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Stage 1 of 4
festus
Latin · ancient
"festive, joyful"
an adjective meaning festive or joyful, giving the plural noun festa
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Stage 2 of 4
feste
Old French · 1100s
"feast, celebration; holiday"
kept the sense of a feast or celebration
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Stage 3 of 4
fete
French · medieval
"a festival, celebration"
narrowed but remained a general word for a festival or party
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Stage 4 of 4
fete
English · 1754
"a festival or elaborate party"
borrowed for an elaborate festival or party, popularized by Horace Walpole
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