— effectible , adj.
/i fekt"/ , n.
1. something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.
2. power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence: His protest had no effect.
3. the state of being effective or operative; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment: to bring a plan into effect.
4. a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.
5. meaning or sense; purpose or intention: She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.
6. the making of a desired impression: We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.
7. an illusory phenomenon: a three-dimensional effect.
8. a real phenomenon (usually named for its discoverer): the Doppler effect.
9. See special effects .
10. in effect ,
a. for practical purposes; virtually: His silence was in effect a confirmation of the rumor.
b. essentially; basically.
c. operating or functioning; in force: The plan is now in effect.
11. take effect ,
a. to go into operation; begin to function.
b. to produce a result: The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.
v.t.
12. to produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen: The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.
[ 1350-1400; ME effectus the carrying out (of a task, etc.), hence, that which is achieved, outcome, equiv. to effec- (var. s. of efficere to make, carry out; ef- EF- + -ficere, comb. form of facere to DO 1 ) + -tus suffix of v. action ]
Syn. 1. outcome, issue. EFFECT, CONSEQUENCE(S), RESULT refer to something produced by an action or a cause. An EFFECT is that which is produced, usually more or less immediately and directly: The effect of morphine is to produce sleep. A CONSEQUENCE, something that follows naturally or logically, as in a train of events or sequence of time, is less intimately connected with its cause than is an effect: Punishment is the consequence of disobedience. A RESULT may be near or remote, and often is the sum of effects or consequences as making an end or final outcome: The English language is the result of the fusion of many different elements. 12. achieve, realize, fulfill, perform, consummate.
Usage . See affect 1 .