▪ I. fête, n.
(‖ fɛt, feɪt)
[a. F. fête: see feast n.]
1. a. A festival, an entertainment on a large scale.
| 1754 H. Walpole Lett. (1857) II. 308 The great fête at St. Cloud. 1779 Sheridan Critic iii. Wks. 1873 II. 184, I suppose Thames..to compliment Britannia with a fête in honour of the victory. 1818 Byron Mazeppa iv, He gave prodigious fêtes. a 1839 Praed Poems (1864) I. 212 Titled dames gave fêtes upon the water. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis i, The guests at my Lord So-and-so's fête. |
b. A bazaar-like function designed to raise money for some charitable purpose.
| 1893 Yonge & Coleridge Strolling Players v. 37 We can act at Primrose fétes, and do good in that way. 1894 W. Pater Let. 19 June (1970) 268 Sincere congratulations on the success of the Fête. 1962 H. Thurston Where is thy Sting? iii. 32 The delivery of some jumble for the church fête. |
2. The festival of the saint after whom a person is named; in Roman Catholic countries observed as the birthday is in England.
| 1805 C. Wilmot Let. 7 Dec. in Russ. Jrnls. (1934) ii. 207 The Princess & I being Names sakes she was resolved this Fête should be double celebrated, & therefore the eve of the day a solemn Mass was held. 1840 Thackeray Paris Sk.-bk. (1869) 143 It is the fête of little Jacob yonder, whose brothers and sisters have all come from their schools to dance at his birthday. 1877 [see 3]. |
3. attrib., as fête-day; also fête-contractor, one who contracts to provide a fête or entertainment.
| 1817 J. Scott Paris Revisit. (ed. 4) 270 The towns of France have all their particular fête days. 1877 J. T. Fields Underbrush (1881) 224 A Councillor of the Parliament, sent her on her fête-day, a bouquet. 1885 Mabel Collins Prettiest Woman viii, Life was like one long fête day. 1886 York Herald 7 Aug. 2/5 Public caterer, decorator, and fete contractor. |
Hence ˈfêteless a., having no fête.
| 1861 Cunningham Wheat & Tares 50 The poor fêteless children haunted him. |
▪ II. fête, v.
(feɪt)
[ad. F. fêter, f. fête: see prec.]
trans. To entertain (a person) at a fête; to feast; also, to give a fête in honour of, commemorate (some event, etc.) by a fête.
| 1819 Edin. Rev. XXXII. 221 He was in general too fond of flattering and ‘feteing’ his master. a 1845 Barham Ingol. Leg., Hermann, The murder thus out, Hermann's fêted and thanked. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis lxvi, The..two footmen..intoxicated the page at a wine-shop, to fête Laura's recovery. 1879 Huxley Hume 36 Great nobles fêted him. 1892 Nation (N.Y.) 29 Sept. 239/2 The Government..judging..that the anniversary of the invasion of the Tuileries by the people..ought not to be fêted. |
Hence ˈfêted ppl. a.
| 1828 Disraeli Voy. Capt. Popanilla xiii. 158 A habit quite refreshing to fêted characters. 1852 Mrs. Smythies Bride Elect xxxiii, Fair and fêted guest as she was! |