Vocabulary
pouvoir
can, to be able to; may (of a choice); to be possible; may, could be; to have the right (to); to have the power, the authority or the talent (to do something)
Verb
tantôt
soon, shortly (used with the present tense); sometimes (when doubled or multipled, suggesting contrasting possibilities each as likely to happen or happening as frequently as the others); this afternoon; within a short time of now, either earlier or later
Adverb
sésame
sesame (plant, seed); hint; something that renders something else possible as if by magic: open sesame, magic word, (metaphorical) skeleton key
Noun
permettant
allowing, enabling, ensuring, so that, through which to, make it possible, as a means to, which could
Verb
équivoque
equivocation (expression susceptible of a double signification, possibly misleading); double entendre
Noun
attroupement
gathering (of people), mob (large or disorderly group of people, especially one bent on riotous or destructive action); gathering, mobbing (action of crowding into or around a place in a disorganized and possibly riotous manner)
Noun
quadruple
something that is equal to four times something else; a move whose score is multiplied by four; the area on the board where such a move is possible
Noun
nonuple
a move whose score is multiplied by nine; an area on the board where such a move is possible
Noun
Scud
a Scud missile; (figuratively) (From military slang) "Prendre un Scud" (lit. To take a Scud) is to receive a violent, sudden and possibly undeserved reprimand or verbal attack
Name
jouer avec le feu
to play with fire; to cut it fine (to achieve something at the last possible moment, or with no margin for error)
Verb
ne pas en rater une
to do every stupid thing possible, to commit every blunder conceivable, to make gaffe upon gaffe, to do one silly thing after the other
Verb
apprenti-sorcier
sorcerer's apprentice (person who experiments carelessly, without paying attention to the possible consequences of their experiments and without the ability to contain them should they spiral out of control)
Noun
œuvé
containing eggs, egg-bearing, ovigerous; having numerous possibilities or implications, pregnant
Adjective
table de vérité
truth table (table showing all possible truth values for an expression, derived from the truth values of its components)
Noun
cocheur
ticker (birdwatcher who aims to see (and tick off on a list) as many bird species as possible)
Noun
chien de poche
a dog who always insist to follow its master as closely as possible; someone whose behaviour reminds of such a dog
Noun
à pleins poumons
drawing in as much air as possible, so as to fill one's lungs; at the top of one's lungs, at the top of one's voice
Adverb
bout du monde
the ends of the earth (an extremely remote place); the maximum possible; an insurmountable challenge or obstacle
Noun
principe de charité
principle of charity (principle according to which an argument should be evaluated in light of its best, strongest possible interpretation)
Noun
mains baladeuses
Roman hands and Russian fingers, wandering hands (tendency towards (possibly unwanted) sexual touching)
Noun
embarras du choix
embarrassment of riches (overabundance of possibilities, so that choosing becomes difficult)
Noun
portion congrue
part of the tithe (dîme) paid by the higher clergy (haut clergé) to the members of the lower clergy (bas clergé) for their sustenance; allowances of the lower clergy; tithe, trifling amount (the smallest share, the meanest share, the bare minimum - and possibly even less than that: barely enough)
Noun
dans la mesure du possible
as much as possible, insofar as possible, if at all possible, if possible
Adverb
l'habit ne fait pas le moine
you can't judge a book by its cover (it is not possible nor advisable to judge things by external appearances alone)
Proverb
Médie
Media (a geographic region and ancient satrapy of the Persian Empire in northwestern Iran, originally inhabited by the Medes); Media (a possible ancient kingdom ruled by the Medes from approximately 700 to 550 BCE, whose extent and sometimes even existence is debated)
Name
euphotique
euphotic (describing that part of the near-surface ocean in which photosynthesis is possible)
Adjective