effect Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
    result; consequence; upshot; outcome; issue; event.
    • the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise
    • his decision had depressing consequences for business
    • he acted very wise after the event
  2. noun an outward appearance
    impression.
    • 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
  3. noun an impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived)
    • he just did it for effect
  4. noun the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
    essence; gist; burden; core.
  5. noun (of a law) having legal validity
    force.
    • the law is still in effect
  6. noun a symptom caused by an illness or a drug
    • the effects of sleep loss
    • the effect of the anesthetic
  7. verb produce
    set up; effectuate.
    • The scientists set up a shock wave
  8. verb act so as to bring into existence
    • effect a change

WordNet

Ef*fect" noun
Etymology
L. effectus, fr. efficere, effectum, to effect; ex + facere to make: cf. F. effet, formerly also spelled effect. See Fact.
Definitions
  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. Syn. -- Effect, Consequence, Result. 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.
Ef*fect" transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Effected; present participle & verbal noun Effecting
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913