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• fete
  fete

  noun

  a day of celebration; holiday.
• fête
  fête

  noun

  a gala, bazaar, or similar entertainment, esp one held outdoors in aid of charity

fete

American  

[feyt, fet] / feɪt, fɛt /

French fête

noun

fetes plural

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.

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verb (used with object)

feted, feting

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 British  

/ 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

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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

Etymology

Origin of fete

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

Explanation

A fête is a party, often one thrown in someone's honor. You'll find fête used as both a verb and a noun. If you want to fête someone, throw them a fête. Fête is a word taken directly from French. In fact, sometimes in English you'll see a circumflex accent over the first "e" in fête. This makes it especially easy to remember, because this accent looks almost like a party hat.

Example Sentences

These green efforts are being welcomed by patrons such as Roland Riley, who hailed it as "a good initiative by Fete with the Saints to go that route".

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2025

“Mary Kaye realized some 40 years ago that if we don’t fund this research, nobody will,” Mary Fete, the foundation’s executive director, said by phone.

From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2023

As France celebrates La Fete Nationale on Thursday’s Bastille Day, in the United States, visitors to Mount Vernon can see the Bastille key in the central passage there.

From Washington Post • Jul. 14, 2022

Balmain’s show is being billed as part of Paris’ annual all-night music celebration, la Fete de la Musique.

From Washington Times • Jun. 21, 2019

Soon, soon I heard them call my name aloud: "A 'David Strong', his Fete in Brittany."

From Ballads of a Bohemian by Service, Robert W. (Robert William)