Adjacent Words

Effect definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EFFECT', n. [L. effectus, from efficio; ex and facio, to make.]
1. That which is produced by an agent or cause; as the effect of luxury; the effect of intemperance.
Poverty, disease and disgrace are the natural effects of dissipation.
2. Consequence; event.
To say that a composition is imperfect,is in effect to say the author is a man.
3. Purpose; general intent.
They spoke to her to that effect. 2 Chronicles 34.
4. Consequence intended; utility; profit; advantage.
Christ is become of no effect to you. Galatians 5.
5. Force; validity. The obligation is void and of no effect.
6. Completion; perfection.
Not so worthily to be brought to heroical effect by fortune or necessity.
7. Reality; not mere appearance; fact.
No other in effect than what it seems.
8. In the plural, effects are goods; movables; personal estate. The people escaped from the town with their effects.
EFFECT', v.t. [from the Noun.] To produce, as a cause or agent; to cause to be. The revolution in France effected a great change of property.
1. To bring to pass; to achieve; to accomplish; as, to effect an object or purpose.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decision had depressing consequences for business"; "he acted very wise after the event" [syn: consequence, effect, outcome, result, event, issue, upshot]
2: an outward appearance; "he made a good impression"; "I wanted to create an impression of success"; "she retained that bold effect in her reproductions of the original painting" [syn: impression, effect]
3: an impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived); "he just did it for effect"
4: the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work [syn: effect, essence, burden, core, gist]
5: (of a law) having legal validity; "the law is still in effect" [syn: effect, force]
6: a symptom caused by an illness or a drug; "the effects of sleep loss"; "the effect of the anesthetic" v
1: produce; "The scientists set up a shock wave" [syn: effect, effectuate, set up]
2: act so as to bring into existence; "effect a change"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: 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 Date: 14th century 1. a. purport, intent b. basic meaning ; essence 2. something that inevitably follows an antecedent (as a cause or agent) 3. an outward sign ; appearance 4. accomplishment, fulfillment 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> II. transitive verb Date: 1533 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> Synonyms: see perform Usage: 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>.

U.S. Military Dictionary

1. The physical or behavioral state of a system that results from an action, a set of actions, or another effect. 2. The result, outcome, or consequence of an action. 3. A change to a condition, behavior, or degree of freedom. (JP 3-0)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 the result or consequence of an action etc. 2 efficacy (had little effect). 3 an impression produced on a spectator, hearer, etc. (lights had a pretty effect; my words had no effect). 4 (in pl.) property, luggage. 5 (in pl.) the lighting, sound, etc., used to accompany a play, film, broadcast, etc. 6 Physics a physical phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer (Doppler effect). 7 the state of being operative. --v.tr. 1 bring about; accomplish. 2 cause to exist or occur. Phrases and idioms: bring (or carry) into effect accomplish. for effect to create an impression. give effect to make operative. in effect for practical purposes; in reality. take effect become operative. to the effect that the general substance or gist being. to that effect having that result or implication. with effect from coming into operation at or on (a stated time or day). Etymology: ME f. OF effect or L effectus (as EX-(1), facere make)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Effect Ef*fect", n. [L. effectus, fr. efficere, effectum, to effect; ex + facere to make: cf. F. effet, formerly also spelled effect. See Fact.] 1. Execution; performance; realization; operation; as, the law goes into effect in May. That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it. --Shak. 2. Manifestation; expression; sign. All the large effects That troop with majesty. --Shak. 3. In general: That which is produced by an agent or cause; the event which follows immediately from an antecedent, called the cause; result; consequence; outcome; fruit; as, the effect of luxury. The effect is the unfailing index of the amount of the cause. --Whewell. 4. Impression left on the mind; sensation produced. Patchwork . . . introduced for oratorical effect. --J. C. Shairp. The effect was heightened by the wild and lonely nature of the place. --W. Irving. 5. Power to produce results; efficiency; force; importance; account; as, to speak with effect. 6. Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; -- with to. They spake to her to that effect. --2 Chron. xxxiv. 22. 7. The purport; the sum and substance. ``The effect of his intent.'' --Chaucer. 8. Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance. No other in effect than what it seems. --Denham. 9. pl. Goods; movables; personal estate; -- sometimes used to embrace real as well as personal property; as, the people escaped from the town with their effects. For effect, for an exaggerated impression or excitement. In effect, in fact; in substance. See 8, above. Of no effect, Of none effect, To no effect, or Without effect, destitute of results, validity, force, and the like; vain; fruitless. ``Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition.'' --Mark vii. 13. ``All my study be to no effect.'' --Shak. To give effect to, to make valid; to carry out in practice; to push to its results. To take effect, to become operative, to accomplish aims. --Shak. Syn: Effect, Consequence, Result. Usage: These words indicate things which arise out of some antecedent, or follow as a consequent. Effect, which may be regarded as the generic term, denotes that which springs directly from something which can properly be termed a cause. A consequence is more remote, not being strictly caused, nor yet a mere sequence, but following out of and following indirectly, or in the train of events, something on which it truly depends. A result is still more remote and variable, like the rebound of an elastic body which falls in very different directions. We may foresee the effects of a measure, may conjecture its consequences, but can rarely discover its final results. Resolving all events, with their effects And manifold results, into the will And arbitration wise of the Supreme. --Cowper. Shun the bitter consequence, for know, The day thou eatest thereof, . . . thou shalt die. --Milton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Effect Ef*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effected; p. pr. & vb. n. Effecting.] 1. To produce, as a cause or agent; to cause to be. So great a body such exploits to effect. --Daniel. 2. To bring to pass; to execute; to enforce; to achieve; to accomplish. To effect that which the divine counsels had decreed. --Bp. Hurd. They sailed away without effecting their purpose. --Jowett (Th. ). Syn: To accomplish; fulfill; achieve; complete; execute; perform; attain. See Accomplish.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(effects, effecting, effected) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. The effect of one thing on another is the change that the first thing causes in the second thing. Parents worry about the effect of music on their adolescent's behavior... Even minor head injuries can cause long-lasting psychological effects. N-VAR: oft N of/on n, N of -ing, adj N 2. An effect is an impression that someone creates deliberately, for example in a place or in a piece of writing. The whole effect is cool, light and airy. = impression N-COUNT 3. A person's effects are the things that they have with them at a particular time, for example when they are arrested or admitted to hospital, or the things that they owned when they died. (FORMAL) His daughters were collecting his effects. = belongings N-PLURAL: with poss 4. The effects in a film are the specially created sounds and scenery. N-PLURAL 5. If you effect something that you are trying to achieve, you succeed in causing it to happen. (FORMAL) Prospects for effecting real political change seemed to have taken a major step backwards. VERB: V n 6. see also greenhouse effect, placebo effect, ripple effect, side-effect, sound effect, special effect 7. If you say that someone is doing something for effect, you mean that they are doing it in order to impress people and to draw attention to themselves. The Cockney accent was put on for effect. PHRASE: PHR after v 8. You add in effect to a statement or opinion that is not precisely accurate, but which you feel is a reasonable description or summary of a particular situation. That deal would create, in effect, the world's biggest airline. = effectively PHRASE: PHR with cl [vagueness] 9. If you put, bring, or carry a plan or idea into effect, you cause it to happen in practice. These and other such measures ought to have been put into effect in 1985. = implement PHRASE: V inflects 10. If a law or policy takes effect or comes into effect at a particular time, it officially begins to apply or be valid from that time. If it remains in effect, it still applies or is still valid. ...the ban on new logging permits which will take effect from July... The decision was taken yesterday and will remain in effect until further government instructions. PHRASE: V inflects 11. You can say that something takes effect when it starts to produce the results that are intended. The second injection should only have been given once the first drug had taken effect... PHRASE: V inflects 12. You use effect in expressions such as to good effect and to no effect in order to indicate how successful or impressive an action is. Mr Morris feels the museum is using advertising to good effect... PHRASE: PHR after v 13. You use to this effect, to that effect, or to the effect that to indicate that you have given or are giving a summary of something that was said or written, and not the actual words used. A circular to this effect will be issued in the next few weeks... PHRASE: n PHR 14. If you say that something will happen with immediate effect or with effect from a particular time, you mean that it will begin to apply or be valid immediately or from the stated time. (BRIT mainly FORMAL) The price of the Saturday edition is going up with effect from 3 November. PHRASE: PHR after v 15. cause and effect: see cause

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Consequence, result, issue, event. 2. Force, validity, weight, power, efficiency. 3. Purport, import, drift, tenor, meaning, general intent. 4. Fact, reality, truth. 5. General or total impression, ensemble. II. v. a. 1. Cause, produce, create. 2. Accomplish, achieve, execute, perform, do, consummate, complete, realize, carry, compass, effectuate, bring about, bring to pass, carry out, work out.

Moby Thesaurus

Z, abide by, accomplish, achieve, actualize, actually, adhere to, administer, affective meaning, aftereffect, aftermath, aim, ambition, amperage, angle, animus, apodosis, armipotence, artifact, ascendancy, aspect, aspiration, at bottom, attain, author, authority, basically, bear, bearing, beef, beget, black power, brainchild, breed, bring, bring about, bring forth, bring off, bring on, bring to effect, bring to pass, brute force, call forth, capacity, carry out, carry through, catastrophe, cause, ceasing, cessation, charge, charisma, charm, child, clout, coda, cogence, cogency, coinage, coloring, commit, compass, complete, composition, compulsion, conceive, conclusion, concoction, configuration, connotation, consequence, constitute, consummate, consummation, contrive, control, corollary, counsel, crack of doom, create, creation, creature, credit, crowning achievement, culmination, curtain, curtains, deal with, death, decease, denotation, denouement, descendant, desideration, desideratum, design, desire, destination, destiny, determination, development, dint, discharge, dispatch, dispose of, distillation, do, do the job, do the trick, do to, dominance, domination, doom, draw down, draw on, drift, drive, duress, dynasty, effectively, effectiveness, effectuality, effectuate, efficacy, eidolon, elicit, eminence, enact, enchantment, end, end point, end product, ending, energy, enforce, engender, envoi, epilogue, eschatology, essence, essentially, establish, esteem, event, eventuality, evoke, execute, expiration, extension, extract, facet, fashion, fate, father, favor, feature, fetch, figure, fill out, final solution, final twitch, final words, finale, finality, finis, finish, fixed purpose, flower power, force, force majeure, forcefulness, form, found, fruit, fulfill, full blast, full force, function, generate, gestalt, gestate, get, gist, give birth to, give origin to, give rise to, go and do, goal, good feeling, grammatical meaning, guise, handiwork, heir, hold, honor, idea, image, imago, impact, implement, implication, import, importance, impression, in effect, in truth, inaugurate, incept, incidental power, induce, inflict, influence, influentiality, insinuation, inspire, install, instigate, institute, intendment, intension, intent, intention, invention, invoke, issue, izzard, knock off, last, last breath, last gasp, last things, last trumpet, last words, latter end, lead, leadership, leverage, lexical meaning, light, likeness, line, lineage, lineaments, literal meaning, look, magnetism, main force, main strength, make, make out, mana, manage, manner, manufacture, masterpiece, masterwork, mastery, materialize, meaning, might, might and main, mightiness, mind, mintage, moment, more or less, motivate, motive, moxie, muscle power, new mintage, nisus, object, objective, observe, obtain, occasion, offspring, omega, opera, opus, opuscule, organize, originate, origination, outcome, outgrowth, overtone, pay, payoff, perform, period, peroration, perpetrate, personality, persuasion, pertinence, phase, phasis, pith, pizzazz, plan, point, polish off, poop, posterity, potence, potency, potentiality, power, power pack, power structure, power struggle, powerfulness, practical consequence, precipitate, predominance, preponderance, prepotency, pressure, prestige, procure, produce, product, production, productiveness, productivity, project, promulgate, proposal, prosecute, prospectus, provoke, puissance, pull, pull off, punch, purchase, purport, purpose, pursuance, push, put away, put in force, put through, quietus, ramification, range of meaning, real meaning, realize, really, reference, referent, regard, reign, relation, relevance, render, repercussion, repute, resolution, resolve, respect, resting place, result, rule, sake, say, scope, secure, seeming, semantic cluster, semantic field, semblance, sensation, sense, sequel, sequence, set afloat, set on foot, set up, shape, side, significance, signification, significatum, signifie, simulacrum, sinew, sire, slant, so to speak, span of meaning, spirit, steam, stoppage, stopping place, strength, striving, strong arm, structural meaning, study, style, suasion, substance, subtle influence, succeed, successor, suggestion, sum, sum and substance, superinduce, superiority, superpower, supremacy, swan song, sway, symbolic meaning, take and do, take care of, take effect, tenor, term, terminal, termination, terminus, things, total effect, totality of associations, transact, transferred meaning, truly, turn out, turn the trick, twist, unadorned meaning, undertone, up and do, upper hand, upshot, validity, value, vehemence, view, viewpoint, vigor, vim, virility, virtually, virtue, virulence, vitality, wattage, weight, whip hand, will, windup, wise, work, work out, wreak, yield