Spotted snake head
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C2 noun /ˈspɒt.ɪd sneɪk hed/

Spotted snake head

poisson tête de serpent tachetée
Meaning
a type of freshwater fish with spotted markings and an elongated head resembling a snake
Example
The spotted snake head is a popular fish for aquaculture in South Asia.
Le poisson tête de serpent tachetée est populaire pour l'aquaculture en Asie du Sud.
C2 adjective /ˈskʌr.ɪ.ləs/

scurrilous

calomnieux
Meaning
Using or expressed in coarse, abusive, or slanderous language.
Example
The politician faced criticism for his scurrilous remarks about his opponent.
Le politicien a fait face à des critiques pour ses remarques calomnieuses sur son adversaire.
C2 noun /sfɛˈrɪsɪti/

sphericity

sphéricité
Meaning
The quality or state of being spherical; roundness.
Example
The sphericity of the ball made it roll smoothly on the ground.
La sphéricité de la balle lui a permis de rouler doucement sur le sol.
C2 noun /səbˈmɜːrʒən/

submersion

submersion
Meaning
the state of being under water
Example
The submersion of the fields lasted for several days after the heavy rain.
La submersion des champs a duré plusieurs jours après la forte pluie.
C2 verb /ˈstɪp.əl/

stipple

couvrir de petits points
Meaning
to cover a surface with numerous small dots or specks, often in drawing or painting
Example
The artist stippled the canvas to create a textured effect.
L'artiste a couvert la toile de petits points pour créer un effet texturé.
C2 adjective /sʌbˈdʒeɪsənt/

subjacent

sous-jacent
Meaning
lying immediately beneath; underlying
Example
The geological survey revealed subjacent layers of rock.
L'enquête géologique a révélé des couches sous-jacentes de roche.
C2 noun /ˈsʊrmə fɪʃ/

Surma fish

poisson Surma
Meaning
a freshwater fish species found in the Surma river system of Bangladesh and northeastern India
Example
Surma fish is native to the rivers of Sylhet region.
Le poisson Surma est originaire des rivières de la région de Sylhet.
C2 noun /ˈsɪmpəltən/

simpleton

imbécile
Meaning
a foolish or gullible person
Example
They treated him like a simpleton who could not understand anything complex.
Ils l'ont traité comme un imbécile qui ne pouvait rien comprendre de complexe.
C2 verb /ˌsuːpərˈhiːt/

superheat

surchauffer
Meaning
to heat a substance beyond its normal boiling point without it becoming vapor
Example
Engineers superheat the steam to increase the efficiency of the turbine.
Les ingénieurs surchauffent la vapeur pour augmenter l'efficacité de la turbine.
C2 adjective /ˌsʌpəzɪˈtɪʃəs/

supposititious

supposé
Meaning
Based on assumption rather than fact; not genuine or authentic.
Example
The story turned out to be supposititious, with no evidence to support it.
L'histoire s'est avérée être supposée, sans aucune preuve pour la soutenir.
C2 verb /ˈstjuːpɪˌfaɪ/

stupefy

stupéfier
Meaning
to make someone unable to think clearly, usually because of surprise or shock
Example
The magician's tricks stupefied the audience.
Les tours du magicien ont stupéfié le public.
C2 noun /stɛp/

steppe

steppe
Meaning
A large flat area of unforested grassland, especially in southeastern Europe or Siberia.
Example
The nomads traveled across the vast steppe with their herds.
Les nomades ont voyagé à travers la vaste steppe avec leurs troupeaux.
C2 noun /ˈsɪbəraɪt/

sybarite

sybarite
Meaning
a person who loves luxury and pleasure
Example
The millionaire was a true sybarite who lived only for comfort and enjoyment.
Le millionnaire était un véritable sybarite qui vivait uniquement pour le confort et le plaisir.
C2 adjective /ˈsloʊθfəl/

slothful

paresseux
Meaning
Lazy, idle, and unwilling to work.
Example
She was too slothful to get out of bed early.
Elle était trop paresseuse pour se lever tôt du lit.
C2 noun /ˈsɪbɪləns/

sibilance

son sifflant
Meaning
A hissing or hushing sound, especially in speech with 's' or 'sh'.
Example
The poet used sibilance to create a soft, hissing effect in the verse.
Le poète a utilisé la sibilance pour créer un effet doux et sifflant dans le vers.
C2 adjective /ˈsɛrid/

serried

serré
Meaning
pressed or crowded together, often in rows or ranks
Example
The soldiers stood in serried ranks, ready for inspection.
Les soldats étaient en rangs serrés, prêts pour l'inspection.
C2 noun /ˈsʌbtrəˌhɛnd/

subtrahend

minuende
Meaning
a number that is to be subtracted from another number
Example
In the equation 10 - 4, the number 4 is the subtrahend.
Dans l'équation 10 - 4, le nombre 4 est le minuende.
C2 adjective /sɪˈnɜːrdʒɪk/

synergic

synergique
Meaning
Working together in a cooperative and effective manner.
Example
The two departments have a synergic relationship that boosts productivity.
Les deux départements ont une relation synergique qui augmente la productivité.
C2 noun /ˌsæv.wɑːr ˈfeər/

savoir-faire

habileté sociale
Meaning
The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations; polished social skills.
Example
She handled the delicate situation with remarkable savoir-faire.
Elle a géré la situation délicate avec un remarquable savoir-faire.
C2 noun /ˈsiːkənt/

secant

sécante
Meaning
A straight line that intersects a curve at two or more points.
Example
In geometry, a secant cuts the circle at two distinct points.
En géométrie, une sécante coupe le cercle en deux points distincts.
C2 adjective /sæŋˈɡwɪniəs/

sanguineous

relatif au sang
Meaning
Relating to blood; bloody.
Example
The surgeon examined the sanguineous discharge from the wound.
Le chirurgien a examiné l'écoulement sanguinolent de la plaie.
C2 adjective /səˈlɪsɪtəs/

solicitous

solliciteux
Meaning
showing concern or care for someone's health, happiness, or comfort
Example
She was always solicitous about the well-being of her students.
Elle était toujours préoccupée par le bien-être de ses étudiants.
C2 noun /səˈnɛs.əns/

senescence

vieillissement
Meaning
The process of growing old or the condition of aging.
Example
The biologist studied senescence in plants to understand aging.
Le biologiste a étudié la sénescence des plantes pour comprendre le vieillissement.
C2 noun /ˌskʌlˈdʌɡəri/

skullduggery

supercherie
Meaning
dishonest behavior or activities, often done secretly
Example
The election was full of political skullduggery.
L'élection était pleine de supercheries politiques.
C2 noun /ˈsteɪsɪs/ or /ˈstæsɪs/

stasis

stase
Meaning
A state of inactivity or equilibrium; a situation where nothing changes.
Example
The negotiations reached a state of stasis with no progress made.
Les négociations ont atteint un état de stase sans progrès.
C2 adjective /svelt/

svelte

svelte
Meaning
Attractively thin, graceful, and elegant in appearance or movement.
Example
She looked svelte in the elegant black dress.
Elle avait l'air svelte dans la robe noire élégante.
C2 adjective /ˈsʌmp.tʃuˌɛr.i/

sumptuary

relatif aux lois ou règlements limitant les dépenses personnelles pour des articles de luxe
Meaning
Relating to laws or regulations intended to limit personal spending on luxury goods.
Example
In medieval Europe, sumptuary laws restricted the wearing of expensive fabrics to the nobility.
Dans l'Europe médiévale, les lois somptuaires restreignaient le port de tissus coûteux à la noblesse.
C2 noun /ˈstænʃən/

stanchion

poteau de support
Meaning
a strong upright bar or post used as support or to control movement
Example
The red rope was attached to the stanchions to guide the crowd.
La corde rouge était attachée aux stanchions pour guider la foule.
C2 noun /ˈstiː.vəˌdɔːr/

stevedore

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

sapid

savoureux
Meaning
Having a pleasant taste; flavorful.
Example
The chef prepared a sapid dish that delighted everyone at the table.
Le chef a préparé un plat savoureux qui a enchanté tout le monde à table.
C2 noun /ˈsɪkəfənt/

sycophant

flagorneur
Meaning
A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
Example
The manager was surrounded by sycophants who agreed with everything he said.
Le manager était entouré de flagorneurs qui étaient d'accord avec tout ce qu'il disait.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪk.tʃər/

stricture

restriction, critique
Meaning
a restriction or limitation; a critical remark
Example
The new law placed a severe stricture on free speech.
La nouvelle loi a imposé une restriction sévère à la liberté d'expression.
C2 noun /ˈsteɪtkraft/

statecraft

art de gouverner
Meaning
The art of governing and managing state affairs effectively.
Example
The leader was praised for his exceptional statecraft in handling international relations.
Le leader a été félicité pour son art de gouverner exceptionnel dans la gestion des relations internationales.
C2 adjective /ˈʃɪft.ləs/

shiftless

paresseux
Meaning
Lacking ambition or the ability to accomplish anything; lazy and unmotivated.
Example
He was seen as a shiftless young man with no goals.
Il a été vu comme un jeune homme paresseux sans objectifs.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪndʒənsi/

stringency

rigueur
Meaning
the quality of being strict, precise, or severe
Example
The stringency of the new rules surprised everyone.
La rigueur des nouvelles règles a surpris tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/

schadenfreude

plaisir dérivé du malheur d'autrui
Meaning
pleasure derived from another person's misfortune
Example
He felt a sense of schadenfreude when his rival failed.
Il a ressenti un sentiment de schadenfreude lorsque son rival a échoué.
C2 verb /stɑːntʃ/

stanch

arrêter le flux de sang
Meaning
to stop the flow of blood or liquid from a wound or source
Example
The nurse quickly stanched the bleeding from the cut.
l'infirmière a rapidement arrêté le saignement de la coupure.
C2 adjective /ˈspaɪnəs/

spinous

épineux
Meaning
Having spines or thorn-like projections
Example
The spinous cactus was difficult to handle without gloves.
Le cactus épineux était difficile à manipuler sans gants.
C2 noun /səˈlɪsɪˌtuːd/

solicitude

préoccupation, soin
Meaning
Care or concern for someone or something.
Example
His mother showed great solicitude for his safety.
Sa mère a montré une grande préoccupation pour sa sécurité.
C2 noun /ˈskɜː.vi/

scurvy

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

sleight

habileté
Meaning
Skill or dexterity, especially in performing tricks.
Example
The magician amazed the crowd with his sleight of hand.
Le magicien a étonné la foule avec son habileté des mains.
C2 adjective /ˈsʌpliənt/

suppliant

suppliant
Meaning
Humbly or earnestly asking for something, especially from a person in authority.
Example
The suppliant man begged for mercy at the king's feet.
L'homme suppliant a supplié pour miséricorde aux pieds du roi.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪnɪkjʊər/

sinecure

emploi facile
Meaning
a position requiring little or no work but giving financial benefit or status
Example
He was given a sinecure at the university as a reward for his loyalty.
Il a obtenu un emploi facile à l'université en récompense de sa loyauté.
C2 noun /spliːn/

spleen

rate; colère
Meaning
an organ in the body that produces lymphocytes and filters blood; also refers to bad temper or spite
Example
He vented his spleen on his coworkers after the meeting.
Il a exprimé sa colère sur ses collègues après la réunion.
C2 adjective /ˈswɔːrði/

swarthy

bronzé
Meaning
Having a dark complexion or skin tone.
Example
The sailor had a swarthy face from years under the sun.
Le marin avait le visage bronzé après des années sous le soleil.
C2 verb /seɪt/

sate

satisfaire
Meaning
To satisfy fully or to excess.
Example
The huge meal sated their hunger after the long journey.
Le gros repas a satisfait leur faim après le long voyage.
C2 noun /sɒmˈnæmbjʊlɪst/

somnambulist

somnambule
Meaning
A person who sleepwalks.
Example
The somnambulist wandered out of the house at night.
Le somnambule est sorti de la maison la nuit.
C2 noun/verb /ˈsoʊdʒɜrn/

sojourn

séjour temporaire
Meaning
A temporary stay at a place; to stay temporarily
Example
She enjoyed a brief sojourn in Paris during the summer.
Elle a apprécié un bref séjour à Paris pendant l'été.
C2 noun /ˌʃæŋɡriˈlɑː/

shangri-la

paradis imaginaire
Meaning
a remote, beautiful, imaginary place where life is perfect and peaceful
Example
They described the island as a modern-day Shangri-La.
Ils ont décrit l'île comme un Shangri-La moderne.
C2 noun /səˈvɑːnt/

savant

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

Sour wood apple

pomme d'éléphant
Meaning
a tropical fruit with hard shell and tangy flesh; elephant apple
Example
The sour wood apple has a unique taste that many people enjoy.
La pomme d'éléphant a un goût unique que beaucoup de gens apprécient.
C2 adjective /sɪˈlæbɪk/

syllabic

syllabique
Meaning
Relating to or based on syllables.
Example
The teacher explained the syllabic structure of the word.
Le professeur a expliqué la structure syllabique du mot.
C2 adjective /ˈsuːpaɪn/

supine

couché sur le dos
Meaning
Lying on the back, face upward; failing to act due to laziness or weakness.
Example
He lay supine on the grass, staring at the stars.
Il était allongé sur l'herbe, regardant les étoiles.
C2 noun /ˈsɛm.ɪ.nɛr.i/

seminary

séminaire
Meaning
A school or college for training priests, ministers, or rabbis.
Example
He decided to enroll in a seminary to study theology.
Il a décidé de s'inscrire dans un séminaire pour étudier la théologie.
C2 adjective /saɪˈdɪəriəl/

sidereal

sidéral
Meaning
Relating to the stars or constellations; measured relative to the stars.
Example
Astronomers use sidereal time to track the positions of stars.
Les astronomes utilisent le temps sidéral pour suivre les positions des étoiles.
C2 adjective /ˈsæ.loʊ/

sallow

jaunâtre
Meaning
Of an unhealthy yellow or pale brown color, often referring to skin.
Example
His sallow complexion made him look tired and sickly.
Son teint jaunâtre le faisait paraître fatigué et malade.
C2 verb /ˈstʌltɪfaɪ/

stultify

rendre quelqu'un ou quelque chose stupide ou nuire à l'efficacité et à l'enthousiasme
Meaning
to make someone or something appear foolish, or to hinder effectiveness and enthusiasm
Example
The repetitive tasks seemed to stultify the workers' creativity.
Les tâches répétitives semblaient rendre les travailleurs moins créatifs.
C2 verb /ˈsnɪvəl/

snivel

pleurer ou se plaindre d'une manière faible ou agaçante
Meaning
to cry or complain in a weak or annoying way
Example
He began to snivel when he didn’t get his way.
Il a commencé à pleurer quand il n'a pas obtenu ce qu'il voulait.
C2 adjective /ˈsteɪ.dʒi/

stagy

trop théâtral
Meaning
Overly theatrical, artificial, or exaggerated in manner or style.
Example
Her performance felt stagy and unnatural.
Sa performance semblait trop théâtrale et artificielle.
C2 noun /ˈseɪnjər/

seignior

seigneur féodal
Meaning
A feudal lord; a man of authority in medieval Europe.
Example
The seignior demanded taxes from the peasants.
Le seigneur féodal a exigé des taxes des paysans.
C2 verb /ˈsɛreɪt/

serrate

faire un bord dentelé
Meaning
To make a saw-toothed edge or notched margin.
Example
The craftsman serrated the knife blade for better cutting.
L'artisan a séré la lame du couteau pour une coupe meilleure.
C2 noun /ˈsoʊbrɪˌkeɪ/

sobriquet

surnom
Meaning
a person's nickname or descriptive name
Example
The famous leader was known by the sobriquet 'The Iron Lady'.
Le célèbre leader était connu sous le surnom de 'La Dame de Fer'.
C2 noun /ˌsɒ̃ˈfrwɑː/

sangfroid

sang-froid
Meaning
Composure or coolness under pressure.
Example
She impressed everyone with her sangfroid during the interview.
Elle a impressionné tout le monde par son sang-froid pendant l'entretien.
C2 adjective /ˈsed.j ə.l ə s/

Sedulous

assidu; diligent;
Meaning
showing dedication and diligence; persistent and careful in work
Example
She was sedulous in her research, spending hours in the library every day.
Elle était assidue dans ses recherches, passant des heures à la bibliothèque chaque jour.
C2 adjective /səˈræfɪk/

seraphic

angélique
Meaning
Of or like a seraph; angelic, pure, and blissful.
Example
She gave him a seraphic smile that calmed his fears.
Elle lui donna un sourire angélique qui calma ses peurs.
C2 noun /ˈspuːnərɪzəm/

spoonerism

spounérisme
Meaning
A verbal error in which the initial sounds of words are swapped to create a humorous effect.
Example
He made a spoonerism by saying 'queer old dean' instead of 'dear old queen'.
Il a fait un spounérisme en disant 'vieux doyen bizarre' au lieu de 'vieille reine chère'.
C2 adjective /ˌsɒpəˈrɪfɪk/

soporific

bonheur
Meaning
tending to induce drowsiness or sleep; causing sleepiness
Example
The professor's lecture was so soporific that half the class fell asleep.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 adjective /ˈsɪŋkəˌpeɪtɪd/

syncopated

syncopé
Meaning
Characterized by displaced beats or rhythms, especially in music.
Example
The jazz piece had a syncopated rhythm that energized the crowd.
Le morceau de jazz avait un rythme syncopé qui a énergisé la foule.
C2 noun /ˈsɛpəlkər/

sepulcher

tombeau
Meaning
A small room or monument, cut in rock or built of stone, in which a dead person is buried.
Example
The ancient king was laid to rest in a grand sepulcher.
Le roi ancien a été enterré dans un grand tombeau.
C2 noun /ˈʃʊərəti/

surety

caution
Meaning
a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, such as appearing in court or paying a debt
Example
The landlord required a surety before renting the apartment.
Le propriétaire a exigé une caution avant de louer l'appartement.
C2 adjective /ˈslʌvənli/

slovenly

négligé
Meaning
Untidy or careless in appearance, habits, or work.
Example
His slovenly appearance made a bad impression at the interview.
Son apparence négligée a laissé une mauvaise impression lors de l'entretien.
C2 noun /ˈsʌplɪkənt/

supplicant

suppliant
Meaning
A person who humbly or earnestly asks for something, usually from a person of authority.
Example
The temple was filled with supplicants seeking blessings.
Le temple était rempli de suppliants cherchant des bénédictions.
C2 noun /ˈsɒfɪstri/

sophistry

sophistique
Meaning
the use of clever but false arguments, often to deceive
Example
The politician's speech was full of sophistry.
Le discours du politicien était plein de sophistique.
C2 adjective /sɪˈbeɪʃəs/

sebaceous

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

suppurate

supurer
Meaning
to form or discharge pus, usually as a result of infection
Example
The wound began to suppurate after a few days.
La plaie a commencé à suppurer après quelques jours.
C2 noun /ˈsɛnʃəns/

sentience

sensibilité
Meaning
The capacity to feel, perceive, or experience subjectively.
Example
Many argue that animals possess sentience.
Beaucoup soutiennent que les animaux possèdent la sensibilité.
C2 verb /ˈsʌbdʒʊˌɡeɪt/

subjugate

soumettre
Meaning
To bring under domination or control, especially by conquest.
Example
The empire sought to subjugate the neighboring kingdoms.
L'empire a cherché à soumettre les royaumes voisins.
C2 noun /skæd/

scad

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

somniferous

somnifère
Meaning
Tending to induce sleep; soporific.
Example
The professor's somniferous lecture put half the class to sleep.
Le cours somnifère du professeur a endormi la moitié de la classe.
C2 adjective /ˌsɛm.iˈkɒn.ʃəs/

semiconscious

semi-conscient
Meaning
Only partly conscious; not fully aware of surroundings.
Example
He was semiconscious after the accident and could barely respond.
Il était semi-conscient après l'accident et pouvait à peine répondre.
C2 adjective /ˈsɪbɪlənt/

sibilant

avec un son sifflant
Meaning
Making or characterized by a hissing sound.
Example
The word 'snake' starts with a sibilant sound.
Le mot 'snake' commence par un son sifflant.
C2 noun /sɑːrˈkɒfəɡəs/

sarcophagus

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

Scorpion fish

poisson-scorpion
Meaning
a type of fish with venomous spines that belongs to the family Scorpaenidae
Example
The scorpion fish has dangerous spines that can inject venom.
Le poisson-scorpion a des épines dangereuses qui peuvent injecter du venin.
C2 noun /strəˈmoʊ.ni.əm ˌflaʊ.ər/

Stramonium flower

fleur de stramoine
Meaning
A trumpet-shaped white or purple flower from the jimsonweed plant, known for its toxic properties
Example
The stramonium flower blooms at night with a sweet fragrance.
La fleur de stramoine fleurit la nuit avec un parfum doux.
C2 noun ˈsaɪəns ˈdezət

science-desert

désert scientifique
Meaning
A region or area lacking in scientific development, research facilities, or educational institutions.
Example
J.C. Bose thrived in a science-desert.
J.C. Bose a prospéré dans un désert scientifique.
C2 adjective /ˈsɪmiən/

simian

simien
Meaning
Relating to, resembling, or affecting apes or monkeys.
Example
The scientist studied the simian behavior of the chimpanzees.
Le scientifique a étudié le comportement simien des chimpanzés.
C2 adjective /ˌsʌb.əˈkwɒt.ɪk/

subaquatic

subaquatique
Meaning
Existing, living, or located under water.
Example
Divers explored the subaquatic cave system filled with rare fish.
Les plongeurs ont exploré le système de grottes subaquatiques remplies de poissons rares.
C2 noun /ˈstrɪplɪŋ/

stripling

jeune homme
Meaning
a young man who is not yet fully grown
Example
The stripling dreamed of becoming a brave knight.
Le jeune homme rêvait de devenir un chevalier courageux.
C2 adjective /spæzˈmɒdɪk/

spasmodic

spasmodique
Meaning
occurring irregularly or in sudden bursts
Example
The patient experienced spasmodic coughing during the night.
Le patient a eu des toux spasmodiques pendant la nuit.
C2 adjective /ˈspiːʃəs/

specious

fallacieux
Meaning
Superficially plausible but actually false; misleading in appearance.
Example
The politician’s argument was specious, sounding convincing but lacking real evidence.
L'argument du politicien était fallacieux, il semblait convaincant mais manquait de preuves réelles.
C2 noun /sʌbˈɔːl.tən/

subaltern

une personne occupant une position subordonnée; dans l'armée, un officier subalterne
Meaning
A person holding a subordinate position; in the military, a junior officer.
Example
The subaltern was responsible for leading a small platoon of soldiers.
Le subalterne était responsable de la direction d'un petit peloton de soldats.
C2 verb /ˈsæŋktɪfaɪ/

sanctify

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

schism

bonheur
Meaning
A division or split between strongly opposed parties, often in religion or organizations.
Example
The schism in the church led to the formation of two separate groups.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 verb /swɪl/

swill

boire goulûment
Meaning
to drink something greedily or in large amounts
Example
He swilled down the beer in seconds.
Il a bu la bière en quelques secondes.
C2 noun /sɪˈmɪlɪtjuːd/

Similitude

similitude; ressemblance
Meaning
the quality or state of being similar; resemblance
Example
The similitude between the two paintings suggested they were by the same artist.
La similitude entre les deux peintures a suggéré qu'elles avaient été réalisées par le même artiste.
C2 adjective /ˌsæpəˈneɪʃəs/

saponaceous

savonneux
Meaning
Soapy or having the qualities of soap.
Example
The plant has saponaceous leaves that produce foam when rubbed in water.
La plante a des feuilles savonneuses qui produisent de la mousse lorsqu'elles sont frottées dans l'eau.
C2 noun ˌsʌb.dʒʊˈɡeɪ.ʃən

subjugation

soumission ou domination
Meaning
The action of bringing someone or something under domination or control, especially by force.
Example
The subjugation of weaker nations by colonial powers shaped history.
La soumission des nations plus faibles par les puissances coloniales a façonné l'histoire.
C2 verb /ˈsnʌfəl/

snuffle

respirer bruyamment par le nez
Meaning
to breathe noisily through the nose, often because of crying or a cold
Example
The child began to snuffle after crying for a long time.
L'enfant a commencé à respirer bruyamment par le nez après avoir pleuré longtemps.
C2 adjective /ˈsiːmli/

seemly

approprié
Meaning
proper or appropriate in behavior or appearance
Example
It was not seemly to argue loudly during the ceremony.
Il n'était pas approprié de discuter bruyamment pendant la cérémonie.
C2 noun/verb /sluːs/

sluice

porte d'eau / rincer
Meaning
A sliding gate for controlling the flow of water; to wash or rinse with water in large quantities.
Example
The workers sluiced the mud off the street after the heavy rain.
Les travailleurs ont nettoyé la boue de la rue après la forte pluie.
C2 verb /ˈsɪbəleɪt/

sibilate

prononcer avec un sifflement
Meaning
To pronounce with a hissing sound.
Example
The actor sibilated his lines for dramatic effect.
L'acteur a prononcé ses répliques avec un sifflement pour un effet dramatique.
C2 verb /ˈsʌk.əl/

suckle

allaiter
Meaning
to feed a baby or young animal with milk from the breast or udder
Example
The mother cat suckled her kittens in the basket.
La mère chat a allaité ses chatons dans le panier.
C2 noun /ˈstætɪks/

statics

statique
Meaning
The branch of mechanics dealing with bodies at rest and forces in equilibrium.
Example
She is studying statics as part of her engineering course.
Elle étudie la statique dans le cadre de son cours d'ingénierie.
C2 noun /ˈsuːpsɒ̃/

soupcon

une petite quantité
Meaning
a very small quantity of something; a trace
Example
She added just a soupcon of spice to the dish.
Elle a ajouté juste une petite quantité d'épices au plat.
C2 noun /ˈsɪlədʒɪzəm/

syllogism

syllelogisme
Meaning
A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed premises.
Example
The philosopher explained the concept of syllogism using simple examples.
Le philosophe a expliqué le concept du syllogisme en utilisant des exemples simples.
C2 adjective /splɪˈnɛtɪk/

splenetic

irritable, colérique
Meaning
bad-tempered, irritable, spiteful
Example
His splenetic remarks offended everyone in the room.
Ses remarques colériques ont offensé tout le monde dans la pièce.
C2 noun /ˈsɪnəd/

synod

synode
Meaning
An assembly of the clergy in a Christian church convened to decide on issues of doctrine or administration.
Example
The synod gathered to discuss reforms in the church.
Le synode s'est réuni pour discuter des réformes dans l'église.
C2 noun /ˌsɪləbɪˈkeɪʃən/

syllabication

syllabation
Meaning
The division of words into syllables.
Example
Proper syllabication helps in correct pronunciation.
Une bonne syllabation aide à une prononciation correcte.
C2 noun /staɪn/

stein

mug à bière
Meaning
A large beer mug, typically made of glass or stoneware.
Example
He raised his stein to toast his friends.
Il a levé son stein pour porter un toast à ses amis.
C2 noun /ˈseɪpiəns/

sapience

sagesse
Meaning
Wisdom or intelligence.
Example
Her sapience in solving problems earned her the respect of her colleagues.
Sa sagesse dans la résolution de problèmes lui a valu le respect de ses collègues.
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 adjective /ˌsæsərˈdoʊtl/

sacerdotal

sacerdotal
Meaning
Relating to priests or the priesthood.
Example
The ritual had a distinctly sacerdotal character.
Le rituel avait un caractère distinctement sacerdotal.
C2 adjective /ˈsmɑːrmi/

smarmy

flatteur / fausse politesse
Meaning
Excessively flattering or ingratiating, often insincerely.
Example
The salesman gave a smarmy pitch that felt fake.
Le vendeur a donné un discours flatteur qui semblait faux.
C2 noun /ˈsɒlɪˌsɪzəm/

solecism

solécisme
Meaning
a grammatical mistake in speech or writing; a breach of good manners or etiquette
Example
His speech was full of solecisms and awkward phrases.
Son discours était plein de solécismes et de phrases maladroites.
C2 noun /ˌspoʊliˈeɪʃən/

spoliation

destruction
Meaning
The act of destroying or ruining something, often evidence or property.
Example
The court punished the company for the spoliation of evidence.
Le tribunal a puni l'entreprise pour la spoliation des preuves.
C2 noun /sɪˈkwiːlə/

sequela

séquelle
Meaning
A condition that is the consequence of a previous disease or injury.
Example
Lung scarring can be a sequela of severe pneumonia.
Les cicatrices pulmonaires peuvent être une séquelle d'une pneumonie sévère.
C2 adjective /ˌsuː.pər.ɪˈrɑː.ɡə.tɔːr.i/

supererogatory

superflu
Meaning
Going beyond what is required or expected; more than necessary.
Example
His donation was supererogatory, far beyond what anyone had asked for.
Sa donation était superflue, bien au-delà de ce que quelqu'un avait demandé.
C2 noun /səbˈsɜːviəns/

subservience

servilité
Meaning
the condition of being too willing to obey or serve others
Example
His subservience to authority annoyed his colleagues.
Sa servilité envers l'autorité agaçait ses collègues.
C2 noun /ˈspɛndˌθrɪft/

spendthrift

dépensier
Meaning
A person who spends money extravagantly or wastefully.
Example
The young prince was known as a spendthrift, wasting his fortune on lavish parties.
Le jeune prince était connu comme un dépensier, gaspillant sa fortune dans des fêtes somptueuses.
C2 adjective sɑːˈtɔːrɪəl

sartorial

relatif aux vêtements ou au style vestimentaire
Meaning
Of or relating to clothing or style or manner of dress.
Example
His sartorial choices were always on trend and admired.
Ses choix sartoriaux étaient toujours à la mode et admirés.
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.