effect English · revision 3299

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1350|origins=la facere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪˈfekt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|effect]],^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|effect]] (also efet, modern French effet) and directly [[bor|la|effectus|t=accomplishment, performance]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(COED 2004) from the past participle of [[m|la|efficere|t=to work out, accomplish]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|ex-|t=out]] and the combining form of [[m|la|facere|t=to make, to do]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[ine-pro|*dhē-|t=to set, put]].^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) The opposite is [[defect]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Conclusion, realization”: probably about 1350;^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline gives “execution or completion of an act” from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) The sense “result” is from about 1385, in Chaucer's ''Treatise on the Astrolabe''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the late 14th century the word meant the power to produce a result, efficacy, and in astrology the influence of a heavenly body,^(Etymonline) as well as a consequence or result.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) “Purpose, intent” is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) It also meant “reality, fact”, hence ''in effect'', originally “in fact, really”, from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) Hoad dates the sense “impression” to the 17th century and the plural ''effects'', “goods, belongings”, to the 18th.^(Hoad 1986) In science an ''effect'' is a phenomenon named after its discoverer or cause, from 1881.^(OED 1989) The verb, “to bring about”, is from 1589;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) earlier uses from 1494 are a confusion with [[affect]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Sound effects and special effects belong to the theatre, radio and film.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – conclusion, realization.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1385 – a result.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – power to produce a result, and ''in effect''.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – purpose, intent.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1494 – verb, confused with ''affect''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1589 – verb, to bring about.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 18th century – ''effects'', belongings.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1881 – a phenomenon in physics.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A change or [[result]] produced by a [[cause]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The power to produce a result; [[influence]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # The state of being in force: ''the law takes effect today''.^(AHD)

+ # An impression produced on the mind or senses: ''for effect''.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # ''(plural)'' Personal [[belongings]].^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # ''(physics)'' A phenomenon, often named after its discoverer: ''the Doppler effect''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(usually plural)'' Lighting, sounds or images used to create an illusion in a play or film.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bring about; to cause to happen.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[effecter]]

+ * [[effectible]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[feckless]]

+ * [[effective]]

+ * [[effector]]

+ * [[effectual]]

+ * [[effectuate]]

+ * [[efficacious]]

+ * [[efficacity]]

+ * [[efficacy]]

+ * [[efficiency]]

+ * [[efficient]]

+ * [[affect]]

+ * [[defect]]

+ * [[infect]]

+ * [[perfect]]

+ * [[fact]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Effect'' as a verb means “to bring about” (''effect a change''), while [[affect]] means “to influence” (''affect the outcome''), and the two have been confused since the 15th century.^(AHD)^(OED 1989) Of nouns for something brought about by a cause, ''effect'' is the most general, while ''consequence'' and ''result'' imply a more direct link, and ''outcome'' a final one.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}