First recorded in 1550–70; from Greek aretḗ “excellence, virtue”
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”
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Far below, fast-flowing meltwater cuts a frozen ravine into the glacier; above, on the horizon, the Grandes Jorasses arête, a narrow ridge of rock that separates two valleys, soars with terrifying verticality.
From National Geographic • Apr. 16, 2023
To determine the arête, or excellence, of something, you have to know what its purpose or function is.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
For example, the purpose of a knife is to cut things, so its arête is sharpness.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
It is easier to determine the arête of a practical object like a knife than the arête of a person.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
And they did haul away—those on the arête flat on their faces, carefully watching the ascent of the rope lest it should be worn through by any friction.
From Fordham's Feud by Mitford, Bertram
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
