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arete
[ ahr-i-tey ]
/ ËÉr ÉȘËteÉȘ /
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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.
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Origin of arete
First recorded in 1550â70; from Greek aretáž âexcellence, virtueâ
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH arete
arete , arĂȘteWords nearby arete
Other definitions for arete (2 of 2)
arĂȘte
[ uh-reyt ]
/ ÉËreÉȘt /
noun Physical Geography, Geology.
a sharp rugged mountain ridge, produced by glaciation.
Origin of arĂȘte
First recorded in 1860â65; from French: literally, âfishbone, ridge, bridge (of the nose),â from Old French areste âsharp ridge,â from Latin arista âear of grain (wheat), awnâ
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH arĂȘte
arete, arĂȘteDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use arete in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for arete
arĂȘte
/ (ÉËreÉȘt, ÉËrÉt) /
noun
a sharp ridge separating two cirques or glacial valleys in mountainous regions
Word Origin for arĂȘte
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
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Scientific definitions for arete
arĂȘte
[ É-rÄtâČ ]
A sharp, narrow ridge or spur commonly found above the snow line in mountainous areas that have been sculpted by glaciers. ArĂȘtes form as the result of the continued backward erosion of adjoining cirques.
The American HeritageÂź Science Dictionary
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