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2 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              That no compunctious visitings of nature
              Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
              The effect and it.                    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Manifestation; expression; sign.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              All the large effects
              That troop with majesty.              --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The effect is the unfailing index of the amount of
              the cause.                            --Whewell.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Patchwork . . . introduced for oratorical effect.
                                                    --J. C.
                                                    Shairp.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The effect was heightened by the wild and lonely
              nature of the place.                  --W. Irving.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. Power to produce results; efficiency; force; importance;
        account; as, to speak with effect.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; --
        with to.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              They spake to her to that effect.     --2 Chron.
                                                    xxxiv. 22.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. The purport; the sum and substance. ``The effect of his
        intent.'' --Chaucer.
  
     8. Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere
        appearance.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              No other in effect than what it seems. --Denham.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Resolving all events, with their effects
                  And manifold results, into the will
                  And arbitration wise of the Supreme. --Cowper.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Shun the bitter consequence, for know,
                  The day thou eatest thereof, . . . thou shalt
                  die.                              --Milton.
            [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  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.

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