~ 1 [ ə'fɛkt ]
■ verb have an effect on; make a difference to.
↘touch the feelings of.
Derivatives
~ing adjective
~ingly adverb
Origin
ME (in the sense 'attack as a disease'): from Fr. ~er or L. ~- , afficere (see ~ 2 ).
Usage
Affect and effect are commonly confused. Affect is primarily a verb meaning ‘make a difference to’. Effect is used both as a noun and a verb, meaning ‘a result’ or ‘bring about a result’.
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~ 2 [ ə'fɛkt ]
■ verb pretend to have or feel.
↘use, wear, or assume pretentiously or so as to impress.
Origin
ME (in the sense 'like, love'): from Fr. ~er or L. ~are 'aim at', frequentative of afficere '~, influence'.
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~ 3 [ 'afɛkt ]
■ noun Psychology emotion or desire as influencing behaviour.
Derivatives
~less adjective
~lessness noun
Origin
C19: from Ger. Affekt from L. ~us 'disposition', from afficere (see ~ 2 ).