sumptuary
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 /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 /pɛnˈtæmɪtər/

pentameter

pentamètre
Meaning
A line of verse consisting of five metrical feet.
Example
Shakespeare often wrote his plays in iambic pentameter.
Shakespeare écrivait souvent ses pièces en pentamètre iambique.
C2 verb /ɪˈmɛnd/

emend

corriger
Meaning
to correct or revise a text, especially for errors
Example
The editor emended the manuscript before publication.
L'éditeur a corrigé le manuscrit avant la publication.
C2 verb /ɜːrk/

irk

agacer
Meaning
to annoy or irritate someone
Example
It irks me when people are late without calling.
Ça m'agace quand les gens arrivent en retard sans appeler.
C2 adjective /əˈsɛt.ɪk/

ascetic

ascétique
Meaning
Practicing strict self-denial and abstaining from worldly pleasures, often for religious reasons.
Example
He lived an ascetic life in the mountains, far from worldly comforts.
Il vivait une vie ascétique dans les montagnes, loin des conforts mondains.
C2 verb /ˈtɛmpəˌraɪz/

temporize

temporiser
Meaning
To delay making a decision or taking action in order to gain time.
Example
The politician temporized when asked about the controversial issue.
Le politicien a temporisé lorsqu'on lui a demandé à propos de la question controversée.
C2 verb /nɑːrl/

gnarl

torsader
Meaning
To twist into a knotted or distorted form.
Example
The tree roots began to gnarl around the stones.
Les racines de l'arbre ont commencé à se tordre autour des pierres.
C2 noun /ˈfɜːrnəri/

fernery

fernière, endroit où les fougères sont cultivées
Meaning
a place or greenhouse where ferns are cultivated
Example
The garden's fernery was full of exotic plants.
La ferniére du jardin était pleine de plantes exotiques.
C2 adjective /ˈbɔːdi/

bawdy

obscène
Meaning
humorously indecent or obscene, often in a sexual way
Example
The comedian’s bawdy jokes made the audience laugh and blush.
Les blagues obscènes du comédien ont fait rire le public et ont fait rougir certains.
C2 noun /əˈsper.ɪ.ti/

asperity

asperité
Meaning
Harshness of tone, manner, or surface.
Example
She spoke with asperity when she was interrupted.
Elle parla avec aspérité lorsqu'elle fut interrompue.
C2 adjective /ˌhaɪpərˈkrɪtɪkl/

hypercritical

hypercritique
Meaning
Excessively or unreasonably critical.
Example
The teacher was often hypercritical of small mistakes.
Le professeur était souvent hypercritique envers les petites erreurs.
C2 adjective /ˈflɪpənt/

flippant

désinvolte
Meaning
not showing a serious or respectful attitude
Example
His flippant remarks annoyed the teacher.
Ses remarques désinvoltes ont agacé le professeur.
C2 adjective /ˈmiːzli/

measly

insignifiant
Meaning
contemptibly small or insignificant
Example
He was paid a measly sum for the hard work.
Il a été payé une somme insignifiante pour le travail acharné.
C2 noun /ˈmæn.li.nəs/

manliness

virilité
Meaning
The quality of being manly; courage, strength, and honor associated with men.
Example
His manliness was admired by his peers.
Sa virilité a été admirée par ses pairs.
C2 adjective /ˈtræktəbəl/

tractable

facile à contrôler ou influencer
Meaning
easy to control or influence
Example
The child was surprisingly tractable during the long journey.
L'enfant était étonnamment facile à contrôler pendant le long voyage.
C2 noun /ˌpaɪrəˈmeɪniə/

pyromania

désir incontrôlable de mettre le feu à des choses
Meaning
An uncontrollable desire to set things on fire.
Example
The suspect was diagnosed with pyromania after repeated incidents of arson.
Le suspect a été diagnostiqué avec la pyromanie après plusieurs incidents d'incendie criminel.
C2 adjective /raɪˈpɛə.ri.ən/

riparian

relatif ou situé sur les rives d'un fleuve ou d'un autre cours d'eau
Meaning
Relating to or situated on the banks of a river or other watercourse.
Example
Riparian vegetation helps prevent soil erosion along rivers.
La végétation riparienne aide à prévenir l'érosion des sols le long des rivières.
C2 noun /ˈæl.baɪt/

albite

albite
Meaning
A white or colorless mineral of the feldspar group, often found in igneous rocks.
Example
Geologists discovered albite crystals in the rock sample.
Les géologues ont découvert des cristaux d'albite dans l'échantillon de roche.
C2 verb /θrɛʃ/

thresh

battre
Meaning
to separate grain from the plant by beating or by using a machine
Example
Farmers used machines to thresh the wheat after harvest.
Les agriculteurs ont utilisé des machines pour battre le blé après la récolte.
C2 noun /roʊˈtʌn.də/

rotunda

bâtiment circulaire
Meaning
a large circular building or hall, often with a dome
Example
Tourists gathered inside the grand rotunda of the capitol.
Les touristes se sont réunis à l'intérieur de la grande rotonde du capitole.
C2 noun /əˈnæθəmə/

anathema

anathème / chose détestée
Meaning
something or someone intensely disliked or strongly condemned
Example
Violence is anathema to her peaceful nature.
La violence est un anathème pour sa nature pacifique.
C2 verb /kənˈvʌls/

convulse

secouer violemment; souffrir de contractions involontaires soudaines
Meaning
to shake violently; to suffer sudden involuntary contractions
Example
The patient convulsed during the seizure.
Le patient a convulsé pendant la crise.
C2 adjective /ˈpeɪli/

paly

rayé
Meaning
striped with different colors, usually used in heraldry
Example
The knight’s shield was decorated with paly stripes of red and gold.
Le bouclier du chevalier était décoré de rayures rayées rouges et dorées.
C2 verb /ˈɡræn.jʊ.leɪt/

granulate

granuler
Meaning
To form or cause to form into grains or small particles.
Example
The sugar began to granulate as it cooled.
Le sucre a commencé à se granuler lorsqu'il a refroidi.
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 /ˈdʌblɪt/

doublet

doublet / veste ajustée
Meaning
a close-fitting jacket worn by men in the Renaissance; also, a pair of similar things
Example
The actor wore a velvet doublet for the Shakespearean play.
L'acteur a porté un doublet en velours pour la pièce de Shakespeare.
C2 adjective /ˈslɪpʃɒd/

slipshod

négligé, bâclé
Meaning
done in a careless, sloppy, or untidy way
Example
The project failed due to slipshod planning.
Le projet a échoué en raison d'une planification négligée.
C2 noun /ˈkʌvi/

covey

un petit groupe d'oiseaux
Meaning
a small group of birds, especially partridges or quails
Example
A covey of quails flew across the field.
Un covey de cailles a volé à travers le champ.
C2 adjective /ˈɒfɪʃ/

offish

distant
Meaning
Unfriendly, distant, or reserved in manner.
Example
He seemed offish at the party and avoided most conversations.
Il semblait distant à la fête et évitait la plupart des conversations.
C2 adjective /ˈbrɔːni/

brawny

musclé
Meaning
Physically strong and muscular.
Example
The brawny man lifted the heavy box with ease.
L'homme musclé a soulevé la boîte lourde avec facilité.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊ.nə.ɡræm/

phonogram

symbole phonétique
Meaning
a written symbol representing a speech sound
Example
The teacher showed how each phonogram represents a particular sound.
L'enseignant a montré comment chaque phonogramme représente un son particulier.
C2 noun /oʊd/

ode

ode
Meaning
a lyrical poem, often expressing praise or strong emotions
Example
The poet wrote an ode to the beauty of nature.
Le poète a écrit une ode à la beauté de la nature.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌltɪfɔːrm/

multiform

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

physiocracy

fisiocratie
Meaning
an economic theory that land and its natural products are the source of wealth
Example
Physiocracy emphasized the importance of agriculture in national wealth.
La fisiocratie a souligné l'importance de l'agriculture dans la richesse nationale.
C2 verb /rɪˈvaɪl/

revile

révérer
Meaning
to criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner
Example
The politician was reviled by the public for his corruption.
Le politicien a été révéré par le public pour sa corruption.
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 noun /ˌkæt ə ˈnaɪn ˌteɪlz/

cat-o-nine-tails

fouet à neuf queues
Meaning
A whip with nine knotted cords, historically used for punishment.
Example
The sailor feared the cat-o-nine-tails more than the storm at sea.
Le marin avait plus peur du fouet à neuf queues que de la tempête en mer.
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 noun /ˈkærɪt/

caret

caret (^)
Meaning
A proofreading symbol (^) used to indicate where something should be inserted.
Example
The editor placed a caret to show where the missing word should go.
L'éditeur a placé un caret pour montrer où le mot manquant devrait aller.
C2 noun /ˈlɔɪtərər/

loiterer

personne qui traîne sans but dans un endroit
Meaning
A person who lingers aimlessly in a place without purpose.
Example
The police questioned the loiterer outside the store.
La police a interrogé le loiterer dehors du magasin.
C2 adverb /ˌeɪˈmɔːrəli/

amorally

amoralement
Meaning
In a way that shows no concern about whether behavior is morally right or wrong.
Example
He acted amorally, ignoring the consequences of his actions.
Il a agi amoralement, ignorant les conséquences de ses actions.
C2 adjective /ˈhæŋ.dɔːɡ/

hangdog

embarrassé
Meaning
looking or feeling ashamed, guilty, or defeated.
Example
He gave me a hangdog look after being caught lying.
Il m'a donné un regard embarrassé après avoir été pris en train de mentir.
C2 noun /ˈæmjʊlət/

Amulet

amulette; talisman
Meaning
an ornament or small piece of jewelry thought to give protection against evil, danger, or disease
Example
She wore a silver amulet around her neck for good luck.
Elle portait un amulette en argent autour du cou pour la chance.
C2 noun /ˈmɛtəfɔːrm/

metaphorm

forme métaphorique
Meaning
A coined or rare term sometimes used to describe a hybrid form of metaphor and form in literature or art.
Example
The poet introduced a metaphorm to blend imagery with structure.
Le poète a introduit une métaphorme pour mélanger l'imagerie avec la structure.
C2 noun /ˌpɜː.spɪˈkæs.ɪ.ti/

perspicacity

perspicacité
Meaning
Sharp insight, keen understanding and discernment.
Example
Her perspicacity in business decisions led to success.
Sa perspicacité dans les décisions commerciales a mené au succès.
C2 verb /ˈɪmprɪkeɪt/

imprecate

imprécation
Meaning
To utter a curse or invoke evil upon someone.
Example
The old woman imprecated her enemies with dark words.
La vieille femme a impréqué ses ennemis avec des mots sombres.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɪŋɡoʊ/

jingo

nationaliste belliqueux
Meaning
a person who strongly supports warlike or aggressive foreign policy; an extreme nationalist
Example
The leader was criticized as a reckless jingo.
Le leader a été critiqué comme un jingo imprudent.
C2 verb /ˌsɜːrkəmˈnævɪɡeɪt/

circumnavigate

faire le tour du monde
Meaning
to travel all the way around something, especially the earth
Example
Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe.
Magellan fut le premier à faire le tour du monde.
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 adjective /ˈpjuːɪsənt/

puissant

puissant
Meaning
having great power or influence; mighty
Example
The king was a puissant ruler whose word was law.
Le roi était un souverain puissant dont la parole faisait loi.
C2 noun /ˈtaɪroʊ/

tyro

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

sciolism

prétention de savoir superficiel
Meaning
pretentious show of superficial knowledge
Example
His speech was full of sciolism, impressing no one.
Son discours était rempli de sciolisme, sans impressionner personne.
C2 adjective /ˈræfɪʃ/

raffish

non conventionnel et légèrement discrédité mais attrayant
Meaning
unconventional and slightly disreputable but attractive
Example
He had a raffish charm that made him popular in the city.
Il avait un charme raffish qui le rendait populaire dans la ville.
C2 noun /ˈbroʊmiːn/

bromine

brome
Meaning
a dark red, dense, toxic liquid element used in making dyes, flame retardants, and medications
Example
Bromine is commonly used in water treatment chemicals.
Le brome est couramment utilisé dans les produits chimiques pour le traitement de l'eau.
C2 verb /ˌkaʊntərˈmænd/

countermand

annuler un ordre
Meaning
to revoke or cancel an order or command
Example
The general countermanded the previous orders immediately.
Le général a annulé les ordres précédents immédiatement.
C2 noun /daɪˈvɛstɪtʃər/

divestiture

désinvestissement
Meaning
the action of selling off or disposing of business interests or assets
Example
The divestiture of the subsidiary was completed last year.
La désinvestissement de la filiale a été achevé l'année dernière.
C2 verb /dɪsˈbɜːrs/

disburse

distribuer
Meaning
to pay out money, especially from a fund
Example
The organization will disburse the funds to the affected families.
L'organisation va distribuer les fonds aux familles affectées.
C2 noun /ɪmp/

imp

petit diablotin espiègle
Meaning
a small mischievous devil or sprite; a playful troublemaker
Example
The child was acting like a little imp, hiding his toys everywhere.
L'enfant agissait comme un petit diablotin, cachant ses jouets partout.
C2 noun /bəˈsuːn/

bassoon

un type de hautbois (instrument à vent en bois de grande taille)
Meaning
a large woodwind instrument with a deep sound
Example
The orchestra featured a beautiful bassoon solo.
L'orchestre a présenté un magnifique solo de basson.
C2 noun /ˌɒktədʒəˈnɛəriən/

octogenarian

octogénaire
Meaning
A person who is between 80 and 89 years old.
Example
The octogenarian still jogs every morning to stay healthy.
L'octogénaire court encore chaque matin pour rester en bonne santé.
C2 noun /ˌɛfləˈrɛsəns/

efflorescence

floraison
Meaning
the process of flowering or reaching an optimal stage of development
Example
The garden was at the peak of its efflorescence in spring.
Le jardin était au sommet de sa floraison au printemps.
C2 verb /ɪmˈbruː/

imbrue

tacher
Meaning
To stain, especially with blood.
Example
His hands were imbrued with blood after the battle.
Ses mains étaient tachetées de sang après la bataille.
C2 noun /hæɡ/

Hag

sorcière
Meaning
an ugly old woman, especially a vicious or malicious one; a witch
Example
In the fairy tale, the wicked hag lived alone in a cottage deep in the forest.
Dans le conte de fées, la méchante sorcière vivait seule dans une cabane au fond de la forêt.
C2 adjective /ˈsɜːrkəmskraɪbd/

circumscribed

circonscrit
Meaning
restricted or limited in scope or freedom
Example
Her freedom of choice was circumscribed by social rules.
Sa liberté de choix était circonscrite par les règles sociales.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdɪmənt/

pediment

fronton triangulaire
Meaning
a triangular gable found above the horizontal structure of a building, often in classical architecture
Example
The ancient temple had a pediment decorated with sculptures.
Le temple antique avait un fronton décoré de sculptures.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndaɪˈdʒestəbəl/

Indigestible

indigeste; difficile à digérer
Meaning
difficult or impossible to digest; hard to process in the stomach
Example
The old bread became hard and indigestible.
Le vieux pain est devenu dur et indigeste.
C2 adjective /ˌsɒfəˈmɒrɪk/

sophomoric

immature
Meaning
showing immaturity and overconfidence, like a sophomore
Example
His sophomoric behavior embarrassed his friends.
Son comportement immature a embarrassé ses amis.
C2 noun /ˈfrækɑː/

fracas

bagarre
Meaning
A noisy disturbance or quarrel.
Example
The fracas outside the bar drew the attention of the police.
La bagarre à l'extérieur du bar a attiré l'attention de la police.
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 verb /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪə/

domineer

dominer
Meaning
to assert one's will over another in an arrogant way
Example
He tends to domineer over his younger colleagues.
Il a tendance à dominer ses collègues plus jeunes.
C2 adjective /ˈtʃɜːrlɪʃ/

churlish

rude
Meaning
Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
Example
It would be churlish to refuse her kind invitation.
Ce serait impoli de refuser son aimable invitation.
C2 noun /bɑːrd/

bard

poète
Meaning
a poet, traditionally one reciting epics and associated with oral traditions
Example
Shakespeare is often called the Bard of Avon.
Shakespeare est souvent appelé le poète de l'Avon.
C2 noun /ˈflɪpənsi/

flippancy

légèreté
Meaning
lack of seriousness; showing a disrespectful or trivial attitude
Example
His flippancy during the meeting offended his colleagues.
Sa légèreté pendant la réunion a offensé ses collègues.
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 adjective /ˈsæŋɡwɪˌnɛri/

sanguinary

sanglant
Meaning
Involving or causing much bloodshed; bloodthirsty.
Example
The battle was one of the most sanguinary conflicts of the war.
La bataille a été l'un des conflits les plus sanglants de la guerre.
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 /baɪˈmɛstər/

bimester

période de deux mois
Meaning
A period of two months.
Example
The academic program is divided into six bimesters.
Le programme académique est divisé en six bimestres.
C2 noun /ˈlæsɪtjuːd/

lassitude

lassitude
Meaning
a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy
Example
After the long hike, a feeling of lassitude swept over the group.
Après la longue randonnée, un sentiment de lassitude a envahi le groupe.
C2 adjective /dʒɛnˈtiːl/

genteel

raffiné
Meaning
Polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or exaggerated way
Example
She spoke in a genteel manner that impressed the guests.
Elle parlait d'une manière raffinée qui impressionnait les invités.
C2 adjective /ˌkæləˈrɪfɪk/

calorific

calorique
Meaning
Relating to the amount of energy contained in food or fuel.
Example
Chocolate is highly calorific, so it should be eaten in moderation.
Le chocolat est très calorique, il doit donc être consommé avec modération.
C2 adjective /daɪˈdæktɪk/

didactic

didactique
Meaning
Intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.
Example
The novel is not just entertaining but also didactic in nature.
Le roman n'est pas seulement divertissant, mais aussi didactique par nature.
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 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 /kənˌdʒiː.niˈæl.ə.t̬i/

congeniality

affabilité
Meaning
The quality of being pleasant, friendly, and easy to talk to.
Example
His congeniality makes him popular among friends.
Son affabilité le rend populaire parmi ses amis.
C2 verb /ˈvɪlɪfaɪ/

vilify

bonheur
Meaning
to speak or write about someone in an abusive or disparaging manner
Example
The politician was vilified in the media for his controversial remarks.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 verb /ˈnɔːzieɪt/

nauseate

provoquer des nausées
Meaning
To make someone feel sick, with an inclination to vomit.
Example
The spoiled food nauseated him quickly.
La nourriture avariée l'a rendu nauséeux rapidement.
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 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 verb /əbˈtruːd/

obtrude

intruser
Meaning
to force oneself or one's ideas into a situation uninvited or inappropriately
Example
He didn’t want to obtrude into their private conversation.
Il ne voulait pas intruser dans leur conversation privée.
C2 noun /ɔːˈreɪʃən/

oration

discours
Meaning
A formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion
Example
The president delivered an inspiring oration.
Le président a prononcé un discours inspirant.
C2 noun /ˌɪnsəˈrɛkʃən/

insurrection

insurrection
Meaning
A violent uprising against an authority or government.
Example
The army was called in to suppress the insurrection.
L'armée a été appelée pour réprimer l'insurrection.
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 /lɪˈvaɪəθən/

leviathan

monstre marin géant
Meaning
a huge sea monster or something very large and powerful.
Example
The ship looked like a leviathan on the horizon.
Le navire ressemblait à un monstre marin géant à l'horizon.
C2 verb /tæmp/

tamp

tasser
Meaning
to press down tightly by packing
Example
He tamped the soil around the plant to secure it.
Il a tassé la terre autour de la plante pour la sécuriser.
C2 noun /klɛərˈvɔɪəns/

clairvoyance

clairvoyance
Meaning
the supposed ability to perceive events beyond normal sensory contact; psychic insight
Example
She claimed to have clairvoyance and predicted the future.
Elle a prétendu avoir de la clairvoyance et a prédit l'avenir.
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 /ˈɡɜːrdər/

girder

poutre (en acier)
Meaning
a large, strong beam used to support buildings or bridges
Example
The steel girders held the weight of the bridge.
Les poutres en acier ont soutenu le poids du pont.
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 /ˈʌp.wel.ɪŋ/

upwelling

Un phénomène océanographique impliquant le mouvement de l'eau dense, froide et riche en nutriments vers la surface de l'océan.
Meaning
An oceanographic phenomenon that involves wind-driven motion of dense, cooler, and nutrient-rich water towards the ocean surface.
Example
Upwelling brings nutrients to the ocean surface.
L'upwelling apporte des nutriments à la surface de l'océan.
C2 verb /ˈbaʊdləˌraɪz/

bowdlerize

supprimer les parties offensantes
Meaning
to remove or modify parts of a text considered offensive or inappropriate
Example
The editor bowdlerized the novel to make it suitable for children.
L'éditeur a baudelérisé le roman pour le rendre adapté aux enfants.
C2 verb /ˈɡrʌvəl/

grovel

se vautrer
Meaning
To act in an excessively humble or submissive way to gain favor.
Example
He groveled before his boss to avoid punishment.
il s'est vautré devant son patron pour éviter la punition.
C2 adjective /əˈluːviəl/

alluvial

alluvial
Meaning
Relating to or derived from alluvium (loose soil or sediment deposited by rivers).
Example
The farmers cultivate crops on the fertile alluvial plains.
Les agriculteurs cultivent des cultures sur les plaines alluviales fertiles.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈstɪntɪŋ/

unstinting

généreux
Meaning
given generously without holding back
Example
She received unstinting support from her family.
Elle a reçu un soutien généreux de sa famille.
C2 noun /ˌriːkəˌpɪtjʊˈleɪʃən/

recapitulation

récapitulation
Meaning
The act of summarizing or repeating the main points of something.
Example
The professor gave a brief recapitulation of the lecture before ending the class.
Le professeur a donné une brève récapitulation du cours avant de terminer la classe.
C2 noun /kəˈbɑl/

Cabal

cabal
Meaning
a secret political clique or faction
Example
The journalists exposed a cabal of corrupt politicians working together.
Les journalistes ont exposé un cabal de politiciens corrompus travaillant ensemble.
C2 verb /kəmˈpɔːrt/

comport

se comporter
Meaning
to behave or conduct oneself in a particular way
Example
She comported herself with grace during the ceremony.
Elle s'est comportée avec grâce lors de la cérémonie.
C2 verb /rɛtʃ/

retch

bonheur
Meaning
to make the sound and movement of vomiting without bringing anything up
Example
The smell of spoiled food made him retch violently.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher sa joie lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
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 /ˈnaɪsəti/

nicety

subtilité
Meaning
a fine or subtle detail, or a refined, delicate aspect of something
Example
The lawyer explained the legal niceties of the case.
L'avocat a expliqué les subtilités juridiques de l'affaire.
C2 noun /miːn/

mien

mine
Meaning
A person's appearance or manner, especially as an indication of their character or mood.
Example
His serious mien made everyone fall silent.
Son air sérieux fit taire tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈfʌriər/

furrier

fourreur
Meaning
A person who prepares or deals in furs.
Example
The furrier displayed fine coats in his shop.
Le fourreur a exposé de beaux manteaux dans son magasin.
C2 noun /rɪˈfrɪndʒənsi/

refringency

réfringence
Meaning
The ability of a substance to bend light; refractive power.
Example
Glass has a higher refringency than water.
Le verre a une réfringence plus élevée que l'eau.
C2 verb /ʌnˈkaʊtʃ/

uncouch

retirer du canapé (usage rare)
Meaning
to remove from a couch or to release from being laid down (rare/archaic usage)
Example
The surgeon attempted to uncouch the cataract.
Le chirurgien a tenté d'enlever la cataracte.
C2 noun ˈfaɪ.təʊˌnjuː.tri.ənt

phytonutrient

phytonutriment
Meaning
Chemical compounds produced by plants that are beneficial to human health but not essential nutrients.
Example
Broccoli is rich in phytonutrients that enhance immunity.
Le brocoli est riche en phytonutriments qui renforcent l'immunité.
C2 adjective /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/

pejorative

péjoratif
Meaning
Expressing contempt or disapproval.
Example
He used pejorative terms to insult his opponents.
Il a utilisé des termes péjoratifs pour insulter ses adversaires.
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 adjective /ˈfɜːr.vɪd/

Fervid

passionné; intensément enthousiaste; brûlant d'émotion
Meaning
passionate; intensely enthusiastic; burning with emotion
Example
She gave a fervid speech about environmental protection.
Elle a prononcé un discours fervide sur la protection de l'environnement.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪləm/

phylum

une catégorie principale dans la classification biologique, au-dessus de la classe et en dessous du règne
Meaning
a primary category in the biological classification of organisms, above class and below kingdom
Example
Humans belong to the phylum Chordata.
Les humains appartiennent au phylum Chordata.
C2 noun /ˈbɜːrdʒɪs/

burgess

citoyen de la ville
Meaning
A citizen of a town or borough with full rights of citizenship.
Example
In medieval times, a burgess had the right to vote and hold property.
Au Moyen Âge, un bourgeois avait le droit de voter et de posséder des biens.
C2 adjective /ˈmɔːrɪbʌnd/

Moribund

moribond; en déclin ou mourant
Meaning
near death; dying; in a state of decline or decay
Example
The moribund patient was in critical condition.
Le patient moribond était dans un état critique.
C2 adjective /prəˈpʌlsɪv/

propulsive

propulsif
Meaning
Having the power to drive or push something forward.
Example
The propulsive force of the rocket lifted it off the ground.
La force propulsive de la fusée l'a soulevée du sol.