arete
noun
the aggregate of qualities, as valor and virtue, making up good character.
arete
1 American
[ahr-i-tey]
/ ˌɑr ɪˈteɪ /
noun
arête
2
American
[uh-reyt]
/ əˈreɪt /
noun
Physical Geography, Geology.
arête
British
/ əˈrɛt, əˈreɪt /
noun
arête
Scientific
/ ə-rāt′ /
Etymology
Origin of arete1
First recorded in 1550–70; from Greek aretḗ “excellence, virtue”
Origin of arête2
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”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
To be clear, the objections to this request do not rankle because of some sort of suspicion that disabilities are faked, or an alleged decimation of fairness and arete.
From Slate ● Nov. 28, 2022
Both poems celebrated arete — a Greek virtue which can be translated in English as “excellence” and “success,” but must be understood as a moral characteristic as much as a physical or mental one.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2019
This funky goop, called gloios and thought to contain the essence of arete — valor, excellence — was often funneled into small vials and sold at gyms for medicinal purposes.
From New York Times ● Jul. 22, 2016
“The themes of Walt’s need to express his excellence — arete — has been there from the beginning,” Cyrino said.
From Forbes ● Sep. 28, 2013
Aristotle sought to rescue rhetoric from its place as a purely instrumental art: the highest rhetorical accomplishment, for Aristotle, was an expression of arete, or virtue.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
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
In ancient Greek, the word for virtue was arête, which can also be translated as “excellence.”
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
To determine the arête, or excellence, of something, you have to know what its purpose or function is.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 15, 2022
The final climb will, perhaps, necessarily be by an arête.
From The Ascent of the Matterhorn by Whymper, Edward
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.
