Effect \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.
Usage: 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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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