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   effete

   /ɪˈfiːt/

   adjective

   • 1. affected and overly refined: "effete trendies from art college" Similar affectedover-refinedineffectualartificialstudiedpretentiouspreciouschi-chiflowerymanneredinformal:tweela-di-dapseudponcytoffee-nosedrare:alembicatedOpposite unpretentious
   • ▪ (of a man) behaving in a way traditionally associated with women and regarded as inappropriate for a man. Similar effeminateunmasculineunmanlywomanishgirlishfeminineweaksofttimidtimorousfearfulcowardlylily-liveredspinelesscravenpusillanimouschicken-heartedweak-kneedinformal:sissywimpishwimpymilksoppishoffensive:limp-wristedpansyishOpposite manly
   • ▪ no longer capable of effective action: "the authority of an effete aristocracy began to dwindle" Similar weakenedenfeebledenervatedworn outexhaustedfinishedburnt outplayed outdrainedspentpowerlessOpposite powerful

   Word Origin early 17th century (in the sense ‘no longer fertile’): from Latin effetus ‘worn out by bearing young’, from ex- ‘out’ + fetus ‘breeding’; related to fetus.

   Derivatives

   • 1. effetely adverb
   • 2. effeteness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • F

     4

   • E

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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