serendipitous
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C1 adjective /ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtəs/

serendipitous

chanceux et inattendu
Meaning
Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Example
Their meeting at the café was purely serendipitous.
Leur rencontre au café était totalement chanceuse.
C1 verb /ʃɜːrk/

shirk

éviter
Meaning
to avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility
Example
He always tries to shirk his responsibilities at work.
Il essaie toujours d'éviter ses responsabilités au travail.
C1 verb ˈsɪn.θə.saɪ.zɪŋ

synthesizing

synthétiser, combiner, présenter de manière cohérente
Meaning
Combine (a number of things) into a coherent whole.
Example
He excels in synthesizing ideas from different sources.
Il excelle à synthétiser des idées provenant de différentes sources.
C1 adjective /ˈspeɪʃəl/

spatial

spatial
Meaning
relating to space or the position, area, and size of things
Example
The scientist studied the spatial arrangement of stars.
Le scientifique a étudié l'agencement spatial des étoiles.
C1 noun /ˌsɑːrdʒənt ˈmeɪdʒər/

sergeant-major

sergent-major
Meaning
A senior non-commissioned officer in the army responsible for discipline and administration within a unit.
Example
The sergeant-major inspected the troops before the parade.
Le sergent-major a inspecté les troupes avant le défilé.
C1 noun/verb /spuːf/

spoof

imitation humoristique
Meaning
A humorous imitation of something, or to trick or parody someone or something.
Example
The comedian spoofed the politician’s speech to entertain the audience.
Le comédien a parodié le discours du politicien pour divertir le public.
C1 verb /səˈkʌm/

succumb

céder
Meaning
To give in to pressure, temptation, or illness; to yield or fail to resist.
Example
He finally succumbed to his illness after a long struggle.
Il a finalement succombé à sa maladie après une longue lutte.
C1 adjective /ˈspɛktrəl/

spectral

spectral
Meaning
Relating to a ghost or specter; ghostly. Also relating to a spectrum.
Example
The old mansion had a spectral atmosphere at night.
Le vieux manoir avait une atmosphère spectrale la nuit.
C1 noun ˈsʌfrɪdʒ

suffrage

droit de vote
Meaning
The right to vote in political elections; the principle of political representation.
Example
Universal suffrage was a key demand.
Le suffrage universel était une revendication clé.
C1 adjective /ˈsɔːsi/

saucy

effronté
Meaning
Boldly rude, cheeky, or playfully disrespectful.
Example
The child gave a saucy reply to his teacher.
L'enfant a donné une réponse effrontée à son professeur.
C1 adjective /ˈsɜːrvɪsəbl/

serviceable

utilisable
Meaning
fit for use; usable; in working order
Example
The old bicycle is still serviceable despite its age.
Le vieux vélo est encore utilisable malgré son âge.
C1 noun /ˈsɪstərhʊd/

sisterhood

sororité
Meaning
The relationship between sisters, or a community of women united by shared experiences or goals.
Example
The feminist movement created a strong sense of sisterhood among women.
Le mouvement féministe a créé un fort sentiment de sororité parmi les femmes.
C1 adjective /ˈsaɪz.mɪk/

seismic

sismique
Meaning
Relating to earthquakes or vibrations of the earth and its crust.
Example
The region is known for its seismic activity.
La région est connue pour son activité sismique.
C1 adjective /ˈskrʌmpʃəs/

scrumptious

délicieux
Meaning
extremely tasty or delicious
Example
She baked a scrumptious chocolate cake for the party.
Elle a préparé un délicieux gâteau au chocolat pour la fête.
C1 adjective /ˌsekənd ˈreɪt/

second-rate

de seconde zone
Meaning
Of mediocre or inferior quality.
Example
The movie was entertaining but clearly second-rate compared to the original.
Le film était divertissant mais clairement de seconde zone comparé à l'original.
C1 noun /səbˈmɜːrdʒəns/

submergence

immersion
Meaning
the act or process of being submerged or going underwater
Example
The submergence of coastal areas is a major concern due to rising sea levels.
L'immersion des zones côtières est une préoccupation majeure en raison de l'élévation du niveau de la mer.
C1 adjective /səkˈsɪŋkt/

succinct

concis
Meaning
Briefly and clearly expressed; characterized by clear, precise expression in few words.
Example
His speech was succinct and impactful.
Son discours était concis et percutant.
C1 adjective ˈsɒvrɪn

sovereign

souverain, suprême
Meaning
Possessing supreme or ultimate power; independent.
Example
The sovereign government has control over its currency.
Le gouvernement souverain a le contrôle de sa monnaie.
C1 noun speɪst ˌrep.ɪˈtɪʃ.ən

spaced repetition

répétition espacée
Meaning
A learning technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals to improve long-term retention.
Example
Spaced repetition helps in long-term memory retention.
La répétition espacée aide à maintenir la mémoire à long terme.
C1 noun /stɪˈlɛtoʊ/

stiletto

chaussure à talon aigu / poignard
Meaning
A small, thin, high-heeled shoe or a dagger with a slender blade.
Example
She wore elegant stiletto heels to the party.
Elle portait des talons stiletto élégants à la fête.
C1 noun /ˈsɪk.əl/

Sickle

faucille
Meaning
a tool with a curved metal blade and short handle used for cutting grain crops
Example
The farmer harvested wheat using a traditional sickle.
Le fermier a récolté du blé en utilisant une faucille traditionnelle.
C1 noun/verb /stæmˈpiːd/

stampede

panique générale
Meaning
A sudden, uncontrolled rush of people or animals; to cause a mass movement.
Example
The loud noise caused a stampede of the crowd.
Le bruit fort a causé une stampede de la foule.
C1 adjective /ˈskræpi/

scrappy

combattant / en désordre
Meaning
Determined and willing to fight or argue; also messy or disorganized.
Example
Despite being small, he was a scrappy fighter.
Malgré sa petite taille, il était un combattant déterminé.
C1 noun /səˈbraɪəti/

sobriety

sobriété
Meaning
the state of being sober; self-restraint and seriousness
Example
He has maintained his sobriety for five years.
Il a maintenu sa sobriété pendant cinq ans.
C1 adjective ˌsɪn.əˈdʒɪs.tɪk

synergistic

synergique
Meaning
Relating to the interaction of elements that when combined produce a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects.
Example
A synergistic effect occurs when nutrients work together.
Un effet synergique se produit lorsque les nutriments agissent ensemble.
C1 noun /ˈstɛnsəl/

stencil

pochoir
Meaning
A thin sheet of material with a design cut out, used to produce the design on the surface below by applying paint or ink through the cut-out holes.
Example
The artist used a stencil to paint identical stars on the wall.
L'artiste a utilisé un pochoir pour peindre des étoiles identiques sur le mur.
C1 verb /ˈskwɒbəl/

squabble

se disputer bruyamment pour quelque chose de trivial
Meaning
To argue noisily over something small or unimportant.
Example
The children squabbled over the last piece of cake.
Les enfants se disputaient pour le dernier morceau de gâteau.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪlkən/

Silken

en soie; doux; lisse;
Meaning
made of silk; smooth and soft like silk
Example
She wore a beautiful silken dress to the party.
Elle portait une belle robe en soie à la fête.
C1 verb /ʃraʊd/

shroud

envelopper
Meaning
to cover or hide; to wrap in cloth
Example
The mountain peak was shrouded in mist.
Le sommet de la montagne était enveloppé de brume.
C1 verb /stoʊk/

stoke

attiser le feu; encourager ou augmenter un sentiment ou une activité forte
Meaning
To add fuel to a fire; to encourage or increase a strong feeling or activity.
Example
The politician’s speech stoked anger among the crowd.
Le discours du politicien a enflammé la colère parmi la foule.
C1 noun /ˈskaʊndrəl/

scoundrel

scélérat
Meaning
a dishonest or unscrupulous person; a villain
Example
That scoundrel cheated the old man out of his savings.
Ce scélérat a trompé le vieux monsieur et lui a volé ses économies.
C1 noun səˈsteɪnəbəl ænd kəˈlæbərətɪv əˈproʊtʃ

sustainable and collaborative approach

approche durable et collaborative
Meaning
A method of working together that can be maintained over time without depleting resources or causing harm.
Example
A sustainable and collaborative approach is crucial for solving environmental problems.
Une approche durable et collaborative est cruciale pour résoudre les problèmes environnementaux.
C1 noun, verb /strænd/

strand

fil / bloqué
Meaning
Noun: A single thin length of thread, wire, or similar. Verb: To leave someone or something without a way of moving or leaving.
Example
The storm stranded many tourists on the island.
La tempête a laissé de nombreux touristes bloqués sur l'île.
C1 noun /ʃɑːrd/

shard

éclat
Meaning
a broken piece of glass, metal, or pottery
Example
He cut his finger on a shard of glass.
Il s'est coupé le doigt avec un éclat de verre.
C1 noun /ˈʃrɪŋkɪdʒ/

shrinkage

rétrécissement
Meaning
The process of becoming smaller in size, amount, or value.
Example
The company reported a shrinkage in profits this quarter.
L'entreprise a rapporté une diminution des profits ce trimestre.
C1 verb /ˈstrætɪfaɪ/

stratify

stratifier
Meaning
to arrange or divide into layers, classes, or categories
Example
The researchers plan to stratify the data based on age groups.
Les chercheurs prévoient de stratifier les données en fonction des groupes d'âge.
C1 adjective ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl

subliminal

existant ou opérant sous le seuil de la conscience, perçu ou affectant l'esprit de quelqu'un sans qu'il en soit conscient
Meaning
Existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness; perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it.
Example
Advertisements often have subliminal messages.
Les publicités contiennent souvent des messages subliminaux.
C1 verb /smɪr/

smear

étaler / diffamer
Meaning
to spread or apply a substance messily; to damage someone's reputation with false or unfair words
Example
The child smeared paint across the wall.
L'enfant a étalé de la peinture sur le mur.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛn.sər.i/

sensory

sensoriel
Meaning
Related to the five human senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell).
Example
Sensory feedback enhances the VR experience.
Les rétroactions sensorielles améliorent l'expérience de la réalité virtuelle.
C1 adjective /sɪˈnɒnɪməs/

synonymous

synonyme
Meaning
having the same or nearly the same meaning; closely associated with something
Example
For many people, her name is synonymous with generosity.
Pour beaucoup de gens, son nom est synonyme de générosité.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlf əˌfɜːˈmeɪʃən/

self-affirmation

auto-affirmation
Meaning
The practice of affirming one's own worthiness and value as an individual.
Example
Daily self-affirmation can boost your confidence.
L'auto-affirmation quotidienne peut augmenter votre confiance.
C1 noun /ˈsæl.mən fɪʃ / ˈroʊ.huː/

Salmon fish / Rohu

poisson Rohu
Meaning
a freshwater fish popular in South Asian cuisine; also refers to salmon which is a different species
Example
Rohu fish is commonly prepared with spices in Bengali households.
Le poisson Rohu est couramment préparé avec des épices dans les foyers bengalis.
C1 noun /ˌsəʊ.ʃi.əʊˈek.ə.nɒm.ɪk ˈprɒɡ.res/

socioeconomic progress

progrès socioéconomique
Meaning
Advancement in both social and economic conditions of a society or community.
Example
Socioeconomic progress uplifts marginalized communities.
Le progrès socioéconomique élève les communautés marginalisées.
C1 noun /ˈsæf.rən/

Saffron

safran
Meaning
a deep yellow-orange color; an expensive spice derived from crocus flowers
Example
The saffron fabric looked beautiful in the sunlight.
Le tissu de safran avait l'air magnifique au soleil.
C1 verb /ˈʃɪmər/

shimmer

scintiller
Meaning
To shine with a soft, wavering light.
Example
The lake shimmered under the moonlight.
Le lac scintillait sous la lumière de la lune.
C1 adjective /ˈsted.fæst/

Steadfast

ferme; déterminé; inébranlable
Meaning
firm in belief, determination, or adherence; unwavering
Example
She remained steadfast in her commitment to helping the poor.
Elle est restée ferme dans son engagement à aider les pauvres.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈsɒlvənt/

solvent

solvant, capable de rembourser ses dettes
Meaning
a liquid that dissolves other substances; also means able to pay debts
Example
Acetone is a common solvent used in laboratories.
L'acétone est un solvant couramment utilisé dans les laboratoires.
C1 noun /siˈɛrə klʌb/

Sierra Club

Sierra Club
Meaning
An American environmental organization founded in 1892 by John Muir, focused on promoting conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions.
Example
John Muir founded the Sierra Club in 1892 to protect wild areas.
John Muir a fondé le Sierra Club en 1892 pour protéger les zones sauvages.
C1 noun /səˈlɪləkwi/

soliloquy

soliloque
Meaning
a speech in which a character talks to themselves, often used in drama to reveal inner thoughts
Example
Hamlet's soliloquy is one of the most famous passages in Shakespearean drama.
Le soliloque d'Hamlet est l'un des passages les plus célèbres du drame shakespearien.
C1 noun /ˈʃæmbəlz/

shambles

désordre total
Meaning
a state of complete disorder or ruin
Example
After the storm, the whole town was in shambles.
Après la tempête, toute la ville était en désordre total.
C1 noun /ˈskwɒtər/

squatter

squatteur
Meaning
a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building or unused land
Example
The police removed the squatters from the abandoned house.
La police a expulsé les squatteurs de la maison abandonnée.
C1 noun /ˈstɪklər/

stickler

personne exigeante sur les règles
Meaning
a person who insists on a certain quality or standard of behavior
Example
He is a stickler for punctuality and never tolerates delays.
Il est très strict sur la ponctualité et ne tolère pas les retards.
C1 verb /sərˈmaɪz/

surmise

supposer
Meaning
to suppose something is true without having evidence
Example
She surmised that he was not coming to the meeting.
Elle a supposé qu'il ne viendrait pas à la réunion.
C1 noun /ˈswɪndlɚ/

swindler

escroc
Meaning
a person who cheats or deceives others for money or gain
Example
The police finally caught the notorious swindler.
La police a finalement attrapé le célèbre escroc.
C1 noun /ˌsɛnsəˈbɪləti/

Sensibility

sensibilité
Meaning
the ability to appreciate and respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences; sensitivity
Example
Her artistic sensibility made her appreciate fine details in paintings.
Sa sensibilité artistique lui a permis d'apprécier les détails fins des peintures.
C1 verb /ˈslɪðər/

slither

glisser
Meaning
to move smoothly over a surface with a twisting, sliding motion, like a snake
Example
The snake slithered through the grass.
Le serpent a glissé à travers l'herbe.
C1 adjective ˈsek.tər spəˈsɪf.ɪk

sector-specific

sectoriel
Meaning
Relating to or designed for a particular sector or industry.
Example
Sector-specific policies attract targeted investments.
Les politiques sectorielles attirent les investissements ciblés.
C1 adjective /ˈsɒnɪk/

sonic

sonique
Meaning
Relating to or involving sound waves or speed of sound.
Example
The jet created a loud boom when it broke the sonic barrier.
L'avion a créé un fort bruit lorsqu'il a franchi le mur du son.
C1 adjective /ˈsaʊnd.pruːf/

Sound-proof

insonorisé; empêchant le son d'entrer ou de sortir
Meaning
impervious to sound; preventing sound from entering or leaving
Example
The recording studio has sound-proof walls.
Le studio d'enregistrement a des murs insonorisés.
C1 verb/noun /ˈsɒldər/

solder

souder
Meaning
To join metal parts together by melting and putting a filler metal into the joint
Example
He soldered the broken wires back together.
Il a soudé les fils cassés.
C1 noun /skraɪb/

scribe

scribe
Meaning
a person who writes documents, especially in ancient times; a professional copyist
Example
In ancient Egypt, scribes recorded important events.
Dans l'Égypte ancienne, les scribes enregistraient les événements importants.
C1 noun /səˈsteɪnəbl ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃər/

sustainable agriculture

agriculture durable
Meaning
Farming practices that meet current food needs while preserving environmental resources and maintaining the ability to produce food for future generations through ecologically sound methods.
Example
Sustainable agriculture practices protect the environment while ensuring food security.
Les pratiques d'agriculture durable protègent l'environnement tout en assurant la sécurité alimentaire.
C1 adjective /ˈspɪndli/

spindly

mince et fragile
Meaning
Long, thin, and weak-looking
Example
The spindly tree bent under the weight of the snow.
L'arbre mince s'est penché sous le poids de la neige.
C1 noun /saɪð/

scythe

faux
Meaning
A tool with a long curved blade used for cutting grass or grain.
Example
The farmer sharpened his scythe before harvesting the wheat.
Le fermier a aiguisé sa faux avant de récolter le blé.
C1 noun /sɪˈtɑːr/

Sitar

sitar
Meaning
a traditional Indian stringed musical instrument with a long neck and resonating body
Example
The sitar creates beautiful ragas in Indian classical music.
Le sitar crée de magnifiques ragas dans la musique classique indienne.
C1 noun /stɑːr fruːts/

Star Fruits

fruits étoilés
Meaning
yellow tropical fruits that form a star shape when sliced crosswise; tangy and crisp taste
Example
When you slice star fruits, they look like beautiful yellow stars on your plate.
Quand vous tranchez des fruits étoilés, ils ressemblent à de belles étoiles jaunes sur votre assiette.
C1 verb /ˈsaɪdˌstɛp/

sidestep

éviter
Meaning
To avoid something by stepping aside; to evade a problem or question indirectly.
Example
The politician tried to sidestep the difficult question.
Le politicien a essayé d'éviter la question difficile.
C1 noun /ˈsɜːrəɡət/

surrogate

substitut
Meaning
A substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a specific role or office.
Example
The surrogate mother gave birth to the child after carrying it for nine months.
La mère porteuse a donné naissance à l'enfant après l'avoir porté pendant neuf mois.
C1 noun /ˈsɜːrmən/

sermon

sermon
Meaning
A religious discourse delivered by a preacher, often offering moral instruction or spiritual guidance.
Example
The pastor gave a moving sermon about compassion and forgiveness.
Le pasteur a donné un sermon émouvant sur la compassion et le pardon.
C1 noun /speɪt/

spate

série
Meaning
a large number of things occurring in quick succession
Example
There has been a spate of robberies in the city.
Il y a eu une série de cambriolages dans la ville.
C1 adjective /ˈskɪtɪʃ/

skittish

nerveux
Meaning
easily frightened or nervous; unpredictable
Example
The horse was too skittish to ride.
Le cheval était trop nerveux pour monter.
C1 verb /skɔːrtʃ/

scorch

brûler
Meaning
to burn the surface of something slightly
Example
The fire scorched the walls of the building.
Le feu a brûlé les murs du bâtiment.
C1 noun sælˈveɪʃən

salvation

salut
Meaning
Deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be brought about by faith in Christ.
Example
The story revolves around the theme of salvation.
L'histoire tourne autour du thème du salut.
C1 adjective /ˈskrɔːni/

scrawny

maigre
Meaning
very thin and bony, often looking unhealthy
Example
The scrawny boy could barely lift the heavy bag.
Le garçon maigre pouvait à peine soulever le sac lourd.
C1 adjective /ˈstɔːlwərt/

stalwart

fidèle, robuste
Meaning
Loyal, reliable, and hardworking; strongly built or sturdy.
Example
She has always been a stalwart supporter of the community.
Elle a toujours été une fidèle partisane de la communauté.
C1 adjective /ʃrɪl/

shrill

son aigu
Meaning
High-pitched and piercing in sound.
Example
The shrill whistle startled everyone in the room.
Le sifflement aigu a surpris tout le monde dans la pièce.
C1 noun /ˈskeɪp.ɡəʊt/

Scapegoat

bouc émissaire
Meaning
a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others
Example
He became the scapegoat for the team's poor performance.
Il est devenu le bouc émissaire des mauvaises performances de l'équipe.
C1 noun, verb /səˈpiːnə/

subpoena

citation judiciaire
Meaning
a legal document ordering someone to attend court; to summon someone with such a document
Example
The witness received a subpoena to appear in court next week.
Le témoin a reçu une citation judiciaire pour comparaître au tribunal la semaine prochaine.
C1 adjective /sər'pæs.ɪŋ/

Surpassing

exceptionnel; supérieur; extraordinaire
Meaning
exceeding; going beyond; outstanding
Example
Her surpassing beauty made everyone stop and stare.
Sa beauté exceptionnelle a fait que tout le monde s'arrête et la regarde.
C1 noun /stents/

stents

stents
Meaning
Small mesh tubes used to treat narrow or blocked arteries.
Example
Stents were successfully placed using robotic techniques.
Les stents ont été placés avec succès en utilisant des techniques robotiques.
C1 adjective /ˈsiː.di/

Seedy

plein de graines; sale et dégradant; en mauvais état
Meaning
squalid and disreputable; shabby and run-down; full of seeds
Example
They avoided walking through the seedy part of town at night.
Ils évitaient de marcher dans la partie sale et dégradante de la ville la nuit.
C1 adjective /ˈswoʊlən/

swollen

enflé
Meaning
Enlarged or puffed up, usually due to injury, inflammation, or fluid accumulation
Example
Her ankle was swollen after she twisted it during the hike.
Sa cheville était enflée après s'être foulée pendant la randonnée.
C1 noun /ˌsɪmbɪˈəʊsɪs/

symbiosis

relation symbiotique
Meaning
A mutually beneficial relationship between different people or groups.
Example
The symbiosis between the two companies led to mutual growth.
La symbiose entre les deux entreprises a conduit à une croissance mutuelle.
C1 verb /ˈspɪərˌhɛd/

spearhead

diriger
Meaning
to lead or initiate an action, project, or movement
Example
She spearheaded the campaign for environmental awareness.
Elle a dirigé la campagne pour la sensibilisation à l'environnement.
C1 noun /ˈseɪɑːns/

seance

séance
Meaning
A meeting where people attempt to communicate with the spirits of the dead.
Example
They held a seance to contact their late grandmother.
Ils ont organisé une séance pour contacter leur grand-mère décédée.
C1 verb /sərˈmaʊnt/

surmount

surmonter
Meaning
to overcome a difficulty or obstacle
Example
He surmounted all the challenges to achieve his dream.
Il a surmonté tous les défis pour atteindre son rêve.
C1 noun /sɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

Seduction

séduction; tentation
Meaning
the action of seducing someone; temptation to do something wrong
Example
He fell victim to the seduction of easy money.
Il est tombé victime de la séduction de l'argent facile.
C1 noun /ˈsteɪl.meɪt/

stalemate

impasse
Meaning
A situation in which no progress can be made or no party can win.
Example
Negotiations ended in a stalemate.
Les négociations se sont terminées par un impasse.
C1 noun /ˈsteɪtəs kwoʊ/

status quo

statu quo
Meaning
The existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues.
Example
The government decided to maintain the status quo until further review.
Le gouvernement a décidé de maintenir le statu quo jusqu'à un examen ultérieur.
C1 verb /sɪˈkluːd/

seclude

isoler
Meaning
To keep someone away from other people; to isolate.
Example
The monk chose to seclude himself in the mountains.
Le moine a choisi de s'isoler dans les montagnes.
C1 verb /sɪˈkriːt/

secrete

sécréter
Meaning
to produce and release a substance from a cell, gland, or organ
Example
The pancreas secretes insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
Le pancréas sécrète de l'insuline pour réguler le taux de sucre dans le sang.
C1 adjective /səbˈvɜːrsɪv/

subversive

subversif
Meaning
seeking or intended to undermine or overthrow an established system or authority
Example
The group was banned for its subversive activities.
Le groupe a été interdit pour ses activités subversives.
C1 noun /ˈsɛvərəns/

severance

indemnité de licenciement
Meaning
the act of ending something, especially a relationship or employment; compensation paid upon termination
Example
The company offered him severance pay after his job ended.
L'entreprise lui a offert une indemnité de licenciement après la fin de son emploi.
C1 adjective /ˈstɪltɪd/

stilted

artificiel, forcé
Meaning
Speech or writing that is stiff, unnatural, or overly formal.
Example
His speech sounded stilted and rehearsed.
Son discours semblait forcé et préparé.
C1 adjective /ˈsɔːrdɪd/

sordid

sordide
Meaning
involving immoral or dishonorable actions; dirty or unpleasant
Example
The newspaper exposed the politician's sordid past.
Le journal a exposé le passé sordide du politicien.
C1 verb /ˈsʌkɪŋ/

sucking

sucer
Meaning
Drawing in a liquid, air, or other substance through the mouth or a tube by creating a vacuum; also used figuratively for something unpleasant or ineffective
Example
The baby is sucking on a pacifier.
Le bébé suce une tétine.
C1 noun /ˈskrɪmɪdʒ/

scrimmage

match d'entraînement
Meaning
A practice game or informal match, often in sports, especially football.
Example
The team had a scrimmage before the official season started.
L'équipe a joué un match d'entraînement avant que la saison officielle commence.
C1 noun /ˈspɛkjʊˌleɪtər/

speculator

spéculateur
Meaning
A person who forms theories without evidence, or invests in assets hoping for profit.
Example
The real estate speculator bought land hoping its value would rise.
Le spéculateur immobilier a acheté des terres en espérant que leur valeur augmenterait.
C1 noun /səbˈdʒɛkʃən/

subjection

soumission
Meaning
the act of bringing someone or something under control or domination
Example
The people suffered under the subjection of a cruel ruler.
Le peuple a souffert sous la soumission d'un dirigeant cruel.
C1 noun /ˈsʌn.stroʊk/

Sunstroke

coup de chaleur
Meaning
a serious condition caused by overheating from prolonged exposure to high temperatures
Example
The worker suffered from sunstroke after working outside all day.
Le travailleur a souffert d'un coup de chaleur après avoir travaillé dehors toute la journée.
C1 adjective /səbˈmɪs.ɪv/

Submissive

soumis; obéissant; humble
Meaning
ready to obey others; yielding to authority; humble and compliant
Example
She became submissive after years of harsh treatment.
Elle est devenue soumise après des années de traitement sévère.
C1 noun /ˈsiːskeɪp/

seascape

paysage marin
Meaning
A view or painting of the sea.
Example
The artist painted a beautiful seascape at sunset.
L'artiste a peint un beau paysage marin au coucher du soleil.
C1 noun /səˈvænə/

savanna

savane (avec des arbres éparpillés)
Meaning
a grassy plain with scattered trees, typical of tropical and subtropical regions
Example
Giraffes browsed on acacia trees across the wide savanna.
Les girafes broutaient sur les arbres d'acacia à travers la large savane.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛm.ɪ.nəl/

seminal

bonheur
Meaning
Strongly influencing later developments; highly original and influential.
Example
His seminal book changed the course of modern philosophy.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 noun /ˈstɪɡmə/

stigma

stigmatisme
Meaning
a mark of shame or disgrace associated with a particular circumstance or quality
Example
There is still a stigma around mental health issues in many societies.
Il existe encore un stigmate autour des problèmes de santé mentale dans de nombreuses sociétés.
C1 verb /səbˈsɪst/

subsist

subsister
Meaning
To maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level.
Example
Many villagers still subsist on fishing and farming.
Beaucoup de villageois subsistent encore grâce à la pêche et à l'agriculture.
C1 noun /ˈsuːtər/

suitor

prétendant
Meaning
a man who pursues a relationship with a woman, often with the intent to marry
Example
She had many suitors vying for her attention.
Elle avait de nombreux prétendants qui se disputaient son attention.
C1 noun /ˈstjuːpər/

stupor

stupéfaction
Meaning
a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility
Example
He remained in a stupor after hearing the shocking news.
Il est resté dans un état de stupéfaction après avoir entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C1 verb, adjective, noun /spruːs/

spruce

ranger / un type d'arbre
Meaning
to make neat or tidy in appearance; also refers to an evergreen tree
Example
He spruced up his room before the guests arrived.
Il a arrangé sa chambre avant l'arrivée des invités.
C1 noun /spæt/

spat

dispute mineure
Meaning
a short, petty quarrel or argument
Example
They had a brief spat about who should do the dishes.
Ils ont eu une petite dispute sur qui devait faire la vaisselle.
C1 noun /sərˈveɪər/

surveyor

géomètre
Meaning
A person who measures and maps land, buildings, or other features.
Example
The surveyor measured the land for construction.
Le géomètre a mesuré le terrain pour la construction.
C1 adjective /səˈtɪrɪkəl/

satirical

satirique
Meaning
containing or using satire to criticize or mock
Example
The satirical cartoon mocked the government's new policy.
Le dessin satirique se moquait de la nouvelle politique du gouvernement.
C1 noun ˈsʌs.tɪ.nəns

Sustenance

subsistance ou alimentation
Meaning
Food or support necessary for sustaining life
Example
Water is essential for human sustenance.
L'eau est essentielle à la subsistance humaine.
C1 verb, noun /spraʊt/

sprout

germer
Meaning
to begin to grow; to produce new leaves or shoots
Example
The seeds began to sprout after a few days of rain.
Les graines ont commencé à germer après quelques jours de pluie.
C1 verb /sɪˈdjuːs/

seduce

séduire
Meaning
to attract someone into doing something, especially something they might not normally do
Example
The advertisement was designed to seduce customers into buying luxury products.
La publicité a été conçue pour séduire les clients à acheter des produits de luxe.
C1 verb /siːp/

seep

s'infiltrer lentement
Meaning
to flow or leak slowly through small openings or pores
Example
Water began to seep through the cracks in the wall.
L'eau a commencé à s'infiltrer à travers les fissures dans le mur.
C1 noun /ˈsɑːɡə/

saga

longue histoire
Meaning
A long story of heroic achievement, or a long, complex series of events.
Example
The company's rise and fall became a corporate saga.
L'ascension et la chute de l'entreprise est devenue une saga d'entreprise.
C1 noun/verb /ˈsuː.tʃər/

suture

suture
Meaning
A stitch or row of stitches holding together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.
Example
The doctor used a suture to close the wound.
Le docteur a utilisé une suture pour fermer la plaie.
C1 noun /ˈstaɪləs/

stylus

stylet
Meaning
a small tool used for writing, drawing, or touching screens
Example
She used a stylus to draw on her tablet.
Elle a utilisé un stylet pour dessiner sur sa tablette.
C1 adjective səˈblaɪm

sublime

sublime, magnifique, majestueux
Meaning
Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
Example
The sublime beauty of the mountain landscape took my breath away.
La beauté sublime du paysage montagneux m'a coupé le souffle.
C1 noun /ˈsɒlstɪs/

solstice

solstice
Meaning
the two times in the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator (summer and winter solstice)
Example
People celebrate the summer solstice with festivals and rituals.
Les gens célèbrent le solstice d'été avec des festivals et des rituels.