soothsayer
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C2 noun /ˈsuːθˌseɪər/

soothsayer

devin
Meaning
a person who claims to predict the future
Example
The king consulted a soothsayer before going to war.
Le roi a consulté un devin avant d'aller à la guerre.
C2 adjective /ˈkwɛrʊləs/

querulous

plaignant
Meaning
Complaining in a whining or irritable manner.
Example
The querulous customer kept finding fault with every detail.
Le client plaintif continuait à trouver des défauts dans chaque détail.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɛndiˌɛri/

incendiary

incendiaire / provocateur
Meaning
designed to cause fires or stir up conflict
Example
The politician’s incendiary remarks angered the crowd.
Les remarques incendiaires du politicien ont mis en colère la foule.
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 noun /trænsˈluːsəns/

translucence

semi-transparence
Meaning
the quality of allowing light to pass through but not detailed shapes
Example
The translucence of the curtains filled the room with soft light.
La semi-transparence des rideaux remplissait la pièce de lumière douce.
C2 noun /ˌpɛkəˈdɪloʊ/

peccadillo

petite erreur
Meaning
a small or minor fault or sin
Example
Forgetting to call was just a small peccadillo, not a serious mistake.
Oublier de téléphoner était juste une petite erreur, pas une grosse faute.
C2 adjective /ˌæk.rɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/

acrimonious

amer et en colère
Meaning
Bitter and angry, often involving harsh words.
Example
The debate turned acrimonious after the controversial remark.
Le débat est devenu acrimonieux après le commentaire controversé.
C2 noun, adjective /klɛərˈvɔɪənt/

clairvoyant

clairvoyant
Meaning
a person who claims to have clairvoyance; having the ability to see beyond normal senses
Example
The clairvoyant predicted that she would travel abroad soon.
Le clairvoyant a prédit qu'elle voyagerait bientôt à l'étranger.
C2 verb /lʌɡ/

lug

porter ou traîner quelque chose de lourd ou encombrant avec effort
Meaning
to carry or drag something heavy or cumbersome with effort
Example
He had to lug the suitcase up three flights of stairs.
Il a dû traîner la valise sur trois étages d'escaliers.
C2 adjective /ˌhæɡ.i.əˈɡræf.ɪk/

hagiographic

excessivement élogieux
Meaning
Excessively flattering or idealized, often in a biography or portrayal of someone.
Example
The documentary was criticized for its hagiographic portrayal of the leader.
Le documentaire a été critiqué pour sa représentation excessivement élogieuse du leader.
C2 noun /ˈɔː.rɪ.fɪs/

orifice

orifice
Meaning
an opening or hole, especially in the body or a device
Example
The medicine was applied through a small orifice in the device.
Le médicament a été appliqué par un petit orifice dans l'appareil.
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 /ˈproʊbɪti/

probity

probité
Meaning
The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Example
The judge was admired for his integrity and probity.
Le juge a été admiré pour son intégrité et sa probité.
C2 noun /meɪˈlɑːnʒ/

melange

mélange
Meaning
A mixture of different things or styles.
Example
The festival offered a melange of music, food, and art.
Le festival a offert un mélange de musique, de nourriture et d'art.
C2 adjective /mæɡˈnɪləkwənt/

magniloquent

langage pompeux
Meaning
using high-flown or pompous language
Example
The politician’s magniloquent speech impressed the crowd.
Le discours pompeux du politicien a impressionné la foule.
C2 noun /ˈɡændər/

Gander

oie mâle
Meaning
male goose
Example
The gander protected his family from the approaching dog.
Le gander a protégé sa famille du chien qui approchait.
C2 noun /ˈsɑːrdʒənt ət ɑːrmz/

sergeant-at-arms

sergent d'armes
Meaning
An officer responsible for maintaining order during meetings or legislative sessions.
Example
The sergeant-at-arms escorted the disruptive member out of the hall.
Le sergent d'armes a escorté le membre perturbateur hors de la salle.
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 /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 noun /ˈmaɪtər/

miter

mitre
Meaning
a tall, pointed hat worn by bishops; also a type of joint made between two pieces of material
Example
The bishop placed the miter on his head during the ceremony.
L'évêque a posé la mitre sur sa tête pendant la cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˌjuːnɪˈtɛəriən/

unitarian

unitaire
Meaning
A person who believes that God exists as one entity rather than as a Trinity; a member of a religious denomination that emphasizes individual freedom of belief.
Example
The Unitarian church is known for its inclusive and open-minded approach.
L'église unitaire est connue pour son approche inclusive et ouverte d'esprit.
C2 noun /ˈmɒnəɡrɑːf/

monograph

monographie
Meaning
A detailed written study of a single specialized subject or aspect of it.
Example
The professor published a monograph on ancient pottery.
Le professeur a publie une monographie sur la poterie antique.
C2 adjective /ɪˈnjʊərd/

inured

habitué
Meaning
Accustomed to something, especially something unpleasant.
Example
After years of hardship, she was inured to suffering.
Après des années de souffrance, elle était habituée à la douleur.
C2 verb /kənˈvɑːlv/

convolve

enrouler ou tordre ensemble; enrouler ou entrelacer
Meaning
to roll or twist together; to coil or entwine
Example
The vines convolve around the tree trunk.
Les vignes s'enroulent autour du tronc de l'arbre.
C2 noun /ˈaʊtˌrɪɡər/

outrigger

structure de stabilisation
Meaning
a projecting structure on a boat, used for stability, or a boat fitted with such support
Example
The fisherman paddled his outrigger canoe across the lagoon.
Le pêcheur a pagayé sa pirogue avec un outrigger à travers la lagune.
C2 adjective /ˈsɒmnələnt/

somnolent

somnolent
Meaning
Sleepy or drowsy; causing a desire to sleep.
Example
The somnolent lecture made half the class fall asleep.
Le cours somnolent a fait dormir la moitié de la classe.
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 /ˈdɛnɪzən/

denizen

habitant
Meaning
an inhabitant or resident of a particular place
Example
The forest is home to many nocturnal denizens.
La forêt abrite de nombreux habitants nocturnes.
C2 adjective /prɪˈhɛnsɪbəl/

prehensible

préhensible
Meaning
capable of being grasped or seized
Example
The tool has a prehensible handle that improves safety.
L'outil a une prise préhensible qui améliore la sécurité.
C2 noun /əˈsɛt.ɪˌsɪz.əm/

asceticism

ascétisme, autodiscipline
Meaning
The practice of severe self-discipline and abstaining from indulgence, typically for religious or spiritual reasons.
Example
Asceticism has been a part of many religious traditions throughout history.
L'ascétisme a fait partie de nombreuses traditions religieuses à travers l'histoire.
C2 adjective /ˈpɪrɪk/

pyrrhic

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

Milk rice

riz au lait
Meaning
A sweet dessert made from rice cooked with milk and sugar
Example
My grandmother makes delicious milk rice for special occasions.
Ma grand-mère prépare un délicieux riz au lait pour des occasions spéciales.
C2 noun /ˈkreɪniəm/

cranium

crâne
Meaning
the skull, especially the part enclosing the brain
Example
The archaeologists carefully examined the ancient cranium.
Les archéologues ont soigneusement examiné le crâne ancien.
C2 noun /ˌɪnkrʌˈsteɪʃən/

incrustation

croûte
Meaning
a crust or hard coating formed on the surface of something
Example
The old pipes were blocked due to heavy incrustation of minerals.
Les vieilles tuyauteries étaient bloquées en raison d'une incrustation importante de minéraux.
C2 adjective /vərˈmɪkjələr/

vermicular

comme un ver
Meaning
having a shape or appearance like a worm; worm-like
Example
The artist used a vermicular design to decorate the border of the manuscript.
L'artiste a utilisé un design vermiculaire pour décorer le bord du manuscrit.
C2 verb /ˈdʒɛriˌmændər/

gerrymander

manipuler les limites des circonscriptions électorales
Meaning
to manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party or class
Example
The ruling party was accused of trying to gerrymander the districts to secure more seats.
Le parti au pouvoir a été accusé de manipuler les districts pour obtenir plus de sièges.
C2 noun /ˌɛksɪˈkreɪʃən/

execration

malédiction
Meaning
An act of cursing or denouncing someone or something with hatred.
Example
The dictator’s name was spoken with execration after his fall.
Le nom du dictateur a été prononcé avec malédiction après sa chute.
C2 noun /mɪˈsɑːdʒɪnɪst/

misogynist

misogyne
Meaning
A person who dislikes, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against women.
Example
Many condemned his speech as the words of a misogynist.
Beaucoup ont condamné son discours comme les paroles d'un misogyne.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdəˌɡɒɡ/

pedagogue

enseignant
Meaning
a teacher, especially a strict or formal one
Example
The old pedagogue insisted on discipline in the classroom.
Le vieux pédagogue insista sur la discipline dans la classe.
C2 noun /ˈɑːriə/

aria

pièce vocale solo
Meaning
a solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment, typically in an opera
Example
The soprano performed a moving aria during the second act.
La soprano a interprété une aria émouvante lors du deuxième acte.
C2 noun /fækˈtoʊtəm/

factotum

homme à tout faire
Meaning
an employee who does many different types of work; a general servant
Example
He worked as a factotum, handling both clerical and maintenance duties.
Il travaillait comme un factotum, s'occupant à la fois des tâches administratives et de maintenance.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈæpt/

Inapt

inapproprié; inapte
Meaning
not suitable; inappropriate; unfit
Example
His comment was inapt for the formal meeting.
Son commentaire était inapproprié pour la réunion formelle.
C2 noun /ˌnɒn ˈsɛkwɪtər/

non sequitur

commentaire hors sujet
Meaning
a statement or conclusion that does not logically follow from the previous statement
Example
His comment about the weather was a complete non sequitur during the budget discussion.
Son commentaire sur la météo était un véritable commentaire hors sujet pendant la discussion sur le budget.
C2 verb /priːˈfɪɡjər/

prefigure

préfigurer
Meaning
to represent, show, or foreshadow something in advance
Example
The economic reforms prefigure major social changes.
Les réformes économiques préfigurent des changements sociaux majeurs.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛpərəbəl/

reparable

réparable
Meaning
able to be repaired or fixed
Example
The damage to the car was serious but still reparable.
Les dommages à la voiture étaient graves mais encore réparables.
C2 adjective /mɔːrˈdeɪʃəs/

mordacious

acerbe ou sarcastique
Meaning
Sharp or biting in style, tone, or remark; sarcastic.
Example
The critic’s mordacious review offended the author.
La critique mordante du critique a offensé l'auteur.
C2 adjective/noun /ɪnˈkɑːrnədiːn/

incarnadine

rouge incarnat
Meaning
a bright crimson or pinkish-red color
Example
The sky turned incarnadine at sunset.
Le ciel est devenu rouge incarnat au coucher du soleil.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːsfəˈrɛsəns/

phosphorescence

phosphorescence
Meaning
the property of emitting light without noticeable heat
Example
The deep-sea creatures displayed a beautiful phosphorescence.
Les créatures des profondeurs marines ont affiché une belle phosphorescence.
C2 noun /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnɪzəm/

opportunism

opportunisme
Meaning
The practice of taking advantage of opportunities regardless of principles or ethics.
Example
His decision was driven by opportunism, not values.
Sa décision a été motivée par l'opportunisme, pas par des valeurs.
C2 verb /əˈsɛvəˌreɪt/

asseverate

affirmer
Meaning
to affirm or declare positively and earnestly
Example
He asseverated that he had never seen the man before.
Il a affirmé qu'il n'avait jamais vu l'homme avant.
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 /ˈmɪlɪt/

millet

millet
Meaning
a small-seeded grass cultivated as a cereal crop
Example
Millet is often used as food in rural areas.
Le millet est souvent utilisé comme aliment dans les zones rurales.
C2 noun /ˌpɛkjʊˈleɪʃən/

peculation

détournement
Meaning
The act of embezzling or stealing money, especially from public funds.
Example
The minister resigned after being accused of peculation.
Le ministre a démissionné après avoir été accusé de détournement.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkoʊˈɜːrsəbl̩/

incoercible

incoercible
Meaning
Not capable of being forced, compelled, or restrained.
Example
Her incoercible spirit inspired others to fight for justice.
Son esprit incoercible a inspiré les autres à lutter pour la justice.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈblʌʃɪŋ/

Unblushing

effronté; sans vergogne
Meaning
showing no shame or embarrassment; boldly shameless
Example
He told the unblushing lie without any hesitation.
Il a dit le mensonge effronté sans hésitation.
C2 noun /ˌɛləˈkjuːʃn/

elocution

élocution
Meaning
The skill of clear and expressive speech, especially in public speaking.
Example
She improved her elocution through constant practice.
Elle a amélioré son élocution grâce à une pratique constante.
C2 noun /ɪmˌpɜːrtərbəˈbɪləti/

imperturbability

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

Oilman

pétrolier
Meaning
a person who works in the oil industry; someone who sells oil or petroleum products
Example
The oilman discovered a new oil field in the desert.
Le pétrolier a découvert un nouveau champ pétrolier dans le désert.
C2 noun /ˈtaɪroʊ/

tyro

débutant
Meaning
A beginner or novice in a field or activity.
Example
As a tyro in programming, she needed constant guidance.
En tant que débutant en programmation, elle avait besoin d'une orientation constante.
C2 adjective /ˌjuːləˈdʒɪstɪk/

eulogistic

élogieux
Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration, often formally.
Example
The speaker gave a eulogistic account of the leader’s achievements.
L'orateur a donné un compte rendu élogieux des réalisations du leader.
C2 noun /ˈɡæŋ.ɡriːn/

gangrene

gangrène
Meaning
The death of body tissue due to lack of blood supply or infection.
Example
If untreated, the wound may lead to gangrene.
Si elle n'est pas traitée, la plaie peut conduire à la gangrène.
C2 noun /ˌɒn.əˌmæt.əˈpiː.ə/

onomatopoeia

onomatopée
Meaning
The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.
Example
The word 'buzz' is an example of onomatopoeia.
Le mot 'buzz' est un exemple d'onomatopée.
C2 noun /ˈkænə/

Canna

canna
Meaning
a tropical flowering plant with large, colorful flowers and broad leaves
Example
The bright orange canna lilies grew tall beside the pond.
Les lys canna orange vif ont poussé grands près de l'étang.
C2 noun /ˈdəʊ.lər/

dolor

douleur
Meaning
A state of great sorrow or distress.
Example
The nation was in deep dolor after the tragedy.
La nation était dans une grande douleur après la tragédie.
C2 noun /ˈɔːrdnəns/

ordnance

fournitures militaires
Meaning
Military supplies including weapons, ammunition, and combat equipment.
Example
The army stored ordnance in a secure facility outside the city.
L'armée a stocké des fournitures militaires dans une installation sécurisée en dehors de la ville.
C2 adjective /səˈdʒɛstəbəl/

suggestible

suggérable
Meaning
easily influenced by the suggestions of others
Example
Children are highly suggestible and may believe what they are told.
Les enfants sont très suggestibles et peuvent croire ce qu'on leur dit.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌlsɪt/

dulcet

doux
Meaning
sweet and soothing (often used ironically)
Example
She was enchanted by his dulcet voice.
Elle était enchantée par sa voix douce.
C2 noun /roʊˈtʌn.də.ti/

rotundity

rondeur
Meaning
the quality of being round or plump
Example
The rotundity of the balloon made it float gracefully.
La rondeur du ballon l'a fait flotter gracieusement.
C2 noun /ˈkruːɪt/

cruet

petit récipient
Meaning
a small container, especially for salt, pepper, oil, or vinegar, used at a dining table
Example
She filled the cruet with olive oil for the salad.
Elle a rempli le cruet d'huile d'olive pour la salade.
C2 adjective /ɪˈmɒdərət/

immoderate

immodéré
Meaning
excessive; beyond reasonable limits
Example
He has an immoderate love for sweets.
Il a un amour immodéré pour les bonbons.
C2 noun /ˈhɛʃ.ən/

Hessian

toile de jute
Meaning
a strong coarse fabric made from jute or hemp, used for sacks and wrapping
Example
The farmer stored grain in hessian sacks.
Le fermier a stocké des grains dans des sacs en toile de jute.
C2 noun /ɪkˌspɒstjʊˈleɪʃən/

expostulation

protestation
Meaning
the act of expressing protest or disagreement
Example
His expostulation against the unfair rules was ignored.
Sa protestation contre les règles injustes a été ignorée.
C2 noun /ˌɛmjʊˈleɪ.ʃən/

emulation

émulation
Meaning
Reproducing something or following someone to achieve success.
Example
The software allows the emulation of old video games on modern devices.
Le logiciel permet l'émulation de vieux jeux vidéo sur des appareils modernes.
C2 noun /ˈklɪpər/

clipper

tondeuse / bateau rapide du XIXe siècle
Meaning
a tool used for cutting, or a fast sailing ship of the 19th century
Example
The barber used clippers to trim his hair.
Le barbier a utilisé des tondeuses pour couper ses cheveux.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/

deferential

respectueux
Meaning
Showing or expressing respect and high regard.
Example
He was always deferential toward his teachers.
Il était toujours respectueux envers ses enseignants.
C2 verb /ˈwɪni/

whinny

hennissement
Meaning
to make the high-pitched sound a horse makes
Example
The horse whinnied when it saw its rider.
Le cheval hennit quand il a vu son cavalier.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌltɪfɔːrm/

multiform

multiforme
Meaning
Having many different forms or appearances.
Example
The festival was a multiform celebration of art, music, and culture.
Le festival était une célébration multiforme de l'art, de la musique et de la culture.
C2 noun /troʊp/

trope

trop littéraire
Meaning
A common or overused theme, idea, or device in literature, film, or speech.
Example
The film avoided the usual superhero tropes.
Le film a évité les tropes habituels des super-héros.
C2 adjective /əˈsiːtɪk/

acetic

acétique
Meaning
relating to or containing acetic acid; sour or vinegary in taste or smell
Example
The acetic smell of vinegar filled the kitchen.
L'odeur acétique du vinaigre a rempli la cuisine.
C2 noun /ˈdɛsɪkənt/

desiccant

dessicant
Meaning
a substance that absorbs moisture and keeps things dry
Example
Silica gel packets are commonly used as a desiccant in packaging.
Les paquets de gel de silice sont couramment utilisés comme dessicant dans les emballages.
C2 noun /rɪˈpoʊst/

riposte

réplique acérée
Meaning
a quick and clever reply to criticism or an insult
Example
Her sharp riposte left everyone in silence.
Sa réplique acérée laissa tout le monde sans voix.
C2 adjective /ˈluː.ni/

Loony

fou; idiot; mentalement instable
Meaning
crazy; silly; mentally unstable
Example
His loony behavior made everyone laugh.
Son comportement fou a fait rire tout le monde.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈkɒnsɪləbl/

irreconcilable

irréconciliable
Meaning
impossible to make compatible or bring into harmony; unable to resolve differences
Example
The couple separated due to irreconcilable differences.
Le couple s'est séparé en raison de différences irréconciliables.
C2 verb /ɪnˈfætʃueɪt/

infatuate

fasciner
Meaning
to inspire with an intense but short-lived passion or admiration
Example
He was infatuated with her beauty.
Il était fasciné par sa beauté.
C2 adjective /ˈrɛkənˌsaɪləbl̩/

reconcilable

réconciliable
Meaning
Capable of being resolved or made consistent.
Example
Their differences are reconcilable with honest communication.
Leurs différences sont réconciliables grâce à une communication honnête.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪɡræm/

epigram

épigramme
Meaning
A short, witty saying or poem that expresses an idea in a clever way.
Example
Oscar Wilde was famous for his sharp epigrams.
Oscar Wilde était célèbre pour ses épigrammes aiguisés.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊˈfoʊbiə/

hydrophobia

hydrophobie
Meaning
Extreme or irrational fear of water; historically, another name for rabies.
Example
After being bitten by a stray dog, the man was treated for hydrophobia.
Après avoir été mordu par un chien errant, l'homme a été traité pour l'hydrophobie.
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 /əˈrɪə/

arrear

arriéré
Meaning
A debt or payment that is overdue and unpaid.
Example
He was sued for an arrear of rent.
Il a été poursuivi pour un arriéré de loyer.
C2 verb /prɪmp/

primp

bonheur
Meaning
To spend time making minor adjustments to one's appearance.
Example
She primped in front of the mirror before the party.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
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 /ɪˈfjuːz/

effuse

effuser
Meaning
To pour out or express feelings freely and openly.
Example
She effused gratitude for the help she received.
Elle a exprimé sa gratitude pour l'aide qu'elle a reçue.
C2 noun /ˈflætʃələns/

flatulence

accumulation de gaz dans le système digestif
Meaning
the accumulation of gas in the digestive system; excessive gas in the stomach or intestines
Example
Eating beans can sometimes cause flatulence.
Manger des haricots peut parfois provoquer des flatulences.
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 /ˈhʌmbʌɡ/

humbug

foutaises, balivernes
Meaning
Deceptive or false talk or behavior; nonsense.
Example
He dismissed the idea as humbug.
Il a rejeté l'idée comme des foutaises.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlwərk/

bulwark

rempart
Meaning
A strong wall or defensive structure; something that provides protection or support.
Example
The fortress walls served as a bulwark against enemy attacks.
Les murs du fort ont servi de rempart contre les attaques ennemies.
C2 adjective /kənˈdʒɛktʃərəl/

conjectural

conjectural
Meaning
based on guesswork or incomplete evidence rather than certain knowledge
Example
His explanation was purely conjectural and lacked proof.
Son explication était purement conjecturale et manquait de preuves.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɔːrˈdeɪn/

preordain

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

archdeacon

archidiacre
Meaning
A senior clergyman in the Christian Church ranking below a bishop.
Example
The archdeacon assisted the bishop in administrative duties.
L'archidiacre a aidé l'évêque dans les tâches administratives.
C2 noun /ˈbræɡərt/

braggart

vaniteux
Meaning
a person who boasts about achievements or possessions
Example
No one liked him because he was such a braggart.
Personne ne l'aimait car c'était un vaniteux.
C2 adjective /ˈɑːrtləs/

artless

naturel, simple
Meaning
Without deception or pretentiousness; natural and simple.
Example
Her artless smile made everyone feel at ease.
Son sourire naturel a mis tout le monde à l'aise.
C2 noun /ˈmɪs.kri.ənt/

Miscreant

mécréant; criminel
Meaning
A person who behaves badly or illegally; a villain or criminal
Example
The miscreant was caught stealing from the store.
Le mécréant a été attrapé en train de voler dans le magasin.
C2 verb /ɛnˈkɪndl/

enkindle

enflammer, inspirer
Meaning
to set on fire or inspire strong emotion
Example
The speech enkindled hope in the audience.
Le discours a enflammé l'espoir dans l'auditoire.
C2 noun /bəˈlɛəroʊ/

bolero

boléro (une danse espagnole ou une veste courte ouverte à l'avant)
Meaning
A Spanish dance in slow triple time, or a short jacket open at the front.
Example
The dancers performed a passionate bolero at the festival.
Les danseurs ont exécuté un boléro passionné lors du festival.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪzn feɪst/

wizen-faced

visage ridé et fané
Meaning
Having a dry, wrinkled, and withered face.
Example
A wizen-faced old man sat quietly in the corner.
Un vieil homme au visage ridé et fané était assis tranquillement dans le coin.
C2 verb /ˈnɪɡəl/

niggle

causer une légère mais persistante gêne
Meaning
to cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or worry
Example
A small doubt niggled at her mind.
Un petit doute la perturbait dans son esprit.
C2 noun /ˈsʌbtərˌfjuːdʒ/

subterfuge

subterfuge
Meaning
Deceit used to achieve one's goal; a trick or excuse to evade something.
Example
They used subterfuge to avoid paying taxes.
Ils ont utilisé le subterfuge pour éviter de payer des impôts.
C2 verb /ˈkælsɪfaɪ/

calcify

durcir par dépôt de sels de calcium
Meaning
To harden by deposition of calcium salts; to become rigid or inflexible.
Example
Over time, the tissue began to calcify and lose flexibility.
Avec le temps, le tissu a commencé à se calcifier et a perdu de la flexibilité.
C2 noun /pluːˈtɒkrəsi/

plutocracy

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

contretemps

malentendu inattendu
Meaning
an unexpected and unfortunate event or disagreement; a minor dispute
Example
There was a small contretemps between the two colleagues during the meeting.
Il y a eu un petit malentendu entre les deux collègues pendant la réunion.
C2 verb /dʒaɪb/

jibe

insulter / être en harmonie
Meaning
to make an insulting remark; to be in agreement or harmony with
Example
His actions did not jibe with his words.
Ses actions ne collaient pas avec ses mots.
C2 noun /ˈlændˌhoʊl.dər/

landholder

propriétaire foncier
Meaning
a person who owns land, especially in large amounts
Example
The landholder leased part of his property to local farmers.
Le propriétaire foncier a loué une partie de sa propriété à des agriculteurs locaux.
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 adjective /ˈhiːðənɪʃ/

heathenish

barbare
Meaning
Lacking culture or religion; barbaric or uncivilized.
Example
They considered the ancient tribe’s rituals heathenish.
Ils considéraient les rituels de la tribu ancienne comme païens.
C2 noun /ˈsʌfrədʒɪst/

suffragist

suffragiste
Meaning
a person advocating the extension of suffrage, especially to women
Example
The suffragists organized rallies to demand voting rights for women.
Les suffragistes ont organisé des rassemblements pour revendiquer le droit de vote pour les femmes.
C2 noun /dɪˈstreɪnər/

distrainor

saisie de biens
Meaning
a person, usually a landlord, who seizes another's property for unpaid debt or rent
Example
The distrainor took possession of the tenant's car until the debt was cleared.
Le distrainor a pris possession de la voiture du locataire jusqu'à ce que la dette soit réglée.
C2 verb /dɪˈspɔɪl/

despoil

piller
Meaning
To steal or violently remove valuable possessions from a place.
Example
The invaders despoiled the village during the war.
Les envahisseurs ont pillé le village pendant la guerre.
C2 adjective /ˌdeɪ.kɒlˈteɪ/

decollete

vêtement à décolleté profond
Meaning
of a woman's dress or top, cut low so as to reveal the neck and upper chest
Example
She wore a decollete gown to the party.
Elle portait une robe décolletée à la fête.
C2 noun /ˈaɪdɪl/

idyll

scène idyllique
Meaning
An extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, often idealized.
Example
Their honeymoon was an idyll on a tropical island.
Leur lune de miel était une scène idyllique sur une île tropicale.
C2 verb /diːˈnæʃənəlaɪz/

denationalize

dénationaliser
Meaning
to transfer ownership from the government to private individuals or companies
Example
The government decided to denationalize the bank to encourage private investment.
Le gouvernement a décidé de dénationaliser la banque pour encourager les investissements privés.
C2 adjective /ˌsɒfəˈmɒrɪk/

sophomoric

immature
Meaning
showing immaturity and overconfidence, like a sophomore
Example
His sophomoric behavior embarrassed his friends.
Son comportement immature a embarrassé ses amis.