Affect, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affected; p. pr. & vb. n. Affecting.]
Etymology: [L. affectus, p. p. of afficere to affect by active agency; ad + facere to make: cf. F. affectere, L. affectare, freq. of afficere. See Fact.]
1. To act upon; to produce an effect or change upon. As might affect the earth with cold heat. Milton. The climate affected their health and spirits. Macaulay.
2. To influence or move, as the feelings or passions; to touch. A consideration of the rationale of our passions seems to me very necessary for all who would affect them upon solid and pure principles.
3. To love; to regard with affection. [Obs.] As for Queen Katharine, he rather respected than affected, rather honored than loved, her. Fuller.
4. To show a fondness for; to like to use or practice; to choose; hence, to frequent habitually. For he does neither affect company, nor is he fit for Shak. Do not affect the society of your inferiors in rank, nor court that of the great. Hazlitt.
6 more senses
5. To dispose or incline. Men whom they thought best affected to religion and their country's liberty. Milton.
6. To aim at; to aspire; to covet. [Obs.] This proud man affects imperial Dryden.
7. To tend to by affinity or disposition. The drops of every fluid affect a round figure. Newton.
8. To make a show of; to put on a pretense of; to feign; to assume; as, to affect ignorance. Careless she is with artful care, Affecting to seem unaffected. Congreve. Thou dost affect my manners. Shak.
9. To assign; to appoint. [R.] One of the domestics was affected to his special service. Thackeray.
Syn. -- To influence; operate; act on; concern; move; melt; soften; subdue; overcome; pretend; assume.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Affect, n.
Affection; inclination; passion; feeling; disposition. [Obs.] Shak.