Effect, n.
Etymology: [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.
7 more senses
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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Effect, 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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for effect; he lists it under act, consequence, do, end, make, operation.
Where he writes about it:
An act is strictly and originally something accomplished by an exercise of power, in which sense it is synonymous with deed or effect. — from act
In this sense an act does not necessarily imply an external effect, while an action does. — from act
The direct antonym of cause is effect, while that of antecedent is consequent. — from cause
Effect is the strongest of these words; it is that which is directly produced by the action of an efficient cause; we say, "Every effect must have an adequate cause" (compare cause). — from consequence
In regard to human actions, effect commonly relates to intention; as, the shot took effect, i. e., the effect intended. — from consequence
A consequence is that which follows an act naturally, but less directly than the effect. — from consequence
The motion of the piston is the effect, and the agitation of the water under the paddle-wheels a consequence of the expansion of steam in the cylinder. — from consequence
The end is the actual outcome without determination of its relation to what has gone before; it is ordinarily viewed as either the necessary, natural, or logical outcome, any effect, consequence, or result being termed an end; as, the end of such a course must be ruin. — from consequence