effete Hear it!

effete definition

ef·fete (e fēt, i-)

adjective

  1. no longer capable of producing; spent and sterile
  2. lacking vigor, force of character, moral stamina, etc.; decadent, soft, overrefined, etc.

Etymology: L effetus, that has brought forth offspring, exhausted < ex-, out + fetus, productive: for IE base see female

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.
Related Discussions (1)
TopicRepliesLatest Post
Effete236 years ago

Browse Forums