effect

effect [e fekt′, ifekt′; ] often [ ēfekt′, əfekt′]

n.

[ME < OFr (& L) < L effectus, orig., pp. of efficere, to bring to pass, accomplish < ex-, out + facere, DO¹]

1. anything brought about by a cause or agent; result

2. the power or ability to bring about results; efficacy [a law of little effect]

3. influence or action on something [the drug had a cathartic effect]

4. general meaning; purport [he spoke to this effect]

5.

a) the impression produced on the mind of the observer or hearer, as by artistic design or manner of speaking, acting, etc. [to do something just for effect]

b) something, as a design, aspect of nature, etc., that produces a particular impression [striking cloud effects]

c) a scientific phenomenon [the Doppler effect]

6. the condition or fact of being operative or in force [the law goes into effect today]

7. [pl.] belongings; property [household effects]

vt.

to bring about; produce as a result; cause; accomplish [to effect a compromise]

SYN.- PERFORM

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give effect to

to put into practice; make operative

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in effect

1. in result; actually; in fact

2. in essence; virtually

3. in operation; in force

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take effect

to begin to produce results; become operative

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to the effect

with the purport or meaning

effecter

n.

SYN.- EFFECT is applied to that which is directly produced by an action, process, or agent and is the exact correlative of cause; CONSEQUENCE suggests that which follows something else on which it is dependent in some way, but does not connote as direct a connection with cause; RESULT stresses that which is finally brought about by the effects or consequences of an action, process, etc.; ISSUE, in this connection, suggests a result in which there is emergence from difficulties or conflict; OUTCOME refers to the result of something that was in doubt

-ANT. CAUSE