Definition of EFFETE

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Effete derives from Latin effetus, meaning "no longer fruitful," and for a brief time in English it was used to describe an animal no longer capable of producing offspring. For most of its existence in English, however, the use of "effete" has been entirely figurative. For many years, the usual figurative sense of the word was "exhausted" or "worn out," but today "effete" is more likely to suggest overrefinement, weakness of character, snobbery, and effeminacy. "Effete" first showed signs of acquiring these shades of meaning in the 1920s, but it wasn't until the 1940s that the new "effete" clearly established itself in reputable writing. One example can be found in John Steinbeck's 1945 novel Cannery Row: "now and then some effete customer would order a stinger or an anisette."

Examples of effete in a Sentence

effete members of the aristocracy the soft, effete society that marked the final years of the Roman empire

Recent Examples on the Web The Nero meme leaves the impression of an effete dilettante, confident in his own genius only because nobody had the guts to tell him otherwise. — Gaia Squarci, Smithsonian Magazine, "The New, Nicer Nero," 18 Sep. 2020 Who will say that Church, State, Throne, Altar are not in danger: that the sacred Strongbox itself, last Palladium of an effete Humanity, may not be blasphemously blown open, and its padlocks undone? — John D. Hagen, National Review, "The Gospel of Jean-Jacques," 20 Aug. 2020 Zimmer is an effete, hapless bozo, which lets Mr Carell put pathos and need front and centre. — The Economist, "The usual suspects “Irresistible” goes where many films have gone before," 25 June 2020 Even effete artists have to track inventory and control labor costs. — Michael Taylor, ExpressNews.com, "Liberty Bar owner in the age of coronavirus: ‘I feel like the tail struggling to wag the dog’," 12 June 2020 The early part of the film, filled with Elliott’s effete insults, simpering and whining, doesn’t establish an endearing mood. — oregonlive, "The best worst movie? Many film lovers choose ‘Showgirls,’ but Patrick Swayze’s oeuvre offers contenders," 27 Mar. 2020 Usually interpreted as a mannerism of effete tea-drinkers, the pointed pinky is actually a threat aimed at gays, who were forced to wear pink triangles by the Nazis. — James Lileks, National Review, "Okay Stupid," 19 Dec. 2019 For you effete coastal residents who are unfamiliar with the delights of flyover country, DQ means Dairy Queen. — George Will, Twin Cities, "George Will: ‘Texodus’ bodes badly for Republicans," 20 Oct. 2019 For you effete coastal residents who are unfamiliar with the delights of flyover country, DQ means Dairy Queen. — George Will, Twin Cities, "George Will: ‘Texodus’ bodes badly for Republicans," 20 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'effete.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.