Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Affect?

\Af*fect"\ ([a^]f*f[e^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Affected}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Affecting}.] [L. affectus, p. p. of afficere to affect by active agency; ad + facere to make: cf. F. affectere, L. affectare, freq. of afficere. See {Fact}.] 1. To act upon; to produce an effect or change upon. As might affect the earth with cold heat. --Milton. The climate affected their health and spirits. --Macaulay. 2. To influence or move, as the feelings or passions; to touch. A consideration of the rationale of our passions seems to me very necessary for all who would affect them upon solid and pure principles. --Burke. 3. To love; to regard with affection. [Obs.] As for Queen Katharine, he rather respected than affected, rather honored than loved, her. --Fuller. 4. To show a fondness for; to like to use or practice; to choose; hence, to frequent habitually. For he does neither affect company, nor is he fit for it, indeed. --Shak. Do not affect the society of your inferiors in rank, nor court that of the great. --Hazlitt. 5. To dispose or incline. Men whom they thought best affected to religion and their country's liberty. --Milton. 6. To aim at; to aspire; to covet. [Obs.] This proud man affects imperial ?way. --Dryden. 7. To tend to by affinity or disposition. The drops of every fluid affect a round figure. --Newton. 8. To make a show of; to put on a pretense of; to feign; to assume; as, to affect ignorance. Careless she is with artful care, Affecting to seem unaffected. --Congreve. Thou dost affect my manners. --Shak. 9. To assign; to appoint. [R.] One of the domestics was affected to his special service. --Thackeray. Syn: To influence; operate; act on; concern; move; melt; soften; subdue; overcome; pretend; assume.
\Af*fect"\, n. [L. affectus.] Affection; inclination; passion; feeling; disposition. [Obs.] --Shak.
\Af*fect"\, n. (Psychotherapy) The emotional complex associated with an idea or mental state. In hysteria, the affect is sometimes entirely dissociated, sometimes transferred to another than the original idea.