English Explanatory Dictionary

effete

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. exhausted, spent, worn-out.
  2. Lacking strength or vitality; feeble, powerless, impotent.
  3. Decadent, weak through self-indulgence.
  4. Affected, overrefined.

Pronunciation

/ɪˈfiːt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-effete.wav /ɪˈfit/ /ɛˈfit/

Word forms

effete more effete most effete effœte

Etymology

From Latin effētus (“exhausted”, literally “that has given birth”), 1620s.

Synonyms

low used up consumed depleted done up effete exhausted expended gone finished forworn spent puny anemic breakable broken-down damaged debilitated decrepit delicate dickless enervated enfeebled faint feeble flimsy fragile frail harmed hurt impaired impotent infirm injured languid powerless prostrated prostrate raddled resistless sapped slightsoft softened susceptible tender tired torpid unresistant vincible vulnerable wasted weak weakened weary weedy wimpy worn out yielding dissipated incontinent

Derived words

effetely effeteness noneffete uneffete
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