibers appeared striated under the microscope.
Les fibres musculaires apparaissaient striées sous le microscope.
C2 noun /ˌɛpɪˈdɜːrmɪs/

epidermis

couche externe de la peau
Meaning
the outer layer of cells covering the body of an organism, especially the skin
Example
The epidermis protects the body from harmful bacteria.
L'épiderme protège le corps des bactéries nuisibles.
C2 verb /ˈmʌfəl/

muffle

étouffer
Meaning
to make a sound quieter or less distinct; to cover or wrap something to reduce noise or warmth
Example
She tried to muffle her laughter with a scarf.
Elle a essayé d'étouffer son rire avec une écharpe.
C2 noun /bʊr/

Boor

personne grossière; rustre
Meaning
a rough and bad-mannered person; someone who lacks refinement or culture
Example
The wealthy businessman was actually a boor who showed no respect for others.
L'homme d'affaires riche était en fait un rustre qui ne montrait aucun respect envers les autres.
C2 adjective /ˈbɔːlki/

balky

têtu
Meaning
difficult, uncooperative, or stubborn
Example
The balky printer refused to work when needed most.
L'imprimante têtue a refusé de fonctionner quand elle en avait le plus besoin.
C2 noun /laʊt/

lout

vulgaire
Meaning
An uncouth or aggressive man or boy.
Example
The drunken lout caused a scene at the party.
Le loubard ivre a causé une scène à la fête.
C2 noun /ræŋˈɡuːn ˈkriːpər/

Rangoon creeper

Rangoon creeper
Meaning
A climbing vine with fragrant flowers that change color from white to pink to red
Example
The Rangoon creeper covered the entire fence with its sweet-smelling flowers.
Le Rangoon creeper a couvert toute la clôture avec ses fleurs parfumées.
C2 verb /ʃiːð/

sheathe

remettre dans le fourreau
Meaning
to put a sword or knife back into its cover
Example
He quickly sheathed his sword after the duel.
Il remit rapidement son épée dans son fourreau après le duel.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdɪmənt/

pediment

fronton triangulaire
Meaning
a triangular gable found above the horizontal structure of a building, often in classical architecture
Example
The ancient temple had a pediment decorated with sculptures.
Le temple antique avait un fronton décoré de sculptures.
C2 noun /ˈvɜːrdɪɡriːs/

verdigris

dépôt vert ou bleu
Meaning
A green or bluish deposit that forms on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces due to oxidation.
Example
The old statue was covered in verdigris after years of exposure to the rain.
La vieille statue était couverte de verdigris après des années d'exposition à la pluie.
C2 noun /ɪɡˈzɛmplɑːr/

exemplar

exemple
Meaning
A model or pattern to be copied or imitated.
Example
She is an exemplar of kindness and generosity.
Elle est un exemple de gentillesse et de générosité.
C2 noun /əˌpɒθiˈoʊsɪs/

apotheosis

apothéose, point culminant
Meaning
The highest point of development; the perfect example of something; the elevation of someone to divine status.
Example
Many see the Renaissance as the apotheosis of art and culture in Europe.
Beaucoup considèrent la Renaissance comme l'apothéose de l'art et de la culture en Europe.
C2 noun /leɪð/

lathe

tour
Meaning
A machine for shaping wood, metal, or other material by rotating it against a cutting tool.
Example
The carpenter used a lathe to shape the wooden bowl.
Le menuisier a utilisé un tour pour façonner le bol en bois.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈtɒmɪk/

diatomic

diatomique
Meaning
Consisting of two atoms.
Example
Oxygen is a diatomic molecule.
L'oxygène est une molécule diatomique.
C2 adjective /ˌsuː.pɚˈsɪl.i.əs/

supercilious

arrogant
Meaning
Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others; arrogant and disdainful.
Example
She gave him a supercilious smile as if he was beneath her.
Elle lui a fait un sourire arrogant comme s'il était en dessous d'elle.
C2 adjective /ɪˈpɪstələri/

epistolary

épistolaire
Meaning
Related to the writing of letters; expressed in or through letters.
Example
The novel is written in an epistolary style, consisting of letters between characters.
Le roman est écrit dans un style épistolaire, composé de lettres échangées entre les personnages.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛptɪv/

inceptive

initial
Meaning
Relating to or marking the beginning or initial stage of something.
Example
The inceptive phase of the project was marked by enthusiastic planning.
La phase inceptive du projet a été marquée par une planification enthousiaste.
C2 verb /ˈsɪn.tɪ.leɪt/

scintillate

scintiller
Meaning
to sparkle or shine brightly; to emit flashes of light
Example
The diamond ring scintillated under the bright lights.
La bague en diamant scintillait sous les lumières brillantes.
C2 verb /kənˈvʌls/

convulse

secouer violemment; souffrir de contractions involontaires soudaines
Meaning
to shake violently; to suffer sudden involuntary contractions
Example
The patient convulsed during the seizure.
Le patient a convulsé pendant la crise.
C2 adjective /ˈbɑː.bər.əs/

Barbarous

barbare; cruel; sauvage
Meaning
extremely cruel; uncivilized; savage
Example
The barbarous treatment of prisoners was condemned by human rights organizations.
Le traitement barbare des prisonniers a été condamné par les organisations de droits de l'homme.
C2 noun /fɪntʃ/

finch

pinson (petit oiseau chanteur)
Meaning
a small songbird with a short, stout bill
Example
A colorful finch perched on the branch singing sweetly.
Un pinson coloré s'est posé sur la branche chantant doucement.
C2 noun /ˈoʊpiət/

opiate

opiacé
Meaning
a drug containing opium or its derivatives, used to relieve pain or cause sleep
Example
The doctor prescribed an opiate to relieve the patient's pain.
Le docteur a prescrit un opiacé pour soulager la douleur du patient.
C2 noun /ˈlætɪs/

lattice

structure en treillis
Meaning
A structure of crossed strips arranged in a grid or crisscross pattern.
Example
The garden was decorated with a wooden lattice covered in vines.
Le jardin était décoré d'une structure en treillis en bois recouverte de vignes.
C2 verb /bɪˈfʌdəl/

befuddle

embrouiller
Meaning
to confuse someone completely; to make someone unable to think clearly
Example
The complex instructions befuddled the students.
Les instructions complexes ont embrouillé les étudiants.
C2 noun /ˈmɒrəlɪst/

moralist

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

carillon

carillon
Meaning
A set of bells played using a keyboard, usually in a tower.
Example
The carillon bells rang across the town square.
Les cloches du carillon ont résonné à travers la place de la ville.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkɑːdʒɪtənt/

incogitant

irréfléchi
Meaning
Lacking thought; inconsiderate or thoughtless.
Example
It was incogitant of him to make such a rude comment.
C'était incogitant de sa part de faire un commentaire aussi grossier.
C2 adjective /ˈɪndələnt/

indolent

paresseux
Meaning
Wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy.
Example
The indolent cat slept in the sun all afternoon.
Le chat paresseux a dormi au soleil toute l'après-midi.
C2 noun /ɪˈmɒdəsti/

immodesty

immodestie
Meaning
lack of modesty or decency; behavior or attitude that is overly bold or improper
Example
The article was criticized for its tone of immodesty.
L’article a été critiqué pour son ton d’immodestie.
C2 adjective /ˈdəʊl.səm/

dolesome

triste
Meaning
Filled with grief or sadness; mournful.
Example
The dolesome ballad brought tears to their eyes.
La ballade triste a apporté des larmes à leurs yeux.