sycophant
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C2 noun /ˈsɪkəfənt/

sycophant

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

immiscible

immiscible
Meaning
Describes liquids that do not mix together.
Example
Oil and water are immiscible liquids.
L'huile et l'eau sont des liquides immiscibles.
C2 noun /ˌɪnjuːˈɛndəʊ/

innuendo

sous-entendu
Meaning
An allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.
Example
The manager's innuendo was directed towards his competitor.
L'allusion du directeur était dirigée vers son concurrent.
C2 adjective /ˌpɑːrsɪˈmoʊniəs/

parsimonious

avare
Meaning
unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy
Example
The company was too parsimonious to invest in better equipment.
L'entreprise était trop avare pour investir dans de meilleurs équipements.
C2 adjective /ˈvɜːrdənt/

verdant

verdoyant
Meaning
Green with grass or other rich vegetation; lush and fertile.
Example
The hills looked verdant after the monsoon rains.
Les collines semblaient verdoyantes après les pluies de la mousson.
C2 adjective /ˈprɒmɪsəri/

promissory

promissoire
Meaning
Containing or conveying a promise, especially in writing.
Example
He signed a promissory note to repay the loan.
Il a signé un billet à ordre pour rembourser le prêt.
C2 adjective /ˈneb.jə.ləs/

Nebulous

vague; flou; nébuleux
Meaning
vague or unclear; lacking definite form; hazy
Example
His plans for the future remain nebulous and unclear.
Ses projets pour l'avenir restent nébuleux et flous.
C2 noun /ˌpætrəˈnɪmɪk/

patronymic

patronymique
Meaning
a name derived from the name of a father or ancestor
Example
In many cultures, surnames are patronymic in origin.
Dans de nombreuses cultures, les noms de famille sont d'origine patronymique.
C2 noun /ˌiː.mɛnˈdeɪ.ʃən/

emendation

rectification
Meaning
a correction or improvement made to a text
Example
The article required several emendations before it was ready for print.
L'article a nécessité plusieurs rectifications avant d'être prêt pour l'impression.
C2 noun /ˈkærəm/

Carom

carvi
Meaning
aromatic seeds of a plant used as a spice, especially in Indian cooking
Example
Carom seeds are often used in traditional Indian bread recipes.
Les graines de carvi sont souvent utilisées dans les recettes traditionnelles de pain indien.
C2 noun /ˈkæʒuɪstri/

casuistry

casuistique
Meaning
The use of clever but false reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions.
Example
The lawyer’s argument was dismissed as mere casuistry.
L'argument de l'avocat a été rejeté comme étant une simple casuistique.
C2 noun /ˈtæmbər/ or /ˈtɪmbər/

timbre

caractère du son musical ou de la voix
Meaning
The character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.
Example
Her voice had a warm timbre that soothed the audience.
Sa voix avait un timbre chaleureux qui apaisait le public.
C2 verb /ˈekspərˌɡeɪt/

expurgate

expurger
Meaning
To remove offensive or objectionable parts from a text or speech.
Example
The publisher decided to expurgate the novel before reprinting it.
L’éditeur a décidé d’expurger le roman avant de le réimprimer.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌktaɪl/

ductile

ductile
Meaning
capable of being stretched into a thin wire without breaking; easily influenced
Example
Gold is a very ductile metal.
L'or est un métal très ductile.
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 /ˈhɛptəˌɡɒn/

heptagon

héptagone
Meaning
A polygon with seven sides and seven angles.
Example
The math teacher drew a heptagon on the board.
Le professeur de mathématiques a dessiné un héptagone au tableau.
C2 adjective /ˈprɛfətɔːri/

prefatory

prélude
Meaning
serving as an introduction or preface
Example
He made some prefatory remarks before the lecture began.
Il a fait quelques remarques préliminaires avant que la conférence ne commence.
C2 verb /ˌweɪˈleɪ/

waylay

arrêter / attaquer de manière inattendue
Meaning
to stop or interrupt someone unexpectedly, often to attack or detain them
Example
He was waylaid by reporters as he left the courthouse.
Il a été attaqué par des journalistes alors qu'il quittait le tribunal.
C2 noun /ɪˈfʌldʒəns/

effulgence

éclat
Meaning
Brilliant radiance or shining brightness.
Example
The effulgence of the sunrise lit up the entire valley.
L'éclat du lever du soleil éclairait toute la vallée.
C2 adjective /ˈlæk.ti.əl/

lacteal

relatif au lait ou semblable au lait
Meaning
Relating to or resembling milk; conveying chyle or milky fluid.
Example
The lacteal vessels in the small intestine absorb dietary fats.
Les vaisseaux lactéaux dans l'intestin grêle absorbent les graisses alimentaires.
C2 verb /ɪnˈθroʊn/

enthrone

introniser
Meaning
to install someone on a throne or to give someone high status
Example
The king was enthroned in a grand ceremony.
Le roi fut intronisé lors d'une grande cérémonie.
C2 noun /ˈdʒɪŋɡoʊˌɪzəm/

jingoism

nationalisme extrême
Meaning
extreme patriotism expressed in aggressive foreign policy
Example
The politician's speech was filled with jingoism.
Le discours du politicien était rempli de jingoïsme.
C2 noun /neɪv/

Knave

personne malhonnête; valet sur une carte de jeu
Meaning
a dishonest person, especially a man; a playing card with a picture of a male servant
Example
The knave tried to cheat the old woman out of her savings.
Le fourbe a essayé de tromper la vieille femme pour lui voler ses économies.
C2 noun /poʊˈzɜːr/

poseur

poseur
Meaning
A person who pretends to be something they are not, often to impress others.
Example
Many considered him a poseur because he exaggerated his accomplishments.
Beaucoup le considéraient comme un poseur parce qu'il exagérait ses réalisations.
C2 adjective /vəˈnɪəriəl/

venereal

vénérien
Meaning
relating to sexual intercourse or sexually transmitted diseases
Example
Doctors warn about the dangers of venereal diseases.
Les médecins avertissent des dangers des maladies vénériennes.
C2 adjective /ˌkloʊs ˈhɔːld/

close-hauled

naviguer aussi près que possible du vent
Meaning
of a sailing ship, sailing as nearly as possible towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Example
The yacht was close-hauled as it cut through the waves.
Le yacht était naviguant aussi près que possible du vent en coupant les vagues.
C2 noun /ˈnaɪɪˌlɪzəm/

nihilism

nihilisme
Meaning
The rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless.
Example
The philosopher was criticized for promoting nihilism.
Le philosophe a été critiqué pour avoir promu le nihilisme.
C2 verb /ˈsʌpjʊˌreɪt/

suppurate

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

exceptionable

contestable
Meaning
Open to objection; causing disapproval.
Example
His rude remarks were considered exceptionable by everyone present.
Ses remarques grossières ont été jugées contestables par tous les présents.
C2 verb /flɪt/

flit

voltiger
Meaning
to move quickly and lightly from one place to another
Example
Butterflies flitted from flower to flower.
Les papillons voltigeaient de fleur en fleur.
C2 noun /bəˈθɪm.ə.tri/

bathymetry

bathymétrie
Meaning
The measurement of depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes.
Example
Bathymetry is essential for understanding oceanic topography.
La bathymétrie est essentielle pour comprendre la topographie océanique.
C2 verb /ˈkælvɪnaɪz/

calvinize

Imprégner avec les principes du calvinisme
Meaning
to imbue with the principles or doctrines of Calvinism
Example
The preacher sought to calvinize the community with strict teachings.
Le prédicateur chercha à calviniser la communauté avec des enseignements stricts.
C2 noun /ˈblʌfər/

bluffer

bluffeur
Meaning
a person who pretends to be more confident, skilled, or knowledgeable than they really are; someone who deceives others by bluffing
Example
Everyone eventually realized that he was just a bluffer with no real experience.
Tout le monde a compris qu’il était un simple bluffeur.
C2 adjective /nɪˈfɛəriəs/

nefarious

néfaste, criminel ou moralement mauvais
Meaning
Wicked, criminal, or morally bad.
Example
The police uncovered a nefarious plot to cheat investors.
La police a découvert un complot néfaste pour tromper les investisseurs.
C2 noun /ˈmɛtrəˌnoʊm/

metronome

métronome
Meaning
A device that produces regular ticks or beats to help musicians maintain tempo.
Example
She practiced the piano with a metronome to keep steady timing.
Elle pratiquait le piano avec un métronome pour garder un rythme régulier.
C2 adjective /ˈplændʒənt/

plangent

son plaintif ou résonnant
Meaning
having a loud, mournful sound; resonant
Example
The plangent toll of the church bell echoed through the village.
Le son plaintif de la cloche de l'église résonnait à travers le village.
C2 verb /ɪˈvɪsəˌreɪt/

eviscerate

éviscérer, détruire
Meaning
to remove the internal organs of; to deprive of essential content
Example
The critics eviscerated the movie for its weak storyline.
les critiques ont détruit le film à cause de son histoire faible.
C2 adjective /ˈwɪzn feɪst/

wizen-faced

visage ridé et fané
Meaning
Having a dry, wrinkled, and withered face.
Example
A wizen-faced old man sat quietly in the corner.
Un vieil homme au visage ridé et fané était assis tranquillement dans le coin.
C2 noun /ˈʃʊərəti/

surety

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

reliquary

reliquaire
Meaning
a container for holy relics
Example
The ancient reliquary was decorated with gold and precious stones.
Le reliquaire ancien était décoré d'or et de pierres précieuses.
C2 noun /mɔːrˈtɪʃən/

mortician

employé des pompes funèbres
Meaning
a person whose job is to prepare dead bodies for burial or cremation and to arrange funerals
Example
The mortician prepared the body for the funeral service.
L'employé des pompes funèbres a préparé le corps pour le service funéraire.
C2 verb /ˈkɔː.tə.raɪz/

cauterize

cautériser
Meaning
to burn tissue to stop bleeding or prevent infection
Example
The doctor cauterized the wound to stop the bleeding.
Le médecin a cautérisé la blessure pour arrêter le saignement.
C2 noun /oʊˈtɜːr/

hauteur

hauteur
Meaning
disdainful pride; arrogance
Example
His hauteur made it difficult for others to approach him.
Sa hauteur rendait difficile pour les autres de l'approcher.
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 noun (plural) /əˈspɜːr.ʒənz/

aspersions

aspersions
Meaning
Critical or slanderous remarks; multiple attacks on reputation.
Example
The politician rejected the aspersions cast against him.
Le politicien a rejeté les aspersions lancées contre lui.
C2 noun /ˈmæntl̩/

mantel

étagère au-dessus de la cheminée
Meaning
A shelf above a fireplace, often used for decoration.
Example
She placed family photos on the mantel above the fireplace.
Elle a posé des photos de famille sur l'étagère au-dessus de la cheminée.
C2 verb /ɪmˈpjuːn/

impugn

contester la vérité, la validité ou l'honnêteté d'une déclaration ou d'un motif
Meaning
to dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of a statement or motive
Example
The lawyer tried to impugn the credibility of the witness.
L'avocat a essayé de contester la crédibilité du témoin.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːl.səm ˈæp.əl/

Balsam apple

melon amer
Meaning
a bitter gourd vegetable with a bumpy green skin, also known as bitter melon
Example
Balsam apple is cooked with spices to reduce its bitter taste.
Le melon amer est cuit avec des épices pour réduire son goût amer.
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 /ˈnjuː.trɪ.mənt/

nutriment

nutriment
Meaning
Something that nourishes; sustenance or food.
Example
The soil provides nutriment to the plants.
Le sol fournit du nutriment aux plantes.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈvaɪələt/

inviolate

inviolé
Meaning
free from violation, injury, or desecration; kept safe and untouched
Example
The ancient temple remained inviolate for centuries.
Le temple ancien est resté inviolé pendant des siècles.
C2 verb /priːˈdɛstɪn/

predestine

prédestiner
Meaning
to determine or decide something in advance, often regarded as being fixed by fate or divine will
Example
They believed their paths were predestined by fate.
Ils croyaient que leurs chemins étaient prédestinés par le destin.
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 /ˈmiːli ˌmaʊðd/

mealy-mouthed

hypocrite
Meaning
Unwilling to speak directly and honestly; insincere or evasive in speech.
Example
The manager gave a mealy-mouthed excuse instead of admitting the mistake.
Le gestionnaire a donné une excuse hypocrite au lieu d'admettre l'erreur.
C2 verb /ɪnˈfætʃueɪt/

infatuate

fasciner
Meaning
to inspire with an intense but short-lived passion or admiration
Example
He was infatuated with her beauty.
Il était fasciné par sa beauté.
C2 noun /rɪˈsɪdɪvɪst/

recidivist

récidiviste
Meaning
A person who repeatedly commits crimes, especially after having been punished.
Example
The police identified him as a recidivist who had been arrested several times before.
La police l'a identifié comme un récidiviste qui avait été arrêté plusieurs fois auparavant.
C2 noun /ˈvaɪkaʊnt/

viscount

vicomte
Meaning
A British nobleman ranking below an earl and above a baron.
Example
The viscount inherited the estate from his father.
Le vicomte a hérité du domaine de son père.
C2 adjective /kənˈdʒɛktʃərəl/

conjectural

conjectural
Meaning
based on guesswork or incomplete evidence rather than certain knowledge
Example
His explanation was purely conjectural and lacked proof.
Son explication était purement conjecturale et manquait de preuves.
C2 noun /ˈplɛntɪtjuːd/

plentitude

abondance
Meaning
the condition of being full or abundant
Example
The garden offered a plentitude of flowers in spring.
Le jardin offrait une abondance de fleurs au printemps.
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 adverb/adjective /lɪˈɡɑːtoʊ/

legato

en musique, joué ou chanté de manière fluide et connectée
Meaning
In music, played or sung smoothly and connectedly.
Example
The pianist played the passage legato, with each note flowing into the next.
Le pianiste a joué le passage legato, chaque note se fondant dans la suivante.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊməˈkænɪks/

hydromechanics

hydromécanique
Meaning
The study of the mechanical properties and behavior of fluids in motion and at rest.
Example
Hydromechanics provides the foundation for naval architecture.
L'hydromécanique fournit la base de l'architecture navale.
C2 noun /moʊt/

mote

particule
Meaning
A tiny particle or speck, especially of dust.
Example
A mote of dust floated in the sunlight.
Une particule de poussière flottait dans la lumière du soleil.
C2 noun /ænˈtɪlədʒi/

antilogy

antilogie
Meaning
A contradiction in terms or ideas; inconsistency in speech or writing.
Example
The politician's statement was criticized for its antilogy.
La déclaration du politicien a été critiquée pour son antilogie.
C2 noun /ˌpɛkjʊˈleɪʃən/

peculation

détournement
Meaning
The act of embezzling or stealing money, especially from public funds.
Example
The minister resigned after being accused of peculation.
Le ministre a démissionné après avoir été accusé de détournement.
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 /ˈætəvɪzəm/

atavism

atavisme
Meaning
The recurrence of traits or characteristics from a remote ancestor.
Example
The scientist noted atavism in the child’s physical features.
Le scientifique a noté de l'atavisme dans les caractéristiques physiques de l'enfant.
C2 verb, noun /blæb/

blab

bavarder; divulguer un secret
Meaning
to talk too much or reveal secrets carelessly; excessive or foolish talk
Example
He accidentally blabbed the surprise to everyone.
Il a révélé la surprise par erreur.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːrnɪs/

cornice

corniche
Meaning
an ornamental molding around the wall of a room just below the ceiling
Example
The elegant cornice added a classical touch to the living room.
La corniche élégante a ajouté une touche classique au salon.
C2 adjective /dɪˈstɛnsəbl̩/

distensible

distensible
Meaning
Capable of being stretched or expanded.
Example
The stomach is a distensible organ that can expand after eating.
L'estomac est un organe distensible qui peut se dilater après avoir mangé.
C2 noun ˌpɜː.tɪˈnæs.ɪ.ti

pertinacity

détermination ferme et persévérance
Meaning
Firm determination and persistence in achieving something.
Example
His pertinacity in achieving his goals was inspiring.
Sa détermination inébranlable à atteindre ses objectifs était inspirante.
C2 noun /ˈɪntərˌveɪl/

intervale

terre basse le long d'une rivière, généralement fertile et plate
Meaning
A low-lying tract of land along a river, usually fertile and flat.
Example
The farmers cultivated crops on the lush intervale by the river.
Les agriculteurs ont cultivé des cultures dans l'intervalle fertile près de la rivière.
C2 noun /ˈhaɪərəˌɡlɪf/

hieroglyph

hiéroglyphe
Meaning
A picture or symbol used in ancient writing systems, especially Egyptian writing.
Example
The walls of the temple were covered in hieroglyphs.
Les murs du temple étaient recouverts de hiéroglyphes.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈkoʊ.ɪt/ or /ɪnˈkoʊ.eɪt/

inchoate

incomplet
Meaning
Just begun and not fully formed; rudimentary.
Example
His inchoate ideas needed more research to be developed.
Ses idées incomplètes avaient besoin de plus de recherches pour être développées.
C2 noun /ˌmjuːlˈtɪər/

muleteer

muletier
Meaning
a person who drives or takes care of mules
Example
The muleteer guided the animals safely across the mountain path.
Le muletier a guidé les animaux en toute sécurité à travers le sentier de montagne.
C2 noun /buːb/

boob

idiot; sein (familier)
Meaning
a foolish or clumsy person; an informal and sometimes rude term for a woman's breast
Example
He felt like a complete boob after forgetting the meeting.
Il s'est senti comme un idiot complet après avoir oublié la réunion.
C2 verb /ˈsʌplɪˌkeɪt/

supplicate

supplier
Meaning
To ask for something earnestly or humbly, often in a religious context.
Example
The villagers supplicated the gods for rain during the drought.
Les villageois supplièrent les dieux pour la pluie pendant la sécheresse.
C2 noun /ˈbrɪk.bæt/

Brickbat

un morceau de brique; critique sévère ou censure
Meaning
a piece of brick, especially one used as a missile; harsh criticism or censure
Example
The angry protesters threw brickbats at the building windows.
Les manifestants en colère ont lancé des briques contre les fenêtres du bâtiment.
C2 noun /ˈtraɪdənt/

trident

trident
Meaning
A three-pronged spear, often associated with Neptune or Poseidon.
Example
The statue of Poseidon holds a mighty trident.
La statue de Poséidon tient un puissant trident.
C2 verb /ˈtrʌk.əl/

truckle

se soumettre
Meaning
To submit or yield obsequiously to someone in power.
Example
He refused to truckle to the demands of the corrupt officials.
Il a refusé de se soumettre aux demandes des fonctionnaires corrompus.
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 noun /ˈdɛvɪltrɪ/

deviltry

mauvais tours
Meaning
Cruel or malicious behavior; mischief with an evil aspect.
Example
The villain’s deviltry terrified the townsfolk.
Les mauvais tours du méchant ont terrifié les habitants du village.
C2 adjective /rəˈpeɪ.ʃəs/

rapacious

avidité
Meaning
having an extreme desire to take things for oneself, greedy
Example
The rapacious landlord raised the rent without reason.
Le propriétaire avide a augmenté le loyer sans raison.
C2 noun /ˈfoʊ.li.oʊ/

folio

grand livre ou manuscrit
Meaning
A sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves (four pages) of a book; also a term for a large book or manuscript.
Example
The library houses an ancient Shakespeare folio.
La bibliothèque abrite un ancien folio de Shakespeare.
C2 adjective /pəˈluːsɪd/

pellucid

transparent
Meaning
Transparently clear; easy to understand.
Example
The lake water was so pellucid that you could see the stones at the bottom.
L'eau du lac était tellement transparente que vous pouviez voir les pierres au fond.
C2 noun /dʒæm/

jamb

montant de porte
Meaning
The side post or surface of a doorway, window, or fireplace.
Example
The carpenter carefully measured the width of the door jamb.
Le menuisier a soigneusement mesuré la largeur du montant de la porte.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəbl/

dutiable

sujet à des droits de douane
Meaning
subject to customs duty or tax
Example
Imported electronics are often dutiable at the border.
Les électroniques importés sont souvent soumis à des droits de douane à la frontière.
C2 noun /ˈkæn.toʊ/

canto

canto
Meaning
A main division of a long poem, especially in epic poetry.
Example
The Divine Comedy is divided into several cantos.
La Divine Comédie est divisée en plusieurs cantos.
C2 noun /ˈkloʊtʃər/

cloture

procédure de cloture
Meaning
a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.
Example
The Senate invoked cloture to end the lengthy debate.
Le Sénat a invoqué la clôture pour mettre fin au débat long.
C2 noun /pʌɡˈnæsɪti/

pugnacity

pugnacité
Meaning
A natural disposition to be combative or aggressive.
Example
The coach admired the player's pugnacity on the field.
L'entraîneur admirait la pugnacité du joueur sur le terrain.
C2 adjective /prɪˈpɒndərənt/

preponderant

prépondérant
Meaning
Having superior weight, force, influence, or importance.
Example
The preponderant influence of the media shapes public opinion.
L'influence prépondérante des médias façonne l'opinion publique.
C2 noun /ˈɑːbəlɪsk/

obelisk

obélisque
Meaning
A tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument with a pyramid-shaped top.
Example
The ancient Egyptians built obelisks to honor their gods.
Les anciens Égyptiens ont construit des obélisques pour honorer leurs dieux.
C2 adjective /ˌɪməˈmɔːriəl/

immemorial

immémorial
Meaning
Extending back beyond memory or record; ancient.
Example
The tradition has been followed since time immemorial.
La tradition est suivie depuis des temps immémoriaux.
C2 noun /ˈmɒkəsɪn/

moccasin

mocassin
Meaning
A soft leather shoe, traditionally worn by Native Americans, often made from deerskin.
Example
He slipped on a pair of comfortable moccasins before going outside.
Il a mis des mocassins confortables avant de sortir.
C2 noun /ˌɛksəˈdʒiːsɪs/

exegesis

exégèse
Meaning
A critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious scripture.
Example
The professor gave a detailed exegesis of the biblical passage.
Le professeur a donné une exégèse détaillée du passage biblique.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈfɜːrnəl/

infernal

infernal
Meaning
relating to hell; extremely troublesome or annoying
Example
The workers complained about the infernal noise from the construction site.
Les travailleurs se sont plaints du bruit infernal provenant du site de construction.
C2 adjective /ˈswɔːrði/

swarthy

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

turgid

gonflé, pompeux
Meaning
Swollen or distended; (of language) pompous and overcomplicated.
Example
The professor’s lecture was so turgid that many students lost interest.
Le cours du professeur était si pompeux que beaucoup d’étudiants ont perdu leur intérêt.
C2 noun prɒkˈsiː.mɪks

proxemics

l'étude de l'utilisation de l'espace personnel
Meaning
The study of how people use space and distance to indicate relationships
Example
Understanding proxemics helps in improving interpersonal communication.
Comprendre la proxémique aide à améliorer la communication interpersonnelle.
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 /haɪˈdrɒmɪtər/

hydrometer

hydromètre
Meaning
An instrument used to measure the density or specific gravity of liquids.
Example
The brewer used a hydrometer to test the sugar content of the solution.
Le brasseur a utilisé un hydromètre pour tester la teneur en sucre de la solution.
C2 noun /ˌdoʊ.məˈstɪs.ə.ti/

domesticity

domesticité
Meaning
Life at home or devotion to family life.
Example
She enjoys the domesticity of cooking and gardening.
Elle apprécie la domesticité de la cuisine et du jardinage.
C2 adjective /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/

lackadaisical

désinvolte ou paresseux
Meaning
lacking enthusiasm, energy, or determination; careless or lazy
Example
His lackadaisical attitude toward work annoyed his boss.
Son attitude désinvolte envers le travail agaçait son patron.
C2 noun /bəˈlɛəroʊ/

bolero

boléro (une danse espagnole ou une veste courte ouverte à l'avant)
Meaning
A Spanish dance in slow triple time, or a short jacket open at the front.
Example
The dancers performed a passionate bolero at the festival.
Les danseurs ont exécuté un boléro passionné lors du festival.
C2 verb /kəˈnoʊt/

connote

connoter
Meaning
To suggest or imply an additional meaning beyond the literal one.
Example
The word 'youthful' connotes energy and vitality.
Le mot 'juvénile' connoté énergie et vitalité.
C2 noun, verb /ˈhæmstrɪŋ/

hamstring

tendon à l'arrière de la cuisse; en tant que verbe, rendre quelqu'un ou quelque chose inefficace ou l'empêcher de fonctionner efficacement
Meaning
a tendon at the back of the thigh; as a verb, to cripple or severely restrict the effectiveness of someone or something.
Example
Budget cuts hamstrung the organization’s plans.
Les réductions budgétaires ont affaibli les plans de l'organisation.
C2 noun ˌkɒmpjʊˈteɪʃənəl kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən

computational communication

communication computationnelle
Meaning
Digital exchange and automated interaction; the use of computational methods and systems to facilitate communication and information sharing.
Example
Computational communication is reshaping how we share information.
La communication computationnelle redéfinit la manière dont nous partageons les informations.
C2 adjective /ˈboʊvaɪn/

bovine

lié au bétail
Meaning
relating to cattle; showing a dull or sluggish nature
Example
Her bovine expression revealed no emotions.
Son expression bovine n'a révélé aucune émotion.
C2 adjective /ˌɪn.trəˈsɛl.jʊ.lər/

intracellular

à l'intérieur de la cellule
Meaning
Located or occurring within a cell.
Example
The drug works by targeting intracellular bacteria.
Le médicament agit en ciblant les bactéries intracellulaires.
C2 noun /ɪɡˈzɛmplɑːr/

exemplar

exemple
Meaning
A model or pattern to be copied or imitated.
Example
She is an exemplar of kindness and generosity.
Elle est un exemple de gentillesse et de générosité.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsɪpiənt/

incipient

incipient
Meaning
in an initial stage; beginning to develop
Example
The incipient storm made the sky turn dark and heavy.
La tempête incipiente a fait assombrir le ciel et le rendre lourd.
C2 noun /ɪkˌspɒstjʊˈleɪʃən/

expostulation

protestation
Meaning
the act of expressing protest or disagreement
Example
His expostulation against the unfair rules was ignored.
Sa protestation contre les règles injustes a été ignorée.
C2 adjective /ˌæntɪˈθɛtɪkəl/

antithetical

antithétique
Meaning
Directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible.
Example
His views were antithetical to the values of the organization.
Ses points de vue étaient antithétiques aux valeurs de l'organisation.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.lət/

islet

îlot
Meaning
A very small island.
Example
The fishermen rested on a tiny islet before continuing their journey.
Les pêcheurs se sont reposés sur un petit îlot avant de continuer leur voyage.
C2 noun /kəˈdɛnzə/

cadenza

un passage solo élaboré
Meaning
An elaborate solo passage in a piece of music, usually near the end.
Example
The pianist performed a brilliant cadenza before the final movement.
Le pianiste a exécuté une brillante cadenza avant le dernier mouvement.
C2 noun /ˌɪn.trəˈɡreʃ.ən/

introgression

introgression génétique
Meaning
The transfer of genetic information from one species to another through repeated backcrossing.
Example
Introgression plays a significant role in plant breeding.
L'introgression joue un rôle important dans la reproduction des plantes.
C2 verb /dʒɪr/

jeer

se moquer
Meaning
to laugh at someone or something in a cruel or mocking way
Example
The crowd began to jeer at the opposing team.
La foule a commencé à se moquer de l'équipe adverse.
C2 noun /vəˈrɑːɡoʊ/

virago

femme autoritaire ou agressive
Meaning
a loud, overbearing woman; historically, a strong or courageous woman
Example
The play depicted the heroine as a fierce virago who defied tradition.
La pièce a dépeint l'héroïne comme une virago féroce qui défiait la tradition.
C2 noun /ˈmʌɡwʌmp/

mugwump

personne indépendante des partis
Meaning
a person who remains independent from party politics or remains aloof from disputes
Example
He was called a mugwump for refusing to join either political side.
Il a été appelé un mugwump pour avoir refusé de rejoindre l'un ou l'autre côté politique.
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 /ˈfærɪsiː/

pharisee

personne hypocrite
Meaning
A member of an ancient Jewish sect; by extension, a self-righteous or hypocritical person.
Example
He acted like a pharisee, judging others while ignoring his own faults.
Il agissait comme un pharisien, jugeant les autres tout en ignorant ses propres défauts.