[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. Though he sometimes gave him good advice, 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 thankèd, | |
| While his rascally rival gets toss’d in a blanket. |
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxvi. Those two footmen … broke out into extraordinary hilarity at the news of her convalescence, and intoxicated the page at a wine-shop, to fête Laura’s recovery.
1879. Huxley, Hume, 36. Great nobles fêted him, and great ladies were not content unless the ‘gros David’ was to be seen at their receptions and in their boxes at the theatre.
1892. The Nation (N.Y.), 29 Sept., LV. 239/2. The Government interposed its veto, judging, indeed, rightly that the anniversary of the invasion of the Tuileries by the people, and of the massacre of the Guards, ought not to be fêted, and esteeming quite useless the celebration of an insurrection.
Hence Fêted ppl. a.
1852. Mrs. Smythies, Bride Elect, xxxiii. Fair and fêted guest as she was!
