First Known Use: 1660
Dictionary
effete
adjective ef·fete \e-ˈfēt, i-\
: lacking strength, courage, or spirit
: resembling a woman
Full Definition of EFFETE
1
: no longer fertile
2
a : having lost character, vitality, or strength <the effete monarchies … of feudal Europe — G. M. Trevelyan> b : marked by weakness or decadence <the effete East> c : soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence <peddled … trendy tweeds to effete Easterners — William Helmer> <effete tenderfeet>; also : characteristic of an effete person <a wool scarf … a bit effete on an outdoorsman — Nelson Bryant>
3
: effeminate 1 <a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts — Herman Wouk>
— ef·fete·ly adverb
— ef·fete·ness noun
See effete defined for English-language learners
See effete defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of EFFETE
Latin effetus, from ex- + fetus fruitful — more at feminine
Related to EFFETE
- Synonyms
- decadent, decayed, degenerate, overripe, washed-up
- Antonyms
- undecadent
Rhymes with EFFETE
accrete, aesthete, afreet, athlete, backbeat, backseat, backstreet, bedsheet, bench seat, big beat, bolete, box pleat, box seat, break beat, broadsheet, browbeat, buckwheat, bystreet, call sheet, car seat, cheat sheet, clipsheet, cloud street, cold feet, compete, compleat, complete, conceit, concrete, crabmeat, crib sheet, deadbeat, dead heat, dead meat, deceit, defeat, delete, deplete, discreet, discrete, disseat, downbeat, drop seat, drumbeat, dutch treat, elite, en suite, entreat, escheat, excrete, facete, Fleet Street, fly sheet, forcemeat, foresheet, four-peat, gamete, groundsheet, hard wheat, heartbeat, heat-treat, helpmeet, hoofbeat, hot seat, house seat, ice sheet, ill-treat, jump seat, kick pleat, love seat, mainsheet, Main Street, maltreat, mesquite, mincemeat, mistreat, offbeat, Ossete, petite, pink sheet, preheat, rap sheet, receipt, recheat, red heat, red meat, red wheat, regreet, repeat, replete, retreat, scratch sheet, secrete, side street, slip-sheet, soft wheat, spreadsheet, stand treat, swap meet, sweetmeat, tear sheet, terete, three-peat, through street, time sheet, unmeet, unseat, upbeat, vegete, volkslied, white heat
Learn More About EFFETE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: efficaciousPrevious Word in the Dictionary: effervescibleAll Words Near: effete
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up effete? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).