effective

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪˈfek.tɪv/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English effective,^[2] borrowed from Middle French effectif,^[3][2] from Late Latin effectīvus (“productive, effective”),^[3][2][4] from effectus, past participle of efficere (“to work out, accomplish, bring about”),^[3][2] the source of effect.^[3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Serving to bring about an intended purpose: the late 14th century in Etymonline,^[3] the 14th century in Merriam-Webster.^[2] The OED's earliest sense, “having the function of carrying into effect”, is from about 1425.^[6]

Semantic evolution

The sense “concerned in producing an event or condition” is from 1594,^[6] and “having an effect, attended with a result” from 1760.^[6] Of military forces, “fit for duty or action”, it is from the 1680s,^[3] and the noun, a soldier fit for service, is from 1722.^[7][2] In mechanics and economics, effective described the part of a force that does useful work, from 1798.^[6] Effective range, the distance at which a weapon works, is from 1859.^[6] “In effect, in operation”, as in a law effective from a date, and “existing in fact, actual” are also current senses.^[8][7] “Producing a strong impression; striking” is another.^[8][7]

Timeline

• c. 1425 – executing, accomplishing.^[6]
• 1594 – producing an event or condition.^[6]
• 1680s – of soldiers, fit for duty.^[3]
• 1722 – noun, a soldier fit for service.^[2]
• 1760 – having an effect.^[6]
• 1859 – effective range.^[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Producing the intended or expected result.
2. Making a strong impression; striking.
3. In operation; in force: effective from Monday.
4. Existing in fact; actual.
5. Ready for service or action, especially in war.

Noun

1. A soldier or piece of military equipment ready for combat.

Word family

• effectiveness
• effectivity
• effectively
• ineffective
• noneffective
• subeffective
• supereffective

Related words

• effect
• effectual
• efficacious
• efficacity
• efficacy
• efficiency
• efficient

Usage notes

Effective, effectual, efficacious and efficient all mean “producing a desired effect”.^[8] Effective and efficacious stress the power to produce it, effectual is used chiefly of the result, and efficient also implies a minimum of effort or waste.^[8]

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
8. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin