sully
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C2 verb /ˈsʌli/

sully

salir
Meaning
to damage the purity, integrity, or reputation of something
Example
The scandal sullied the politician’s reputation.
Le scandale a sali la réputation du politicien.
C2 noun /ˌniːoʊˈpeɪɡənɪzəm/

neopaganism

néopaganisme
Meaning
Modern religious movements influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various historical pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe.
Example
Neopaganism has gained popularity as people seek spiritual alternatives to mainstream religions.
Le néopaganisme a gagné en popularité à mesure que les gens recherchent des alternatives spirituelles aux religions dominantes.
C2 phrase /lɛt ðɛm ˈθɪə.ri/

let them theory

théorie de laisser les autres penser ce qu'ils veulent
Meaning
A philosophy of not trying to control others' actions or opinions and allowing them to be themselves.
Example
He follows the Let them theory and ignores negativity.
Il suit la théorie de 'les laisser' et ignore la négativité.
C2 noun /pæˈstiːʃ/

pastiche

pastiche
Meaning
a work of art, literature, or music that imitates the style of another artist, period, or genre
Example
The film was a clever pastiche of 1950s detective movies.
Le film était un habile pastiche des films policiers des années 1950.
C2 verb /bɪˈtəʊkən/

betoken

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

culvert

tunnel d'égout
Meaning
a tunnel or drain that carries water under a road or railway
Example
The heavy rainwater flowed through the culvert under the bridge.
L'eau de pluie lourde a coulé à travers le tunnel d'égout sous le pont.
C2 noun /ˌrɛv.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/

revocation

révocation
Meaning
The act of officially canceling or withdrawing something.
Example
The court ordered the revocation of his license.
Le tribunal a ordonné la révocation de sa licence.
C2 verb /ɪmˈpjuːt/

impute

imputer
Meaning
to attribute a fault or responsibility to someone
Example
They imputed the company's success to good leadership.
Ils ont imputé le succès de l'entreprise à un bon leadership.
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 verb /ˈhæroʊ/

harrow

tourmenter / herse
Meaning
to cause distress or torment; also to break up and smooth soil with a farm tool
Example
The tragic news harrowed the entire family.
La tragique nouvelle a tourmenté toute la famille.
C2 noun /ˈdrʌmɪt/

Drumet

drumet
Meaning
a small drum used in military or marching bands
Example
The drummer played a steady beat on the drumet during the parade.
Le batteur a joué un rythme constant sur le drumet pendant le défilé.
C2 adjective /ˈflæb.i/

Flabby

mou et lâche; manque de fermeté ou de tonus musculaire; faible
Meaning
soft and loose; lacking firmness or muscle tone; weak
Example
His flabby arms showed he needed to exercise more.
Ses bras flasques montraient qu'il avait besoin de faire plus d'exercice.
C2 noun /paɪər/

pyre

bûcher funéraire
Meaning
A heap of combustible material, especially one used for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony.
Example
The villagers built a pyre to honor the deceased.
Les villageois ont construit un bûcher pour honorer le défunt.
C2 adjective /rɪˈfʌldʒənt/

refulgent

resplendissant
Meaning
Shining brightly; radiant.
Example
The refulgent sun lit up the entire valley.
Le soleil resplendissant éclaira toute la vallée.
C2 adjective /ˌɒbsəˈlɛsnt/

obsolescent

obsolète
Meaning
Becoming outdated or on the way to becoming obsolete.
Example
The obsolescent technology could not compete with modern devices.
La technologie obsolète ne pouvait pas concurrencer les appareils modernes.
C2 verb /ˌæntɪˈsiːd/

antecede

précéder
Meaning
to come before in time or order
Example
A short introduction usually antecedes the main text.
Une courte introduction précède généralement le texte principal.
C2 verb /ˈdɛsɪkreɪt/

desecrate

désacraliser
Meaning
to treat a sacred place or object with disrespect or violation
Example
The vandals desecrated the ancient temple walls with graffiti.
Les vandales ont désacralisé les murs du temple ancien avec des graffitis.
C2 noun /ˌær.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

arability

arabilité
Meaning
The quality of land being suitable for growing crops.
Example
The arability of land depends on soil quality and water availability.
L'arabilité du sol dépend de la qualité du sol et de la disponibilité de l'eau.
C2 adjective /ˈvɛəriəˌɡeɪtɪd/

variegated

bigarré
Meaning
Having different colors, especially in irregular patches or streaks.
Example
The garden was full of variegated plants.
Le jardin était plein de plantes bigarrées.
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 verb /rɛnd/

rend

déchirer
Meaning
to tear something apart violently or forcefully
Example
The explosion rent the air with a deafening noise.
L'explosion déchira l'air avec un bruit assourdissant.
C2 noun /ˈplænɪsfɪr/

planisphere

planisphère
Meaning
a rotating star chart used to display the visible stars for any time and date
Example
The astronomer used a planisphere to identify the constellations.
L'astronome a utilisé un planisphère pour identifier les constellations.
C2 verb /fɪˈlændər/

philander

flirter
Meaning
to engage in casual or frivolous romantic or sexual relationships
Example
He was known to philander with many women in town.
Il était connu pour flirter avec de nombreuses femmes en ville.
C2 noun /nɑːrˈsɪsəs/

narcissus

fleur de narcisse
Meaning
A type of flowering plant with yellow or white blooms, often associated with self-love from Greek mythology.
Example
A narcissus bloomed in the garden during spring.
Un narcisse a fleuri dans le jardin au printemps.
C2 noun /ˌiː.tiˈɒ.lə.dʒi/

etiology

étiologie
Meaning
the cause or origin of a disease or condition
Example
Doctors are studying the etiology of the new virus.
Les médecins étudient l'étiologie du nouveau virus.
C2 verb /ˈflʌməks/

flummox

déconcerter
Meaning
To confuse or bewilder someone completely.
Example
The complicated puzzle flummoxed the students.
Le puzzle compliqué a déconcerté les étudiants.
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 /kənˈtrɪʃ.ən/

contrition

contrition
Meaning
the state of feeling remorseful and repentant
Example
His contrition was evident after the apology.
Sa contrition était évidente après des excuses.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnkənˈsɪdərəbl/

inconsiderable

insignifiant
Meaning
Too small or unimportant to be worth considering.
Example
The donation was not inconsiderable, though smaller than expected.
La donation n'était pas insignifiante, bien qu'elle fût plus petite que prévu.
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 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 noun /ˌfəʊ.təʊ.sen.sɪˈtɪv.ɪ.ti/

photosensitivity

sensibilité à la lumière
Meaning
Sensitivity to light, especially abnormal sensitivity that may cause discomfort or damage.
Example
Overrubbing can increase photosensitivity.
Un frottement excessif peut augmenter la sensibilité à la lumière.
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 verb /ˈfrɪtər/

fritter

gaspiller
Meaning
To waste time, money, or energy on trivial matters.
Example
He frittered away his savings on unnecessary gadgets.
Il a gaspillé ses économies sur des gadgets inutiles.
C2 noun /ˈbɑːrbərɪzəm/

Barbarism

barbarie
Meaning
extreme cruelty or brutality; absence of culture and civilization
Example
The barbarism of the war crimes shocked the entire international community.
Le barbarisme des crimes de guerre a choqué la communauté internationale.
C2 noun /ˈæpəfθɛm/

apophthegm

dicton ou maxime courte, concise et éducative
Meaning
A short, pithy, and instructive saying or maxim.
Example
She always had a witty apophthegm to share at meetings.
Elle avait toujours un apophtegme spirituel à partager lors des réunions.
C2 noun /ˈlɑːrdər/

larder

garde-manger
Meaning
A place, such as a pantry, where food is stored.
Example
The larder was full of fresh bread and cheese.
Le garde-manger était plein de pain frais et de fromage.
C2 noun /ˈræbəl/

Rabble

foule
Meaning
a disorderly crowd; the common people regarded as socially inferior
Example
The politician dismissed the protesters as mere rabble.
Le politicien a rejeté les manifestants comme une simple foule.
C2 noun /ˌmɑːhəˈrɑːdʒə/

maharaja

maharaja
Meaning
A great king, especially a ruler of one of the principal states in India.
Example
The maharaja lived in a grand palace surrounded by gardens.
Le maharaja vivait dans un grand palais entouré de jardins.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈprəʊtʃəbl̩/

irreproachable

irréprochable
Meaning
Beyond criticism; faultless.
Example
The judge was known for his irreproachable integrity.
Le juge était connu pour son intégrité irréprochable.
C2 noun /ˌkəʊ.əˈles.əns/

coalescence

coalescence, fusion
Meaning
The process of coming together to form one mass or whole.
Example
The coalescence of different cultures creates diversity.
La coalescence de différentes cultures crée de la diversité.
C2 noun /sɪˈrɒkoʊ/

sirocco

vent chaud et sec
Meaning
A hot, dry wind blowing from North Africa across the Mediterranean to southern Europe.
Example
The sirocco made the city unbearably hot and dusty.
Le sirocco a rendu la ville insupportablement chaude et poussiéreuse.
C2 noun /ˌɪmprəˈpraɪəti/

impropriety

impropriété
Meaning
Failure to observe standards of honesty or modesty; improper behavior.
Example
The politician was accused of financial impropriety.
Le politicien a été accusé d'impropriété financière.
C2 adjective /ˈvoʊtɪv/

votive

votif
Meaning
Offered or dedicated in fulfillment of a vow.
Example
She lit a votive candle in the church as a prayer.
Elle a allumé une bougie votive dans l'église comme prière.
C2 verb /ˈskærɪfaɪ/

scarify

scarifier
Meaning
to make shallow cuts or scratches; to loosen the surface of soil
Example
The farmer scarified the soil before planting seeds.
L'agriculteur a scarifié le sol avant de planter les graines.
C2 noun phrase /ˌhjuː ən ˈkraɪ/

hue and cry

cris de protestation
Meaning
A loud public outcry or protest, often demanding action.
Example
There was a hue and cry over the new policy changes.
Il y a eu un grand cri de protestation suite aux nouveaux changements de politique.
C2 verb /ˈeksɔːrsaɪz/

exorcise

exorciser
Meaning
To drive out an evil spirit or bad influence through rituals or prayers.
Example
The priest was called to exorcise the spirit from the house.
Le prêtre a été appelé pour exorciser l'esprit de la maison.
C2 noun /ˌkæstɪˈɡeɪʃən/

castigation

critique sévère ou punition
Meaning
Severe criticism or punishment for wrongdoing.
Example
The manager’s harsh castigation shocked the entire team.
La sévère castigation du manager a choqué toute l'équipe.
C2 adjective /ˈtɔːrʃəs/

tortious

acte illicite
Meaning
Relating to or involving a wrongful act leading to legal liability.
Example
The company was found guilty of tortious interference with contracts.
L'entreprise a été reconnue coupable d'interférence illicite avec les contrats.
C2 noun /kəmˈpɒz.ɪ.tər/

Compositor

compositeur
Meaning
a person who arranges type for printing or creates musical compositions
Example
The compositor carefully arranged the text for the newspaper.
Le compositeur a soigneusement organisé le texte pour le journal.
C2 noun /ˈrɛkluːsəri/

reclusory

lieu de retraite
Meaning
A place for seclusion or retreat, especially for a recluse or hermit.
Example
The monk spent years in the reclusory away from society.
Le moine a passé des années dans le lieu de retraite loin de la société.
C2 adjective /əˈkɪliən/

achillean

achillien
Meaning
like or characteristic of Achilles; strong but vulnerable
Example
His achillean pride made him blind to danger.
Sa fierté achillienne le rendait aveugle au danger.
C2 noun /ˌmɛtəmˌsaɪˈkoʊsɪs/

metempsychosis

réincarnation de l'âme
Meaning
The supposed transmigration of the soul, especially its reincarnation after death.
Example
Ancient philosophers often debated the idea of metempsychosis.
Les anciens philosophes débattaient souvent de la réincarnation de l'âme.
C2 adjective /ˈbrɪndl̩d/

brindled

bringé
Meaning
Having a brownish or tawny color with streaks or spots of another color.
Example
The farmer owned a brindled cow with distinctive stripes.
L'agriculteur possédait une vache bringée avec des rayures distinctes.
C2 noun /ˌkɑːnfɔːrˈmeɪʃən/

conformation

conformation
Meaning
The shape, structure, or arrangement of something.
Example
The scientist studied the molecular conformation of the protein.
Le scientifique a étudié la conformation moléculaire de la protéine.
C2 verb /ɪnˈtɜːr/

inter

enterrer
Meaning
To bury a dead body in the ground.
Example
They decided to inter the soldier with full honors.
Ils ont décidé d'enterrer le soldat avec tous les honneurs.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌsti/

busty

à forte poitrine
Meaning
having a large or full bust; describing a woman with a prominent chest
Example
The actress was often described as busty in fashion magazines.
L’actrice était souvent décrite comme à forte poitrine dans les magazines de mode.
C2 verb /ˈʌndjʊleɪt/

undulate

onduler
Meaning
To move with a smooth, wave-like motion.
Example
The snake undulated across the sand.
Le serpent ondulait à travers le sable.
C2 noun /ˈmɒnəˌsɪləbəl/

monosyllable

mot monosyllabique
Meaning
A word consisting of only one syllable.
Example
Words like 'yes' and 'no' are monosyllables.
Des mots comme 'oui' et 'non' sont des monosyllabes.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈtraɪkʌlər/

tricolor

drapeau tricolore
Meaning
A flag with three colors; consisting of three colors.
Example
The French tricolor is one of the most famous national flags in the world.
Le drapeau tricolore français est l'un des drapeaux nationaux les plus célèbres au monde.
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 adjective /ˌʌnɪkˈsɛpʃənəbl/

unexceptionable

irréprochable
Meaning
Not open to objection; acceptable and unobjectionable
Example
His behavior was unexceptionable throughout the event.
Son comportement était irréprochable tout au long de l'événement.
C2 noun /ˌsuːdəˈnɪmɪti/

pseudonymity

utilisation de pseudonyme
Meaning
the practice or state of using a pseudonym
Example
The author maintained pseudonymity throughout her career.
L'auteure a maintenu l'utilisation de pseudonyme tout au long de sa carrière.
C2 noun /ˈfrɛs.koʊ/

fresco

fresque
Meaning
A painting done rapidly in watercolor on wet plaster so that the colors penetrate the surface
Example
The church walls were decorated with beautiful frescoes.
Les murs de l'église étaient décorés de magnifiques fresques.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪnəri/

finery

vêtements ou décorations luxueux
Meaning
expensive or elaborate clothes, decorations, or accessories
Example
She attended the party in her finest finery.
Elle est allée à la fête vêtue de sa plus belle tenue.
C2 noun /ˈhʌm.ək/

hummock

butte
Meaning
A small hill, mound, or ridge of earth or ice.
Example
The hikers rested on a grassy hummock by the river.
Les randonneurs se sont reposés sur une butte herbeuse près de la rivière.
C2 adjective /ˈkɒr.ə.ɡeɪ.tɪd/

corrugated

ondulé ou plié
Meaning
shaped into ridges and grooves; wrinkled or folded
Example
The roof was made of corrugated metal sheets.
Le toit était fait de feuilles de métal ondulé.
C2 adjective /ɒmˈnɪʃ.ənt/

Omniscient

omniscient
Meaning
having complete knowledge; all-knowing
Example
The narrator in the novel appears to be omniscient, knowing every character's thoughts.
Le narrateur dans le roman semble être omniscient, connaissant toutes les pensées des personnages.
C2 noun /ˈtʃæm.pæk/

Champak

champak
Meaning
a fragrant yellow or white flower from a tree native to South Asia, used in perfumes and religious ceremonies
Example
The champak tree in the temple courtyard bloomed with golden flowers.
L'arbre de champak dans la cour du temple a fleuri avec des fleurs dorées.
C2 noun /ˌæk.rəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/

acrophobia

peur des hauteurs
Meaning
An extreme or irrational fear of heights.
Example
Her acrophobia prevented her from climbing the tall building.
Son acrophobie l'a empêchée de monter dans le grand bâtiment.
C2 noun /ˌpraɪmoʊˈdʒɛnɪtʃər/

primogeniture

primogéniture
Meaning
The right of the firstborn child to inherit the family estate or title.
Example
Under primogeniture, the eldest son inherited the entire estate.
Sous la primogéniture, le fils aîné a hérité de l'ensemble du domaine.
C2 adjective /ˈæməˌtɔːri/

amatory

amoureux
Meaning
Relating to or expressing sexual love.
Example
The poet’s verses were filled with amatory themes.
Les vers du poète étaient remplis de thèmes amoureux.
C2 adjective /əˈθɜːrst/

athirst

asif, avideux
Meaning
Very eager or desirous for something.
Example
The explorer was athirst for adventure.
L'explorateur était asif d'aventure.
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 /fækˈsɪmɪli/

facsimile

copie
Meaning
an exact copy or reproduction of a document
Example
He sent a facsimile of the contract to the client.
Il a envoyé une copie du contrat au client.
C2 adjective /ˈvækjuəs/

vacuous

vide
Meaning
Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
Example
She gave a vacuous smile during the serious discussion.
Elle a souri de façon vide pendant la discussion sérieuse.
C2 verb /haɪˈpɒθɪkeɪt/

hypothecate

hypothéquer
Meaning
to pledge something, such as property, as security for a debt without giving up possession of it.
Example
The company hypothecated its assets to secure the loan.
L'entreprise a hypothéqué ses actifs pour sécuriser le prêt.
C2 noun /ˈmʌskɪt/

musket

un type de fusil ancien
Meaning
a type of long gun used in the past, especially by infantry soldiers
Example
The soldiers carried muskets into the battlefield.
Les soldats ont porté des mousquets sur le champ de bataille.
C2 verb ˈlev.ɪ.teɪ.tɪŋ

levitating

lévitation
Meaning
Rising and hovering in the air, especially as a result of supernatural or magical power.
Example
The levitating structure is an engineering marvel.
La structure lévitante est une merveille d'ingénierie.
C2 noun /ˌbækəˈneɪliə/

bacchanalia

fête débridée
Meaning
A Roman festival of Bacchus celebrated with dancing, drinking, and revelry; any occasion of wild and drunken revelry.
Example
The novel describes the party as a bacchanalia of excess and joy.
Le roman décrit la fête comme une bacchanale d'excès et de joie.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrkwɪzɪt raɪt/

perquisiteperquisiteright

droit aux avantages supplémentaires
Meaning
a legal right to certain benefits or privileges associated with a job or office
Example
The judge enjoyed certain perquisite rights attached to his position.
Le juge a profité de certains droits supplémentaires liés à sa fonction.
C2 noun, verb /ˈpɑːrli/

parley

parole
Meaning
a discussion between opposing sides, especially to negotiate terms
Example
The generals met to parley over the terms of surrender.
Les généraux se sont rencontrés pour discuter des conditions de la reddition.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈdjuːbɪtəbl/

indubitable

indubitable
Meaning
Impossible to doubt; unquestionable.
Example
It is indubitable that hard work leads to success.
Il est indubitable que le travail acharné mène au succès.
C2 adjective /kəmˈpleɪzənt/

complaisant

trop complaisant
Meaning
willing to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest
Example
He was too complaisant to refuse their demands.
Il était trop complaisant pour refuser leurs demandes.
C2 adverb /ˈtrɛbli/

trebly

triplement
Meaning
in a triple manner or to a threefold degree
Example
The sound was trebly distorted through the old speakers.
Le son était distordu triplement par les vieux haut-parleurs.
C2 verb ˈɑːb.fə.skeɪt

obfuscate

obscurcir, embrouiller, mystifier
Meaning
Render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
Example
Politicians often obfuscate facts to mislead people.
Les politiciens obfusquent souvent les faits pour induire les gens en erreur.
C2 adjective /ˈreɪ.moʊs/

ramose

ramifié
Meaning
having many branches.
Example
The ramose tree shaded the entire garden.
L'arbre ramifié ombragea tout le jardin.
C2 adjective /ˈprɑːflɪɡət/

profligate

dissipateur
Meaning
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in resources
Example
The king was known for his profligate lifestyle.
Le roi était connu pour son style de vie dissipateur.
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 adjective /ɪnˈdɛkərəs/

indecorous

indécent
Meaning
Not in keeping with good taste and propriety; improper.
Example
His indecorous behavior shocked the audience.
Son comportement indécent a choqué l'audience.
C2 noun /θroʊz/

throes

agonie intense
Meaning
intense or violent pain and struggle, often at the beginning or end of something
Example
The country was in the throes of a political crisis.
Le pays était dans l'agonie intense d'une crise politique.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪsənənt/

dissonant

dissonant
Meaning
Harsh and lacking harmony; conflicting.
Example
The orchestra produced a dissonant sound during rehearsal.
L'orchestre a produit un son dissonant pendant la répétition.
C2 adjective /ˈhæl.si.ən/

halcyon

serein
Meaning
calm, peaceful, and happy; denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful
Example
She often reminisces about the halcyon days of her childhood.
Elle se souvient souvent des jours sereins de son enfance.
C2 adjective /ˌtɔːtəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/

tautological

tautologique
Meaning
expressing something by repeating the same idea in different words; redundant
Example
Saying 'free gift' is considered tautological.
Dire 'cadeau gratuit' est considéré comme tautologique.
C2 noun /wɜːrl/

whorl

spirale
Meaning
A pattern of spirals or concentric circles, often found in fingerprints, shells, or flowers.
Example
The fingerprint displayed a clear whorl pattern.
L'empreinte digitale affichait un motif clair de spirale.
C2 noun /ˌkɒntrəpəˈzɪʃən/

contraposition

contraposition
Meaning
the act of placing two things in opposition for contrast or comparison
Example
The contraposition of the two theories highlighted their differences.
La contraposition des deux théories a mis en lumière leurs différences.
C2 verb /frɪz/

frizz

former les cheveux en boucles serrées ou rendre les cheveux éparse et emmêlés
Meaning
to form into small, tight curls or cause hair to become fuzzy and tangled
Example
The humid weather caused her hair to frizz.
Le temps humide a causé l'ondulation de ses cheveux.
C2 noun /ˈfræŋkɪnsɛns/

frankincense

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

interstice

interstice
Meaning
a small space that lies between things
Example
Light filtered through the narrow interstices of the wall.
La lumière s'est filtrée à travers les étroites interstices du mur.
C2 adjective /ˌæl.ɪˈmen.tər.i/

alimentary

relatif à la digestion
Meaning
relating to nourishment or the organs of digestion
Example
The doctor explained the role of the alimentary canal in digestion.
Le médecin a expliqué le rôle du canal alimentaire dans la digestion.
C2 verb /ˈek.stər.peɪt/

extirpate

extirper
Meaning
to completely remove or destroy something unwanted
Example
The government launched a program to extirpate corruption from public offices.
Le gouvernement a lancé un programme pour extirper la corruption des bureaux publics.
C2 verb /ˈvɛəriəˌɡeɪt/

variegate

diversifier
Meaning
To diversify or mark with different colors or patterns.
Example
The artist used different shades to variegate the design.
L'artiste a utilisé différentes nuances pour diversifier le design.
C2 adjective /ˈruːnɪk/

runic

relatif aux runes
Meaning
relating to or consisting of runes; mysterious or magical
Example
The old stone had strange runic carvings on it.
La vieille pierre avait des gravures runiques étranges.
C2 adjective /ɪkˈspɒzɪtəri/

expository

expositif
Meaning
intended to explain or describe something
Example
The teacher gave an expository lecture on the topic.
Le professeur a donné une conférence expositive sur le sujet.
C2 adjective /ɪˈbʊliənt/

ebullient

exubérant
Meaning
cheerful and full of energy
Example
She was ebullient after receiving the good news.
Elle était exubérante après avoir reçu la bonne nouvelle.
C2 noun /ˈvoʊtəri/

votary

dévot
Meaning
A devoted follower or admirer of someone or something.
Example
He is a votary of classical music and attends every concert.
Il est un dévot de la musique classique et assiste à chaque concert.
C2 adjective /ˌʌnprəˈpɪʃəs/

unpropitious

défavorable
Meaning
Not giving or indicating a good chance of success; unfavorable.
Example
The team began their journey under unpropitious weather conditions.
L'équipe a commencé son voyage sous des conditions météorologiques défavorables.
C2 noun /ˌæbnɪˈɡeɪʃən/

abnegation

abnégation
Meaning
the act of renouncing or rejecting something, especially self-denial
Example
The monk’s life was one of complete abnegation of worldly pleasures.
La vie du moine était une complète abnégation des plaisirs mondains.
C2 adverb /ˈɡeɪmli/

gamely

avec courage
Meaning
in a brave, spirited, or determined manner
Example
She gamely accepted the challenge despite the difficulties.
Elle a accepté courageusement le défi malgré les difficultés.
C2 noun /tʊˈriːn/

tureen

terrine
Meaning
A large deep dish with a cover, used for serving soups or stews.
Example
She brought the hot soup to the table in a silver tureen.
Elle apporta la soupe chaude à la table dans une terrine argentée.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈhɛrɪt/

disinherit

désinformer
Meaning
to deprive someone, especially a child, of inheritance or right to property
Example
The father threatened to disinherit his son for his reckless actions.
Le père a menacé de désinformer son fils à cause de ses actions imprudentes.
C2 noun /ˌbluː ˈblʌd/

Blue-blood

sang bleu
Meaning
a person of noble birth; aristocrat
Example
She came from a family of blue-bloods with centuries of royal heritage.
Elle venait d'une famille de sang bleu avec des siècles d'héritage royal.
C2 noun /bɜːrˈlɛsk/

burlesque

burlesque
Meaning
A humorous and exaggerated imitation of a serious work; a type of theatrical entertainment involving comedy and parody.
Example
The play was a clever burlesque of traditional opera.
La pièce était une burlesque ingénieuse de l'opéra traditionnel.
C2 noun /ɪnˈɡrætɪˌtjuːd/

ingratitude

ingratitude
Meaning
Lack of gratitude; failure to show thanks or appreciation.
Example
His ingratitude hurt her feelings after all she had done for him.
Son ingratitude lui a fait mal après tout ce qu'elle avait fait pour lui.
C2 verb /ˌnɒnˈplʌst/

nonplussed

déconcerté
Meaning
Past tense of nonplus; surprised and unsure how to react.
Example
He stood nonplussed at the strange remark.
Il est resté déconcerté par la remarque étrange.
C2 noun /ˈæn.əlz/

annals

annales
Meaning
Historical records of events, usually arranged chronologically.
Example
Her name will be remembered in the annals of science.
Son nom sera gravé dans les annales de la science.
C2 noun /ɪˌkwɪvəˈkeɪʃən/

equivocation

utilisation de langage ambigu
Meaning
The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself.
Example
The politician’s equivocation frustrated voters who wanted a clear answer.
L'équivocation du politicien a frustré les électeurs qui voulaient une réponse claire.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɛmbələr/

dissembler

hypocrite
Meaning
a person who conceals their real feelings or intentions; a hypocrite or pretender
Example
The politician was accused of being a dissembler who never revealed his true plans.
Le politicien a été accusé d'être un hypocrite qui n'a jamais révélé ses vrais projets.
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 /krəˈnɒmɪtər/

chronometer

chronomètre
Meaning
An instrument for measuring time precisely, especially used in navigation.
Example
The sailor relied on the chronometer to determine his position at sea.
Le marin a compté sur le chronomètre pour déterminer sa position en mer.
C2 noun /trəˈveɪl/

travail

travail pénible
Meaning
Painful or laborious effort; suffering or hardship.
Example
After years of travail, she finally completed her degree.
Après des années de travail pénible, elle a enfin obtenu son diplôme.