effect

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

effect
    n 1: a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous
         phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod
         was lengthwise"; "his decision had depressing consequences
         for business"; "he acted very wise after the event" [syn:
         {consequence}, {effect}, {outcome}, {result}, {event},
         {issue}, {upshot}]
    2: an outward appearance; "he made a good impression"; "I wanted
       to create an impression of success"; "she retained that bold
       effect in her reproductions of the original painting" [syn:
       {impression}, {effect}]
    3: an impression (especially one that is artificial or
       contrived); "he just did it for effect"
    4: the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
       [syn: {effect}, {essence}, {burden}, {core}, {gist}]
    5: (of a law) having legal validity; "the law is still in
       effect" [syn: {effect}, {force}]
    6: a symptom caused by an illness or a drug; "the effects of
       sleep loss"; "the effect of the anesthetic"
    v 1: produce; "The scientists set up a shock wave" [syn:
         {effect}, {effectuate}, {set up}]
    2: act so as to bring into existence; "effect a change"

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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.
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            That no compunctious visitings of nature
            Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
            The effect and it.                    --Shak.
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   2. Manifestation; expression; sign.
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            All the large effects
            That troop with majesty.              --Shak.
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   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.
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            The effect is the unfailing index of the amount of
            the cause.                            --Whewell.
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   4. Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.
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            Patchwork . . . introduced for oratorical effect.
                                                  --J. C.
                                                  Shairp.
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            The effect was heightened by the wild and lonely
            nature of the place.                  --W. Irving.
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   5. Power to produce results; efficiency; force; importance;
      account; as, to speak with effect.
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   6. Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; --
      with to.
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            They spake to her to that effect.     --2 Chron.
                                                  xxxiv. 22.
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   7. The purport; the sum and substance. "The effect of his
      intent." --Chaucer.

   8. Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere
      appearance.
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            No other in effect than what it seems. --Denham.
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   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.
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   {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.
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                Resolving all events, with their effects
                And manifold results, into the will
                And arbitration wise of the Supreme. --Cowper.
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                Shun the bitter consequence, for know,
                The day thou eatest thereof, . . . thou shalt
                die.                              --Milton.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Effect \Ef*fect"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Effected}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Effecting}.]
   1. To produce, as a cause or agent; to cause to be.
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            So great a body such exploits to effect. --Daniel.
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   2. To bring to pass; to execute; to enforce; to achieve; to
      accomplish.
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            To effect that which the divine counsels had
            decreed.                              --Bp. Hurd.
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            They sailed away without effecting their purpose.
                                                  --Jowett (Th.
                                                  ).

   Syn: To accomplish; fulfill; achieve; complete; execute;
        perform; attain. See {Accomplish}.
        [1913 Webster]

from The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906)

EFFECT, n.  The second of two phenomena which always occur together in
the same order.  The first, called a Cause, is said to generate the
other -- which is no more sensible than it would be for one who has
never seen a dog except in the pursuit of a rabbit to declare the
rabbit the cause of a dog.

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

EFFECT. The operation of a law, of an agreement, or an act, is called its 
effect. 
     2. By the laws of the United States, a patent cannot be granted for an 
effect only, but it may be for a new mode or application of machinery to 
produce effects. 1 Gallis. 478; see 4 Mason, 1; Pet. C. C. R. 394; 2 N. H. 
R. 61.

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