stygian
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN Anglais BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Espagnol FR Français DE Allemand RU Russe ZH Chinois JA Japonais
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C2 adjective /ˈstɪdʒiən/

stygian

sombre
Meaning
extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding
Example
They walked through the stygian cave with torches.
Ils marchaient à travers la grotte sombre avec des torches.
C2 noun /kəˈdʌm.bə/

Kadamba

arbre kadamba
Meaning
A tropical tree with round, fragrant orange flowers, sacred in Hindu culture and associated with Lord Krishna
Example
The kadamba tree is mentioned frequently in ancient Indian poetry.
L'arbre kadamba est fréquemment mentionné dans la poésie ancienne indienne.
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 noun /ˌprɛsiˈɒsɪti/

preciosity

raffinement excessif
Meaning
Excessive refinement or affected elegance in language, style, or behavior.
Example
The author's preciosity made the novel difficult to read for some audiences.
La preciosité de l'auteur a rendu le roman difficile à lire pour certains lecteurs.
C2 noun /ɪksˈtʃɛkər/

exchequer

trésorerie
Meaning
The treasury of a state or country.
Example
The government announced new measures to improve the exchequer.
Le gouvernement a annoncé de nouvelles mesures pour améliorer la trésorerie.
C2 adjective /ˈmoʊtaɪl/

motile

mobile
Meaning
Capable of movement or locomotion.
Example
Certain bacteria are motile and can swim toward nutrients.
Certaines bactéries sont mobiles et peuvent nager vers les nutriments.
C2 noun /ˈɜːrtʃɪn/

urchin

gamin des rues
Meaning
a mischievous or poorly dressed child, often from the streets
Example
The ragged urchins played by the riverbank.
Les gamins en haillons jouaient au bord de la rivière.
C2 noun /ˌdɪʃəˈbiːl/

dishabille

déshabillé
Meaning
The state of being only partly or loosely dressed; casual or careless attire.
Example
She answered the door in a state of dishabille, wearing just a robe.
Elle a répondu à la porte dans un état de déshabillé, portant seulement un peignoir.
C2 adjective /ˈhed.i/

Heady

enivrant
Meaning
having a strong or exhilarating effect; intoxicating; exciting
Example
The heady perfume of jasmine filled the garden.
Le parfum enivrant du jasmin remplit le jardin.
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 /ˈlɪŋ.ɡwə/

lingua

langue
Meaning
A language, especially one used for communication among people.
Example
English has become a global lingua for business and science.
L'anglais est devenu une langue mondiale pour les affaires et la science.
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 /ˈtrɪbjuːn/

tribune

tribune / tribun
Meaning
a person or platform representing the people; historically, a Roman official elected to protect citizens' rights
Example
He was seen as a tribune of the common people.
Il était considéré comme un tribun du peuple.
C2 noun /rɪˈpæst/

repast

repas
Meaning
A meal or the food eaten during a meal.
Example
They enjoyed a delicious repast by the riverside.
Ils ont apprécié un délicieux repas au bord de la rivière.
C2 verb /əˈɡriːv/

aggrieve

affliger
Meaning
to cause distress or make someone feel resentful
Example
She felt aggrieved by the unfair decision.
Elle s'est sentie contrariée par la décision injuste.
C2 noun /ˈsælvoʊ/

salvo

salve
Meaning
A simultaneous discharge of guns or release of bombs; a sudden outburst of cheers or applause.
Example
The soldiers fired a salvo to honor the fallen general.
Les soldats ont tiré une salve pour honorer le général décédé.
C2 noun /ˈbæn.jən/

Banian

sous-vêtement sans manches
Meaning
a sleeveless undergarment worn next to the skin; vest
Example
He put on a cotton banian under his shirt.
Il a mis un banian en coton sous sa chemise.
C2 noun /loʊm/

loam

sol argileux fertile
Meaning
Fertile soil mixture of sand, clay, and organic matter.
Example
Loam soil is ideal for agriculture due to its nutrient content.
Le sol loameux est idéal pour l'agriculture en raison de sa teneur en nutriments.
C2 verb /ˈædjʊˌleɪt/

adulate

aduler excessivement
Meaning
to praise or flatter excessively
Example
The fans adulated the actor after his performance.
Les fans ont adulé l'acteur après sa performance.
C2 adjective /ˈsiːkwənt/

sequent

suivant
Meaning
Following in order or as a result.
Example
The sequent events changed the course of history.
Les événements suivants ont changé le cours de l'histoire.
C2 adjective /roʊˈtʌnd/

rotund

rond
Meaning
round or plump in shape; full in sound
Example
The rotund cat struggled to climb the fence.
Le chat rond avait du mal à grimper la clôture.
C2 verb /kənˈtjuːz/

contuse

contusionner
Meaning
to bruise by striking or hitting
Example
He contused his arm when he fell off the bike.
Il s'est contusionné le bras lorsqu'il est tombé de son vélo.
C2 noun /daɪˈɡrɛʃən/

digression

digression
Meaning
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
Her story was full of interesting digressions.
Son histoire était pleine de digressions intéressantes.
C2 noun /ˈɡɜːrn.zi/

Guernsey

pull-over
Meaning
a knitted sweater; a type of woolen pullover
Example
He wore a warm guernsey during the cold winter evening.
Il portait un pull chaud lors de la froide soirée d'hiver.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪətraɪb/

diatribe

diatribe
Meaning
A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.
Example
The politician launched a diatribe against his opponents.
Le politicien a lancé une diatribe contre ses opposants.
C2 adjective /pɒnˈtɪfɪkəl/

pontifical

relatif à un pape ou un évêque ; pompeux ou prétentieux
Meaning
relating to a pope or bishop; pompous or self-important
Example
His pontifical manner annoyed the other members of the committee.
Son comportement prétentieux agaçait les autres membres du comité.
C2 noun /ˈævərɪs/

avarice

avarice
Meaning
extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Example
His avarice led him to exploit his workers.
Son avarice l'a conduit à exploiter ses travailleurs.
C2 noun /ˈreɪmənt/

raiment

vêtements
Meaning
clothing, especially fine or formal wear
Example
The king wore royal raiment during the ceremony.
Le roi portait des vêtements royaux pendant la cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˈbærəˌɡræf/

barograph

instrument qui enregistre les variations de pression atmosphérique
Meaning
an instrument that records changes in atmospheric pressure
Example
The scientist checked the barograph for pressure variations.
Le scientifique a vérifié le barographe pour les variations de pression.
C2 verb /bɪˈsmɜːrtʃ/

besmirch

ternir
Meaning
to damage someone's reputation; to make dirty or stained
Example
He tried to besmirch her good name with false rumors.
Il a essayé de ternir son bon nom avec de fausses rumeurs.
C2 noun /ˈdeb.juː.tɑːnt/

debutante

jeune femme faisant sa première apparition formelle dans la société
Meaning
A young woman making her first formal appearance in society.
Example
The debutante wore a white gown at the ball.
La debutante portait une robe blanche au bal.
C2 adjective /juːˈʒʊəriəs/

usurious

usuraire
Meaning
Charging excessively high interest rates on loans.
Example
The bank was accused of offering loans at usurious rates.
La banque a été accusée d'offrir des prêts à des taux usuraires.
C2 noun /traɪst/

tryst

rendez-vous secret
Meaning
a private romantic meeting between lovers
Example
They arranged a secret tryst in the park.
Ils ont organisé un rendez-vous secret dans le parc.
C2 verb /ɪɡˈzʌlt/

exult

exulter
Meaning
to show or feel great joy, often as a result of success
Example
The fans exulted after their team won the championship.
Les fans exultaient après la victoire de leur équipe au championnat.
C2 noun /dɜːrdʒ/

dirge

élégie
Meaning
A mournful song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief, often for the dead.
Example
The choir sang a solemn dirge at the funeral.
La chorale a chanté une élégie solennelle lors des funérailles.
C2 noun /kwaɪˈiːtəs/

Quietus

mort ou quelque chose qui cause la mort ; une résolution finale
Meaning
death or something that causes death; a final settlement
Example
The hero received his quietus from the villain's sword.
Le héros a reçu son quietus de l'épée du vilain.
C2 verb /ˈmiːliəˌreɪt/

meliorate

améliorer
Meaning
To make something better or improve a condition.
Example
The new policies aim to meliorate the living conditions of the poor.
Les nouvelles politiques visent à améliorer les conditions de vie des pauvres.
C2 adjective /eɪˈrɪðmɪk/

arrhythmic

arythmique
Meaning
Lacking a regular rhythm or beat.
Example
The patient had an arrhythmic heartbeat.
Le patient avait un battement de cœur arythmique.
C2 verb /ɪkˈstɛnjueɪt/

extenuate

excuser
Meaning
to make an offense, fault, or situation seem less serious by providing an excuse or explanation
Example
The lawyer tried to extenuate his client's actions by highlighting his difficult childhood.
L'avocat a essayé d'excuser les actions de son client en mettant en lumière son enfance difficile.
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 /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 /njʊˈrældʒə/

neuralgia

douleur nerveuse
Meaning
intense, often intermittent pain along a nerve pathway
Example
The patient suffers from neuralgia in her face.
Le patient souffre de névralgie dans son visage.
C2 noun /əkˈsɛʃən/

accession

accession au trône / acceptation d'un traité
Meaning
the attainment of a position of rank or power, especially a monarch or president; the formal acceptance of an agreement or treaty
Example
The king's accession to the throne was celebrated with great ceremony.
L'accession du roi au trône a été célébrée avec grande cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˈhækəlz/

hackles

les poils à l'arrière du cou d'un animal qui se dressent lorsqu'il est en colère ou alarmé; figurativement, des sentiments de colère ou de ressentiment
Meaning
the hairs on the back of an animal’s neck that rise when it is angry or alarmed; figuratively, feelings of anger or resentment
Example
His rude comment raised my hackles.
Son commentaire grossier a levé mes hackles.
C2 noun /ˌnɛɡlɪˈʒeɪ/

negligee

peignoir léger en soie
Meaning
A woman's light dressing gown, often made of thin or silky material.
Example
She wore a silk negligee before going to bed.
Elle portait un peignoir en soie avant de se coucher.
C2 noun /ˈoʊvərlɔːrd/

overlord

seigneur
Meaning
A ruler, master, or person of great power and authority over others.
Example
The peasants were forced to pay taxes to their overlord.
Les paysans ont été forcés de payer des impôts à leur seigneur.
C2 noun /ˈpæn.θi.ɪ.zəm/

pantheism

panthéisme
Meaning
The belief that God and the universe are identical, or that everything is a manifestation of God.
Example
Spinoza’s philosophy is often associated with pantheism.
La philosophie de Spinoza est souvent associée au panthéisme.
C2 noun /ˌɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

ordination

ordination
Meaning
The ceremony of conferring holy orders or official religious authority.
Example
The church held a special service for the ordination of new priests.
L'église a organisé un service spécial pour l'ordination de nouveaux prêtres.
C2 noun /ˌnjuːməˈreɪʃən/

numeration

numération
Meaning
the action or process of counting or assigning numbers
Example
The teacher explained the basics of numeration to the students.
L'enseignant a expliqué les bases de la numération aux étudiants.
C2 noun /nəˈkrɒpəlɪs/

necropolis

nécropole
Meaning
a large ancient cemetery with elaborate tombs
Example
The archaeologists discovered artifacts in the necropolis of the ancient city.
Les archéologues ont découvert des artefacts dans la nécropole de l'ancienne ville.
C2 noun /tɛkˈnɒɡrəfi/

technography

technographie
Meaning
the descriptive study or writing about the practical arts, technologies, or technical methods of a society
Example
The anthropologist specialized in technography to understand indigenous tool-making traditions.
L'anthropologue s'est spécialisé en technographie pour comprendre les traditions autochtones de fabrication d'outils.
C2 verb /dɔːb/

daub

badigeonner
Meaning
to spread a thick or sticky substance carelessly on a surface
Example
The children daubed paint all over the walls.
Les enfants ont badigeonné la peinture partout sur les murs.
C2 noun /ˌæntɪˈtɒksɪn/

antitoxin

antitoxine
Meaning
A substance that neutralizes a specific toxin in the body.
Example
The doctor administered an antitoxin to counter the snake venom.
Le médecin a administré une antitoxine pour contrer le venin de serpent.
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 /ˈfɛndər/

fender

pare-chocs
Meaning
a part of a vehicle that frames a wheel well to protect against mud or debris
Example
The car's fender was dented in the accident.
Le fender de la voiture a été enfoncé dans l'accident.
C2 verb /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/

prevaricate

échapper à dire la vérité
Meaning
to avoid telling the truth by not giving a direct answer
Example
The politician began to prevaricate when asked about the scandal.
Le politicien a commencé à éviter lorsqu'on lui a posé des questions sur le scandale.
C2 adjective/adverb /ˌæ.prəˈpoʊ/

apropos

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

reproof

réprobation, censure
Meaning
An expression of blame or disapproval.
Example
His careless words drew a sharp reproof from his mother.
Ses paroles imprudentes ont provoqué une vive réprobation de sa mère.
C2 adjective /ˈfɒksi/

foxy

rusé
Meaning
Clever, cunning, or attractive.
Example
He came up with a foxy plan to win the game.
Il a proposé un plan rusé pour gagner le jeu.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/

diabolic

diabolique
Meaning
Extremely evil or cruel; characteristic of the devil.
Example
The villain devised a diabolic scheme.
Le méchant a imaginé un plan diabolique.
C2 verb /kəˈdʒoʊl/

cajole

cajoler
Meaning
To persuade someone to do something by flattery or gentle urging.
Example
She managed to cajole her friend into joining the trip.
Elle a réussi à cajoler son amie pour qu'elle se joigne au voyage.
C2 verb /ˈkɒsɪt/

cosset

choyer
Meaning
to care for and protect in an overindulgent way
Example
The little girl was cosseted by her grandparents.
La petite fille était choyée par ses grands-parents.
C2 noun /ˌɛfəˈvɛsəns/

effervescence

effervescence
Meaning
The release of gas bubbles; vivacity or high-spiritedness.
Example
Her effervescence made her the life of the party.
Son effervescence faisait d'elle la vie de la fête.
C2 noun /ˈliːdʒənəri/

legionary

soldat romain
Meaning
a soldier in the Roman army
Example
Each legionary carried a shield and a short sword.
Chaque légionnaire portait un bouclier et une épée courte.
C2 noun /ˌfaɪ.təʊˈkem.ɪ.kəlz/

phytochemicals

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

lingual

relatif à la langue
Meaning
Relating to the tongue or speech.
Example
The dentist examined the patient's lingual surface of the teeth.
Le dentiste a examiné la surface linguale des dents du patient.
C2 noun /ˌkɑːrt ˈblɑːnʃ/

carte blanche

carte blanche
Meaning
complete freedom to act as one wishes
Example
The manager gave her team carte blanche to design the project.
Le responsable a donné à son équipe carte blanche pour concevoir le projet.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːrpɪd/

torpid

léthargique
Meaning
Mentally or physically inactive; sluggish or lethargic.
Example
After the long hike, he felt torpid and unmotivated.
Après la longue randonnée, il se sentait léthargique et démotivé.
C2 noun /dɪˈtraɪtəs/

detritus

détritus
Meaning
Waste or debris of any kind; fragments left from destruction or decay.
Example
The riverbank was covered with detritus after the flood.
Le rivage était couvert de débris après l'inondation.
C2 noun /ˈflæɡ ˌɒfɪsər/

flag-officer

officier de pavillon
Meaning
a senior naval officer entitled to fly a flag to mark the command
Example
The flag-officer reviewed the fleet before the ceremony.
L'officier de pavillon a examiné la flotte avant la cérémonie.
C2 adjective /ˈædɪˌpoʊs/

adipose

adipeux
Meaning
Relating to or consisting of animal fat; fatty.
Example
The doctor explained that the tissue was mainly adipose in nature.
Le médecin a expliqué que le tissu était principalement adipeux par nature.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrtnəs/

pertness

effronterie
Meaning
boldness or forwardness in speech or behavior; sauciness
Example
Her pertness during the meeting surprised everyone.
Son effronterie lors de la réunion a surpris tout le monde.
C2 noun /kənˈtɔːrʃənz/

contortions

pluriel de contorsion; plusieurs formes tordues ou déformées
Meaning
plural form of contortion; multiple twisted or bent shapes
Example
The magician's contortions left the crowd in awe.
Les contorsions du magicien ont laissé la foule bouche bée.
C2 adjective /juːˈnɪsənənt/

unisonant

harmonieux
Meaning
Sounding together or in harmony.
Example
The unisonant voices created a powerful effect.
Les voix harmonieuses ont créé un effet puissant.
C2 adjective /ˈwæɡ.ɪʃ/

waggish

espiègle ou taquin
Meaning
playfully humorous or mischievous
Example
His waggish remarks made everyone laugh.
Ses remarques espiègles ont fait rire tout le monde.
C2 noun /səˈɡæs.ə.t̬i/

sagacity

sagesse profonde
Meaning
The quality of being sagacious; having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment.
Example
His sagacity made him a great leader.
Sa sagacité faisait de lui un grand leader.
C2 noun /ˈkɪləˌliːtər/

kiloliter

kilolitre
Meaning
a unit of capacity equal to 1,000 liters
Example
The tank can hold up to three kiloliters of water.
Le réservoir peut contenir jusqu'à trois kilolitres d'eau.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈlɒkjətər/

interlocutor

interlocuteur
Meaning
a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue
Example
She was a skilled interlocutor during the debate.
Elle était une interlocutrice habile pendant le débat.
C2 noun /ˈsɜːrklət/

circlet

diadème
Meaning
A small circular band, typically worn as an ornament on the head.
Example
The princess wore a golden circlet on her forehead.
La princesse portait un diadème en or sur le front.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪəl/

phial

petite fiole
Meaning
a small glass container for liquids, especially medicines
Example
The doctor gave her a phial of medicine.
Le médecin lui a donné un flacon de médicament.
C2 verb /dɪsˈroʊb/

disrobe

se déshabiller
Meaning
to remove one's clothes
Example
The monk disrobed before entering the river.
Le moine s'est déshabillé avant d'entrer dans la rivière.
C2 adjective /ˈfʌŋɡəs/

fungous

semblable à un champignon
Meaning
relating to or resembling a fungus
Example
The damp basement had a fungous smell.
Le sous-sol humide avait une odeur semblable à un champignon.
C2 noun dɪsˈbɜːs.mənt

disbursement

décaissement
Meaning
The payment of money from a fund.
Example
The company's disbursement of salaries was delayed.
Le décaissement des salaires de l'entreprise a été retardé.
C2 adjective /kwəʊˈtɪdiən/

quotidian

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

ingest

ingérer
Meaning
To take food, drink, or another substance into the body, usually by swallowing.
Example
The patient must ingest the medicine with water.
Le patient doit ingérer le médicament avec de l'eau.
C2 noun /ˈhænd ˌrɪŋɪŋ/

hand-wringing

inquiétude excessive
Meaning
excessive worry or concern expressed in a visible or dramatic way.
Example
There was much hand-wringing over the political crisis.
Il y avait beaucoup de gestes dramatiques à propos de la crise politique.
C2 noun /kɒˈkeɪd/

cockade

rosette en ruban
Meaning
a rosette or knot of ribbon, usually worn on a hat as a badge of office or party
Example
The soldier wore a red cockade on his cap.
Le soldat portait une rosette en ruban rouge sur son chapeau.
C2 noun /ˌnɒvəˈlɛt/

novellette

novellette
Meaning
A short novel or long short story.
Example
The author published a novellette as a preview of her upcoming series.
L'auteur a publié une novellette en avant-première de sa prochaine série.
C2 adjective /heɪl/

hale

vital
Meaning
strong and healthy, especially of an elderly person
Example
Despite his age, the man remained hale and active.
Malgré son âge, l'homme est resté en bonne santé et actif.
C2 adjective /ˌhɪstriˈɒnɪk/

histrionic

excessivement dramatique
Meaning
Overly dramatic or theatrical in behavior or style.
Example
Her histrionic reaction to the small problem surprised everyone.
Sa réaction histrionique au petit problème a surpris tout le monde.
C2 verb /əbˈskɒnd/

abscond

fuir
Meaning
to leave secretly and quickly, often to avoid arrest or punishment
Example
The thief tried to abscond with the stolen jewelry.
Le voleur a essayé de fuir avec les bijoux volés.
C2 noun /ˈpɒliˌkreɪsi/

polycracy

policratie
Meaning
rule by many; government by multiple authorities
Example
The nation experienced a polycracy after decentralization reforms.
Le pays a connu une policratie après les réformes de décentralisation.
C2 adjective /rɪˈkæl.sɪ.trənt/

recalcitrant

récalcitrant, têtu, désobéissant
Meaning
Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.
Example
The recalcitrant student refused to follow rules.
L'étudiant récalcitrant a refusé de suivre les règles.
C2 adjective /ɪɡˈnoʊ.bəl/

Ignoble

ignoble; méprisable; bas
Meaning
dishonorable; not noble in character; base or mean
Example
His ignoble actions betrayed his friends' trust.
Ses actions ignobles ont trahi la confiance de ses amis.
C2 noun /ɪnˈɛrənsi/

inerrancy

inerrance
Meaning
the belief or quality of being free from error; absolute correctness
Example
Some religious groups strongly affirm the inerrancy of their sacred texts.
Certains groupes religieux affirment fermement l'inerrance de leurs textes sacrés.
C2 noun /aɪˈdɒlətri/

idolatry

idolâtrie
Meaning
The worship of idols or extreme admiration for someone or something.
Example
The priest condemned the idolatry practiced in the village.
Le prêtre a condamné l'idolâtrie pratiquée dans le village.
C2 noun/adjective /rɪˈmɒnstrənt/

remonstrant

protestataire
Meaning
A person who makes a forceful protest (noun); protesting or objecting (adjective).
Example
He was a remonstrant voice in the assembly.
Il était une voix de protestation dans l'assemblée.
C2 verb /sweɪð/

swathe

envelopper
Meaning
To wrap or cover closely or completely.
Example
She swathed the baby in a soft blanket.
Elle enveloppa le bébé dans une couverture douce.
C2 noun /ˈkæt.aɪ.ɒn ɪksˌtʃeɪndʒ/

cation-exchange

échange cationique
Meaning
A chemical process in soil that helps retain nutrients.
Example
The cation-exchange capacity of soil affects plant growth.
La capacité d'échange cationique du sol influence la croissance des plantes.
C2 noun /ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪks/

metaphysics

métaphysique
Meaning
The branch of philosophy that deals with the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and the relationship between mind and matter.
Example
She studied metaphysics to understand the principles of existence beyond physical science.
Elle a étudié la métaphysique pour comprendre les principes de l'existence au-delà de la science physique.
C2 adjective /pərˈsɪpiənt/

percipient

perspicace
Meaning
Having good understanding or insight; able to perceive things clearly.
Example
As a percipient critic, she recognized the deeper meaning of the play.
En tant que critique perspicace, elle a reconnu la signification plus profonde de la pièce.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈtriːvəbl/

irretrievable

irrécupérable
Meaning
impossible to recover or regain
Example
The documents were lost in an irretrievable way after the fire.
Les documents ont été perdus de manière irrécupérable après l'incendie.
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 /ˈvaɪəl/

viol

un type d'instrument à cordes ancien
Meaning
A stringed musical instrument of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, played with a bow and similar to but distinct from the violin family.
Example
The musician played an old viol in the chamber music concert.
Le musicien a joué un vieux viall dans le concert de musique de chambre.
C2 adjective /ˈɡær.ə.ləs/

Garrulous

bavard; loquace; disertant
Meaning
excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters; chatty and rambling in speech
Example
The garrulous old man at the coffee shop would talk for hours about his travels.
Le vieux bavard du café parlait pendant des heures de ses voyages.
C2 noun /ˈklæŋər/

clangor

bruit, fracas
Meaning
A loud, resonant, and continuous noise, often metallic.
Example
The clangor of the church bells filled the town square.
Le fracas des cloches de l'église remplissait la place du village.
C2 adjective /ˈdæpər/

dapper

élégant et soigné
Meaning
Neat, stylish, and well-dressed in appearance.
Example
He looked very dapper in his new suit.
Il avait l'air très élégant dans son nouveau costume.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːrtətɔːri/

hortatory

hortatoire
Meaning
Intended to encourage or urge to action.
Example
The manager’s hortatory words inspired the team to work harder.
Les paroles exhortantes du directeur ont inspiré l'équipe à travailler plus dur.
C2 noun /bɪˈnɪɡnɪti/

Benignity

bonté; douceur; la qualité d'être bienveillant ou gracieux
Meaning
kindness; gentleness; the quality of being benign or gracious
Example
Her benignity towards all people made her beloved by everyone.
Sa bonté envers tous les gens l'a rendue aimée de tous.
C2 adjective /ˈpæsɪbəl/

passible

capable de ressentir; susceptible à la souffrance
Meaning
capable of feeling or suffering; susceptible to sensation or emotion (often theological)
Example
In some traditions, deities are described as passible, sharing human emotions.
Dans certaines traditions, les divinités sont décrites comme passibles, partageant des émotions humaines.
C2 verb /ˈhɑːrpɪŋ/

harping

se plaindre constamment
Meaning
continuously talking or complaining about something in a tiresome way
Example
She kept harping on about the mistakes I made.
Elle n'a cessé de se plaindre constamment des erreurs que j'ai faites.
C2 verb /ˈwiːdəl/

wheedle

flatter pour convaincre
Meaning
to persuade or coax someone by using flattery or smooth talk
Example
She managed to wheedle extra pocket money from her father.
Elle a réussi à obtenir de l'argent de poche supplémentaire de son père.
C2 noun /ˈəʊpəs/

opus

œuvre créative
Meaning
A creative work, especially a large and important piece of music or art.
Example
The composer considered the symphony his greatest opus.
Le compositeur considérait la symphonie comme sa plus grande œuvre créative.
C2 noun /ˌvɛəriəˈɡeɪʃən/

variegation

variété
Meaning
The appearance of differently colored zones in the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants.
Example
Variegation makes the foliage look more attractive.
La variegation rend le feuillage plus attrayant.
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 adjective /rəˈʃɛrʃ/

recherche

exclusif
Meaning
Rare, exotic, or obscure, often in a sophisticated or refined way.
Example
The gallery displayed many recherche artworks from unknown artists.
La galerie a exposé de nombreuses œuvres d'art exclusives d'artistes inconnus.
C2 verb /ænˈtɪpəθaɪz/

antipathize

antipathiser
Meaning
to feel or express a strong dislike or aversion toward something or someone
Example
He seemed to antipathize with the new management's approach.
Il semblait antipathiser avec l'approche de la nouvelle direction.
C2 adjective /ˈproʊtiən/

protean

polyvalent
Meaning
tending or able to change frequently or easily; versatile
Example
She is a protean artist who experiments with many styles.
C'est une artiste polyvalente qui expérimente avec de nombreux styles.
C2 noun /prɪˈpɒndərəns/

preponderance

prépondérance
Meaning
The quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance.
Example
There was a preponderance of evidence against the defendant.
Il y avait une prépondérance de preuves contre l'accusé.
C2 adjective /ˈdoʊlfəl/

Doleful

triste; lugubre;
Meaning
sorrowful; mournful; expressing grief or sadness
Example
She gave him a doleful look when he left.
Elle lui donna un regard triste lorsqu'il partit.
C2 noun /ˈpɛrɪstaɪl/

peristyle

perronne entourée de colonnes
Meaning
A continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the perimeter of a building or courtyard.
Example
The Roman villa featured a beautiful peristyle garden.
La villa romaine présentait un beau jardin péristyle.