English vocabulary

38 terms

Abet

verb

Encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular to commit a crime

Example: He was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others

fr: contribuer

Altar

noun

The table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services

Example: The huge jewelled tabernacle above the altar was executed by Jacopo da Trezzo

fr: Autel

Apportion

verb

Divide up and share out

Example: Voting power will be apportioned according to contribution

fr: répartir

Appraisal

noun

evaluation

Example: The report has been subject to appraisal

fr: évaluation

Backlash

noun

A strong negative reaction by a large number of people, especially to a social or political development

Example: A public backlash against racism

fr: Contrecoup

Balancing Act

noun

An action or activity that requires a delicate balance between different situations or requirements

Example: Our balancing act between working more to buy luxuries and having enough leisure to enjoy them

fr: Loi d'équilibrage

Bandwidth

noun

A range of frequencies within a given band, in particular that used for transmitting a signal

Example: You get a lot better bandwidth in the city

fr: bande passante/ débit

Blight

noun

A thing that spoils or damages something

Example: The vacant properties are a blight on the neighbourhood

fr: Brulure

Capped rate

noun

An interest rate on a loan that has a maximum limit on the rate built into the loan

Example: A capped rate guarantees your mortgage will not rise above a certain level

fr: Taux plafonné

Cotton on

phrasal verb

To begin to understand a situation

Example: She finally cottoned on to the fact that they were teasing her

fr: Piger/Comprendre

Curb

noun

A check or restraint on something

Example: Plans to introduce tougher curbs on insider dealing

fr: restriction

Debt

noun

A sum of money that is owed or due

Example: I paid off my debts

fr: dette

Desecrate

verb

Treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect

fr: Profaner

Downturn

noun

A decline in economic, business, or other activity

Example: There is evidence of a downturn in the housing market.

fr: ralentissement économique/ crise

Eavesdrop

verb

Secretly listen to a conversation

Example: She opened the window just enough to eavesdrop on the conversation outside

fr: écouter

Embed

verb

Fix (an object) firmly and deeply in a surrounding mass

Example: He had an operation to remove a nail embedded in his chest

fr: Intégrer/enfoncer

Encroachment

noun

A gradual advance beyond usual or acceptable limits

Example: Urban encroachment of habitat

fr: empiètement

Eyesight

noun

A person's ability to see

Example: Poor eyesight ended his plans for a naval caree

fr: Vue d'ensemble

Flesh something out

phrasal verb

To provide more information about (something)

Example: These plans need to be fleshed out with some more figures

fr: faire ressortir quelque chose

Forestall

verb

Prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking advance action

Example: Vitamins may forestall many diseases of aging

fr: Devancer

Implement

verb

Put (a decision, plan, agreement, etc.) into effect

Example: The regulations implement a 1954 treaty

fr: réaliser

Insight

noun

The capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of someone or something

Example: This paper is alive with sympathetic insight into Shakespeare

fr: aperçu

Loan

noun

A thing that is borrowed, especially a sum of money that is expected to be paid back with interest

Example: Borrowers can take out a loan for $84,000

fr: Prêt

Loathsome

adjective

Causing hatred or disgust; repulsive

Example: He's a loathsome man

fr: Détestable/Répugnant

Matchstick

noun

The stem of a match

Example: He likes making models out of matchsticks

fr: Allumette

Meekly

adverb

In a quiet, gentle, and submissive manner

Example: To keep the peace, she nodded meekly and smiled

fr: Docilement

Outstanding

adjective

Exceptionally good

Example: The team's outstanding performance

fr: exceptionnelle

Proponent

noun

A person who advocates a theory, proposal, or course of action

Example: A strong proponent of the free market and liberal trade policies

fr: partisan/adepte

Reluctant

adjective

unwilling and hesitant; disinclined

Example: Many parents feel reluctant to talk openly with their children

fr: réticent

Scrutiny

noun

Critical observation or examination

Example: The policy came under scrutiny last month

fr: examen minutieux

Shift

verb

Move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance

Example: I shift the weight back to the other leg

fr: décalage

Smuggle

verb

to move goods illegally into or out of a country

Example: She was caught trying to smuggle 26 kilos of heroin out of/into the country

fr: Passer en contrebande

Tout

verb

To make much of

Example: Fluency in a second language is often touted as an important asset to individuals

fr: vanté

Trim down

phrasal verb

The synonym of reduce

Example: The author's publishers ask her to trim down her novel

fr: raccourcir

Wage

noun

A fixed regular payment earned for work or services, typically paid on a daily or weekly basis

Example: We were struggling to get better wages

fr: salaire

Welfare

noun

the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group

Example: We were concerned for our parents’ welfare when we heard about the storm in Florida.

fr: bien-être

Wind turbine

noun

A turbine having a large vaned wheel rotated by the wind to generate electricity

Example: The wind turbines are visible on the horizon as you look out to sea

fr: éolienne

Wireless

adjective

Using radio, microwaves, etc. (as opposed to wires or cables) to transmit signals

Example: wireless broadband

fr: sans fil