57 Vocabulary learned from the "Perfectionnement de la maitrise de la langue" class. terms
Sources: WordReference (for examples and translation)
Abetting
verb
Helping someone to do something wrong or illegal.
Example: Margret did not commit the crime, but she abetted the person who did.
en: Encourager / Aider
Acquiescence
noun
Reluctant agreement.
Example: Larry gave a nod, signalling his acquiescence.
en: Consentement
Altar
noun
A holy surface used for rituals.
Example: The altar was covered with a sumptuous red velvet cloth.
en: Autel
Apportion
Verb
To divide something such as payments between two or more people, organizations, etc.
Example: We are going to apportion the money from the award among all of the team members.
en: Répartir / Partager
Appraisal
noun
Evaluation
Example: The physician did an in-depth appraisal of Amy's illness before prescribing her medication.
en: Évaluation / Estimation / Appréciation
Asylum seeker
noun
A person who, from fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, social group, or political opinion, has crossed an international frontier into a country in which he or she hopes to be granted refugee status.
Example: Sebastian Hurz has called for asylum seekers to be kept on islands.
en: Demandeur d'asile
Backlash
noun
A strong feeling among a group of people in reaction to a change or recent events in society or politics.
Example: There was a huge backlash from parents when the school showed an inappropriate film to the students.
en: Réaction (violente) / Contrecoup
Balancing Act
Noun
A situation in which a person tries to give care and attention to two or more activities at the same time.
Example: A third dimension of this balancing act is the value of higher education for democracy.
en: Juste équilibre
Bandwidth
noun
The range of frequencies used in a specific telecommunications signal.
Example: You get a lot better bandwidth in the city than in the country.
en: Bande passante / Débit
Buttress
verb
To make someone or something stronger by supporting them in some way.
Example: He quoted a number of experts to buttress his argument.
en: Soutenir / Égailler
Careen
verb
To move forward quickly and suddenly, going from side to side in an uncontrolled way.
Example: The speeding car careened into a wall.
en: Foncer / Se précipiter
Census
Noun
An official periodic count of a population including information such as sew, age, occupation etc.
Example: In the UK, there's been a census every ten years since 1841.
en: Recensement
Complicit
adj
Involved in a crime, together with other people.
Example: If you do not challenge your colleagues' bullying of the new employee, you are complicit.
en: (Être) Complice
Controversial
adj
A policy or decision that causes disagreement.
Example: The controversial proposal was defeated.
en: Controversé
Cotton on
verb
To begin to understand a situation.
Example: She finally cottoned on to the fact that they were teasing her.
en: Comprendre / Piger (familier)
Debunk
verb
To prove that something such as an idea or belief is false and silly.
Example: The newspaper debunked the mayor's lies. Scientists have debunked the myth that pulling out a grey hair causes more to grow back in its place.
en: Discréditer / Dévoiler
Despicable
adj
Morally reprehensible
Example: Pretending to be ill so that his wife wouldn't leave him was a despicable lie.
en: Méprisable
Destitution
Noun
Poverty
Example: Many immigrants lived in destitution and were unable to find profitable work.
en: Misère/ Pauvreté
Device
noun
A machine or piece of equipment that does a particular thing.
Example: This futuristic device sweeps the floors by itself.
en: Appareil / Système / Composant
Downturn
Noun
A decline in economic, business, or other activity.
Example: We are now recovering from last year's downturn in sales.
en: Baisse
Eavesdrop
verb
To spy
Example: How did you know that? Were you eavesdropping on my phone call?
en: Espionner
Embed
verb
To fix something firmly into a substance.
Example: The bricklayer placed the brick on the mortar and embedded it.
en: Implanter / Incruster / Intégrer
Flesh out
verb
To give substance to an argument, description etc.
Example: This report isn't convincing enough; can't you flesh it out with something from the internet?
en: Étoffer
Float
verb
To suggest an idea for people to consider to see how they will react.
Example: Ron went to his boss to float an idea by him, but he didn't get a meeting.
en: Soumettre/Suggérer [quelque chose] à [quelqu'un]
Forestall
verb
To prevent something from happening bu doing something before it can happen.
Example: The government was able to forestall the terrorist attack using intelligence gathered by spies.
en: Devancer / Prévenir / Désamorcer
Forthcoming
adj
Happening or coming soon.
Example: Kyle went to buy some supplies for the forthcoming events.
en: Prochain / A venir
Household
Noun
The people living together in one house collectively.
Example: We are going to have a meeting of the whole household tonight.
en: Maisonnée
Loathsome
adj
Highly offensive. Arousing aversion or disgust.
Example: Everyone hissed when the loathsome villain came on stage.
en: Détestable / Répugnant
Meekly
adj
Quietly and gently
en: Docilement
Mull
verb
To think over a problem for a long time.
Example: Tom liked to drink wine while mulling the issues of the day.
en: (Bien) Réfléchir
Nightmare
Noun
A frightening or unpleasant dream. A terrifying situation or prospect.
Example: He had a terrible nightmare last night.
en: Cauchemar
No Man's Land
Noun
A disputed or uninhabited area, as between two opposing lines.
Example: During the war, he wandered into no man's land and was very nearly shot by his own troops.
en: Terre inhabitée / No Man's Land (anglicisme)
Onset
noun
The beginning of something, especially something bad.
Example: The onset of Jack's illness was sudden. The weather gets colder at the onset of winter.
en: Début / Commencement
Outcome
Noun
A final product, or end result, consequence, issue.
Example: Does anyone know the outcome of the negotiations?
en: Résultat / Issue / Conséquence
Outskirts
Noun
The outer parts of a town or city.
Example: Heathrow Airport lies on the outskirts of London.
en: Périphérie / Banlieue
Passer-by
noun
A person who walks past a particular place, a pedestrian.
Example: The police spoke to a passer-by who had seen the whole accident.
en: Passant
Peer
verb
To look very carefully, especially because something is difficult to see.
Example: If you peer closely, you can see the wind blowing the grass about.
en: Regarder
Penniless
Adj
Having no money.
Example: The penniless man begged his sister for a loan.
en: Sans le sou / Fauché (familier)
Pledge
verb
To make a formal, usually public, promise that you will do something.
Example: Christina pledged to support her friend through this difficult time.
en: Promettre de faire [quelque chose]
Provision
noun
Noun derived from "to provide".
Example: The company's provision of childcare facilities is really appreciated by all the parents who work for them.
en: Fourniture
Reluctant
Adj
Unwilling and hesitant. Disinclined.
Example: Susan tried to persuade her reluctant child to eat his vegetables.
en: Réticent
Scrutiny
noun
Careful examination of someone or something
Example: The proposal came under close scrutiny before being approved.
en: Examen approfondi
Sensitive
adj
Able to feel or perceive.
Example: The sensitive instruments record small changes in temperature.
en: Sensible
Shift
Verb
To change or transfer from one place, position, direction.
Example: The movers shifted the table one metre to the left.
en: Déplacer / Décaler
Shortsighted
adj
An action that will affect the future negatively.
Example: Congress' bill to reduce taxes on greenhouse gas companies was shortsighted.
en: Irréfléchi
Sleepwalk
verb
Walk in one's sleep.
Example: Gwen ran into the wall when she was sleepwalking.
en: Marcher en dormant / Faire une crise de somnambulisme
Smuggle
Verb
To move goods or persons illegally into or out of a country.
Example: Janice was in hospital and the doctors had put her on a strict diet, so she asked her husband to smuggle in some chocolate.
en: Faire entrer [quelqu'un] clandestinement.
Sniffer
noun
A dog used by the police to track criminals.
en: Chien flaireur
Spokesperson
noun
Someone chosen to speak officially for a group, an organization or a government.
Example: Each team must designate one spokesperson.
en: Porte-parole
Springboard
noun
A beginning from which an enterprise is launched.
Example: He saw the governor's office as a springboard to a national career.
en: Tremplin
Squalor
Noun
A state of being extremely dirty or unpleasant.
Example: They were living in conditions of squalor when we found them.
en: Saleté
Staunch
adj
Loyal, and showing strong belief in something or strong support for something.
Example: Wesley is a staunch supporter of the Green Party.
en: Ardent / Fervent / Fidèle
Stem
verb
To stop something from happening, developing or spreading
Example: The soldier pressed his hand against the wound to stem the bleeding.
en: Juguler
Thoroughfare
noun
The main road through a place.
Example: Jackie decided not to buy the house because it was on a thoroughfare.
en: Artère (Rue principale)
Viability
noun
Ability to suceed
Example: The committee is considering the viability of the plan.
en: Viabilité
Welfare
Noun
Health, prosperity, well-being..
Example: I'm worried about the welfare of the children.
en: Bien-être
Worked-up
adj
Begin upset.
Example: I've never seen you this worked up before; calm down.
/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/63/bf/63bfbd36-e143-4966-88b1-9d179b1f4546/03885u.jpg)
