EFFETE

effete

(adjective) deprived of vigor and the ability to be effective; “fundamentalism has flowered because it has concluded that liberalism is effete, ineffectual and impoverished”

effete

(adjective) affected, overrefined, and effeminate; “the young man spoke in effete, accented English”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

effete (comparative more effete, superlative most effete)

(obsolete) Of substances, quantities etc: exhausted, spent, worn-out.

Lacking strength or vitality; feeble, powerless, impotent.

Decadent, weak through self-indulgence.

(of a person) Affected, overrefined

Source: Wiktionary

Ef*fete", a. Etym: [L. effetus that has brought forth, exhausted; ex + fetus that has brought forth. See Fetus.]

Definition: No longer capable of producing young, as an animal, or fruit, as the earth; hence, worn out with age; exhausted of energy; incapable of efficient action; no longer productive; barren; sterile. Effete results from virile efforts. Mrs. Browning If they find the old governments effete, worn out, . . . they may seek new ones. Burke.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition