truism
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C2 noun /ˈtruːɪzəm/

truism

vérité banale
Meaning
a statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting
Example
It is a truism that hard work leads to success.
C'est une vérité banale que le travail acharné mène au succès.
C2 adjective /ˌæm.bɪˈdɛk.strəs/

ambidextrous

ambidextre
Meaning
Able to use both hands equally well, or versatile in abilities.
Example
Being ambidextrous can be beneficial in sports.
Être ambidextre peut être bénéfique dans les sports.
C2 adjective /ˈmʌski/

musky

musqué
Meaning
having a strong, sweet, earthy smell like musk
Example
The perfume had a musky fragrance.
Le parfum avait une fragrance musquée.
C2 noun /ˈɑːrbərɪˌkʌltʃər/

arboriculture

arboriculture
Meaning
the cultivation and management of trees and shrubs
Example
He studied arboriculture to improve urban green spaces.
Il a étudié l'arboriculture pour améliorer les espaces verts urbains.
C2 adjective, noun /pləˈbiːən/

plebian

commun, du peuple
Meaning
alternate spelling of 'plebeian'; common or ordinary
Example
His tastes were rather plebian, favoring simple food and clothes.
Ses goûts étaient assez communs, il préférait la nourriture simple et des vêtements simples.
C2 verb /məˈkadəˌmaɪz/

macadamize

recouvrir une route avec des pierres cassées
Meaning
to construct or cover a road with broken stone
Example
The government decided to macadamize the old rural roads.
Le gouvernement a décidé de macadamiser les vieilles routes rurales.
C2 noun /ˈʃɪbəˌlɛθ/

shibboleth

expression ou croyance distinctive d'un groupe particulier
Meaning
A custom, phrase, or belief distinguishing a particular group of people, often used to identify outsiders.
Example
The phrase became a political shibboleth during the campaign.
La phrase est devenue un chibboleth politique pendant la campagne.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbl/

inextricable

inextricable
Meaning
Impossible to separate or escape from.
Example
The two friends shared an inextricable bond.
Les deux amis partageaient un lien inextricable.
C2 noun /ˈkɒɡ.nɪ.zəns/

cognizance

connaissance
Meaning
Awareness, knowledge, or understanding of something; conscious perception.
Example
The judge took cognizance of the new evidence.
Le juge a pris connaissance de la nouvelle preuve.
C2 noun /ɡænˈdʒɛtɪk liːf fɪʃ/

Gangetic Leaf Fish

poisson-feuille gangétique
Meaning
a small freshwater fish species found in the Ganges river system, known for its leaf-like appearance
Example
The Gangetic Leaf Fish is commonly found in the rivers of Bangladesh.
Le poisson-feuille gangétique se trouve couramment dans les rivières du Bangladesh.
C2 noun /məˈlɪŋɡərər/

malingerer

personne qui simule une maladie
Meaning
a person who pretends to be sick to avoid duty or work
Example
The manager suspected that John was a malingerer.
Le responsable soupçonnait que John était un malingerer.
C2 noun /flæks/

flax

lin
Meaning
a plant whose fibers are used to make linen and whose seeds are edible
Example
Flax is often used in making linen fabrics.
Le lin est souvent utilisé pour fabriquer des tissus en lin.
C2 adjective /ˈθʌroʊˌɡoʊɪŋ/

thoroughgoing

complet, absolu
Meaning
carried out to the full extent; absolute and complete
Example
She is a thoroughgoing professional in every sense.
Elle est une professionnelle complète dans tous les sens.
C2 verb /ˌmælˈtriːt/

maltreat

maltraiter
Meaning
To treat someone cruelly or unfairly.
Example
The law punishes those who maltreat animals.
La loi punit ceux qui maltraitent les animaux.
C2 noun /ˈpjuː.pɪ.lɪdʒ/

pupilage

état d'apprenti
Meaning
The state of being a pupil or under instruction.
Example
During his pupilage, he studied law under a senior barrister.
Pendant son état d'apprenti, il a étudié le droit sous un barrister senior.
C2 noun /ˌmjuːtəˈbɪləti/

mutablility

mutabilité (faute d'orthographe)
Meaning
A misspelled form of 'mutability', meaning the quality of being changeable.
Example
The document contained the misspelled word 'mutablility' instead of 'mutability'.
Le document contenait le mot mal écrit 'mutablility' au lieu de 'mutability'.
C2 verb /ɪmˈpjuːt/

impute

imputer
Meaning
to attribute a fault or responsibility to someone
Example
They imputed the company's success to good leadership.
Ils ont imputé le succès de l'entreprise à un bon leadership.
C2 adjective /kəˈdævərəs/

cadaverous

cadavérique
Meaning
Resembling a corpse; very pale, thin, or bony.
Example
His cadaverous appearance shocked everyone at the party.
Son apparence cadavérique a choqué tout le monde à la fête.
C2 adjective /bəˈnɛfɪsənt/

beneficent

bénévole, généreux
Meaning
generous or doing good
Example
The beneficent leader donated funds to build a hospital.
Le leader bénéfique a donné des fonds pour construire un hôpital.
C2 noun /ˈvɔːdəvɪl/

vaudeville

vaudeville
Meaning
A type of entertainment popular in the early 20th century, featuring a mixture of comedy, song, dance, and variety acts.
Example
The vaudeville show included comedians, magicians, and dancers.
Le spectacle de vaudeville comprenait des comédiens, des magiciens et des danseurs.
C2 noun, verb /ˈfɪlɪˌbʌstər/

filibuster

une tactique de retardement des actions législatives par des discours prolongés; utiliser une telle tactique
Meaning
a tactic of delaying legislative action by prolonged speech; to use such a tactic
Example
The senator filibustered for hours to prevent the bill from passing.
Le sénateur a filibusté pendant des heures pour empêcher l'adoption du projet de loi.
C2 noun /ˈneɪvəri/

knavery

fourberie
Meaning
dishonest or deceitful behavior; trickery
Example
The politician’s knavery was exposed by the media.
La fourberie du politicien a été exposée par les médias.
C2 adjective /blɑːˈzeɪ/

blase

blasé, indifférent
Meaning
unimpressed or indifferent to something because it has been experienced so often before
Example
After years of luxury travel, she felt blase about another trip to Paris.
Après des années de voyages de luxe, elle se sentit blasée par un autre voyage à Paris.
C2 noun /ˈtaɪtwɒd/

tightwad

avare
Meaning
a person who is unwilling to spend money; a miser
Example
Everyone calls him a tightwad because he never buys gifts.
Tout le monde l'appelle avare parce qu'il n'achète jamais de cadeaux.
C2 noun /ˈfræŋkɪnsɛns/

frankincense

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

misanthropy

misanthropie
Meaning
a general dislike, distrust, or hatred of humankind
Example
His misanthropy was evident in the way he avoided people.
Sa misanthropie était évidente dans la façon dont il évitait les gens.
C2 adjective /ˌsɪkəˈfæntɪk/

sycophantic

flatteur
Meaning
Behaving in a way that is excessively obedient or servile to gain favor.
Example
His sycophantic behavior annoyed his colleagues.
Son comportement flatteur agacé ses collègues.
C2 noun /əˌpɒθiˈoʊsɪs/

apotheosis

apothéose, point culminant
Meaning
The highest point of development; the perfect example of something; the elevation of someone to divine status.
Example
Many see the Renaissance as the apotheosis of art and culture in Europe.
Beaucoup considèrent la Renaissance comme l'apothéose de l'art et de la culture en Europe.
C2 noun, adjective /ˌtætərdɪˈmeɪliən/

tatterdemalion

personne vêtue de haillons
Meaning
A person dressed in ragged clothes; ragged or dilapidated in appearance.
Example
A tatterdemalion wandered the streets in search of food.
Un tatterdemalion errait dans les rues à la recherche de nourriture.
C2 verb /əˈvʌls/

avulse

arracher
Meaning
to tear away or separate forcibly, especially in medical or geological contexts
Example
The surgeon had to avulse the damaged tissue during the operation.
Le chirurgien a dû arracher le tissu endommagé pendant l'opération.
C2 noun /pluːˈtɒkrəsi/

plutocracy

gouvernement des riches
Meaning
a system of government where the wealthy hold power
Example
The country was ruled as a plutocracy.
Le pays était dirigé comme une ploutocratie.
C2 noun /əˈsɜːrbəti/

acerbity

acerbité
Meaning
bitterness or sharpness of tone, manner, or taste
Example
The acerbity of his remarks left everyone silent.
L'acerbité de ses remarques a laissé tout le monde en silence.
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 /ˈpɛnjʊri/

penury

pauvreté extrême
Meaning
extreme poverty or destitution
Example
He grew up in penury but became successful later in life.
Il a grandi dans la pénurie, mais il est devenu prospère plus tard dans la vie.
C2 noun /pərˈdɪʃən/

perdition

bonheur
Meaning
A state of eternal spiritual ruin, often referring to hell or damnation.
Example
The preacher warned that greed would lead to perdition.
Elle ne pouvait pas cacher son bonheur lorsqu'elle a reçu le prix.
C2 verb /ɪnˈɡrɑːft/

ingraft

implanter
Meaning
To implant or fix deeply, often used in the sense of grafting an idea or quality.
Example
The teacher tried to ingraft good manners in the students.
Le professeur a essayé d'implanter de bonnes manières chez les étudiants.
C2 adjective /ˈnjuː.ɡə.tɔːr.i/

nugatory

futile
Meaning
Of little or no value; worthless or insignificant.
Example
His efforts were nugatory and did not change the outcome.
Ses efforts étaient futiles et n'ont pas changé le résultat.
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 kənˌsep.tʃu.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

conceptualization

conceptualisation
Meaning
The process of forming a concept or idea; the process of developing something in the mind.
Example
The conceptualization of renewable cities is groundbreaking.
La conceptualisation des villes renouvelables est révolutionnaire.
C2 noun /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/

hawthorn

arbuste épineux
Meaning
A thorny shrub or small tree with white or pink flowers, often used for hedges.
Example
The garden was lined with blooming hawthorn bushes.
Le jardin était bordé de buissons de prunelliers en fleurs.
C2 noun /ˌæprəˈbeɪʃən/

approbation

approbation / éloge
Meaning
approval or praise
Example
The plan won the approbation of the board members.
Le plan a reçu l'approbation des membres du conseil.
C2 noun /ˈsɪnjuː/

sinew

tendon
Meaning
A tendon; figuratively, the source of strength, power, or resilience.
Example
The sinews in his arms stood out as he lifted the heavy box.
Les tendons dans ses bras ressortaient lorsqu'il souleva la boîte lourde.
C2 noun əˌklaɪ.mə.tɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

acclimatization

acclimatation
Meaning
The process of adapting to a new environment or condition.
Example
The hikers needed time for acclimatization to high altitudes.
Les randonneurs ont eu besoin de temps pour l'acclimatation aux hautes altitudes.
C2 noun /ˈplætɪtjuːd/

platitude

platitude, lieu commun
Meaning
a remark or statement that is overused and unoriginal
Example
He kept repeating the same platitudes during the speech.
Il n'a cessé de répéter les mêmes platitudes pendant son discours.
C2 adjective /ˌvælɪˈdɪktəri/

valedictory

de départ
Meaning
Serving as a farewell or parting; relating to a valediction.
Example
He delivered a valedictory speech at the conference.
Il a prononcé un discours de départ à la conférence.
C2 noun /ˈstiː.vəˌdɔːr/

stevedore

dockeur
Meaning
A person employed to load and unload cargo from ships.
Example
The stevedores worked tirelessly to unload the cargo before dawn.
Les dockeurs ont travaillé sans relâche pour décharger la cargaison avant l'aube.
C2 adjective, adverb /ˌmæləprəˈpoʊ/

malapropos

inapproprié
Meaning
inappropriate or unsuitable; at an inconvenient or inappropriate time
Example
His comment was malapropos during the serious discussion.
Son commentaire était inapproprié pendant la discussion sérieuse.
C2 noun /ˈbʊlrʌʃ/

bulrush

jonc
Meaning
A tall plant with long leaves that grows in or near water, also known as a cattail.
Example
The pond was surrounded by tall bulrushes swaying in the wind.
L'étang était entouré de hauts jonc swaying dans le vent.
C2 noun /ˈhɪl.sə fɪʃ/

Hilsa fish

poisson hilsa
Meaning
a popular fish species found in South Asian rivers, especially prized in Bengali cuisine
Example
Hilsa fish is considered a delicacy in Bengali culture.
Le poisson hilsa est considéré comme une délicatesse dans la culture bengali.
C2 verb /pɑːrtʃ/

parch

sècher
Meaning
to make something extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat
Example
The scorching sun began to parch the fields.
Le soleil brûlant a commencé à sécher les champs.
C2 noun /ˌɒpəˈrɛtə/

operetta

opéra léger
Meaning
a short opera with light and humorous themes
Example
The theater staged a famous operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Le théâtre a présenté une célèbre opérette de Gilbert et Sullivan.
C2 adjective /ˈdɔːrsəl/

dorsal

dorsal
Meaning
Relating to the back or upper side of an animal or body part.
Example
Sharks have a prominent dorsal fin.
Les requins ont une nageoire dorsale proéminente.
C2 noun ট্রোপোস্ফিয়ার

troposphere

trophosphère
Meaning
The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where weather phenomena occur.
Example
The troposphere is where weather phenomena occur.
La troposphère est là où se produisent les phénomènes météorologiques.
C2 noun /ˈdɛswɪˌtuːd/

desuetude

désuétude
Meaning
a state of disuse or inactivity
Example
The old law has fallen into desuetude.
La vieille loi est tombée en désuétude.
C2 noun brəˈvɑː.dəʊ

bravado

un geste de courage ou de confiance qui n'est pas réel
Meaning
Show of courage or confidence that is not real.
Example
His bravado masked his nervousness before the performance.
Son bravado masquait son nervosité avant la performance.
C2 adjective /ˈlɔːdəˌtɔːri/

laudatory

élogieux
Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration.
Example
She wrote a laudatory review of the new book.
Elle a écrit une critique élogieuse du nouveau livre.
C2 noun /ˈkɒnsənəns/

consonance

consonance, harmonie
Meaning
Agreement or harmony among parts; a pleasing combination of sounds in music or words.
Example
The consonance between their ideas made the project successful.
La consonance entre leurs idées a rendu le projet réussi.
C2 verb /ˈwɔːbəl/

warble

chanter ou siffler avec une voix tremblante ou des trilles
Meaning
To sing or whistle with a quavering voice or with trills.
Example
The bird warbled a sweet tune in the morning.
L'oiseau a chanté une douce mélodie le matin.
C2 noun /ˈbriːtʃɪz/

Breeckes

pantalons jusqu'aux genoux
Meaning
knee-length trousers; short pants
Example
He wore riding breeches for the equestrian event.
Il portait des pantalons jusqu'aux genoux pour l'événement équestre.
C2 verb /bɪˈstraɪd/

bestride

dominer
Meaning
To sit or stand astride something; to dominate over.
Example
The statue bestrides the city square.
La statue domine la place de la ville.
C2 adjective /ɒˈstɛnsɪv/

ostensive

ostensible
Meaning
clearly demonstrative or pointing out; explicitly shown
Example
The teacher gave an ostensive example to clarify the concept.
L'enseignant a donné un exemple ostensible pour clarifier le concept.
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 noun /ˌsɪŋ.krəˈnɪs.ɪ.ti/

synchronicity

synchronicité
Meaning
The meaningful coincidence of two or more events that are not planned.
Example
The synchronicity of their thoughts amazed everyone.
La synchronicité de leurs pensées a étonné tout le monde.
C2 noun /ˈæp.ɪˌkʌl.tʃər/

apiculture

apiculture
Meaning
The practice of keeping and raising bees for honey and other products.
Example
Apiculture plays a vital role in agriculture by supporting pollination.
L'apiculture joue un rôle vital dans l'agriculture en soutenant la pollinisation.
C2 adjective /ˌɪrɪˈlɪdʒəs/

irreligious

irréligieux
Meaning
Indifferent or hostile to religion
Example
Some people in the community consider him irreligious because he never attends religious services.
Certaines personnes dans la communauté le considèrent comme irréligieux car il ne va jamais aux services religieux.
C2 verb /ˈblʌstər/

bluster

vantes
Meaning
to speak loudly in an aggressive or threatening way, often without real power
Example
The manager blustered about firing people but did nothing.
Le manager a menacé de renvoyer des gens mais n'a rien fait.
C2 noun /ˌɡlæd.iˈoʊ.ləs/

Gladiolus

glaïeul
Meaning
A tall flowering plant with sword-shaped leaves and colorful spike-like flower clusters, popular in gardens and floral arrangements
Example
The gladiolus stood tall and elegant in the flower bed.
Le glaïeul se tenait droit et élégant dans le parterre de fleurs.
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 verb /ˈʌndərˌraɪt/

underwrite

garantir un soutien financier
Meaning
To guarantee financial support, especially by agreeing to cover losses or risks; in insurance, to assess and accept risks.
Example
The bank agreed to underwrite the company's new bond issue.
La banque a accepté de souscrire à la nouvelle émission d'obligations de l'entreprise.
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 verb /ˈblækˌbɔːl/

blackball

exclure
Meaning
to exclude someone socially or vote against their membership in a group or club
Example
He was blackballed from the club after the controversy.
Il a été exclu du club après la controverse.
C2 noun /foʊl fʊt/

Foal-foot

fleur de sabot de cheval
Meaning
a yellow flowering plant with leaves shaped like a horse's hoof, also known as coltsfoot
Example
The foal-foot plant grows wild in many meadows and is often the first flower to bloom in spring.
La plante de fleur de sabot de cheval pousse sauvagement dans de nombreuses prairies et est souvent la première à fleurir au printemps.
C2 noun/verb /ˈmæn.ə.kəl/

manacle

entrave
Meaning
A metal shackle for fastening someone's hands or ankles; also to restrain with such shackles.
Example
The prisoner was manacled before being taken to court.
Le prisonnier a été enchaîné avant d'être emmené au tribunal.
C2 noun /rɪˈfɛkʃən/

refection

repas / alimentation
Meaning
a meal or the act of taking food and drink
Example
The monks gathered for their evening refection.
Les moines se sont réunis pour leur repas du soir.
C2 noun /ˈfɪɡmənt/

figment

invention, imagination
Meaning
something invented or imaginary; a fabrication of the mind
Example
The story of the haunted house is just a figment of her imagination.
L'histoire de la maison hantée n'est qu'un produit de son imagination.
C2 adjective /prɪˈzʌmptɪv/

presumptive

présumé
Meaning
Based on probability or assumption rather than proof.
Example
She is the presumptive nominee for the party.
Elle est la candidate présumée pour le parti.
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 adjective /lɪˈbɪdənəs/

libidinous

lubrique
Meaning
Showing excessive sexual drive; lustful.
Example
The play was criticized for its libidinous characters.
La pièce a été critiquée pour ses personnages lubriques.
C2 verb /ʌpˈhiːv/

upheave

soulever
Meaning
to lift or raise something forcefully; to cause to rise suddenly
Example
The workers had to upheave the heavy stone to clear the path.
Les travailleurs ont dû soulever la grosse pierre pour dégager le chemin.
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 noun /ˈlɑːrsəni/

larceny

vol
Meaning
The unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.
Example
He was arrested for committing larceny at the store.
Il a été arrêté pour avoir commis un vol dans le magasin.
C2 verb /dɪsˈmɛmbər/

dismember

dismembrer
Meaning
to cut or tear the limbs from a body; to divide into separate parts
Example
The king ordered his enemies to be dismembered.
Le roi a ordonné que ses ennemis soient dismembrés.
C2 noun /ˈkɔːldrən/

caldron

grand chaudron en métal
Meaning
A large metal pot used for boiling liquids or cooking over an open fire.
Example
The witch stirred her potion in a bubbling caldron.
La sorcière remuait sa potion dans un chaudron bouillonnant.
C2 noun /ˈlæki/

lackey

domestique
Meaning
a person who is overly willing to serve or obey someone else
Example
He treated his assistant like a mere lackey.
Il a traité son assistant comme un simple domestique.
C2 noun ˈnjʊə.rəʊ ˌfiːd.bæk

neurofeedback

une technique qui utilise les activités cérébrales en temps réel pour enseigner l'autorégulation de la fonction cérébrale
Meaning
A technique that uses real-time displays of brain activity to teach self-regulation of brain function.
Example
Neurofeedback enhances cognitive performance and relaxation.
Le neurofeedback améliore la performance cognitive et la relaxation.
C2 adjective /stɛnˈtɔːriən/

stentorian

tonitruant
Meaning
Extremely loud and powerful in sound.
Example
The teacher’s stentorian voice quieted the noisy classroom.
La voix tonitruante du professeur a calmé la classe bruyante.
C2 verb /ˈdɛsɪkreɪt/

desecrate

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

distrait

distrait
Meaning
deeply distracted or absent-minded, often due to worry or grief
Example
He looked distrait after hearing the sad news.
Il avait l'air distrait après avoir entendu les mauvaises nouvelles.
C2 noun əˈkjuː.ə.ti

acuity

acuité
Meaning
Sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing.
Example
His intellectual acuity made him a brilliant scientist.
Son acuité intellectuelle faisait de lui un scientifique brillant.
C2 adjective /ɪnˈsuːpərəbl/

insuperable

insurmontable
Meaning
Impossible to overcome or surpass.
Example
The team faced insuperable challenges during the expedition.
L'équipe a fait face à des défis insurmontables lors de l'expédition.
C2 noun /ˈɛdi/

eddy

tourbillon
Meaning
A circular movement of water, air, or smoke, counter to the main current, causing a small whirlpool or turbulence.
Example
The canoe was caught in an eddy near the rocks.
Le canoë a été pris dans un tourbillon près des rochers.
C2 noun /laʊt/

lout

vulgaire
Meaning
An uncouth or aggressive man or boy.
Example
The drunken lout caused a scene at the party.
Le loubard ivre a causé une scène à la fête.
C2 adjective /kənˈvɜːrsənt/

conversant

familier, connaisseur
Meaning
familiar with or knowledgeable about something
Example
She is conversant with the latest developments in technology.
Elle est familière avec les derniers développements technologiques.
C2 noun /ˈoʊvərlɔːrd/

overlord

seigneur
Meaning
A ruler, master, or person of great power and authority over others.
Example
The peasants were forced to pay taxes to their overlord.
Les paysans ont été forcés de payer des impôts à leur seigneur.
C2 adjective /ˌseɪpiˈɛnʃəl/

sapiential

relatif à la sagesse
Meaning
Relating to wisdom or knowledge, often in a religious or philosophical sense.
Example
The monk shared sapiential teachings with his students.
Le moine a partagé des enseignements relatifs à la sagesse avec ses étudiants.
C2 adjective /ˈsfɪŋks laɪk/

sphinx-like

mystérieux
Meaning
Mysterious, enigmatic, or difficult to interpret
Example
Her sphinx-like smile made it hard to guess what she was thinking.
Son sourire sphinx-like rendait difficile de deviner ce qu'elle pensait.
C2 adjective /sərˈkjuːɪtəs/

circuitous

route indirecte
Meaning
Longer than the most direct way; roundabout.
Example
He took a circuitous route to avoid traffic.
Il a pris une route indirecte pour éviter le trafic.
C2 noun /dɪˈkrɛpɪˌtjuːd/

decrepitude

décadence
Meaning
the state of being old, weak, and worn out
Example
The once-great empire fell into decrepitude.
L'autrefois grand empire est tombé dans la décadence.
C2 noun /ˈpɒliˌɑːrki/

polyarchy

polyarchie
Meaning
government by many people
Example
Polyarchy allows multiple parties to share power.
La polyarchie permet à plusieurs partis de partager le pouvoir.
C2 adjective /ˈoʊdiəs/

odious

odieux
Meaning
extremely unpleasant or repulsive
Example
The dictator was remembered for his odious crimes.
Le dictateur a été rappelé pour ses crimes odieux.
C2 noun /ˈkæθoʊd/

cathode

électrode négative
Meaning
The negative electrode in a device such as a battery or tube, where electrons enter.
Example
The cathode emits electrons in the tube.
Le cathode émet des électrons dans le tube.
C2 verb /bɪˈfɪt/

befit

convenir à
Meaning
to be suitable for; to be appropriate to
Example
Formal attire befits the seriousness of the occasion.
Une tenue formelle convient au sérieux de l’occasion.
C2 adjective /ˈmɪn.dʒi/

Mingy

avare; pingre
Meaning
mean or stingy; unwilling to spend money
Example
He is too mingy to spend money on anything but necessities.
Il est trop radin pour dépenser de l'argent pour autre chose que les nécessités.
C2 noun /ˈdæl.i.əns/

Dalliance

flirt; aventure; liaison éphémère
Meaning
a casual romantic or sexual relationship; a brief involvement or experiment
Example
His dalliance with photography lasted only a few months before he lost interest.
Son flirt avec la photographie n'a duré que quelques mois avant qu'il perde de l'intérêt.
C2 noun /ˈpɔːrfəri/

porphyry

une roche ignée dure
Meaning
A hard igneous rock containing crystals, often used for decorative or building purposes.
Example
The ancient Romans used porphyry to make columns and statues.
Les anciens Romains ont utilisé le porphyre pour fabriquer des colonnes et des statues.
C2 noun /ˈpɛtjʊləns/

petulance

pétulance
Meaning
The quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
Example
His petulance during the meeting annoyed everyone.
Sa pétulance pendant la réunion a agacé tout le monde.
C2 adjective /lʌɡˈʒʊəriənt/

luxuriant

luxuriant
Meaning
abundant in growth or richly abundant
Example
The luxuriant forest was teeming with life.
La forêt luxuriante regorgeait de vie.
C2 noun /fləˈtɪlə/

flotilla

flottille
Meaning
A small fleet of ships or boats operating together.
Example
A flotilla of fishing boats left the harbor at dawn.
Une flottille de bateaux de pêche a quitté le port à l'aube.
C2 noun /ˈɪɡ.nəˌmɪn.i/

ignominy

ignominie
Meaning
Public shame, disgrace, or dishonor.
Example
He lived the rest of his life in ignominy after the scandal.
Il a vécu le reste de sa vie dans l'ignominie après le scandale.
C2 noun /ˌbenɪˈdɪkʃən/

Benediction

bénédiction
Meaning
a blessing, especially a ceremonial one; an expression of good wishes
Example
The priest gave his benediction to the newlyweds.
Le prêtre a donné sa bénédiction aux nouveaux mariés.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪsəluːt/

dissolute

dissolu
Meaning
lacking moral restraint; indulging excessively in sensual pleasures
Example
He led a dissolute life filled with parties and gambling.
Il a mené une vie dissolue remplie de fêtes et de jeux d'argent.
C2 noun /proʊˈbɑːsɪs/

proboscis

trompe
Meaning
The long, flexible nose of some animals, especially an elephant, or a tubular feeding and sucking organ in insects.
Example
The elephant used its proboscis to grab food.
L'éléphant a utilisé sa trompe pour attraper de la nourriture.
C2 adjective /daɪˈæfənəs/

diaphanous

diaphane
Meaning
Light, delicate, and translucent.
Example
She wore a diaphanous dress that shimmered in the sunlight.
Elle portait une robe diaphane qui scintillait sous la lumière du soleil.
C2 adjective /ˈtrɛntʃənt/

trenchant

tranchant
Meaning
expressed strongly, effectively, and clearly; sharp or cutting in style or expression
Example
Her trenchant criticism of the policy left no room for misunderstanding.
Sa critique tranchante de la politique n'a laissé aucune place à des malentendus.
C2 adjective /ˈɛksɪdʒənt/

exigent

urgent
Meaning
demanding immediate action or attention; urgent
Example
The patient’s exigent condition required immediate surgery.
L'état exigent du patient a nécessité une chirurgie immédiate.
C2 adjective /ˌhɪstriˈɒnɪk/

histrionic

excessivement dramatique
Meaning
Overly dramatic or theatrical in behavior or style.
Example
Her histrionic reaction to the small problem surprised everyone.
Sa réaction histrionique au petit problème a surpris tout le monde.
C2 noun /proʊˈdʒɛnɪtər/

progenitor

ancêtre
Meaning
a direct ancestor; a person or thing that originates something
Example
Researchers traced the custom back to a common progenitor.
Les chercheurs ont retracé la coutume jusqu'à un ancêtre commun.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmərən/

decameron

Décaméron (recueil de contes de Boccaccio)
Meaning
A collection of 100 tales written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century, told by a group of people over ten days.
Example
The Decameron is considered a masterpiece of classical Italian literature.
Le Décaméron est considéré comme un chef-d'œuvre de la littérature italienne classique.
C2 verb /ʃʌk/

shuck

éplucher
Meaning
To remove the outer covering, such as the husk of corn or shell of shellfish.
Example
She learned how to shuck oysters quickly.
Elle a appris à ouvrir les huîtres rapidement.
C2 noun /ˌɪntərˈrɛɡnəm/

interregnum

interrègne
Meaning
A period between rulers or governments when normal leadership is suspended.
Example
The country faced instability during the interregnum after the king’s death.
Le pays a connu de l’instabilité pendant l’interrègne après la mort du roi.
C2 adjective /ˈleɪ.tɪʃ/

latish

un peu en retard
Meaning
Somewhat late; occurring or arriving later than usual but not very late.
Example
We arrived latish to the party but still caught most of the fun.
Nous sommes arrivés un peu en retard à la fête, mais nous avons quand même profité de la plupart du plaisir.