Posted by sunny10 on January 25, 2005, at 13:07:29
In reply to poem ... Infant Sushi, posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 14:57:56
For those of us with a more limited vocabulary than the exemplary one at your command, the last line would be just as good with the word "elite" replacing "effete".
From Webster.com (below), you obviously mean 2.c. (yes?), but some people would not know the less obscure meaning and think you were saying that infertile (or effeminate) people eat babies...
Main Entry: ef·fete
Pronunciation: e-'fEt, i-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin effetus, from ex- + fetus fruitful -- more at FEMININE
1 : no longer fertile
2 a : having lost character, vitality, or strength <the effete monarchies ... of feudal Europe -- G. M. Trevelyan> b : marked by weakness or decadence <the effete East> c : soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence <peddled ... trendy tweeds to effete Easterners -- William Helmer> <effete tenderfeet>; also : characteristic of an effete person <a wool scarf ... a bit effete on an outdoorsman -- Nelson Bryant>
3 : EFFEMINATE 1 <a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts -- Herman Wouk>
- ef·fete·ly adverb
- ef·fete·ness nounHope I don't offend by offering my opinion...I am a wishful poet.. that is, I wish I was creative enough to actually come up with this stuff!!!
I am actually WAY jealous of your talent (in the best, covetous manner, of course!).
-sunny10
poster:sunny10
thread:446886
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/write/20050118/msgs/447456.html