fete

[ feyt, fet ]

noun

, plural fetes.

1. a day of celebration; holiday:

   The Fourth of July is a great American fete.

2. a festive celebration or entertainment:

   The ball was the greatest fete of the season.

3. a religious feast or festival:

   a fete lasting several days in honor of a saint.

verb (used with object)

, fet·ed, fet·ing.

1. to entertain at or honor with a fete:

   to fete a visiting celebrity.

2. to celebrate, laud, or acclaim:

   He was feted in the press and honored by fellow citizens.

fête

/ feɪt /

noun

1. a gala, bazaar, or similar entertainment, esp one held outdoors in aid of charity
2. a feast day or holiday, esp one of religious significance
3. informal.
   an organized group entertainment, esp a party or a dance

verb

1. tr to honour or entertain with or as if with a fête

   the author was fêted by his publishers

2. informal.
   intr to join in a fête

Word History and Origins

Origin of fete¹

First recorded in 1745–55; from French fête “holiday, festival,” from Old French feste “feast”; feast

Word History and Origins

Origin of fete¹

C18: from French: feast

Example Sentences

Most recently, Karl Lagerfeld hosted a grand fête celebrating the premier of his film Reincarnation.

From The Daily Beast

Q: What does one wear to a traditional American-style Super Bowl fête?

From The Daily Beast

At one point during the fête, Simon took over the microphone.

From The Daily Beast

I watched one man loading a groaning cart with gilt edged paper goblets and plates, clearly preparing for a fête.

From The Daily Beast

Burns wrote in Scotch, and in celebrating the anniversary of his birth, they celebrated a national fête.

From Project Gutenberg

On the day of rejoicing for "La Gloriosa" there was no such display, although all Madrid was en fête.

From Project Gutenberg

At half-past nine they and their royal suite drove out to the fête grounds, adjoining the Bombay Gymkhana building.

From Project Gutenberg

What a contrast; was now before me to the pomps and pleasures of the fête!

From Project Gutenberg

An' purty soon we have beeg crowd, lak village she's en fête.

From Project Gutenberg