arete
[ ahr-i-tey ]
/ ˌɑr ɪˈteɪ /
Save This Word!
noun
the aggregate of qualities, as valor and virtue, making up good character:Our greatest national heroes not only did extraordinary things, but had enormous arete.
VIDEO FOR ARETE
WATCH NOW: Arete: Visual Word of the Day
Who in your life embodies the idea of arete?
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Origin of arete
First recorded in 1550–70; from Greek aretḗ “excellence, virtue”
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH arete
arete , arêteWords nearby arete
Definition for arete (2 of 2)
arête
[ uh-reyt ]
/ əˈreɪt /
noun Physical Geography, Geology.
a sharp rugged mountain ridge, produced by glaciation.
Origin of arête
First recorded in 1860–65; from French: literally, “fishbone, ridge, bridge (of the nose),” from Old French areste “sharp ridge,” from Latin arista “ear of grain (wheat), awn”
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH arête
arete, arêteDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for arete
British Dictionary definitions for arete
arête
/ (əˈreɪt, əˈrɛt) /
noun
a sharp ridge separating two cirques or glacial valleys in mountainous regions
Word Origin for arête
C19: from French: fishbone, backbone (of a fish), ridge, sharp edge, from Latin arista ear of corn, fishbone
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for arete
arête
[ ə-rāt′ ]
A sharp, narrow ridge or spur commonly found above the snow line in mountainous areas that have been sculpted by glaciers. Arêtes form as the result of the continued backward erosion of adjoining cirques.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.