urbane
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C2 adjective /ɜːrˈbeɪn/

urbane

urbain
Meaning
showing polished manners, refinement, and sophistication
Example
He was an urbane gentleman who charmed everyone at the party.
C'était un gentleman urbain qui a charmé tout le monde à la fête.
C2 verb /ˈvɪlɪfaɪ/

vilify

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

boatswain

officier de bord
Meaning
a ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew
Example
The boatswain supervised the sailors on deck.
Le bôt-swên a supervisé les marins sur le pont.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ˈpepər/

Long pepper

poivre long
Meaning
a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit which is used as a spice
Example
Long pepper was more valuable than black pepper in ancient times.
Le poivre long était plus précieux que le poivre noir dans les temps anciens.
C2 noun /ˈnɛtl̩/

nettle

plante avec des poils qui provoquent des irritations lorsqu'ils sont touchés
Meaning
a plant with stinging hairs that cause irritation when touched
Example
He accidentally brushed against the nettle and felt a sharp sting.
Il a accidentellement frôlé l'ortie et a ressenti une douleur aiguë.
C2 adjective /pəˈnjʊəriəs/

penurious

extrêmement pauvre
Meaning
extremely poor; poverty-stricken; miserly
Example
The penurious family struggled to buy food.
La famille extrêmement pauvre peinait à acheter de la nourriture.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌɡɒn/

decagon

décagone
Meaning
A polygon with ten sides and ten angles.
Example
The geometry teacher drew a perfect decagon on the board.
Le professeur de géométrie a dessiné un parfait décagone au tableau.
C2 adjective ˈtɛnsaɪl

tensile

tensile
Meaning
Relating to tension; capable of being stretched.
Example
The tensile strength of the material is crucial for the construction project.
La résistance à la traction du matériau est cruciale pour le projet de construction.
C2 verb /bɪˈdaɪzən/

bedizen

orner de manière ostentatoire
Meaning
to dress up or decorate in a showy or tasteless way
Example
She was bedizened with cheap jewelry.
Elle était ornée de bijoux bon marché.
C2 noun /ˈhæbɪtənt/

habitant

habitant
Meaning
An inhabitant; a person or animal that lives in a particular place.
Example
The habitants of the village were friendly and welcoming.
Les habitants du village étaient amicaux et accueillants.
C2 noun /fɪˈlɒl.ə.dʒi/

philology

l'étude de la langue dans les sources historiques écrites ; linguistique
Meaning
the study of language in written historical sources; linguistics
Example
She devoted her career to philology, researching ancient manuscripts.
Elle a consacré sa carrière à la philologie, en recherchant des manuscrits anciens.
C2 noun /ˈoʊ.vər.let/

Overlet

surmatelas
Meaning
a thin mattress or pad placed over a bed for additional comfort
Example
The overlet makes the bed more comfortable to sleep on.
Le surmatelas rend le lit plus confortable pour dormir.
C2 noun /ˌɛksaɪˈteɪʃən/

excitation

excitation
Meaning
a state of great excitement or the process of stimulating activity
Example
The news created great excitation among the fans.
Les nouvelles ont créé une grande excitation parmi les fans.
C2 adjective /ˈsɑːdn/

sodden

saturé
Meaning
thoroughly soaked or saturated with liquid
Example
His clothes were sodden after the heavy rain.
Ses vêtements étaient saturés après la forte pluie.
C2 noun /ˈneɪˌseɪ.ɪŋ/

naysaying

expression négative
Meaning
The act of expressing negative or pessimistic views.
Example
His constant naysaying discouraged the team.
Ses continuelles expressions négatives ont découragé l'équipe.
C2 adjective /ˈbʌmpʃəs/

bumptious

prétentieux
Meaning
Arrogantly self-assertive or conceited.
Example
The bumptious student interrupted the teacher several times.
L'étudiant prétentieux a interrompu le professeur plusieurs fois.
C2 adjective /ˈæfərənt/

afferent

afférent
Meaning
carrying impulses toward a central organ or part, especially toward the brain or spinal cord
Example
Afferent nerves carry signals from the body to the brain.
Les nerfs afférents transportent des signaux du corps vers le cerveau.
C2 verb /ˈbækbaɪt/

backbite

médire
Meaning
to speak negatively about someone who is not present; to slander behind someone’s back
Example
It is wrong to backbite your colleagues behind their backs.
Il est mal de médire de ses collègues en leur absence.
C2 verb /məˈlɪŋɡər/

malinger

feindre la maladie
Meaning
to exaggerate or fake illness in order to escape duty or work
Example
He tried to malinger to avoid going to school.
Il a essayé de feindre une maladie pour éviter d'aller à l'école.
C2 adjective /ˈfæl.oʊ/

fallow

jachère
Meaning
Describing land that is left unplanted for a period to restore its fertility, allowing soil to recover nutrients and break pest and disease cycles.
Example
Farmers leave their fields fallow to restore soil fertility.
Les agriculteurs laissent leurs champs en jachère pour restaurer la fertilité du sol.
C2 noun ˈpɑː.stər.ə.lɪ.zəm

pastoralism

pastoralisme, système de pâturage basé sur l'herbe
Meaning
A form of animal husbandry where domesticated animals are released onto large vegetated outdoor lands for grazing.
Example
Pastoralism is a traditional way of managing livestock.
Le pastoralisme est une manière traditionnelle de gérer le bétail.
C2 adjective /kwɪkˈsɑː.t̬ɪk/

quixotic

extrêmement idéaliste, irréaliste et impraticable
Meaning
Extremely idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical.
Example
His quixotic dreams often led to disappointment.
Ses rêves quixotiques menaient souvent à la déception.
C2 noun /ˌɔːskʌlˈteɪʃən/

auscultation

auscultation
Meaning
The act of listening to internal sounds of the body, typically using a stethoscope.
Example
The doctor performed auscultation to check the patient’s lungs.
Le médecin a effectué une auscultation pour vérifier les poumons du patient.
C2 verb /səˈbɔːrn/

suborn

suborner
Meaning
to bribe or induce someone unlawfully to perform an act, especially to commit perjury
Example
The lawyer was accused of trying to suborn a witness.
L'avocat a été accusé d'avoir tenté de suborner un témoin.
C2 noun /ˈtuːb.roʊz/

Tube-rose

tubéreuse
Meaning
a night-blooming flower with an intensely sweet fragrance, native to Mexico
Example
The tuberose flowers filled the evening air with their heavenly scent.
Les fleurs de tubéreuse ont rempli l'air du soir de leur parfum céleste.
C2 adjective /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/

ubiquitious

omniprésent
Meaning
Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Example
Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.
Les smartphones sont devenus omniprésents dans la société moderne.
C2 noun /daɪn/

dyne

unité de force (système cgs)
Meaning
A unit of force in the centimeter-gram-second (cgs) system equal to 10⁻⁵ newtons.
Example
The physicist measured the force in dynes.
Le physicien a mesuré la force en dynes.
C2 noun /ˈdʒæk.dɔː/

Jack-daw

petit corbeau
Meaning
a small gray and black bird of the crow family, known for its intelligence
Example
The jackdaw collected shiny objects for its nest.
Le jackdaw a collecté des objets brillants pour son nid.
C2 noun /məˈdɒn.ə/

madonna

madonna (Vierge Marie)
Meaning
An artistic representation of the Virgin Mary; also used as a respectful form of address for a woman in Italian culture.
Example
The Renaissance painting depicts a Madonna holding child Jesus.
La peinture de la Renaissance dépeint une Madonna tenant l'enfant Jésus.
C2 noun /ˈθɛspiən/

thespian

acteur
Meaning
An actor or actress; relating to drama or theater.
Example
The festival was filled with talented thespians from across the country.
Le festival était rempli d'acteurs talentueux venus de tout le pays.
C2 adjective /ˈhɔːrtətɪv/

hortative

hortatoire
Meaning
Giving strong encouragement or urging.
Example
The teacher gave a hortative speech to motivate the students before the exam.
Le professeur a prononcé un discours hortatoire pour motiver les élèves avant l'examen.
C2 verb /ˈsʌblɪmeɪt/

sublimate

transformer en activités supérieures
Meaning
to redirect strong emotions or desires into socially acceptable activities or channels
Example
She sublimated her anger into painting beautiful landscapes.
Elle a sublimé sa colère en peignant de beaux paysages.
C2 noun /ɡɑːrˈdiː.ni.ə/

Gardenia

gardénia
Meaning
a white or yellow fragrant flower with waxy petals
Example
The gardenia bush produced beautiful white flowers with a lovely scent.
Le buisson de gardénia a produit de belles fleurs blanches avec un parfum charmant.
C2 adjective /rəˈʃɛrʃ/

recherche

exclusif
Meaning
Rare, exotic, or obscure, often in a sophisticated or refined way.
Example
The gallery displayed many recherche artworks from unknown artists.
La galerie a exposé de nombreuses œuvres d'art exclusives d'artistes inconnus.
C2 noun /ˈɒn.rʌʃ/

onrush

ruée
Meaning
A sudden powerful forward or downward rush or flow.
Example
The onrush of water swept away the bridge.
La ruée d'eau emporta le pont.
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 verb /kəˈdʒoʊl/

cajole

cajoler
Meaning
To persuade someone to do something by flattery or gentle urging.
Example
She managed to cajole her friend into joining the trip.
Elle a réussi à cajoler son amie pour qu'elle se joigne au voyage.
C2 noun /ˈpriːskrɪpt/

prescript

prescription
Meaning
An authoritative rule or direction; something laid down as a command.
Example
The prescript of the organization required strict punctuality.
Le prescript de l'organisation exigeait une ponctualité stricte.
C2 noun /kənˈtɔːrʃən/

contortion

une forme tordue ou pliée; l'action de tordre hors de la forme normale
Meaning
a twisted or bent shape; the act of twisting out of the normal shape
Example
The gymnast's contortion amazed the audience.
La contorsion du gymnaste a étonné le public.
C2 noun /ˌdɛkəˈsɪləbəl/

decasyllable

décasyllabe
Meaning
A line of verse with ten syllables.
Example
The poet often wrote in decasyllable form.
Le poète écrivait souvent en forme de décasyllabe.
C2 adjective/noun /fɪˈduː.ʃi.er.i/

fiduciary

fiduciaire
Meaning
Involving trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary.
Example
Banks have fiduciary duties towards their clients.
Les banques ont des devoirs fiduciaires envers leurs clients.
C2 adjective /ˌɪnɪˈsɛnʃəl/

inessential

non essentiel
Meaning
not necessary or important; not essential
Example
The report removes all inessential details to stay focused.
Le rapport supprime les détails non essentiels pour rester concentré.
C2 noun /ˈkɒntrəriz/

contraries

choses opposées
Meaning
things that are completely different or opposite to each other
Example
Freedom and slavery are contraries in every sense.
La liberté et l'esclavage sont des contraires dans tous les sens.
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 /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 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 adjective fɔːˈtjuː.ɪ.təs

fortuitous

fortuit
Meaning
Happening by accident or chance rather than design; lucky or fortunate.
Example
Their meeting was purely fortuitous.
Leur rencontre était purement fortuite.
C2 verb /ˈɑːblɪˌɡeɪt/

obligate

obliger
Meaning
to bind legally or morally; to compel someone to do something
Example
The contract obligates the company to provide timely service.
Le contrat oblige l'entreprise à fournir un service ponctuel.
C2 noun /flɛk/

fleck

tache petite
Meaning
a small spot or mark, often of a different color
Example
There was a fleck of paint on the floor.
Il y avait une tache de peinture sur le sol.
C2 verb /kənˈvʌls/

convulse

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

hostelry

auberge
Meaning
An inn or lodging place, especially one for travelers.
Example
They stayed at a small hostelry near the mountains.
Ils ont séjourné dans une petite auberge près des montagnes.
C2 adjective /ˈhæriːd/

harried

épuisé ou stressé
Meaning
feeling strained or stressed due to being overworked or constantly bothered
Example
The harried teacher struggled to calm the noisy classroom.
L'enseignant épuisé luttait pour calmer la salle de classe bruyante.
C2 verb /ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪteɪt/

incapacitate

incapaciter
Meaning
to deprive someone or something of the ability or strength to function
Example
The severe injury incapacitated the player for the rest of the season.
La blessure grave a rendu le joueur incapable pour le reste de la saison.
C2 noun /red ˌəʊ.liˈæn.dər/

Red oleander

laurier rose
Meaning
a poisonous flowering shrub with bright red or pink flowers
Example
The red oleander blooms throughout the summer months.
Le laurier rose fleurit tout au long des mois d'été.
C2 noun, verb /ˈæseɪ/

assay

analyse
Meaning
To test or analyze the quality, purity, or content of a substance; the act of such testing.
Example
The scientists assayed the mineral sample for gold content.
Les scientifiques ont analysé l'échantillon de minerai pour la teneur en or.
C2 noun /ˈpæsɪt/

Passet

fromage blanc
Meaning
Fresh cheese curds; cottage cheese made from curdled milk
Example
The cook prepared fresh passet by curdling warm milk with lemon juice.
Le cuisinier a préparé du fromage blanc frais en caillant du lait chaud avec du jus de citron.
C2 noun /ˈɛpɪtɑːf/

epitaph

épitaphe
Meaning
A short text written on a tombstone in memory of the deceased.
Example
The gravestone bore an epitaph honoring the soldier’s bravery.
La pierre tombale portait une épitaphe honorant le courage du soldat.
C2 noun /ˈvɛstmənt/

vestment

vêtement religieux
Meaning
a garment, especially a ceremonial or official robe worn during religious services
Example
The priest wore a golden vestment during the ceremony.
Le prêtre portait un vêtement doré lors de la cérémonie.
C2 verb /ˈhɛnˌpɛk/

henpeck

être constamment critiqué ou dominé par son épouse
Meaning
To continually criticize, nag, or dominate (especially a husband).
Example
He felt henpecked by his overly controlling wife.
Il se sentait constamment critiqué par sa femme dominante.
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 noun /ˈmɪsɪv/

missive

missive
Meaning
a written message, especially a formal or official letter
Example
He sent a long missive to the governor.
Il a envoyé une longue missive au gouverneur.
C2 noun /ˌɑːrbəˈriːtəm/

arboretum

arborétum
Meaning
a place where trees, shrubs, and plants are grown for scientific study or public display
Example
We visited the city’s arboretum to learn about exotic trees.
Nous avons visité l'arborétum de la ville pour en apprendre davantage sur les arbres exotiques.
C2 noun /ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt/

billingsgate

langage grossier ou abusif
Meaning
Coarse or abusive language; vulgar or offensive speech.
Example
The heated argument quickly descended into billingsgate.
La discussion animée est rapidement descendue dans un langage grossier.
C2 noun /ˈæl.mɪ.rə/

Almirah

armoire
Meaning
a large cupboard or wardrobe used for storing clothes and other items
Example
I keep all my clothes in the wooden almirah.
Je garde tous mes vêtements dans l'armoire en bois.
C2 verb /ˈwɪn.oʊ/

winnow

sélectionner; séparer le grain de la paille
Meaning
to remove the less desirable parts from a group; originally, to separate grain from chaff by blowing air
Example
The committee will winnow the list of applicants to ten finalists.
Le comité réduira la liste des candidats à dix finalistes.
C2 noun /ˈkælvɪnɪzəm/

calvinism

calvinisme
Meaning
A Protestant theological system based on John Calvin’s teachings, emphasizing predestination and the sovereignty of God.
Example
Calvinism played a major role in shaping Protestant theology.
Le calvinisme a joué un rôle majeur dans la formation de la théologie protestante.
C2 noun /mɛnˈdæsəti/

mendacity

faux
Meaning
the tendency to be untruthful; dishonesty
Example
The journalist exposed the mendacity of the officials.
Le journaliste a exposé la fausseté des responsables.
C2 adjective /ˌɪndɪˈtɜːrmənət/

indeterminate

indéterminé
Meaning
Not exactly known, defined, or established; vague or uncertain.
Example
The project was delayed for an indeterminate amount of time.
Le projet a été retardé pour une période indéterminée.
C2 adjective /ˈhoʊm.spʌn/

homespun

fait maison
Meaning
Simple and unsophisticated; made at home rather than in a factory.
Example
She wore a homespun dress to the village festival.
Elle portait une robe faite maison au festival du village.
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 noun /ˌmɪstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

mystification

mystification, confusion
Meaning
the act of making something unclear or confusing; a state of being puzzled or bewildered
Example
The audience watched in mystification as the magician performed his tricks.
Le public regardait dans la mystification pendant que le magicien réalisait ses tours.
C2 noun /dɪˈpləʊmətɪst/

diplomatist

diplomate
Meaning
A person skilled in diplomacy; another word for diplomat.
Example
The diplomatist handled the negotiations with great tact.
Le diplomate a géré les négociations avec grande tact.
C2 noun /ˈsaɪz.mə.ɡræf/

seismograph

sismographe
Meaning
An instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration.
Example
The seismograph detected a strong tremor in the area.
Le sismographe a détecté une forte secousse dans la région.
C2 noun /kwaɪˈiːtəs/

Quietus

mort ou quelque chose qui cause la mort ; une résolution finale
Meaning
death or something that causes death; a final settlement
Example
The hero received his quietus from the villain's sword.
Le héros a reçu son quietus de l'épée du vilain.
C2 noun /ˈsaʊər wʊd ˈæp.əl/

Sour wood apple

pomme d'éléphant
Meaning
a tropical fruit with hard shell and tangy flesh; elephant apple
Example
The sour wood apple has a unique taste that many people enjoy.
La pomme d'éléphant a un goût unique que beaucoup de gens apprécient.
C2 noun /ˈkeɪ.tɪf/

caitiff

lâche
Meaning
A contemptible or cowardly person.
Example
The knight despised the caitiff who betrayed his comrades.
Le chevalier méprisait le lâche qui avait trahi ses camarades.
C2 noun /ˈkwɒdrʊpɛd/

quadruped

quadrupède
Meaning
an animal that walks on four feet
Example
Most mammals are quadruped creatures adapted for running and stability.
La plupart des mammifères sont des créatures quadrupèdes adaptées à la course et à la stabilité.
C2 noun /prɪˈfɜːrmənt/

preferment

promotion
Meaning
promotion or advancement in rank, position, or office
Example
He hoped for preferment in the government office.
Il espérait une promotion dans le bureau du gouvernement.
C2 noun /ˈɡræn.tɔːr/

grantor

donateur
Meaning
A person or entity that makes a grant or transfers property or rights to another.
Example
The grantor transferred the property rights to the nonprofit organization.
Le donateur a transféré les droits de propriété à l'organisation à but non lucratif.
C2 noun /traɪst/

tryst

rendez-vous secret
Meaning
a private romantic meeting between lovers
Example
They arranged a secret tryst in the park.
Ils ont organisé un rendez-vous secret dans le parc.
C2 adjective /saɪˈdɪəriəl/

sidereal

sidéral
Meaning
Relating to the stars or constellations; measured relative to the stars.
Example
Astronomers use sidereal time to track the positions of stars.
Les astronomes utilisent le temps sidéral pour suivre les positions des étoiles.
C2 verb /ɪkˈstruːd/

extrude

extruder
Meaning
to force something out through a small opening; to shape by pushing material through a mold
Example
The factory extrudes plastic pipes using modern machines.
L'usine extrude des tuyaux en plastique en utilisant des machines modernes.
C2 noun /dɪˈpoʊnənt/

deponent

témoignage
Meaning
A person who gives testimony under oath, especially in a written deposition.
Example
The deponent confirmed the accuracy of the statement during the trial.
Le témoin a confirmé l'exactitude de la déclaration pendant le procès.
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 verb /dɪˈkæmp/

decamp

fuir
Meaning
To depart suddenly or secretly, often to avoid trouble or escape.
Example
The thief decamped before the police arrived.
Le voleur s'est échappé avant que la police n'arrive.
C2 adjective /sɛnˈtrɪpɪtəl/

centripetal

centripète
Meaning
Moving or directed toward a center.
Example
Centripetal force keeps the planets in orbit around the sun.
La force centripète maintient les planètes en orbite autour du soleil.
C2 adjective /ʌpˈrɔːr.i.əs/

uproarious

extrêmement drôle
Meaning
Extremely funny or noisy; causing loud laughter or commotion.
Example
The comedian's jokes were absolutely uproarious.
Les blagues du comédien étaient absolument extrêmement drôles.
C2 noun /ɪmˌprɒb.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Improbability

improbabilité
Meaning
the quality or state of being improbable; unlikely to be true or to happen
Example
The improbability of winning the lottery twice didn't stop her from buying tickets.
L'improbabilité de gagner à la loterie deux fois ne l'a pas empêchée d'acheter des billets.
C2 verb /prɪˈværɪkeɪt/

prevaricate

échapper à dire la vérité
Meaning
to avoid telling the truth by not giving a direct answer
Example
The politician began to prevaricate when asked about the scandal.
Le politicien a commencé à éviter lorsqu'on lui a posé des questions sur le scandale.
C2 adjective /əˈrækjələr/

oracular

oraculaire
Meaning
Resembling an oracle; giving wise, mysterious, or prophetic statements
Example
Her oracular words left the audience deep in thought.
Ses paroles oraculaires ont laissé l'audience profondément pensive.
C2 noun /ˈtɜːrpɪtuːd/

turpitude

dépravation
Meaning
depraved or wicked behavior or character
Example
The judge condemned the criminal’s act of moral turpitude.
Le juge a condamné l'acte de dépravation morale du criminel.
C2 noun /ˈhɪlək/

hillock

butte
Meaning
A small hill or mound.
Example
The children climbed up the grassy hillock to watch the sunset.
Les enfants ont grimpé sur la butte herbeuse pour regarder le coucher du soleil.
C2 noun /ˈkæbəˌlɪzəm/

cabalism

cabalisme
Meaning
The doctrines, practices, or secretive dealings of a cabal.
Example
The historian wrote extensively about cabalism in the royal court.
L'historien a écrit abondamment sur le cabalisme à la cour royale.
C2 noun /ˈrɒndoʊ/

rondo

composition musicale (avec un thème récurrent)
Meaning
a musical composition with a recurring leading theme
Example
The pianist ended the recital with a lively rondo.
Le pianiste a terminé le récital par un rondo animé.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪrəl/

virile

viril
Meaning
having traditionally masculine qualities, such as strength, energy, and sexual vigor
Example
The actor was admired for his virile appearance.
L'acteur a été admiré pour son apparence virile.
C2 noun /dəˈɡerəˌtaɪp/

daguerreotype

photographie ancienne
Meaning
An early type of photograph produced on a silver or silver-covered copper plate.
Example
The museum displayed a rare daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln.
Le musée a exposé un daguérotype rare d'Abraham Lincoln.
C2 adjective /ˈfiːbraɪl/

febrile

fiévreux, agité
Meaning
having or showing the symptoms of a fever; or highly excitable or agitated
Example
The patient was in a febrile state with high temperature.
Le patient était dans un état fébrile avec une température élevée.
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 /ˌær.əˈbesk/

arabesque

design orné
Meaning
a complex, ornate design featuring intertwined flowing lines, often used in architecture or ballet poses
Example
The ceiling was decorated with delicate arabesque patterns.
Le plafond était décoré de délicats motifs arabesques.
C2 verb /ˈkɒr.ʌ.skeɪt/

coruscate

scintiller
Meaning
to sparkle or flash brightly
Example
The fireworks coruscated across the night sky.
Les feux d'artifice scintillèrent à travers le ciel nocturne.
C2 adjective /sʌbˈlɪŋɡwəl/

sublingual

sublingual
Meaning
situated or applied under the tongue
Example
The doctor prescribed a sublingual tablet for faster absorption.
Le médecin a prescrit un comprimé sublingual pour une absorption plus rapide.
C2 adjective /ˈbæti/

batty

fou
Meaning
crazy or eccentric in behavior
Example
The old man down the street is a bit batty but harmless.
Le vieil homme dans la rue est un peu fou mais inoffensif.
C2 verb /ɪnˈræptʃər/

enrapture

envoûter
Meaning
To fill someone with great delight or joy.
Example
The beautiful music enraptured the audience.
La belle musique a envoûté le public.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈdɪstæf/

distaff

lié aux femmes, côté maternel
Meaning
Relating to women or the maternal side of a family; also a tool for spinning thread.
Example
She came from the distaff side of a noble family.
Elle venait du côté maternel d'une famille noble.
C2 verb /bɪˈnʌm/

benumb

engourdir
Meaning
to make physically numb or without sensation; to make mentally dull or insensitive
Example
The freezing wind seemed to benumb his fingers within minutes.
Le vent glacial semblait lui engourdir les doigts en quelques minutes.
C2 noun /kəˈbɑl/

Cabal

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

metrical

métrique
Meaning
Relating to or composed in a regular rhythmic pattern of beats or meter, especially in poetry.
Example
The poet carefully followed metrical rules in his verses.
Le poète a suivi soigneusement les règles métriques dans ses vers.
C2 verb /ɪnˈɡreɪʃiˌeɪt/

ingratiate

se faire bien voir
Meaning
To gain favor or approval by deliberate effort, often in a flattering way.
Example
She tried to ingratiate herself with her boss by complimenting him often.
Elle a essayé de s'ingratiser auprès de son patron en le complimentant souvent.
C2 adjective /ˈbiːstiəl/

bestial

bestial
Meaning
Relating to beasts; showing savagery, brutality, or lacking human sensibility.
Example
The prisoners were treated in a bestial manner.
Les prisonniers ont été traités de manière bestiale.
C2 adjective /ˈklæmərəs/

clamorous

bruyant
Meaning
making a loud and confused noise; expressing strong demands noisily
Example
The clamorous audience demanded an encore from the band.
Le public bruyant a exigé un rappel du groupe.
C2 noun /ˈæktʃuˌɛri/

actuary

actuaire
Meaning
A professional who analyzes financial risk using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory, especially in insurance and pensions.
Example
The actuary calculated the risk before finalizing the insurance policy.
L'actuaire a calculé le risque avant de finaliser la police d'assurance.
C2 adjective /bɪˈnɪɡnənt/

benignant

bienveillant, généreux
Meaning
Kindly and benevolent in nature.
Example
The teacher’s benignant attitude made the students feel comfortable.
L'attitude bénigne du professeur a rendu les étudiants à l'aise.
C2 noun /ˈbɛvi/

bevy

troupe, groupe
Meaning
A large group of people or things of a particular kind.
Example
A bevy of swans floated on the lake.
Un groupe de cygnes flottait sur le lac.
C2 noun /nɪb/

nib

pointe de stylo
Meaning
the pointed end of a pen used for writing or drawing
Example
He dipped the nib into the ink before writing.
Il a plongé la pointe du stylo dans l'encre avant d'écrire.
C2 noun /ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪti/

catholicity

universalité, ouverture d'esprit
Meaning
Universality; broad-mindedness; acceptance of a wide variety of things.
Example
Her catholicity of interests makes her a fascinating person.
Sa catholicité d'intérêts fait d'elle une personne fascinante.
C2 adjective /ʌnˈtiːtʃəbəl/

unteachable

impossible à enseigner
Meaning
not able or willing to learn; resistant to instruction or guidance
Example
He was so stubborn that he became almost unteachable.
Il était si têtu qu’il est devenu presque impossible à enseigner.
C2 adjective /rɪˈflɛktɪbəl/

reflectible

réfléchissable
Meaning
capable of being reflected, as light or an image
Example
The surface of the lake is highly reflectible in the morning sun.
La surface du lac est hautement réfléchissable sous le soleil du matin.
C2 verb /diːˈnæʃənəlaɪz/

denationalize

dénationaliser
Meaning
to transfer ownership from the government to private individuals or companies
Example
The government decided to denationalize the bank to encourage private investment.
Le gouvernement a décidé de dénationaliser la banque pour encourager les investissements privés.
C2 adjective /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/

Languid

languide; paresseux; faible
Meaning
lacking energy or vitality; slow and relaxed; weak or faint
Example
After the long journey, she felt languid and needed to rest.
Après le long voyage, elle se sentait languissante et avait besoin de repos.
C2 noun /fluːk/

fluke

coup de chance
Meaning
A stroke of luck; an unexpected piece of good fortune.
Example
Winning the lottery was a complete fluke.
Gagner à la loterie était un véritable coup de chance.
C2 noun /ˌfɔːrɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

foreordination

prédestination
Meaning
the act of determining something in advance; predestination
Example
The doctrine of foreordination suggests that events are fixed by divine will.
La doctrine de la prédestination suggère que les événements sont fixés par la volonté divine.