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.
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.
