effete

ef·fete

 (ĭ-fēt′)

adj.

1.

a. Characterized by extreme refinement or self-indulgence, often to the point of unworldiness or decadence: "the effete taste of people surfeited with expensive comforts" (R.P.T. Davenport-Hines).

b. Having or reflecting an attitude of social superiority; pretentious or snobbish: "Throughout its amateur era tennis was a country club sport, denigrated as elitist and effete" (Stuart Miller).

2. Depleted of vitality, force, or effectiveness; exhausted: the effete monarchies of Europe.

3. Effeminate: "As a manly adventurer ... [Saint Paul] seemed the perfect rebuttal to our great, if unspoken, fear that the celibate vocation was effete" (James Carroll).

4. Archaic No longer productive; infertile.

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[Latin effētus, worn out, exhausted : ex-, ex- + fētus, bearing young, pregnant; see dhē(i)- in Indo-European roots.]

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ef·fete′ly adv.

ef·fete′ness n.

effete

(ɪˈfiːt)

adj

1. weak, ineffectual, or decadent as a result of overrefinement: an effete academic.

2. exhausted of vitality or strength; worn out; spent

3. (Biology) (of animals or plants) no longer capable of reproduction

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

efˈfetely adv

efˈfeteness n

ef•fete

(ɪˈfit)

adj.

1. lacking in wholesome vigor; degenerate; decadent: an effete, overrefined society.

2. exhausted of vigor or energy; worn out.

3. unable to produce; sterile.

[1615–25; < Latin effēta exhausted from bearing =ef- ef- + fēta having given birth, feminine past participle of lost v.; see fetus]

ef•fete′ly, adv.

ef•fete′ness, n.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

effete - marked by excessive self-indulgence and moral decay; "a decadent life of excessive money and no sense of responsibility"; "a group of effete self-professed intellectuals" decadent indulgent - characterized by or given to yielding to the wishes of someone ; "indulgent grandparents"

effete

adjective weak, cowardly, feeble, ineffectual, decrepit, spineless, enfeebled, weak-kneed (informal), enervated, overrefined, chicken-hearted, wimpish or wimpy (informal) a charming but effete young man

Translations

esausto

effete

[ɪˈfiːt] ADJ → agotado, cansado

effete

adj → schwach; person → saft- und kraftlos

effete

[ɪˈfiːt] adj (pej) → decadente