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Note: Often confused with "affect".
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Effect
Definitions
- 1 The result or outcome of a cause. countable, uncountable
"The effect of the hurricane was a devastated landscape."
- 2 an outward appearance wordnet
- 3 Impression left on the mind; sensation produced. countable, uncountable
"patchwork […] introduced for oratorical effect"
- 4 (of a law) having legal validity wordnet
- 5 Execution; performance; realization; operation. countable, uncountable
"That no compunctious visitings of nature / Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between / The effect and it."
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- 6 an impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived) wordnet
- 7 Execution; performance; realization; operation.; The state of being binding and enforceable, as in a rule, policy, or law. uncountable
"The new law will come into effect on the first day of next year."
- 8 the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work wordnet
- 9 An illusion produced by technical means (as in "special effect") countable, uncountable
"The effect of flying was most convincing."
- 10 a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon wordnet
- 11 An alteration, or device for producing an alteration, in sound after it has been produced by an instrument. countable, uncountable
"I use an echo effect here to make the sound more mysterious."
- 12 a symptom caused by an illness or a drug wordnet
- 13 A scientific phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer. countable, uncountable
"Doppler effect"
- 14 An influence or causal association between two variables. countable, uncountable
"effect size"
- 15 Belongings, usually as personal effects. countable, plural-normally, uncountable
"The tenant shall pay for the repair of, or replace all such items of the fixtures, fittings, furniture and effects as shall be broken, lost, damaged or destroyed during that time."
- 16 Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; with to. countable, uncountable
"They spake to her to that effect."
- 17 Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"no other in effect than what it seems"
- 18 Manifestation; expression; sign. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"All the large effects / That troop with majesty."
- 1 To make or bring about; to implement. transitive
"The best way to effect change is to work with existing stakeholders."
- 2 produce wordnet
- 3 Misspelling of affect. alt-of, misspelling
- 4 act so as to bring into existence wordnet
Etymology
Of the noun: from Middle English effect, from Old French effect (modern French effet), from Latin effectus (“an effect, tendency, purpose”), from efficiō (“accomplish, complete, effect”); see effect as a verb. Displaced Old English fremming, fremednes from fremman. Of the verb: from Middle English effecten, partly from Medieval Latin effectuō, from Latin effectus, perfect passive participle of efficiō (“accomplish, complete, do, effect”), from ex (“out”) + faciō (“do, make”) (see fact and compare affect, infect) and partly from the noun effect.
Of the noun: from Middle English effect, from Old French effect (modern French effet), from Latin effectus (“an effect, tendency, purpose”), from efficiō (“accomplish, complete, effect”); see effect as a verb. Displaced Old English fremming, fremednes from fremman. Of the verb: from Middle English effecten, partly from Medieval Latin effectuō, from Latin effectus, perfect passive participle of efficiō (“accomplish, complete, do, effect”), from ex (“out”) + faciō (“do, make”) (see fact and compare affect, infect) and partly from the noun effect.
See also for "effect"
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