fete

[feyt, fet]

noun, plural fetes.

a day of celebration; holiday: The Fourth of July is a great American fete.

a festive celebration or entertainment: The ball was the greatest fete of the season.

a religious feast or festival: a fete lasting several days in honor of a saint.

verb (used with object), fet·ed, fet·ing.

to entertain at or honor with a fete: to fete a visiting celebrity.

Also fête

[feyt, fet; French fet] /feɪt, fɛt; French fɛt/.

Origin of fete

1745–55; < French fête, earlier feste feast

Related formsun·fet·ed, adjective

Can be confusedfate fete (see synonym study at fate)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for feting

do, ball, fair, festival, fiesta, gala, bazaar, banquet, entertain, feast, lionize, treat, holiday, honor, celebrate

British Dictionary definitions for feting

fête

fete

noun

a gala, bazaar, or similar entertainment, esp one held outdoors in aid of charity

a feast day or holiday, esp one of religious significance

Caribbean informal an organized group entertainment, esp a party or a dance

verb

(tr) to honour or entertain with or as if with a fêtethe author was fêted by his publishers

(intr) Caribbean informal to join in a fête

Word Origin for fête

C18: from French: feast

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

Word Origin and History for feting

fete

1819, from fete (n.). Related: Feted; fetes; feting.

fete

1754, from French fête "festival, feast," from Old French feste (see feast). Apparently first used in English by Horace Walpole (1717-1797).