Word familyadverbeffetelyadjectiveeffetenouneffeteness
ef·fete /ɪˈfiːt $ e-/adjectiveadj formal
1WEAKweak and powerless in a way that you dislike 软弱的,懦弱的
effete intellectuals
软弱的知识分子
2.WOMANan effete man looks or behaves like a woman 〔男人〕女人气的,女性化的SYN effeminate
Examples from the Corpus
effete• Could one call it decadent or effete?• He studied the Gascon's dark effete face and the jewel-encrusted pearl which swung arrogantly from one ear lobe.• the effete intellectuals in New York society• If there were ever an illustration of an effete ruling elite, it is this.• That's what these square, effete types did, I eventually figured: they listened to Bartok and bathed a lot.
Origineffete
(1600-1700)Latineffetus, from fetus“producing young”