fete

[ feyt, fet ]

noun

, plural fetes.

1. a day of celebration; holiday:

   The Fourth of July is a great American fete.

2. a festive celebration or entertainment:

   The ball was the greatest fete of the season.

3. a religious feast or festival:

   a fete lasting several days in honor of a saint.

verb (used with object)

, fet·ed, fet·ing.

1. to entertain at or honor with a fete:

   to fete a visiting celebrity.

2. to celebrate, laud, or acclaim:

   He was feted in the press and honored by fellow citizens.

fête

/ feɪt /

noun

1. a gala, bazaar, or similar entertainment, esp one held outdoors in aid of charity
2. a feast day or holiday, esp one of religious significance
3. informal.
   an organized group entertainment, esp a party or a dance

verb

1. tr to honour or entertain with or as if with a fête

   the author was fêted by his publishers

2. informal.
   intr to join in a fête

Word History and Origins

Origin of fete¹

First recorded in 1745–55; from French fête “holiday, festival,” from Old French feste “feast”; feast

Word History and Origins

Origin of fete¹

C18: from French: feast

Example Sentences

She recently traveled to Washington, D.C., where she was feted at a ceremony at which she accepted a bronze bison statue.

From Los Angeles Times

They were initially welcomed and feted by Haitian government leaders, and by many in Haiti's media too.

From BBC

The series has been repeatedly feted by the American Film Institute and the Peabody Awards but not at the Emmys.

From Los Angeles Times

However, this election is different from the days when industry leaders feted Bill Clinton in 1992 or Barack Obama in 2008.

From Los Angeles Times

Thursday night, he was feted at a fund-raiser in San Francisco hosted by David Sacks, the tech investor, that pulled in more than $12 million.

From New York Times