Effete



GRE 蓝宝 Barron

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj. 无生产力的; 虚弱的
• ［英］ adj. 无生产力的 ( spent and sterile) ; 虚弱的 ( lacking vigor)
• ［类］ 反义词: hale ( 强健的)
• ［记］ ef ( 出) +fete ( =fetus 胎儿) -> 不再出胎儿 -> 不生育的

Webster Collegiate

adjective

• Etymology: Latin effetus, from ex- + fetus fruitful — more at feminine
• Date: 1660
• 1. no longer fertile
• 2.
  • a. having lost character, vitality, or strength the effete monarchies…of feudal Europe — G. M. Trevelyan
  • b. marked by weakness or decadence the effete East
  • c. soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence peddled…trendy tweeds to effete Easterners — William Helmer effete tenderfeet; also characteristic of an effete person a wool scarf…a bit effete on an outdoorsman — Nelson Bryant
• 3. effeminate 1 a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts — Herman Wouk
• ? effetely adverb
• ? effeteness noun

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