effect

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   (of a law) having legal validity

   the law is still in effect

2. 2
   noun

   an impression, especially one that is artificial or contrived

   They just did it for effect.

3. 3
   noun

   a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

   the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise

4. 4
   noun

   a symptom caused by an illness or a drug

   the effects of sleep loss

5. 5
   verb

   act so as to bring into existence

   effect a change

6. 6
   noun

   The result or outcome of a cause.

   The effect of the hurricane was a devastated landscape.

7. 7
   noun

   Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.

   patchwork […] introduced for oratorical effect

8. 8
   noun

   Execution; performance; realization; operation.

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

Etymology

Of the noun: from Middle English effect, from Old French effect (modern French effet), from Latin effectus (“an effect, tendency, purpose”), from efficiō (“accomplish, complete, effect”); see effect as a verb. Displaced Old English fremming, fremednes from fremman. Of the verb: from Middle English effecten, partly from Medieval Latin effectuō, from Latin effectus, perfect passive participle of efficiō (“accomplish, complete, do, effect”), from ex (“out”) + faciō (“do, make”) (see fact and compare affect, infect) and partly from the noun effect.