effect
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1ef·fect
noun \i-ˈfekt, e-, ē-, ə-\Definition of EFFECT
2
: something that inevitably follows an antecedent (as a cause or agent)
3
: an outward sign : appearance
5
: power to bring about a result : influence <the content itself of television … is therefore less important than its effect — Current Biography>
6
plural : movable property : goods <personal effects>
7
a : a distinctive impression <the color gives the effect of being warm> b : the creation of a desired impression <her tears were purely for effect> c (1) : something designed to produce a distinctive or desired impression —usually used in plural (2) plural : special effects
8
: the quality or state of being operative : operation <the law goes into effect next week>
— in effect
: in substance : virtually <the … committee agreed to what was in effect a reduction in the hourly wage — Current Biography>
— to the effect
: with the meaning <issued a statement to the effect that he would resign>
See Examples of EFFECT
- He now needs more of the drug to achieve the same effect.
- The experience has had a bad effect on him.
- Computers have had a profound effect on our lives.
- The effects of the drug soon wore off.
- This treatment causes fewer ill effects.
- The change in policy had little effect on most people.
- He was able to stop taking the drug without ill effect.
- The total effect of the painting was one of gloom.
- The color gives the effect of being warm.
- He achieves amazing effects with wood.
- The nation's most solvent individuals—private-equity barons—have not been immune from the ill effects of the credit crunch. —Daniel Gross, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2008
- In the Spanish conquest of the Incas, guns played only a minor role. … They did produce a big psychological effect on those occasions when they managed to fire. —Jared M. Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel, 1997
- Economic effects of such high speed change are also unpredictable and somewhat chilling … —Genevieve Stuttaford, Publisher's Weekly, 29 July 1996
- Unlike the venom of coral snakes, fer-de-lance venom has no direct effect on the nervous system but digests muscle, destroys blood cells and causes hemorrhaging and massive edema (swelling). —Robert K. Colwell, Natural History, April 1985
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Origin of EFFECT
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin effectus, from efficere to bring about, from ex- + facere to make, do — more at do
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to EFFECT
- Synonyms
- aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot, matter of course
- Antonyms
- antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
Rhymes with EFFECT
abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked
2ef·fect
transitive verb \i-ˈfekt, e-, ē-, ə-\Definition of EFFECT
1
: to cause to come into being
2
a : to bring about often by surmounting obstacles : accomplish <effect a settlement of a dispute> b : to put into operation <the duty of the legislature to effect the will of the citizens>
Usage Discussion of EFFECT
Effect and affect are often confused because of their similar spelling and pronunciation. The verb 2affect usually has to do with pretense <she affected a cheery disposition despite feeling down>. The more common 3affect denotes having an effect or influence <the weather affected everyone's mood>. The verb effect goes beyond mere influence; it refers to actual achievement of a final result <the new administration hopes to effect a peace settlement>. The uncommon noun affect, which has a meaning relating to psychology, is also sometimes mistakenly used for the very common effect. In ordinary use, the noun you will want is effect <waiting for the new law to take effect> <the weather had an effect on everyone's mood>.
Examples of EFFECT
- They are trying to effect a settlement of the dispute.
- The duty of the legislature is to effect the will of the people.
- When, at last, rescue is at hand, Jewitt has no hesitation in lying to his old friend and master, Maquinna, in order to effect his escape, although he does persuade the captain of the brig Lydia not to kill the chief. —Carolyn Kizer, New York Times Book Review, 21 Feb. 1988
- I had just written the Gossets that your address was Drujon Lane, so I would be obliged if you would drop them a card and tell them your release has been effected. —Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
- As the whole progress of mathematics from its ancient simplicities to what we call its “higher” modern developments has been effected by assuming impossibilities and inconceivabilities, your line of argument does not seem to me conclusive. —Bernard Shaw, circa 4 Nov. 1932, in Collected Letters: 1926–1950, 1988
- Hitherto, while gathering up the discourse of Mr. Brocklehurst and Miss Temple, I had not, at the same time, neglected precautions to secure my personal safety; which I thought would be effected, if I could only elude observation. —Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847
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Origin of EFFECT
(see 1effect)
First Known Use: 1533
ef·fect
noun \i-ˈfekt\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of EFFECT
: something that is produced by an agent or cause <obtained the same effect with a smaller dose>
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