Surprising
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A2 adjective /sər'praɪz.ɪŋ/

Surprising

surprenant; étonnant
Meaning
causing surprise; unexpected; remarkable
Example
It's surprising how quickly children learn new languages.
C'est surprenant de voir à quelle vitesse les enfants apprennent de nouvelles langues.
A2 noun /sməʊk/

smoke

fumée
Meaning
A visible suspension of carbon or other particles in air, typically one emitted from a burning substance.
Example
Smoke from vehicles worsens air quality.
La fumée des véhicules aggrave la qualité de l'air.
B2 noun ˈʃɔːtkʌmɪŋz

shortcomings

lacunes
Meaning
A fault or failure to meet a certain standard; deficiencies.
Example
Institutional shortcomings affect student behavior negatively.
Les lacunes institutionnelles affectent négativement le comportement des étudiants.
C2 noun /ˈstrætədʒəm/

stratagem

stratagème
Meaning
a plan or scheme designed to achieve a particular goal, often by trickery
Example
The general devised a clever stratagem to outwit the enemy.
Le général a conçu une stratagème astucieux pour tromper l'ennemi.
C1 verb /sɪndʒ/

singe

brûler légèrement
Meaning
To burn something superficially or lightly, especially at the edges.
Example
The fire singed his eyebrows.
Le feu a brûlé ses sourcils.
C1 noun /ˈseɪɑːns/

seance

séance
Meaning
A meeting where people attempt to communicate with the spirits of the dead.
Example
They held a seance to contact their late grandmother.
Ils ont organisé une séance pour contacter leur grand-mère décédée.
B1 verb /ˈsʌfər/

suffer

souffrir
Meaning
to experience pain, distress, or hardship
Example
She suffered from a severe headache all day.
Elle a souffert d'un mal de tête sévère toute la journée.
A2 noun /ˈsiːkrət/

secret

secret
Meaning
something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others
Example
He told me a secret about his childhood.
Il m'a confié un secret sur son enfance.
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 adjective /ˌsuːprəˈmʌndeɪn/

supramundane

supramondain
Meaning
beyond the physical or ordinary world; transcendent
Example
The monk spoke of supramundane peace beyond material life.
Le moine a parlé de la paix supramondaine au-delà de la vie matérielle.
B1 noun /stoʊv/

Stove

cuisinière
Meaning
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food by applying heat
Example
She cooked dinner on the gas stove.
Elle a cuisiné le dîner sur la cuisinière à gaz.
B2 adjective /səˈpɔːtɪv/

supportive

de soutien
Meaning
providing encouragement or emotional help to someone
Example
She was very supportive during my difficult times.
Elle était très supportive pendant mes moments difficiles.
B1 noun /ʃel/

Shell

coque
Meaning
hard outer covering of an animal; explosive projectile for a gun
Example
The artillery fired a shell at the enemy position.
L'artillerie a tiré un obus sur la position ennemie.
B1 noun /swet/

Sweat

transpiration
Meaning
moisture exuded through the pores of the skin, typically as a reaction to heat, physical exertion, fever, or fear
Example
After running for an hour, he was covered in sweat.
Après avoir couru pendant une heure, il était couvert de transpiration.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈsɛm.ɪ.nəl/

seminal

bonheur
Meaning
Strongly influencing later developments; highly original and influential.
Example
His seminal book changed the course of modern philosophy.
Elle n'a pas pu cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 noun ˈsɒmnələns

somnolence

somnolence
Meaning
A state of drowsiness or sleepiness; inclination to sleep.
Example
The somnolence after a heavy meal made it hard to concentrate.
La somnolence après un repas copieux a rendu difficile la concentration.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪnəs/

sinus

sinus
Meaning
A cavity within a bone or tissue, especially those in the bones of the face connected with the nasal cavities.
Example
He suffered from a sinus infection that caused headaches.
Il souffrait d'une infection des sinus qui lui causait des maux de tête.
C1 verb /stoʊk/

stoke

attiser le feu; encourager ou augmenter un sentiment ou une activité forte
Meaning
To add fuel to a fire; to encourage or increase a strong feeling or activity.
Example
The politician’s speech stoked anger among the crowd.
Le discours du politicien a enflammé la colère parmi la foule.
C1 verb, noun /sæp/

sap

sève / épuiser
Meaning
As a noun: the vital fluid in plants; As a verb: to gradually weaken or drain strength.
Example
The long journey began to sap his energy.
Le long voyage a commencé à épuiser son énergie.
C1 noun /səˈlaɪ.və/

Saliva

salive
Meaning
the watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands
Example
The dentist asked her to rinse the saliva from her mouth.
Le dentiste lui a demandé de rincer la salive de sa bouche.
C1 verb/noun /ˈsɒldər/

solder

souder
Meaning
To join metal parts together by melting and putting a filler metal into the joint
Example
He soldered the broken wires back together.
Il a soudé les fils cassés.
C1 verb /ˈstæɡ.neɪt/

stagnate

stagner
Meaning
to stop developing, progressing, or moving
Example
Without innovation, the business will stagnate.
sans innovation, l'entreprise stagnnera.
C1 adjective /ˈstraɪ.dənt/

strident

strident, bruyant
Meaning
loud and harsh; presenting a point of view in a forceful way
Example
His strident voice made the debate uncomfortable.
Sa voix stridente rendait le débat inconfortable.
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.
C1 noun /ˌsɛlf ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/

self-indulgence

auto-indulgence
Meaning
The act of allowing oneself to enjoy pleasures or desires excessively.
Example
His weekend of self-indulgence included eating sweets and watching movies nonstop.
Son week-end d'auto-indulgence comprenait manger des bonbons et regarder des films sans arrêt.
B2 verb /skoʊld/

scold

gronder
Meaning
to criticize angrily; to rebuke
Example
The teacher scolded the students for being late.
Le professeur a grondé les étudiants pour leur retard.
B2 adjective /ˈsɪnɪstər/

sinister

sinistre
Meaning
Giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen.
Example
The abandoned house had a sinister atmosphere.
La maison abandonnée avait une atmosphère sinistre.
C2 noun /ˌsɪnjuˈɒsɪti/

sinuosity

sinuité
Meaning
The quality or state of being winding, curving, or having many turns.
Example
The sinuosity of the river made navigation challenging.
La sinuité du fleuve rendait la navigation difficile.
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 /ˌsuːdəˈrɪfɪk/

sudorific

sudorifique
Meaning
causing or increasing sweating
Example
The doctor prescribed a sudorific drug to help reduce the fever.
Le médecin a prescrit un médicament sudorifique pour réduire la fièvre.
C1 verb /skrɔːl/

scrawl

écrire rapidement et négligemment
Meaning
to write or draw something quickly and carelessly, making it hard to read
Example
He scrawled his signature at the bottom of the page.
Il a griffonné sa signature au bas de la page.
C1 verb /sərˈmaʊnt/

surmount

surmonter
Meaning
to overcome a difficulty or obstacle
Example
He surmounted all the challenges to achieve his dream.
Il a surmonté tous les défis pour atteindre son rêve.
C1 noun /ˈsʌnˌdaʊn/

sundown

coucher du soleil
Meaning
the time in the evening when the sun goes below the horizon
Example
We planned to reach the village before sundown.
Nous avions prévu d'arriver au village avant le coucher du soleil.
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.
B2 noun /ˌspɛsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

specification

spécification
Meaning
a detailed description or assessment of something
Example
The product specification includes all the necessary details.
La spécification du produit comprend tous les détails nécessaires.
A2 adverb /ˈslaɪtli/

slightly

légèrement
Meaning
to a small degree or extent
Example
The temperature has slightly increased today.
La température a légèrement augmenté aujourd'hui.
B2 noun /soʊp keɪs/

Soap case

boîte à savon
Meaning
a container used to store soap
Example
She bought a beautiful soap case for the bathroom.
Elle a acheté une belle boîte à savon pour la salle de bain.
C1 verb /ˈsʌkɪŋ/

sucking

sucer
Meaning
Drawing in a liquid, air, or other substance through the mouth or a tube by creating a vacuum; also used figuratively for something unpleasant or ineffective
Example
The baby is sucking on a pacifier.
Le bébé suce une tétine.
B2 adjective ˌsɪm.əlˈteɪ.ni.əs

simultaneous

simultané
Meaning
Occurring, operating, or done at the same time.
Example
Simultaneous crop failures affect global food supply.
Les échecs simultanés des récoltes affectent l'approvisionnement mondial en nourriture.
B2 noun /ˈskændəl/

scandal

scandale
Meaning
an event or action that causes public outrage or damage to one's reputation
Example
The politician's affair became a public scandal.
L'affaire du politicien est devenue un scandale public.
C2 adjective /sɪˈkweɪʃəs/

sequacious

suiveur aveugle
Meaning
Lacking independence of thought; blindly following.
Example
The sequacious students never questioned their teacher's opinions.
Les étudiants séquacieux n'ont jamais remis en question les opinions de leur professeur.
A1 verb /seɪv/

save

sauver, économiser
Meaning
to rescue from danger; to keep for future use
Example
It's important to save money for emergencies.
Il est important de sauver de l'argent pour les urgences.
C2 adjective /suːˈpɜːrnəl/

supernal

céleste
Meaning
Relating to the heavens; celestial or divine.
Example
The painting captured a supernal beauty that felt otherworldly.
La peinture a capturé une beauté céleste qui semblait d'un autre monde.
C1 adjective /ˈsɔːrdɪd/

sordid

sordide
Meaning
involving immoral or dishonorable actions; dirty or unpleasant
Example
The newspaper exposed the politician's sordid past.
Le journal a exposé le passé sordide du politicien.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈskɪni/

Skinny

mince; maigre; squelettique
Meaning
very thin; having little flesh or fat on the body
Example
The skinny cat looked like it hadn't eaten for days.
Le chat maigre avait l'air de ne pas avoir mangé depuis des jours.
C1 adjective /ˈskwɒlɪd/

squalid

extrêmement sale
Meaning
extremely dirty and unpleasant, often due to poverty or neglect
Example
He lived in a squalid room with broken furniture.
Il vivait dans une pièce sale avec des meubles cassés.
B2 verb /ˈskroʊlɪŋ/

scrolling

défilement
Meaning
Moving through content on a screen by sliding up or down.
Example
Scrolling through feeds wastes a lot of time.
Faire défiler les fils perd beaucoup de temps.
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.
B2 noun /sɛnt/

scent

parfum
Meaning
a distinctive smell, especially a pleasant one
Example
The scent of roses filled the garden.
Le parfum des roses remplissait le jardin.
B1 adjective /ˈspaɪ.si/

Spicy

épicé
Meaning
having a strong, hot flavor from spices; containing spices
Example
This curry is too spicy for me to eat.
Ce curry est trop épicé pour moi.
A1 verb /sɪŋ/

sing

chanter
Meaning
to make musical sounds with the voice
Example
She sings beautifully in the choir.
elle chante magnifiquement dans le chœur
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.
A1 verb /sɔ/

saw

couper avec une scie
Meaning
to cut with a saw; to use a cutting tool
Example
The carpenter saws the wood into pieces.
Le charpentier coupe le bois en morceaux.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪd.laɪn dɪˈskʌʃənz/

sideline discussions

discussions secondaires
Meaning
Informal or secondary conversations that occur outside the main agenda of a formal meeting.
Example
Sideline discussions often lead to agreements.
Les discussions secondaires mènent souvent à des accords.
B2 noun /ˈsɜːvɪŋ/

serving

portion
Meaning
a portion of food for one person; the act of giving food or drink to someone
Example
He ate a large serving of rice and curry.
Il a mangé une grande portion de riz et de curry.
B2 adjective /skeərs/

Scarce

rare; difficile à trouver; existant en petites quantités
Meaning
rare; not easily found; existing in small quantities
Example
Fresh water is becoming increasingly scarce in desert regions.
L'eau douce devient de plus en plus rare dans les régions désertiques.
B1 verb /ˈsɪzər/

scissor

couper avec des ciseaux
Meaning
to cut with or as if with scissors
Example
The tailor scissored the fabric neatly.
Le tailleur a découpé le tissu de manière soignée.
C1 noun stɔːrm ɪnˌtensɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

storm intensification

intensification de la tempête
Meaning
The process by which storms become stronger and more severe in intensity.
Example
Storm intensification is linked to climate change.
L'intensification de la tempête est liée au changement climatique.
B1 verb /stɛə/

stare

fixer
Meaning
to look at something with a fixed gaze
Example
She stared at the painting for hours.
Elle fixa le tableau pendant des heures.
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.
B1 adjective ˈsen.sɪ.tɪv

sensitive

sensible
Meaning
Quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences.
Example
Sensitive systems require precise handling.
Les systèmes sensibles nécessitent une gestion précise.
C1 noun /sərˈveɪər/

surveyor

géomètre
Meaning
A person who measures and maps land, buildings, or other features.
Example
The surveyor measured the land for construction.
Le géomètre a mesuré le terrain pour la construction.
C2 verb /ˈseɪʃiˌeɪt/

satiate

satisfaire
Meaning
To satisfy fully, especially with food or desire.
Example
The large meal satiated his hunger.
Le grand repas a satisfait sa faim.
B2 verb /swiːp/

sweep

balayer
Meaning
to clean by brushing; to move quickly and smoothly
Example
She sweeps the floor every morning.
Elle balaie le sol chaque matin.
C1 noun /sɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

Seduction

séduction; tentation
Meaning
the action of seducing someone; temptation to do something wrong
Example
He fell victim to the seduction of easy money.
Il est tombé victime de la séduction de l'argent facile.
C1 noun /ˈstɪmjʊlənt/

stimulant

stimulant
Meaning
A substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.
Example
Coffee is a common stimulant that helps people stay awake.
Le café est un stimulant courant qui aide les gens à rester éveillés
B2 adjective /stɑːrk/

stark

sévère, tranchant
Meaning
Severe, sharp, or clearly defined; plain and without any decoration.
Example
The stark contrast between poverty and wealth was evident in the city.
Le contraste frappant entre la pauvreté et la richesse était évident dans la ville.
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.
C1 adjective /səˈsɛp.tə.bəl/

susceptible

susceptible ou vulnérable à être influencé ou endommagé par quelque chose de particulier
Meaning
Likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing.
Example
Children are more susceptible to infections.
Les enfants sont plus susceptibles aux infections.
B2 noun /ˌsɛlf əˈwɛə.nəs/

self-awareness

conscience de soi
Meaning
Conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
Example
Self-awareness helps in understanding one's emotions and actions.
La conscience de soi aide à comprendre ses émotions et ses actions.
C1 noun səˈsteɪnəbəl ˈpræktɪsɪz

sustainable practices

pratiques durables
Meaning
Methods and activities that can be maintained over time without depleting natural resources or harming the environment.
Example
Sustainable practices are vital for environmental preservation.
Les pratiques durables sont essentielles pour la préservation de l'environnement.
C1 noun /ˈsteɪtəs kwoʊ/

status quo

statu quo
Meaning
The existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues.
Example
The government decided to maintain the status quo until further review.
Le gouvernement a décidé de maintenir le statu quo jusqu'à un examen ultérieur.
B1 noun ˈsɪs.təmz

systems

systèmes
Meaning
A set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole.
Example
Effective systems improve productivity.
Les systèmes efficaces améliorent la productivité.
B1 adverb /spəˈsɪfɪkli/

specifically

spécifiquement
Meaning
in a clear and exact way
Example
He was specifically asked to handle the finances.
Il a été spécifiquement demandé de gérer les finances.
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.
B2 noun /ˈʃɔːrt.kʌm.ɪŋ/

Shortcoming

lacune; défaut; carence
Meaning
a fault or failure to meet a certain standard; a deficiency
Example
Despite his many talents, he has some shortcomings.
Malgré ses nombreux talents, il a quelques lacunes.
C1 noun /ˈskep.tɪ.sɪ.zəm/

skepticism

scepticisme, doute
Meaning
A skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something.
Example
His skepticism about new technology often makes him resistant to change.
Son scepticisme à propos de la nouvelle technologie le rend souvent résistant au changement.
C1 adjective /suːˈpɜːr.flu.əs/

superfluous

superflu
Meaning
Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
Example
His speech contained too many superfluous details.
Son discours contenait trop de détails superflus.
B2 adjective /swɪft/

swift

rapide
Meaning
moving very quickly; happening promptly
Example
The river current was swift after the heavy rain.
Le courant de la rivière était rapide après la forte pluie.
C1 noun /ˈstaɪləs/

stylus

stylet
Meaning
a small tool used for writing, drawing, or touching screens
Example
She used a stylus to draw on her tablet.
Elle a utilisé un stylet pour dessiner sur sa tablette.
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.
C1 noun /stɑːr fruːts/

Star Fruits

fruits étoilés
Meaning
yellow tropical fruits that form a star shape when sliced crosswise; tangy and crisp taste
Example
When you slice star fruits, they look like beautiful yellow stars on your plate.
Quand vous tranchez des fruits étoilés, ils ressemblent à de belles étoiles jaunes sur votre assiette.
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.
B1 noun /ˈsɜːvənt/

servant

serviteur
Meaning
a person who performs duties for others, especially in a household
Example
The servant opened the door for the guests.
Le serviteur a ouvert la porte pour les invités.
C2 adjective /ˈsiːmi/

seamy

dégradé, sordide
Meaning
Morally degraded, unpleasant, or sordid.
Example
The novel reveals the seamy side of city life.
Le roman révèle le côté sordide de la vie en ville.
C1 adjective /stɔːntʃ/

staunch

ferme, fidèle
Meaning
Loyal, committed, and firm in support.
Example
She is a staunch supporter of environmental protection.
Elle est une défenseure ferme de la protection de l'environnement.
C1 adjective /ˈsaɪt.ləs/

Sightless

aveugle; sans vision
Meaning
unable to see; blind; lacking vision
Example
The sightless man navigated the street with his guide dog.
L'homme aveugle a navigué dans la rue avec son chien-guide.
C2 adjective /sɪmˈfoʊniəs/

symphonious

harmonieux
Meaning
Harmonious; producing a pleasant sound or agreement of sound.
Example
The choir's voices were symphonious and filled the hall with beauty.
Les voix du chœur étaient harmonieuses et remplissaient la salle de beauté.
B2 noun speɪs ɪksplɔːˈreɪʃən

space exploration

exploration spatiale
Meaning
The investigation of outer space by means of manned and unmanned spacecraft.
Example
Space exploration has expanded our knowledge of the universe.
L'exploration spatiale a élargi notre connaissance de l'univers.
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.
A2 noun /ʃɛlf/

shelf

étagère
Meaning
a flat surface used for storing or displaying things, typically fixed to a wall or inside a cabinet
Example
I placed the books on the shelf next to the window.
J'ai posé les livres sur l'étagère près de la fenêtre.
C1 verb /ˈseɪ.vər/

savor

savourer pleinement
Meaning
To enjoy something completely, especially by dwelling on it.
Example
He savored every bite of the delicious cake.
Il savoura chaque bouchée du délicieux gâteau.
A2 noun /sɜːr/

sir

monsieur
Meaning
a respectful or formal form of address used for a man, typically one of higher social status or authority
Example
Sir, may I assist you with your order?
Monsieur, puis-je vous aider avec votre commande ?
B2 adjective /slæk/

slack

lâche
Meaning
not tight, firm, or busy; lacking tension or activity
Example
Business is slack during the rainy season.
Les affaires sont lentes pendant la saison des pluies.
C2 adjective /ˈsɪnjuːi/

sinewy

musclé et fort
Meaning
Lean and muscular; strong and tough.
Example
The athlete had a sinewy build that showed his strength.
L'athlète avait une silhouette musclée qui montrait sa force.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈswɛltərɪŋ/

sweltering

accablant
Meaning
uncomfortably hot
Example
The sweltering heat made it hard to work.
La chaleur accablante rendait le travail difficile.
C1 verb /ˈstoʊnwɔːl/

stonewall

entraver
Meaning
To delay or block progress by refusing to cooperate or answer
Example
The witness tried to stonewall during the investigation.
Le témoin a essayé de faire du stonewall lors de l'enquête.
C1 adjective /ˈsɒmbər/

somber

sombre
Meaning
Dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy or serious.
Example
The funeral had a somber atmosphere.
Les funérailles avaient une atmosphère sombre.
A1 noun /ˈstɔːri/

story

histoire
Meaning
a narrative of real or imaginary events
Example
She told a fascinating story about her travels.
Elle a raconté une histoire fascinante de ses voyages.
C1 noun, verb /səˈpiːnə/

subpoena

citation judiciaire
Meaning
a legal document ordering someone to attend court; to summon someone with such a document
Example
The witness received a subpoena to appear in court next week.
Le témoin a reçu une citation judiciaire pour comparaître au tribunal la semaine prochaine.
C1 noun /speɪt/

spate

série
Meaning
a large number of things occurring in quick succession
Example
There has been a spate of robberies in the city.
Il y a eu une série de cambriolages dans la ville.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪlkən/

Silken

en soie; doux; lisse;
Meaning
made of silk; smooth and soft like silk
Example
She wore a beautiful silken dress to the party.
Elle portait une belle robe en soie à la fête.
B1 verb /stretʃ/

stretch

étirer
Meaning
to extend or expand; to make or become longer or wider
Example
Athletes stretch their muscles before exercising.
Les athlètes étirent leurs muscles avant de s'exercer.
B2 noun /stɑːr fɪʃ/

Star fish

étoile de mer
Meaning
a marine echinoderm with five or more radiating arms, typically found on the sea floor
Example
The starfish slowly moved across the ocean floor searching for food.
L’étoile de mer se déplaçait lentement sur le fond de l’océan à la recherche de nourriture.
B2 noun /səˈlɪsɪtər/

solicitor

avocat
Meaning
A type of lawyer who gives legal advice and prepares legal documents, often representing clients in lower courts.
Example
She consulted a solicitor before signing the contract.
Elle a consulté un avocat avant de signer le contrat.
B2 noun /ˈsiː.krə.si/

Secrecy

secret
Meaning
the practice of keeping something secret; the state of being kept hidden
Example
The project was conducted in complete secrecy.
Le projet a été mené dans un secret total.
B2 adverb /ˈsoʊʃəli/

socially

socialement
Meaning
in a way that relates to society or social interaction
Example
He is very active socially and attends many events.
Il est très actif socialement et assiste à de nombreux événements.
C1 verb /ˈskaʊər/

scour

frotter / chercher minutieusement
Meaning
to clean or brighten the surface of something by scrubbing; to search thoroughly
Example
She scoured the kitchen until it shone.
Elle a frotté la cuisine jusqu'à ce qu'elle brille.
B2 adjective /ˌsuː.pəˈfɪʃ.əl/

superficial

superficiel
Meaning
Existing or occurring at or on the surface; not thorough or deep.
Example
His understanding of the subject was rather superficial.
Sa compréhension du sujet était plutôt superficielle.
C1 noun /ˈsæŋk.ʃən/

Sanction

sanction
Meaning
official permission or approval; a penalty for disobeying a rule
Example
The government imposed economic sanctions on the country.
Le gouvernement a imposé des sanctions économiques au pays.
C1 noun /sɪˈnɪləti/

senility

sénilité
Meaning
The state of being old and showing the weaknesses of age, especially mental decline.
Example
His forgetfulness was attributed to senility.
Sa perte de mémoire a été attribuée à la sénilité.
C1 adjective /ˌsɛlf ɪˈfeɪsɪŋ/

self-effacing

modeste
Meaning
not drawing attention to oneself; modest
Example
Despite his success, he remained self-effacing and humble.
Malgré son succès, il est resté modeste et humble.
B1 noun /ˈsæm.ən/

salmon

saumon
Meaning
A large fish with pink flesh, often eaten as food.
Example
They served grilled salmon for dinner.
Ils ont servi du saumon grillé pour le dîner.
B2 noun /speɪd/

Spade

bêche
Meaning
a tool with a flat blade for digging; a playing card suit
Example
The gardener used a spade to dig holes for planting flowers.
Le jardinier a utilisé une bêche pour creuser des trous pour planter des fleurs.
C2 noun /ˈslæt.ən/

slattern

femme négligée
Meaning
a woman who is untidy or slovenly in appearance or habits
Example
The house looked as if a slattern lived there.
La maison avait l'air d'avoir une femme négligée qui y vivait.
B1 noun ˈsaɪləns

silence

silence
Meaning
Complete absence of sound; quietness.
Example
Silence filled the air near the graves.
Le silence remplissait l'air près des tombes.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈstɔːlwərt/

stalwart

fidèle, robuste
Meaning
Loyal, reliable, and hardworking; strongly built or sturdy.
Example
She has always been a stalwart supporter of the community.
Elle a toujours été une fidèle partisane de la communauté.