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effete

[ ih-feet ]
/ ɪˈfit /
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See synonyms for: effete / effeteness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

lacking in wholesome vigor; degenerate; decadent: an effete, overrefined society.
exhausted of vigor or energy; worn out: an effete political force.
unable to produce; sterile.

SYNONYMS FOR effete

2 enervated, debilitated.
See synonyms for effete on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of effete

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin effēta “exhausted from bearing,” equivalent to ef- “from, out of” (see ef-) + fēta “having brought forth,” feminine past participle of lost verb; see fetus

OTHER WORDS FROM effete

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH effete

effeminate, effete , feminine, womanish, womanly

Words nearby effete

efferent vessel, effervesce, effervescence, effervescent, effervescent salt, effete, Effexor, efficacious, efficacity, efficacy, efficiency
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to effete

corrupt, debased, decadent, decayed, decrepit, degenerate, dissipated, dissolute, drained, enervated, feeble, immoral, obsolete, soft, spent, washed-out, wasted, weak, worn out, burnt out

Example sentences from the Web for effete

British Dictionary definitions for effete

effete
/ (ɪˈfiːt) /

adjective

weak, ineffectual, or decadent as a result of overrefinementan effete academic
exhausted of vitality or strength; worn out; spent
(of animals or plants) no longer capable of reproduction

Derived forms of effete

effetely, adverbeffeteness, noun

Word Origin for effete

C17: from Latin effētus having produced young, hence, exhausted by bearing, from fētus having brought forth; see fetus
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
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