effect

English Online Dictionary. What means effect‎? What does effect mean?

English

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.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ɪˈfɛkt/
• (General American, weak vowel merger) IPA^(key): /əˈfɛkt/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ɪˈfekt/
• (Malaysia, Singapore) IPA^(key): /iˈfɛkt/
• Homophone: affect (weak vowel merger)
• Hyphenation: ef‧fect
• Rhymes: -ɛkt

Noun

effect (countable and uncountable, plural effects)

1. The result or outcome of a cause.

   Synonyms: consequence; see also Thesaurus:cause

   Antonyms: see Thesaurus:cause

2. Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.
3. Execution; performance; realization; operation.
   1. (uncountable) The state of being binding and enforceable, as in a rule, policy, or law.

4. (cinematography, computer graphics, demoscene) An illusion produced by technical means (as in "special effect")
5. (sound engineering) An alteration, or device for producing an alteration, in sound after it has been produced by an instrument.

6. (sciences) A scientific phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer.

7. (sciences, statistics) An influence or causal association between two variables.

   effect size

   therapeutic effect

8. (usually in the plural) Belongings, usually as personal effects.
9. Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; with to.
10. (obsolete) Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance.
11. (obsolete) Manifestation; expression; sign.

Usage notes

Not to be confused with affect.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Related terms

• feckless

Collocations

Translations

Verb

effect (third-person singular simple present effects, present participle effecting, simple past and past participle effected)

1. (transitive) To make or bring about; to implement.
2. Misspelling of affect.

Usage notes

Effect is often confused with affect. The latter usually suggests influence over existing ideas, emotions and entities. While the former indicates the manifestation of new and/or original ideas or entities:

• “New governing coalitions have effected major changes” indicates that major changes were made as a result of new governing coalitions.
• “New governing coalitions have affected major changes” indicates that before new governing coalitions, major changes were in place, and that the new governing coalitions had some influence over those existing changes.

Related terms

Translations

References

Further reading

• “effect”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “effect”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch effect, from Old French effect, from Latin effectus. The sense ‘(equitable) security’ borrowed from German Effekt or French effet.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛˈfɛkt/
• Hyphenation: ef‧fect
• Rhymes: -ɛkt

Noun

effect n (plural effecten, diminutive effectje n)

1. effect
2. (finance, usually in the plural) security, notably bond or stock

   Hypernym: waardepapier

3. (ball games) spin (rotation of a ball)
4. (obsolete) personal effect, belonging

Derived terms

• effectief

Compounds

• broeikaseffect
• domino-effect
• effectbal
• effectenbeurs
• effectenmakelaar
• sneeuwbaleffect

Descendants

• Afrikaans: effek
• → Indonesian: efek

References

Middle French

Alternative forms

• effaict

Etymology

From Old French effect.

Noun

effect m (plural effects)

1. effect

Descendants

• French: effet

Old French

Etymology

From Latin effectus.

Noun

effect oblique singular, m (oblique plural effecz or effectz, nominative singular effecz or effectz, nominative plural effect)

1. effect
2. (law) judgment; decree
   • punir les contrevenantz solonc l’effect des estatut

     Punish the offender according to the decree of the statute

Descendants

• English: effect
• French: effet
• German: Effekt
• Middle Irish: éifecht
  • Irish: éifeacht