effect

The result or outcome of a cause.

Noun

  1. The result or outcome of a cause.
    • The effect of the hurricane was a devastated landscape.
    • The stories did not seem to me to touch life. They were plainly intended to have a bracing moral effect, and perhaps had this result for the people at whom they were aimed. - 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston...
    • The half-dozen pieces […] were painted white and carved with festoons of flowers, birds and cupids. […] The bed was the most extravagant piece. Its graceful cane halftester rose high towards the cornice and was so...

    Synonyms: consequence basis cause genesis germ origin principle reason root source

    Antonyms: basis cause genesis germ origin principle reason root source

  2. Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.
    • patchwork […] introduced for oratorical effect - 1832 October 5, unknown author, “The Tears of Parents”, in The Christian Observer, volume 32:
    • The effect was heightened by the wild and lonely nature of the place. - 1832, Washington Irving, Tales of the Alhambra:
  3. Execution; performance; realization; operation.
    • That no compunctious visitings of nature / Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between / The effect and it. - c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares...

    1. (uncountable) The state of being binding and enforceable, as in a rule, policy, or law.

      • The new law will come into effect on the first day of next year.
  4. An illusion produced by technical means (as in "special effect")
    • The effect of flying was most convincing.
    • The colored bands of color that strobe through much of the text and other visual elements are perhaps the most prototypical of all Amiga demoscene effects and, again, are a direct result of the hardware on which...
  5. An alteration, or device for producing an alteration, in sound after it has been produced by an instrument.
    • I use an echo effect here to make the sound more mysterious.
    • I just bought a couple of great effects.
  6. A scientific phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer.
    • Doppler effect
  7. An influence or causal association between two variables.
    • effect size
    • therapeutic effect
  8. Belongings, usually as personal effects.
    • 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.
    • His Goods, Family, and all his Effects were also ſeiz'd every where, and his Family carried into Priſon. - 1690, “A Relation of the Late Great Revolution in Siam, and the Driving Out of the French”, in A Full and True...
  9. Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; with to.
    • They spake to her to that effect. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Chronicles 34:22:
  10. Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance.
    • no other in effect than what it seems - 1642, John Denham, Cooper's Hill:
  11. Manifestation; expression; sign.
    • All the large effects / That troop with majesty. - c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰ Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰs Proto-Italic *eks Latin ex Latin ef- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁kyéti Proto-Italic *θakjō Proto-Italic *fakjō Latin faciō Latin efficiō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin effectuslbor. Old French effectbor. Middle English effect English 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. Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰ Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₁éǵʰs Proto-Italic *eks Latin ex Medieval Latin ef- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti...

Forms

effects

Hyponyms

acousto-optic effect adverse effect aftereffect after-effect aha effect Allison effect backfire effect bandwagon effect bank effect Barnum effect Bauschinger effect betavoltaic effect boomerang effect Bridgman effect butterfly effect Cantillon effect capstan effect Casimir effect Cheerios effect Cher effect Cherenkov effect chimney effect cis effect coffee ring effect

Related

feckless

Derived

Abney effect accelerator effect acousto-optic effect adverse effect aha effect Aharonov-Bohm effect Al Jazeera effect Allais effect Allee effect Amazon effect anchoring effect Anrep effect anti-greenhouse effect Askaryan effect audience effect Auger effect Auger-Meitner effect Autler-Townes effect autokinetic effect avalanche effect Averch-Johnson effect Baader-Meinhof effect backfire effect Balassa-Samuelson effect

Verb

  1. To make or bring about; to implement.
    • The best way to effect change is to work with existing stakeholders.
    • The election has affected our society, for it has effected major changes in the government.
    • The offence thus given naturally effected an entire conversion in the queen's sentiments, and when Arthur returned from hunting, like Potiphar's wife, she charges Launfal with attempting her honour. - 1828, Thomas...
  2. Misspelling of affect.

Forms

effects effecting effected

Related

effectibility effectible effective effectiveness effectivity effector effectual effectuate efficacious efficacity efficacy efficiency efficient