urchin
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C2 noun /ˈɜːrtʃɪn/

urchin

gamin des rues
Meaning
a mischievous or poorly dressed child, often from the streets
Example
The ragged urchins played by the riverbank.
Les gamins en haillons jouaient au bord de la rivière.
C2 adverb /əˈskæns/

askance

d'un air méfiant
Meaning
With suspicion, mistrust, or disapproval.
Example
She looked askance at his unusual proposal.
Elle regarda sa proposition étrange d'un air méfiant.
C2 noun /ˈɡævəl/

gavel

marteau
Meaning
A small ceremonial mallet used by a judge or an auctioneer to signal attention or mark a decision.
Example
The judge struck the gavel to call the court to order.
Le juge a frappé le marteau pour ordonner l'ouverture de l'audience.
C2 verb /bɪˈdɛk/

bedeck

décorer
Meaning
to decorate or adorn something in a showy way
Example
The hall was bedecked with flowers for the wedding.
La salle a été décorée de fleurs pour le mariage.
C2 noun /ˈtæmbər/ or /ˈtɪmbər/

timbre

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

Sedulous

assidu; diligent;
Meaning
showing dedication and diligence; persistent and careful in work
Example
She was sedulous in her research, spending hours in the library every day.
Elle était assidue dans ses recherches, passant des heures à la bibliothèque chaque jour.
C2 noun /ˌprɪnsɪˈpæləti/

principality

principauté
Meaning
a state ruled by a prince
Example
Monaco is a famous principality in Europe.
Monaco est une principauté célèbre en Europe.
C2 adjective /ˈɪnfəntaɪl/

infantile

infantile
Meaning
characteristic of an infant; childish
Example
His infantile behavior embarrassed everyone at the meeting.
Son comportement infantile a embarrassé tout le monde à la réunion.
C2 noun /sɪlf/

sylph

sylphide
Meaning
A mythical spirit of the air; also refers to a slender, graceful woman.
Example
She moved across the stage like a sylph, light and graceful.
Elle se déplaçait sur la scène comme une sylphide, légère et gracieuse.
C2 noun ˌpɜː.tɪˈnæs.ɪ.ti

pertinacity

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

feint

feinte, mouvement trompeur
Meaning
a deceptive or pretended movement, especially in fighting or sports
Example
The boxer made a feint to the left before striking to the right.
Le boxeur fit une feinte à gauche avant de frapper à droite.
C2 noun /ˌbeɪt ˈnwɑːr/

bete noire

une chose détestée
Meaning
A person or thing that one particularly dislikes or fears.
Example
Grammar has always been his bete noire.
La grammaire a toujours été sa bête noire.
C2 noun /ˈsɑːrdʒənt ət ɑːrmz/

sergeant-at-arms

sergent d'armes
Meaning
An officer responsible for maintaining order during meetings or legislative sessions.
Example
The sergeant-at-arms escorted the disruptive member out of the hall.
Le sergent d'armes a escorté le membre perturbateur hors de la salle.
C2 adverb /əˈmʌk/

amuck

de manière débridée
Meaning
in a frenzied, uncontrolled, or chaotic manner
Example
The bull ran amuck through the village.
Le taureau a couru de manière débridée à travers le village.
C2 adjective /kənˈdʌktəbl̩/

conductible

conductible
Meaning
capable of being conducted, especially electricity or heat
Example
Copper is highly conductible to electricity.
Le cuivre est hautement conductible à l'électricité.
C2 adjective /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnət/

determinate

déterminé
Meaning
having exact and definite limits or form
Example
The contract is for a determinate period of two years.
Le contrat est pour une période déterminée de deux ans.
C2 adjective /ˈprəʊ.lɪks/

prolix

trop long
Meaning
using too many words; tediously lengthy
Example
The professor’s prolix lecture put many students to sleep.
Le cours prolixe du professeur a endormi de nombreux étudiants.
C2 noun /ˈaɪ.sɔːr/

Eyesore

un vrai casse-pied; une horreur visuelle
Meaning
something that is very ugly and unpleasant to look at
Example
The abandoned building has become an eyesore in the neighborhood.
Le bâtiment abandonné est devenu un vrai casse-pied dans le quartier.
C2 noun /kəmˈpleɪsəns/

complacence

Meaning
a feeling of quiet pleasure or self-satisfaction, often without awareness of potential danger
Example
His complacence prevented him from noticing the risks.
C2 noun /ˈdeɪ.ɪs/

Dais

estrade
Meaning
a raised platform, typically at one end of a room or hall, for speakers or honored guests
Example
The principal stood on the dais to address the entire school assembly.
Le directeur s'est tenu sur l'estrade pour s'adresser à toute l'assemblée scolaire.
C2 noun /ˈɡeɪm.stər/

gamester

joueur
Meaning
A person who plays games, especially one who plays them skillfully or professionally.
Example
The old tavern was filled with gamesters competing in cards and dice.
L'ancienne taverne était remplie de joueurs qui se mesuraient dans des jeux de cartes et de dés.
C2 adjective /əˈbɪs.əl/

abyssal

relatif à l'océan profond
Meaning
Related to or characteristic of the deep ocean, especially the zone below 4000 meters.
Example
Abyssal creatures survive in extreme pressure conditions.
Les créatures abyssales survivent dans des conditions de pression extrême.
C2 phrase ˌdʒʊə.rɪs.pruːˈden.ʃəl ˈbentʃ.mɑːk

jurisprudential benchmark

repère juridique
Meaning
A legal standard or precedent that serves as a reference point for future legal decisions.
Example
The decision set a jurisprudential benchmark.
La décision a établi un repère juridique.
C2 verb /djuːp/

dupe

tromper
Meaning
To deceive or trick someone into believing or doing something.
Example
He was duped into buying a fake watch.
Il a été dupé en achetant une montre contrefaite.
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 noun /ˈmæləprɒˌpɪzəm/

malapropism

malapropisme
Meaning
the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with amusing effect
Example
He is famous for his malapropism when speaking in public.
Il est célèbre pour son malapropisme lorsqu'il parle en public.
C2 noun /dɪsˈdʒʌŋkʃən/

disjunction

disjonction
Meaning
A lack of connection between things; separation or disunity.
Example
There is a clear disjunction between theory and practice.
Il existe une claire disjonction entre la théorie et la pratique.
C2 verb /ˈæntɪdeɪt/

antedate

antérioriser
Meaning
to be earlier in time; to assign a date earlier than the actual one
Example
The manuscript antedates the modern printing press.
Le manuscrit précède l'invention de l'imprimerie moderne.
C2 noun mɒnəˈtɑːskɪŋ

monotasking

faire une tâche à la fois
Meaning
The practice of dedicating oneself to a given task and minimizing potential interruptions until the task is completed or a significant period of time has elapsed.
Example
Monotasking can often lead to higher quality work.
Le monotasking conduit souvent à un travail de meilleure qualité.
C2 noun juːˈbɪkwɪti

ubiquity

ubiquité
Meaning
The fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common.
Example
The ubiquity of smartphones has transformed communication.
L'ubiquité des smartphones a transformé la communication.
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 noun /doʊlt/

dolt

imbécile
Meaning
A stupid or slow-witted person.
Example
Only a dolt would believe such a story.
Seul un imbécile croirait à une telle histoire.
C2 noun /mɪˌsɛdʒəˈneɪʃən/

miscegenation

métissage
Meaning
the interbreeding of people considered to be of different racial types
Example
The law once prohibited miscegenation in many countries.
La loi interdisait autrefois la miscegénation dans de nombreux pays.
C2 noun /pæˈstiːʃ/

pastiche

pastiche
Meaning
a work of art, literature, or music that imitates the style of another artist, period, or genre
Example
The film was a clever pastiche of 1950s detective movies.
Le film était un habile pastiche des films policiers des années 1950.
C2 noun /ˈmiːliərɪzəm/

meliorism

méliorisme
Meaning
The belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment.
Example
Her philosophy of meliorism kept her hopeful during difficult times.
Sa philosophie du méliorisme l'a maintenue pleine d'espoir pendant les moments difficiles.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪˈstæblɪʃ/

preestablish

préalablement établir
Meaning
To establish or set up beforehand.
Example
Certain rules were preestablished before the meeting.
Certaines règles ont été préétablies avant la réunion.
C2 adjective /ˌprɛsɪˈdɛnʃəl/

precedential

précédent
Meaning
Relating to, or serving as, a precedent; having authority as an example.
Example
The court’s decision has precedential value.
La décision de la cour a une valeur précédente.
C2 adjective /səˈmætɪk/

somatic

somatique
Meaning
Relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind.
Example
Yoga can improve both somatic and mental health.
Le yoga peut améliorer à la fois la santé somatique et mentale.
C2 adjective /ˌkɒnsæŋˈɡwɪniəs/

consanguineous

consanguin
Meaning
Related by blood; descended from the same ancestor.
Example
The study focused on genetic disorders in consanguineous families.
L'étude s'est concentrée sur les troubles génétiques dans les familles consanguines.
C2 noun /ˈkæm.fər/

Camphor

camphre
Meaning
a white crystalline substance with a strong aromatic smell, used in medicine and religious ceremonies
Example
The temple was filled with the fragrant smoke of burning camphor.
Le temple était rempli de la fumée parfumée du camphre en combustion.
C2 adjective /juːˈnɪsənənt/

unisonant

harmonieux
Meaning
Sounding together or in harmony.
Example
The unisonant voices created a powerful effect.
Les voix harmonieuses ont créé un effet puissant.
C2 noun /ˈpraɪəri/

priory

prieuré
Meaning
a small monastery or convent governed by a prior or prioress
Example
The old priory was converted into a museum.
L'ancien prieuré a été transformé en musée.
C2 noun /pɪˈlɑːf/

Pillaw

pilav
Meaning
a dish of rice cooked in seasoned broth, often with meat and vegetables
Example
We enjoyed a delicious chicken pillaw for dinner.
Nous avons dégusté un délicieux pilav au poulet pour le dîner.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪ.jʊˈret.ɪk/

diuretic

diurétique
Meaning
A substance that promotes the production of urine.
Example
Coffee has a mild diuretic effect.
Le café a un léger effet diurétique.
C2 noun /ˈkloʊðiər/

clothier

marchand de vêtements
Meaning
a person or company that makes, sells, or deals in clothes.
Example
The town’s clothier displayed fine suits in his shop window.
Le marchand de vêtements de la ville a exposé de beaux costumes dans la vitrine de son magasin.
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 /ɪkˈstɛnsər/

extensor

muscle extenseur
Meaning
a muscle that serves to extend or straighten a limb or part of the body.
Example
The extensor muscles in the arm help straighten the elbow.
Les muscles extenseurs du bras aident à redresser le coude.
C2 noun /fiːˈkʌndɪti/

fecundity

fécondité, fertilité
Meaning
the ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertility
Example
The fecundity of the river delta supports diverse wildlife.
La fécondité du delta du fleuve soutient une vie sauvage diversifiée.
C2 adjective /ˈvɜːrdənt/

verdant

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

glazier

vitrier
Meaning
a person whose job is to fit glass into windows and doors
Example
The glazier repaired the broken window in our house.
Le vitrier a réparé la fenêtre cassée dans notre maison.
C2 adjective /dɪˈspjuːtəbl/

Disputable

discutable; douteux
Meaning
open to debate or argument; questionable
Example
The facts in the case are disputable and need further investigation.
Les faits dans l'affaire sont discutables et nécessitent une enquête plus approfondie.
C2 verb /læmˈbeɪst/

lambaste

réprimander sévèrement
Meaning
to criticize someone or something harshly; to reprimand severely
Example
The teacher lambasted the students for not completing their homework.
Le professeur a sévèrement réprimandé les étudiants pour ne pas avoir fait leurs devoirs.
C2 adjective /ˌlɪlɪˈpjuːʃən/

lilliputian

très petit
Meaning
Extremely small or tiny; trivial or petty.
Example
The model village was filled with lilliputian houses.
Le village modèle était rempli de petites maisons.
C2 adjective/noun /ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪk/

hieroglyphic

hiéroglyphique
Meaning
Relating to or written in hieroglyphs; symbols or writing that is difficult to understand.
Example
The archaeologists studied the hieroglyphic inscriptions carefully.
Les archéologues ont étudié les inscriptions hiéroglyphiques avec soin.
C2 noun /ˈkruːɪt/

cruet

petit récipient
Meaning
a small container, especially for salt, pepper, oil, or vinegar, used at a dining table
Example
She filled the cruet with olive oil for the salad.
Elle a rempli le cruet d'huile d'olive pour la salade.
C2 noun /ˈmɒnəkl/

monocle

monocle
Meaning
A single round lens for one eye, used to correct or enhance vision.
Example
The old gentleman wore a monocle at formal events.
Le vieux monsieur portait un monocle lors des événements officiels.
C2 verb /ˈblʌdʒən/

bludgeon

frapper avec un gourdin
Meaning
to hit someone with a heavy object; to force someone into doing something
Example
The guard was bludgeoned by the attacker in the alley.
Le garde a été frappé avec un gourdin par l'attaquant dans la ruelle.
C2 noun /ˈsteɪtkraft/

statecraft

art de gouverner
Meaning
The art of governing and managing state affairs effectively.
Example
The leader was praised for his exceptional statecraft in handling international relations.
Le leader a été félicité pour son art de gouverner exceptionnel dans la gestion des relations internationales.
C2 noun /liːən/

lien

privilège
Meaning
A legal right to keep possession of property until a debt is paid.
Example
The bank placed a lien on the house until the mortgage was cleared.
La banque a placé un privilège sur la maison jusqu'à ce que l'hypothèque soit réglée.
C2 verb /ˈfɛtər/

fetter

entraver, restreindre
Meaning
to restrain or restrict someone’s freedom
Example
The strict rules fettered the creativity of the students.
Les règles strictes ont limité la créativité des étudiants.
C2 noun /ˌɔːrdɪˈneɪʃən/

ordination

ordination
Meaning
The ceremony of conferring holy orders or official religious authority.
Example
The church held a special service for the ordination of new priests.
L'église a organisé un service spécial pour l'ordination de nouveaux prêtres.
C2 adjective /ˈɡaɪlləs/

guileless

ingénu
Meaning
Innocent and without deceit
Example
Her guileless smile won everyone’s heart.
Son sourire ingénu a conquis le cœur de tout le monde.
C2 verb /ˈɪntərˌdɪkt/

interdict

interdire
Meaning
to prohibit or forbid something by authoritative order, often by law or decree
Example
The court moved to interdict the sale of the illegal goods.
Le tribunal a décidé d'interdire la vente des biens illégaux.
C2 noun /liːdʒ/

liege

seigneur féodal
Meaning
A feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service; a loyal subject.
Example
The knight pledged loyalty to his liege.
Le chevalier prêta allégeance à son seigneur féodal.
C2 noun /ˈɪkθiəˌsɔːrz/

ichthyosaurs

ichtyosaures (un type de reptile marin éteint)
Meaning
Extinct marine reptiles that resembled fish and dolphins, dominant during the Mesozoic era.
Example
Ichthyosaurs were swift predators of the ancient seas.
Les ichtyosaures étaient des prédateurs rapides des mers anciennes.
C2 verb /ˈvɪʃieɪt/

vitiate

vicié
Meaning
to spoil, weaken, or make something less effective
Example
One careless remark can vitiate the entire argument.
Une remarque imprudente peut vicié tout l'argument.
C2 adjective /raɪˈpɛə.ri.ən/

riparian

relatif ou situé sur les rives d'un fleuve ou d'un autre cours d'eau
Meaning
Relating to or situated on the banks of a river or other watercourse.
Example
Riparian vegetation helps prevent soil erosion along rivers.
La végétation riparienne aide à prévenir l'érosion des sols le long des rivières.
C2 noun /ˌhaɪdroʊməˈkænɪks/

hydromechanics

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

astringent

astringent
Meaning
sharp or severe in manner or style; also describes a substance that contracts skin or body tissues
Example
Her astringent tone silenced the noisy class.
Son ton astringent a fait taire la classe bruyante.
C2 noun /ˈvɛrɪti/

verity

vérité
Meaning
a true principle or belief; the state of being true
Example
The verity of his statement was confirmed by evidence.
La véracité de sa déclaration a été confirmée par des preuves.
C2 noun /ˈʌndərlɪŋ/

underling

subordonné
Meaning
a person of low rank or importance; a subordinate
Example
The manager ordered his underlings to finish the task quickly.
Le directeur a ordonné à ses subordonnés de terminer rapidement la tâche.
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 /ˈdeb.juː.tɑːnt/

debutante

jeune femme faisant sa première apparition formelle dans la société
Meaning
A young woman making her first formal appearance in society.
Example
The debutante wore a white gown at the ball.
La debutante portait une robe blanche au bal.
C2 verb /ʧeɪf/

chafe

froter
Meaning
To make or become sore by rubbing; to feel irritation or impatience.
Example
The tight shoes began to chafe his heels.
Les chaussures serrées ont commencé à frotter ses talons.
C2 adjective /dɪˈskrɛpənt/

discrepant

discrepant
Meaning
showing a difference or inconsistency
Example
The witnesses gave discrepant accounts of the incident.
Les témoins ont donné des récits contradictoires de l'incident.
C2 adjective /prəˈpʌlsɪv/

propulsive

propulsif
Meaning
Having the power to drive or push something forward.
Example
The propulsive force of the rocket lifted it off the ground.
La force propulsive de la fusée l'a soulevée du sol.
C2 adjective /ˈluː.ni/

Loony

fou; idiot; mentalement instable
Meaning
crazy; silly; mentally unstable
Example
His loony behavior made everyone laugh.
Son comportement fou a fait rire tout le monde.
C2 verb /bɪˈweɪl/

bewail

déplorer
Meaning
to express deep sorrow or regret over something; to mourn openly
Example
She bewailed the loss of her childhood home.
Elle a déploré la perte de sa maison d’enfance.
C2 verb /kənˈsɪlieɪt/

conciliate

concilier
Meaning
to stop someone from being angry; to win over by friendly acts
Example
He tried to conciliate the angry customer with an apology.
Il a essayé de concilier le client en colère avec des excuses.
C2 adjective /bjuːˈkɒlɪk/

bucolic

bucolique
Meaning
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
Example
They enjoyed a bucolic picnic by the river.
Ils ont apprécié un pique-nique bucolique au bord de la rivière.
C2 verb /trænˈspoʊz/

transpose

transposer
Meaning
to change the order or position of something
Example
The editor transposed two paragraphs in the article.
L'éditeur a transposé deux paragraphes dans l'article.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪsɪt/

licit

licite
Meaning
Permitted by law or by rules; legal.
Example
The trade of certain goods is licit under international law.
Le commerce de certains biens est licite selon le droit international.
C2 adjective ˈɛr.jʊ.daɪt

erudite

érudit ou savant
Meaning
Having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarly and intellectual.
Example
The professor's erudite lecture fascinated the students.
Le discours érudit du professeur a fasciné les étudiants.
C2 adjective /ˌɛfləˈrɛsənt/

efflorescent

florissant
Meaning
in the process of blooming or flourishing
Example
The efflorescent trees made the park look beautiful.
Les arbres florissants ont rendu le parc magnifique.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈtraɪkʌlər/

tricolor

drapeau tricolore
Meaning
A flag with three colors; consisting of three colors.
Example
The French tricolor is one of the most famous national flags in the world.
Le drapeau tricolore français est l'un des drapeaux nationaux les plus célèbres au monde.
C2 noun /ˈbræɡərt/

braggart

vaniteux
Meaning
a person who boasts about achievements or possessions
Example
No one liked him because he was such a braggart.
Personne ne l'aimait car c'était un vaniteux.
C2 noun /ɪnˈtɛstəsi/

intestacy

décès sans testament
Meaning
The condition of dying without having made a valid will.
Example
His estate was divided according to the laws of intestacy.
Sa succession a été divisée selon les lois de l'intestat.
C2 verb /ˈstræɡəl/

straggle

se déplacer de manière irrégulière
Meaning
To move or spread in an irregular, scattered, or untidy way.
Example
The children began to straggle behind on the long hike.
Les enfants ont commencé à traîner derrière pendant la longue randonnée.
C2 verb /ɪnˈtɜːr/

inter

enterrer
Meaning
To bury a dead body in the ground.
Example
They decided to inter the soldier with full honors.
Ils ont décidé d'enterrer le soldat avec tous les honneurs.
C2 adjective /ˈmiː.di.əl/

medial

médial
Meaning
Situated in or pertaining to the middle; located toward the midline of the body or structure.
Example
The medial side of the knee is more prone to injury.
Le côté médial du genou est plus sujet aux blessures.
C2 adjective /ɡrɪˈɡɛəriəs/

gregarious

sociable
Meaning
Fond of company; sociable.
Example
She is a gregarious person who loves meeting new people.
C'est une personne sociable qui aime rencontrer de nouvelles personnes.
C2 noun /ˈɔːrdnəns/

ordnance

fournitures militaires
Meaning
Military supplies including weapons, ammunition, and combat equipment.
Example
The army stored ordnance in a secure facility outside the city.
L'armée a stocké des fournitures militaires dans une installation sécurisée en dehors de la ville.
C2 noun /ˈwɪndbæɡ/

windbag

bavard
Meaning
a person who talks too much, especially in a boring or boastful way
Example
Everyone avoided the windbag at the party because he never let anyone else speak.
Tout le monde a évité le bavard à la fête parce qu'il ne laissait jamais les autres parler.
C2 verb /ˈdɒdə/

dodder

trembler en marchant
Meaning
To move in a weak and unsteady way, especially due to old age.
Example
The old man doddered across the street with a cane.
Le vieil homme marchait en tremblant dans la rue avec une canne.
C2 noun /ˈbɔːlsəm/

Balsam

fleur de baume
Meaning
a flowering plant with colorful blooms that often open in the evening; also refers to aromatic resin
Example
The garden balsam flowers bloomed beautifully in various shades of pink and purple.
Les fleurs de baume du jardin ont fleuri magnifiquement dans des nuances de rose et de violet.
C2 adjective /ˌmɛrəˈtrɪʃəs/

meretricious

artificiel
Meaning
apparently attractive but having no real value or integrity.
Example
The design was flashy but meretricious.
Le design était flashy mais artificiel.
C2 noun /ˈmæsəkɪst/

masochist

masochiste
Meaning
a person who derives pleasure from their own pain or humiliation
Example
He was called a masochist for enjoying tough challenges.
Il a été appelé masochiste pour apprécier les défis difficiles.
C2 adverb /ˌpɛlˈmɛl/

pell-mell

de manière désordonnée
Meaning
In a confused, rushed, or disorderly manner.
Example
The children ran pell-mell through the playground.
Les enfants ont couru de manière désordonnée à travers la cour de récréation.
C2 noun /ˈstriːmlɪt/

streamlet

ruisseau
Meaning
a small stream; a tiny brook or rivulet
Example
A streamlet flowed through the meadow.
Un ruisseau coulait à travers la prairie.
C2 noun /ˈplɔːdɪt/

plaudit

éloge
Meaning
an expression of praise or approval
Example
The actor received plaudit for his outstanding performance.
L'acteur a reçu des éloges pour sa performance exceptionnelle.
C2 noun /hæˈʃiːʃ/

hashish

hachisch
Meaning
a drug made from the resin of the cannabis plant
Example
The police arrested him for possessing hashish.
La police l'a arrêté pour possession de hachisch.
C2 noun /pɪˈdɒl.ə.dʒi/

pedology

science des sols
Meaning
The study of soils in their natural environment.
Example
Pedology helps scientists understand soil fertility.
La pédologie aide les scientifiques à comprendre la fertilité du sol.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪˌsɪləbəl/

disyllable

mot dissyllabique
Meaning
a word consisting of two syllables
Example
The word 'happy' is a disyllable.
Le mot ‘heureux’ est un mot dissyllabique.
C2 adjective /prɪˈsɛnʃənt/

presentient

présentiment
Meaning
Having a feeling or sense of something about to happen; predictive.
Example
She was presentient of the coming disaster.
Elle avait un pressentiment du désastre à venir.
C2 adjective /ˈvɪndɪkətɔːri/

vindicatory

vindicatif
Meaning
Serving to justify, clear of blame, or defend.
Example
His vindicatory remarks restored his reputation.
Ses remarques vindicatoires ont restauré sa réputation.
C2 adjective /ˌnɒndɪˈskrɪpt/

nondescript

banal
Meaning
Lacking distinctive or interesting features; dull and unremarkable.
Example
He lives in a nondescript apartment building on the edge of town.
Il vit dans un immeuble d'appartements banal à la périphérie de la ville.
C2 noun /tʃɜːrl/

churl

rustre
Meaning
A rude, boorish, or ill-mannered person.
Example
The waiter was such a churl that customers left unhappy.
Le serveur était un tel rustre que les clients sont partis mécontents.
C2 adjective /ˈɔːrnəri/

ornery

irritable
Meaning
bad-tempered and combative; stubborn
Example
The ornery old man refused to leave his chair.
Le vieil homme irritable a refusé de quitter sa chaise.
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 adjective /ɑːrˈbɔːr.i.əl/

arboreal

relatif aux arbres
Meaning
Relating to trees or living in trees; tree-dwelling.
Example
Monkeys are arboreal animals that spend most of their time in trees.
Les singes sont des animaux arboricoles qui passent la majeure partie de leur temps dans les arbres.
C2 noun /ˌɛpɪˈsaɪklɔɪd/

epicycloid

épicycloïde
Meaning
a curve traced by a point on the circumference of a circle that rolls around the outside of another circle
Example
The mathematician demonstrated how to draw an epicycloid.
Le mathématicien a démontré comment dessiner une épicycloïde.
C2 noun /ˈfɔːrˌpiːk/

forepeak

avant du navire
Meaning
The compartment in the forward part of a ship, often used for storage.
Example
The sailors stored extra ropes in the forepeak.
Les marins ont rangé des cordes supplémentaires dans l'avant du navire.
C2 noun /ˈlaɪər/

lier

menteur
Meaning
a person who tells lies; an alternative spelling of liar
Example
No one trusted him because he was known as a habitual lier.
Personne ne lui faisait confiance parce qu’il était un menteur habituel.
C2 adjective /ɛkˈstrɪnzɪk/

extrinsic

extrinsèque
Meaning
Not part of the essential nature of someone or something; coming from outside.
Example
His motivation was largely extrinsic, driven by rewards and recognition.
Sa motivation était en grande partie extrinsèque, motivée par des récompenses et de la reconnaissance.
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 verb /skʌlk/

skulk

se faufiler
Meaning
to move or hide secretly, often because you are planning something bad or are feeling guilty
Example
He tried to skulk in the shadows to avoid being seen.
Il a essayé de se faufiler dans l'ombre pour éviter d'être vu.
C2 noun /krəˈdjuːlɪti/

credulity

crédule
Meaning
A tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.
Example
The scam succeeded because of the victim's credulity.
L'escroquerie a réussi en raison de la crédulité de la victime.
C2 noun /ˌnɛɡlɪˈʒeɪ/

negligee

peignoir léger en soie
Meaning
A woman's light dressing gown, often made of thin or silky material.
Example
She wore a silk negligee before going to bed.
Elle portait un peignoir en soie avant de se coucher.
C2 adjective /ˈrʌdi/

ruddy

rosé
Meaning
Having a healthy red color in the face.
Example
She had a ruddy complexion from working outdoors.
Elle avait un teint rosé à force de travailler dehors.
C2 adjective /ˈkʌsɪd/

cussed

têtu
Meaning
Annoyingly stubborn or difficult.
Example
He was too cussed to admit his mistake.
Il était trop têtu pour admettre son erreur.