4 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
effect
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}, {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}]
3: (of a law) having legal validity; "the law is still in
effect" [syn: {force}]
4: a symptom caused by an illness or a drug; "the effects of
sleep loss"; "the effect of the anesthetic"
5: an impression (especially one that is artificial or
contrived); "he just did it for effect"
6: the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
[syn: {essence}, {burden}, {core}, {gist}]
v 1: produce; "The scientists set up a shockwave" [syn: {effectuate},
{bring about}, {set up}]
2: act so as to bring into existence; "effect a change"
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
EFFECT, n. The second of two phenomena which always occur together in
the same order. The first, called a Cause, is said to generate the
other -- which is no more sensible than it would be for one who has
never seen a dog except in the pursuit of a rabbit to declare the
rabbit the cause of a dog.