fête
Definition
Noun:
- A festival or celebration: "fête" refers to a large outdoor party, fair, or event, often organized for fundraising or community enjoyment.
- A lavish party: In formal contexts, "fête" can mean an elaborate social gathering, especially one held in honor of a person or occasion.
Verb:
- To honor or celebrate: "fête" means to entertain lavishly or to show special respect and admiration for someone, typically through a party or ceremony.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The village held a summer fête to raise money for the church. (A community festival with games, food, and stalls.)
- The ambassador attended a grand fête at the palace. (A formal, elaborate celebration.)
Verb:
- The author was fêted by critics after winning the prize. (The author was honored with celebrations and praise.)
- They fêted their guests with champagne and gourmet dishes. (They entertained their guests lavishly.)
Advanced Usage
"to be fêted as": to be celebrated or acclaimed as something.
- He was fêted as a hero upon his return. (He was publicly honored and praised as a hero.)
"fête champêtre": a French term meaning an outdoor party or picnic, often in a rural setting.
- The garden party was a charming fête champêtre. (A formal outdoor social event.)
Variants and Related Words
- Fête (noun/verb) is the standard spelling; the variant fete (without the circumflex) is also common in English.
- The school fete was a great success. (Alternative spelling.)
Synonyms
- Festival: a series of performances or events, often public.
- Gala: a festive social occasion, often formal.
- Celebration: an act of marking a special event.
- Party: a social gathering for enjoyment.
Phrasal Verbs
- There are no common phrasal verbs directly derived from "fête." However, the verb form can be used with prepositions like "as" (e.g., ).
Related Idioms
- "to make a fête of something": to turn something into a celebration or special occasion.
- They made a fête of the family reunion. (They treated it as a festive event.)