effect

plural effects

1. countableuncountableThe result or outcome of a cause.

   The effect of the hurricane was a devastated landscape.

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   The stories did not seem to me to touch life. They were plainly intended to have a bracing moral effect, and perhaps had this result for the people at whom they were aimed.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   The half-dozen pieces […] were painted white and carved with festoons of flowers, birds and cupids. […] The bed was the most extravagant piece. Its graceful cane halftester rose high towards the cornice and was so festooned in carved white wood that the effect was positively insecure, as if the great couch were trimmed with icing sugar.

   1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   The solitary, lumbering trolls of Scandinavian mythology would sometimes be turned to stone by exposure to sunlight. Barack Obama is hoping that several measures announced on June 4th will have a similarly paralysing effect on their modern incarnation, the patent troll.

   2013 June 8, “Obama goes troll-hunting”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 55

   Synonyms: consequence, basis, cause, genesis, germ, origin, principle, reason · Antonyms: basis, cause, genesis, germ, origin, principle, reason, root

2. countableuncountableImpression left on the mind; sensation produced.

   patchwork […] introduced for oratorical effect

   1832 October 28, unknown author, “The Tears of Parents”, in The Christian Observer, volume 32

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   The effect was heightened by the wild and lonely nature of the place.

   1832, Washington Irving, Tales of the Alhambra

3. countableuncountableExecution; performance; realization; operation.

   That no compunctious visitings of nature / Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between / The effect and it.

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]

   1. uncountableThe state of being binding and enforceable, as in a rule, policy, or law.

      The new law will come into effect on the first day of next year.

4. countableuncountablebroadcastingAn illusion produced by technical means (as in "special effect")

   The effect of flying was most convincing.

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   The colored bands of color that strobe through much of the text and other visual elements are perhaps the most prototypical of all Amiga demoscene effects and, again, are a direct result of the hardware on which Megademo was created to run.

   2018, Jimmy Maher, The Future Was Here: The Commodore Amiga, page 186

5. countableuncountablesound engineeringAn alteration, or device for producing an alteration, in sound after it has been produced by an instrument.

   I just bought a couple of great effects.

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   I use an echo effect here to make the sound more mysterious.

6. countableuncountablesciencesA scientific phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer.

   Doppler effect

7. countableuncountablemathematicsAn influence or causal association between two variables.

   effect size

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   therapeutic effect

8. countableplural normallyuncountableBelongings, usually as personal effects.

   The tenant shall pay for the repair of, or replace all such items of the fixtures, fittings, furniture and effects as shall be broken, lost, damaged or destroyed during that time.

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   His Goods, Family, and all his Effects were also ſeiz'd every where, and his Family carried into Priſon.

   1690, “A Relation of the Late Great Revolution in Siam, and the Driving Out of the French”, in A Full and True Relation of the Great and Wonderful Revolution That Hapned Lately in the Kingdom of Siam in the East-Indies, London: Randal Taylor, page 7

9. countableuncountableConsequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; with to.

   They spake to her to that effect.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Chronicles 34:22

10. countableobsoleteuncountableReality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance.

    no other in effect than what it seems

    1642, John Denham, Cooper's Hill

11. countableobsoleteuncountableManifestation; expression; sign.

    All the large effects / That troop with majesty.

    c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

present singular third person effects · participle present effecting · participle past effected · past effected

1. transitiveTo make or bring about; to implement.

   The best way to effect change is to work with existing stakeholders.

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   The election has affected our society, for it has effected major changes in the government.

   The offence thus given naturally effected an entire conversion in the queen's sentiments, and when Arthur returned from hunting, like Potiphar's wife, she charges Launfal with attempting her honour.

   1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 57

   The punishment for sodomy, when completely effected, was death, and it was frequently inflicted.

   1927, Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2 (of 6)

   The transfer by tender of some 1,300 mail bags was effected smartly, and the "Ocean Mails Special" train was ready at 9.19 a.m.

   1944 July and August, Charles E. Lee, “The "City of Truro"”, in Railway Magazine, page 202

   Mr. Kim was again elected chairman, and a committee of forty was authorized to draw up regulations for the church to be submitted to a full convention, probably in April. Only south Korea delegates were present at this meeting. Hence, the delay until April was effected in order to give time to bring in the Christians of north Korea.

   1946 March 27, “Is There a United Protestant Church in Korea?”, in Zions Herald, volume CXXIV, number 13, Boston Wesleyan Association, page 302, column 2

2. misspellingMisspelling of affect.