Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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}.