Etymologically
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effet

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 21:00. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɛ.fɛ/[1]
  • IPA: /e.fɛ/[1]

Forms

effet m (plural effets)[1] Aifait (1272), effect (13th century, a Latinising spelling kept by the Académie until 1718), effet (about 1430).[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin effectus (“performance, accomplishment; force; result, effect”),[3][2][4][5] from effectum, the supine of efficiō (“to bring about”), from ex- and faciō (“to make, do”).[2][6]

Cognate with Occitan effeit, Catalan efecte, Spanish efecto, Portuguese efeito and Italian effetto.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

A charter of 1272 has il leur fasse restor et aifait “that he make them amends and give effect”;[3][2] in the 13th century it meant an event produced by a cause (li effect des coses presentes).[3][7]

Semantic evolution

In 1310 effaicts de maisons were household goods, the source of effets “belongings, clothes”;[3][2] as a financial term effet de change is 14th-century and effet de commerce “bill of exchange” is recorded in 1671.[4][3] The sense “realisation, execution” gave classical phrases such as homme d'effet “man of action” and modern prendre effet and à cet effet.[2][8] En effet meant “really” in 1536 (Collerye), and is found in Commynes about 1490;[3][9] from 1690 it serves to confirm what has been said.[3][2]

From the sense “impression produced” came faire de l'effet and, in the arts, the effect aimed at (Corneille, 1660, Poussin, 1645), effets de lumière (1821) and the cinema's effets spéciaux (1912).[2][9][3] In the plural it meant affected mannerisms (effets de voix, 1834).[2] In billiards and ball games effet is spin (19th century),[2][1] and in physics it names a phenomenon (effet de serre).[2][1]

Timeline

  • 1272 – Aifait in a charter.[3]
  • 1310 – Effaicts de maisons “household goods”.[3]
  • c. 1430 – The spelling effet.[2]
  • 1536 – En effet “really”.[3]
  • 1660 – A theatrical effect, in Corneille.[3]
  • 1671 – A financial bill, in Pomey.[3]
  • 1821 – Effets de lumière.[3]
  • 1912 – Effets spéciaux.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An effect, result or consequence: rapport de cause à effet, effet secondaire, sous l'effet de.[10][11]
  2. An impression produced: faire de l'effet, faire bon effet, faire l'effet de: to seem like.[2][12]
  3. A device for producing an impression: effets de lumière, effets spéciaux.[2][3]
  4. A physical phenomenon: effet de serre, effet Doppler.[11][1]
  5. (ball games) Spin.[1][2]
  6. (in the plural) Belongings, clothes: effets personnels.[2][4]
  7. (finance) A bill: effet de commerce.[3][1]
  8. En effet: indeed, in fact, à cet effet: for that purpose.[2][1]

Word family

  • effectif
  • effectuer
  • effectivement
  • efficace

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 205b
  6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  10. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  11. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  12. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)