totter
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
C1 verb /ˈtɑːtər/

totter

tituber
Meaning
To move unsteadily, as if about to fall; to be on the point of collapse.
Example
The old man tottered across the street with a cane.
Le vieil homme a titubé à travers la rue avec une canne.
C1 verb /ˌkɒndɪˈsɛnd/

condescend

regarder d'en haut avec gentillesse
Meaning
to behave as if one is superior while being gracious to others
Example
He would not condescend to answer such a trivial question.
Il ne se rabaisserait pas à répondre à une question aussi triviale.
C1 noun dɪˈtɜː.mɪ.nənt

determinant

facteur déterminant
Meaning
A factor that decisively affects the nature or outcome of something.
Example
Education is a key determinant of success.
L'éducation est un facteur déterminant du succès.
C1 adjective /dɪˈvɪzəbl/

divisible

divisible
Meaning
Capable of being divided by another number without leaving a remainder.
Example
Twelve is divisible by three and four.
Douze est divisible par trois et quatre.
C1 noun /ˌaɪ.diˈɒl.ə.dʒi/

ideology

idéologie
Meaning
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Example
Democracy is based on the ideology of freedom and equality.
La démocratie repose sur l'idéologie de la liberté et de l'égalité.
C1 noun/verb /tɔːrˈpiːdoʊ/

torpedo

torpille
Meaning
A self-propelled underwater missile; to attack or destroy something suddenly and forcefully.
Example
The submarine launched a torpedo at the enemy ship.
Le sous-marin a lancé un torpille contre le navire ennemi.
C1 noun /ˈruː.bi/

Ruby

rubis
Meaning
a precious red gemstone; a deep red variety of corundum
Example
The ruby ring was her most treasured possession.
La bague en rubis était sa possession la plus précieuse.
C1 noun /mɑːrˈsuːpiəl/

marsupial

mammifère qui porte et nourrit ses petits dans une poche
Meaning
A type of mammal that carries and nourishes its young in a pouch, like kangaroos and koalas.
Example
The kangaroo is a well-known marsupial.
Le kangourou est un marsupial bien connu.
C1 verb /rɪŋ/

wring

bonheur
Meaning
to squeeze and twist something to force liquid out; to extract with effort
Example
She had to wring the towel after washing it.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C1 noun /bəˈrɒmɪtər/

barometer

baromètre de pression atmosphérique
Meaning
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
Example
The barometer indicated a storm was approaching.
Le baromètre a indiqué qu'une tempête approchait.
C1 adjective ɔːˈspɪʃ.əs

auspicious

favorable
Meaning
Favorable or bringing good luck and success
Example
The wedding was held on an auspicious day.
Le mariage a eu lieu un jour favorable.
C1 noun ˈkɔː.pəs

corpus

une grande collection de données linguistiques utilisées pour l'analyse du langage
Meaning
A large collection of linguistic data used for language analysis and research.
Example
Linguists use a corpus to analyze language patterns.
Les linguistes utilisent un corpus pour analyser les modèles linguistiques.
C1 noun /ˌres.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/

Recitation

récitation
Meaning
the action of reciting or repeating aloud from memory
Example
The poetry recitation contest was held in the auditorium.
Le concours de récitation de poésie a eu lieu dans l'auditorium.
C1 noun /ɪnˈtaɪərəti/

entirety

intégralité
Meaning
the whole of something; the complete form
Example
He watched the movie in its entirety.
Il a regardé le film dans son intégralité.
C1 noun, verb /ˈbʌtrəs/

buttress

contrefort, soutien
Meaning
a structure built against a wall for support; to support or strengthen
Example
The cathedral walls were buttressed to prevent collapse.
Les murs de la cathédrale ont été consolidés pour éviter l'effondrement.
C1 verb /ˈwɪtl/

whittle

tailler
Meaning
to carve or shape something by cutting off small pieces; to gradually reduce
Example
He spent the afternoon whittling a piece of wood into a toy.
Il a passé l'après-midi à tailler un morceau de bois en jouet.
C1 verb /diːˈkoʊd/

decode

décoder
Meaning
to convert a coded message into a readable form; to interpret meaning
Example
The software can decode the hidden message within seconds.
Le logiciel peut décoder le message caché en quelques secondes.
C1 noun /ˈkleɪmənt/

claimant

demandeur
Meaning
a person who makes a claim, especially in a legal or financial context
Example
The claimant filed for compensation after the accident.
Le demandeur a déposé une demande de compensation après l'accident.
C1 adjective prəˈvɪnʃəl

provincial

provincial
Meaning
Of or concerning a province of a country or empire.
Example
Bengali was not just a provincial language.
Le bengali n'était pas juste une langue provinciale.
C1 noun /ˈhɔː.kər/

Hawker

vendeur ambulant
Meaning
a person who travels about selling goods, typically from door to door or on the street
Example
The hawker sold fresh fruits from his cart.
Le vendeur ambulant a vendu des fruits frais de son chariot.
C1 noun /ˈfaɪərɑːm/

firearm

arme à feu
Meaning
a weapon capable of firing a projectile using gunpowder or other propellant
Example
The police found a hidden firearm during the investigation.
La police a trouvé une arme à feu cachée lors de l'enquête.
C1 noun /nɑːtʃ/

notch

encoche
Meaning
A small cut or groove on the edge or surface of something; a level or degree of achievement.
Example
He carved a notch on the stick to mark the days.
Il a fait une encoche sur le bâton pour marquer les jours.
C1 adjective ˌkaʊntəprəˈdʌktɪv

counterproductive

contre-productif
Meaning
Having the opposite of the desired effect; tending to hinder rather than help.
Example
Counterproductive activities often stem from dissatisfaction.
Les activités contre-productives proviennent souvent du mécontentement.
C1 verb /priːˈɒkjʊpaɪ/

preoccupy

préoccuper
Meaning
To dominate or engross the mind of someone to the exclusion of other thoughts.
Example
Worries about the future preoccupy him constantly.
Les préoccupations concernant l'avenir l'occupent constamment.
C1 noun /mɪˈrɑːʒ/

Mirage

mirage
Meaning
An optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially in deserts
Example
The travelers saw a mirage of water in the desert.
Les voyageurs ont vu un mirage d'eau dans le désert.
C1 verb /ˈhjuːmənaɪz/

humanize

humaniser
Meaning
To make something more humane, kind, or relatable.
Example
The teacher tried to humanize the lesson with personal stories.
L'enseignant a essayé d'humaniser la leçon avec des histoires personnelles.
C1 adjective /bɪˈnaɪn/

benign

bénin, inoffensif
Meaning
Gentle, kind, or not harmful (especially of a disease or tumor).
Example
The doctor assured her that the tumor was benign.
Le médecin lui a assuré que la tumeur était inoffensive.
C1 noun /ˈprɒk.tər/

proctor

surveillant d'examen
Meaning
a person who supervises students during an examination
Example
The proctor reminded students to keep their phones switched off.
Le surveillant a rappelé aux étudiants d'éteindre leurs téléphones.
C1 noun /ˈlaɪm.laɪt/

Limelight

le centre de l'attention publique; une lumière brillante produite en chauffant un cylindre de chaux
Meaning
the focus of public attention; a bright light produced by heating a cylinder of lime
Example
The celebrity enjoyed being in the limelight.
La célébrité a adoré être sous les projecteurs.
C1 noun /kənˈsɜːvəˌtɔːri/

conservatory

serre / école de musique et d'art
Meaning
A greenhouse for growing plants or a school for music and the arts.
Example
They grew exotic plants in the conservatory.
Ils ont cultivé des plantes exotiques dans la serre.
C1 verb /ɪˈdʒɛkt/

eject

expulser
Meaning
to force someone or something out, usually from a place or position
Example
The referee had to eject the player for unsportsmanlike behavior.
L'arbitre a dû expulser le joueur pour un comportement antisportif.
C1 adjective ˌsɪn.əˈdʒɪs.tɪk

synergistic

synergique
Meaning
Relating to the interaction of elements that when combined produce a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects.
Example
A synergistic effect occurs when nutrients work together.
Un effet synergique se produit lorsque les nutriments agissent ensemble.
C1 verb /ɪnˈvɪɡ.ər.eɪt/

invigorate

revigorer
Meaning
To give strength or energy to someone or something.
Example
A morning walk can invigorate both body and mind.
Une promenade matinale peut revigorer le corps et l'esprit.
C1 noun səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl tekˈnɒl.ə.dʒi

sustainable technology

technologie durable
Meaning
Technology designed to meet present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs.
Example
Sustainable technology ensures a cleaner future.
La technologie durable assure un avenir plus propre.
C1 adjective /ˌwɛlˈbrɛd/

well-bred

bien élevé
Meaning
Having or showing good manners; properly raised.
Example
She is a well-bred young lady with excellent manners.
C'est une jeune femme bien élevée avec d'excellentes manières.
C1 verb /ˈsmoʊldər/

smolder

fumer lentement
Meaning
to burn slowly with smoke but no flame; to show suppressed anger or emotion
Example
The fire smoldered for hours before it went out.
Le feu a fumé lentement pendant des heures avant de s'éteindre.
C1 noun /ˈsʌm.ɪt əv ðə ˈfjuː.tʃər/

Summit of the Future

Sommet du futur
Meaning
A high-level conference focused on addressing future challenges and opportunities.
Example
The Summit of the Future addressed global challenges.
Le Sommet du Futur a abordé les défis mondiaux.
C1 adjective /ədˈmɪsəbl/

admissible

admissible
Meaning
acceptable or valid, especially as evidence in a court of law
Example
The judge ruled that the document was admissible as evidence.
Le juge a jugé que le document était admissible comme preuve.
C1 noun ˌɪndɪˈspensəbl̩ ˈkɒmpɪtənsi

indispensable competency

compétence indispensable
Meaning
Essential skill or ability that cannot be done without; a crucial capability that is absolutely necessary.
Example
Digital literacy is an indispensable competency in the 21st century.
L'alphabétisation numérique est une compétence indispensable au XXIe siècle.
C1 noun /ˈsæf.aɪər/

Saphire

saphir
Meaning
a precious stone that is typically blue in color
Example
The royal crown was adorned with a large sapphire.
La couronne royale était ornée d'un grand saphir.
C1 noun /rɪˈflɛktər/

reflector

réflecteur
Meaning
A surface or device that reflects light, heat, or sound, often used to direct beams or improve visibility.
Example
The cyclist attached a red reflector to the back of his bike for safety.
Le cycliste a attaché un réflecteur rouge à l'arrière de son vélo pour sa sécurité.
C1 noun /ɒpˈtɒmətri/

optometry

optométrie
Meaning
The practice or profession of examining the eyes and prescribing corrective lenses.
Example
She studied optometry at the university to become an eye specialist.
Elle a étudié l'optométrie à l'université pour devenir spécialiste des yeux.
C1 noun /ˈkɪŋ.fɪʃ.ər/

King-Fisher

martin-pêcheur
Meaning
a small bird with bright blue and orange feathers that catches fish by diving into water
Example
The colorful kingfisher dove into the pond to catch a fish.
Le martinet coloré plongea dans l'étang pour attraper un poisson.
C1 adjective /ˌɪnəˈtɛntɪv/

inattentive

inattentif
Meaning
not paying attention; lacking focus or concentration
Example
The inattentive student missed several important instructions.
L'étudiant inattentif a manqué plusieurs consignes importantes.
C1 noun /tɔːrk/

torque

couple
Meaning
A twisting force that causes rotation.
Example
The mechanic measured the torque of the engine.
Le mecanicien a mesure le couple du moteur.
C1 noun /ɪkˈspoʊnənt/

exponent

exposant
Meaning
a person who supports, promotes, or explains an idea; in math, a symbol denoting power
Example
She is a leading exponent of modern dance.
Elle est une des principales exposantes de la danse moderne.
C1 verb /ˈtɑːrnɪʃ/

tarnish

ternir
Meaning
To lose luster, especially as a result of exposure to air or moisture; to damage reputation.
Example
The silver jewelry tarnished quickly when left in the open air.
Les bijoux en argent se sont ternis rapidement lorsqu'ils ont été laissés à l'air libre.
C1 adjective /ˌhɑːrdˈhɑːrtɪd/

hard-hearted

insensible
Meaning
showing no kindness or sympathy; cruel
Example
The landlord was hard-hearted and refused to help the poor family.
Le propriétaire était insensible et a refusé d'aider la pauvre famille.
C1 adjective /ˈvɛrɪtəbl/

veritable

véritable
Meaning
used to emphasize that something is genuine or true
Example
The house was a veritable palace compared to ours.
La maison était un véritable palais comparé à la nôtre.
C1 noun /ˈstɪklər/

stickler

personne exigeante sur les règles
Meaning
a person who insists on a certain quality or standard of behavior
Example
He is a stickler for punctuality and never tolerates delays.
Il est très strict sur la ponctualité et ne tolère pas les retards.
C1 noun /ˈmɒn.ə.stər.i/

Monastery

monastère; ashram
Meaning
a building or group of buildings where monks live and worship
Example
The ancient monastery was built on a hilltop.
L'ancien monastère a été construit au sommet d'une colline.
C1 noun /ˌmɔːrəˈtɔːriəm/

moratorium

moratoire
Meaning
A temporary suspension or delay of an activity, law, or obligation.
Example
The government announced a moratorium on new mining licenses.
Le gouvernement a annoncé un moratoire sur les nouvelles licences minières.
C1 noun ˌvɒl.əˈtɪl.ɪ.ti

volatility

volatilité
Meaning
Liability to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse; instability.
Example
The stock market's volatility makes investment risky.
La volatilité du marché boursier rend l’investissement risqué.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɪkəbl/

despicable

méprisable
Meaning
Deserving hatred and contempt; vile or shameful.
Example
His despicable actions shocked the entire community.
Ses actions méprisables ont choqué toute la communauté.
C1 noun /ˈnɔː.zi.ə/

Nausea

nausée
Meaning
a feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit
Example
The motion of the boat caused severe nausea.
Le mouvement du bateau a causé une nausée sévère.
C1 noun /kənˈsep.ʃən/

Conception

conception; idée; fertilisation
Meaning
the forming of an idea or plan; the fertilization of an ovum by a sperm; the action of conceiving
Example
The conception of this innovative project took several months of brainstorming.
La conception de ce projet innovant a pris plusieurs mois de brainstorming.
C1 noun trəˈdʒek.tər.i

trajectory

trajectoire
Meaning
The path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces.
Example
The satellite followed its intended trajectory.
Le satellite a suivi sa trajectoire prévue.
C1 noun /nɑːrˈkɒtɪk/

narcotic

narcotique
Meaning
A drug that dulls the senses and relieves pain, often causing sleep and sometimes addiction.
Example
The police seized a large amount of narcotic substances.
La police a saisi une grande quantité de substances narcotiques.
C1 noun /ɪnˈfɜːrnoʊ/

inferno

incendie
Meaning
a large, intense fire that is dangerously out of control
Example
The building turned into an inferno within minutes.
Le bâtiment s'est transformé en un incendie en quelques minutes.
C1 /skwɒt/

squat

s'accroupir
Meaning
to crouch or sit with knees bent and body close to the ground
Example
He squatted down to tie his shoes.
Il s'est accroupi pour lacer ses chaussures.
C1 adjective /fəˈnætɪkəl/

fanatical

fanatique
Meaning
showing extreme enthusiasm or obsession
Example
She has a fanatical interest in collecting vintage stamps.
Elle a un intérêt fanatique pour la collection de timbres anciens.
C1 noun/verb mælˈfʌŋk.ʃən

malfunction

panne
Meaning
A failure to function normally or satisfactorily; a defect or breakdown.
Example
The engine malfunctioned due to overheating.
Le moteur a dysfonctionné à cause de la surchauffe.
C1 verb /ˌpriːdɪˈtɜːrmɪn/

predetermine

prédéterminer
Meaning
to establish or decide something in advance
Example
The outcome of the match seemed predetermined.
Le résultat du match semblait prédéterminé.
C1 verb /ˌriːˈvæmp/

revamp

rénover
Meaning
To give a new and improved form, structure, or appearance to something.
Example
The company decided to revamp its website for a modern look.
L'entreprise a décidé de rénover son site web pour lui donner un look moderne.
C1 adjective /trænsˈfɜːrəbəl/

Transferable

transférable
Meaning
able to be moved from one place to another; able to be given to someone else
Example
The skills you learn here are transferable to other jobs.
Les compétences que vous apprenez ici sont transférables à d'autres emplois.
C1 noun /kəˈmɪtl̩/

committal

envoi en prison / détention
Meaning
The action of sending a person to prison or a mental hospital; also the act of committing something to a particular place.
Example
The judge ordered the committal of the accused to custody.
Le juge a ordonné l'envoi de l'accusé en détention.
C1 noun /ˈtriːtɪs/

treatise

traité
Meaning
a formal and systematic written work dealing with a subject in detail
Example
He wrote a treatise on modern economic theory.
Il a écrit un traité sur la théorie économique moderne.
C1 verb /ˈkɒr.ə.leɪt/

correlate

établir une relation
Meaning
To have a mutual relationship or connection; to establish a relationship between two or more things.
Example
Researchers found that diet and mental health correlate strongly.
Les chercheurs ont trouvé que l'alimentation et la santé mentale sont fortement liées.
C1 adjective /məˈlaɪn/

Malign

malveillant; nuisible
Meaning
evil in nature or effect; harmful; slanderous
Example
He spread malign rumors about his colleague.
Il a répandu des rumeurs malveillantes sur son collègue.
C1 noun, verb /spreɪn/

sprain

entorse
Meaning
an injury to a joint in which the ligaments are stretched or torn
Example
She sprained her ankle while running in the park.
Elle s'est foulé la cheville en courant dans le parc.
C1 noun /ˌsəʊʃəˈbɪləti/

sociability

sociabilité
Meaning
The quality or state of being sociable; friendliness.
Example
Her sociability made her popular in the office.
Sa sociabilité l'a rendue populaire au bureau.
C1 adjective /ˈsɪnjuəs/

sinuous

sinueux
Meaning
Having many curves, bends, or turns; winding.
Example
The hikers followed a sinuous path through the forest.
Les randonneurs ont suivi un chemin sinueux à travers la forêt.
C1 verb /daʊs/

douse

éteindre / verser
Meaning
to pour liquid over; to extinguish a fire or light
Example
Firefighters doused the flames with water.
Les pompiers ont éteint les flammes avec de l'eau.
C1 verb /ˈtiːtər/

teeter

vaciller
Meaning
to move or balance unsteadily; to wobble
Example
The glass began to teeter on the edge of the table.
Le verre a commencé à vaciller sur le bord de la table.
C1 adjective /ˈsek.j ə.l ər/

Secular

laïque
Meaning
not connected with religious or spiritual matters; worldly
Example
The country maintains a secular government that separates religion from politics.
Le pays maintient un gouvernement laïque qui sépare la religion de la politique.
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 noun /ɔːˈrɔːrə/

aurora

aurore
Meaning
A natural display of lights in the sky, usually seen in polar regions.
Example
We traveled to Norway to see the northern aurora.
Nous sommes allés en Norvège pour voir l'aurore boréale.
C1 noun ˌɪrɪˈvɜːrsəbl ˈdæmɪdʒ

irreversible damage

dommages irréversibles
Meaning
Harm or injury that cannot be undone or repaired.
Example
Climate change causes irreversible damage to ecosystems.
Le changement climatique cause des dommages irréversibles aux écosystèmes.
C1 adjective /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋ/

unwitting

involontaire
Meaning
Not aware of what is happening; done without realizing.
Example
She became an unwitting participant in the scam.
Elle est devenue une participante involontaire dans l'escroquerie.
C1 verb /ˈsɪn.θə.saɪz/

synthesize

synthétiser
Meaning
To combine a number of things into a coherent whole.
Example
Scientists synthesize new compounds for medical research.
Les scientifiques synthétisent de nouveaux composés pour la recherche médicale.
C1 adjective /ˈsʌlən/

sullen

maussade
Meaning
bad-tempered and gloomy; silently resentful
Example
She gave him a sullen look and walked away.
Elle lui lança un regard maussade et s'éloigna.
C1 adjective /rɪˈsɛptɪv/

receptive

réceptif
Meaning
Willing to listen to or accept new ideas, suggestions, or experiences.
Example
She was receptive to feedback from her colleagues.
Elle était réceptive aux commentaires de ses collègues.
C1 noun /ˌkɒn.stəˈleɪ.ʃən/

constellation

constellation
Meaning
a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern in the night sky
Example
Orion is one of the most famous constellations.
Orion est l'une des constellations les plus célèbres.
C1 verb /trænˈspaɪər/

transpire

arriver
Meaning
to occur, happen, or become known
Example
It transpired that he had lied about his age.
Il est apparu qu'il avait menti sur son âge.
C1 noun /ˈplɛθərə/

plethora

une quantité excessive
Meaning
an excessive amount of something
Example
She has a plethora of books on her shelf.
Elle a une quantité excessive de livres sur son étagère.
C1 adjective /læks/

lax

laxiste, négligent
Meaning
Not strict, severe, or careful; negligent or careless.
Example
The security at the airport was surprisingly lax.
La sécurité à l'aéroport était étonnamment laxiste.
C1 adjective /aɪˈreɪt/

irate

furieux
Meaning
Extremely angry.
Example
The customer became irate after waiting for hours.
Le client est devenu furieux après avoir attendu pendant des heures.
C1 noun ˌɪn.tuˈɪʃ.ən

intuition

intuition
Meaning
The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.
Example
Her intuition told her something was wrong.
Son intuition lui a dit que quelque chose n’allait pas.
C1 adjective /səbˈdʒɛktɪv/

subjective

subjectif
Meaning
based on personal feelings, tastes, or opinions rather than facts
Example
Beauty is often considered a subjective concept.
La beauté est souvent considérée comme un concept subjectif.
C1 noun/verb /ˈskɜːrmɪʃ/

skirmish

escarmouche
Meaning
a small or brief fight between groups of soldiers; to engage in such a fight
Example
The soldiers got into a skirmish near the border.
Les soldats se sont engagés dans une escarmouche près de la frontière.
C1 noun /ˈskæf.əld/

Scaffold

échafaud
Meaning
a temporary structure used by workers to stand on when building or repairing something high; a platform for execution
Example
The workers erected a scaffold to paint the building's exterior.
Les ouvriers ont érigé un échafaud pour peindre l'extérieur du bâtiment.
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 /ˈræmpənt/

rampant

rampant
Meaning
existing or spreading unchecked, often in an undesirable way
Example
Corruption was rampant in the city administration.
La corruption était rampante dans l'administration de la ville.
C1 adjective /ˌhæpˈhæz.ɚd/

haphazard

hasardeux
Meaning
Lacking any obvious principle of organization; random.
Example
His haphazard approach led to project failure.
Son approche hasardeuse a conduit à l'échec du projet.
C1 noun /ˈsɪ.nɪk/

Cynic

cynique; personne sceptique
Meaning
a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest; someone who is skeptical about human nature
Example
The old cynic believed that politicians only cared about getting votes.
Le vieux cynique croyait que les politiciens ne se souciaient que d'obtenir des voix.
C1 noun /kwɔːrˈtɛt/

quartet

quatuor
Meaning
A group of four people playing music or singing together.
Example
The string quartet performed beautifully at the concert.
Le quatuor à cordes a magnifiquement joué au concert.
C1 noun /ˈpriːˌæmbəl/

preamble

préambule
Meaning
a preliminary statement, especially the introduction to a formal document
Example
The preamble of the constitution outlines its guiding principles.
Le préambule de la constitution expose ses principes directeurs.
C1 noun /ˈvɜːrtɪˌɡoʊ/

vertigo

bonheur
Meaning
A sensation of spinning or dizziness, often caused by problems in the inner ear or brain.
Example
She felt a sudden vertigo when she looked down from the tall building.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur quand elle a reçu le prix.
C1 noun /ˌluː.mɪˈnɒs.ɪ.ti/

luminosity

luminosité
Meaning
The intrinsic brightness of a celestial object; the quality of emitting light.
Example
The luminosity of the star was measured with advanced instruments.
La luminosité de l'étoile a été mesurée à l'aide d'instruments avancés.
C1 noun /ˈsaɪkiː/

psyche

âme / esprit
Meaning
the human soul, mind, or spirit
Example
The novel explores the depths of the human psyche.
Le roman explore les profondeurs de la psyché humaine.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.mɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Demarcation

démarcation
Meaning
the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something; separation or division
Example
The demarcation between public and private land was clearly marked.
La délimitation entre les terres publiques et privées était clairement marquée.
C1 verb /ˈkrɪsən/

christen

baptiser
Meaning
to give a name to someone at baptism or to name something officially
Example
They christened the ship after the queen.
Ils ont baptisé le navire après la reine.
C1 noun /ˈpɛndjələm/

pendulum

pendule
Meaning
A weight suspended from a pivot so that it swings freely, often used to regulate clocks.
Example
The pendulum swung back and forth inside the clock.
Le pendule oscillait d'avant en arrière à l'intérieur de l'horloge.
C1 noun /ˈdiːviəns/

deviance

déviance
Meaning
Behavior that differs from accepted social or moral standards.
Example
The book studies deviance in urban youth culture.
Le livre étudie la déviance dans la culture urbaine des jeunes.
C1 adjective /rɪˈzɪstɪv/

resistive

résistif
Meaning
tending to resist or oppose; in physics, relating to electrical resistance
Example
The material has resistive properties that slow down current flow.
Le matériau possède des propriétés résistives qui ralentissent le flux de courant.
C1 noun /ˈiːdɪkt/

edict

édit
Meaning
An official order, proclamation, or decree issued by an authority.
Example
The king issued an edict banning smoking in public places.
Le roi a émis un édit interdisant de fumer dans les lieux publics.
C1 noun /fɔːrˈmæl.ə.ti/

Formality

formalités
Meaning
the rigid observance of rules of convention or etiquette; a thing done simply to comply with requirements
Example
The signing of the contract was just a formality; the deal was already agreed upon.
La signature du contrat n'était qu'une formalité; l'accord était déjà conclu.
C1 noun /ˌdaɪəˈrɑːmə/

diorama

diorama
Meaning
a three-dimensional model representing a scene, often with miniature figures
Example
The museum displayed a diorama of an ancient village.
Le musée a exposé un diorama d'un village ancien.
C1 noun /mɔːrɡ/

morgue

morgue
Meaning
a place where dead bodies are kept, especially to be identified or claimed
Example
The police took the body to the morgue for identification.
La police a emmené le corps à la morgue pour identification.
C1 noun /ˈɪŋklɪŋ/

inkling

indice
Meaning
A slight idea, hint, or suspicion about something.
Example
She had an inkling that he was planning a surprise.
Elle avait une vague idée qu'il préparait une surprise.
C1 verb /ˈfɔːlsɪfaɪ/

falsify

falsifier
Meaning
to make something false or to misrepresent
Example
He tried to falsify the documents to avoid taxes.
Il a essayé de falsifier les documents pour éviter les impôts.
C1 verb /əˈbriːvieɪt/

abbreviate

abréger
Meaning
To shorten a word, phrase, or text by leaving out letters or parts.
Example
We often abbreviate 'Doctor' to 'Dr'.
Nous abrégons souvent 'Docteur' en 'Dr'.
C1 adjective /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/

exhilarating

exaltant
Meaning
Making someone feel very excited, happy, or thrilled.
Example
Skydiving was the most exhilarating experience of his life.
Le parachutisme a été l'expérience la plus exaltante de sa vie.
C1 verb /ɪmˈbɛl.ɪʃ/

embellish

embellir
Meaning
To make something more attractive by adding decorative details or exaggerating.
Example
He tends to embellish stories to make them more interesting.
Il a tendance à embellir les histoires pour les rendre plus intéressantes.
C1 verb /rɪˈdiːm/

redeem

racheter
Meaning
to compensate for faults or mistakes; to exchange something for value
Example
He managed to redeem his reputation after the scandal.
Il a réussi à racheter sa réputation après le scandale.
C1 adjective/adverb /əˈmɪs/

amiss

incorrect
Meaning
Not quite right; inappropriate or out of place.
Example
Something seems amiss with the car's engine.
Il semble y avoir quelque chose d'incorrect avec le moteur de la voiture.
C1 adjective /ˈkwɪzɪkəl/

quizzical

perplexe, interrogatif
Meaning
Expressing mild or amused puzzlement.
Example
She gave him a quizzical look when he made the strange comment.
Elle lui a lancé un regard interrogateur lorsqu'il a fait le commentaire étrange.
C1 adjective /ˈtɒp.məʊst/

Topmost

le plus haut; supérieur
Meaning
highest in position or rank
Example
The flag was placed on the topmost branch of the tree.
Le drapeau a été placé sur la branche la plus haute de l'arbre.
C1 adjective /həˈmɑː.dʒə.nəs/

homogenous

homogène
Meaning
Similar or uniform in nature; often used interchangeably with 'homogeneous'.
Example
The class was made up of a homogenous group of students.
La classe était composée d'un groupe homogène d'étudiants.
C1 noun /ˈper.ɪ.wɪŋ.kəl/

Periwinkle

pervenche
Meaning
a small trailing plant with violet-blue or white flowers
Example
Purple periwinkles covered the garden ground beautifully.
Les pervenches violettes couvraient magnifiquement le sol du jardin.
C1 verb /əˈtɛst/

attest

attester
Meaning
To provide or serve as clear evidence of; to confirm or certify the truth of something.
Example
The witness attested to the accuracy of the report.
Le témoin a attesté de l'exactitude du rapport.