Fete
/feɪt/noun
A festival or elaborate celebration.
Did you know?English fete comes through French from Latin festum, the same ancient root behind words for holy days and public celebrations, so a simple party word still carries the memory of ritual time.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dhēs-
“to do; to perform a sacred act”
Latin
Latin
festus
“festive, holy, devoted to a feast”
Latin
Latin
festum
“a feast, holiday, festival”
Old French
Old French
feste
“feast, festival, holiday”
Middle English
English
fete
“feast, festival, celebration”
Modern English
English
fete
“a festival or elaborate celebration”