effect
 ef·fect (ĭ-fĕktʹ)n.
1. Something brought about by a cause or agent; a result.
2. The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result; influence:
The drug had an immediate effect on the pain. The government's action had no effect on the trade imbalance.
3. A scientific law, hypothesis, or phenomenon:
the photovoltaic effect.
4. Advantage; avail:
used her words to great effect in influencing the jury.
5. The condition of being in full force or execution:
a new regulation that goes into effect tomorrow.
6.
a. Something that produces a specific impression or supports a general design or intention:
The lighting effects emphasized the harsh atmosphere of the drama.
b. A particular impression:
large windows that gave an effect of spaciousness.
c. Production of a desired impression:
spent lavishly on dinner just for effect.
7. The basic or general meaning; import:
He said he was greatly worried, or words to that effect.
8. effects Movable belongings; goods.tr.v. ef·fect·ed, ef·fect·ing, ef·fects
1. To bring into existence.
2. To produce as a result.
3. To bring about. See Usage Note at affect1.Idiom:in effect
In essence; to all purposes:
testimony that in effect contradicted her earlier statement. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin effectus, from past participle of efficere, to accomplish : ex-, ex- + facere, to make; See dhē- in Indo-European Roots.] ef·fectʹer n.ef·fectʹi·ble adj.
Synonyms: effect, consequence, result, outcome, upshot, sequel
These nouns denote an occurrence, situation, or condition that is caused by an antecedent. An effect is produced by the action of an agent or a cause and follows it in time: “Every cause produces more than one effect” (Herbert Spencer). A consequence has a less sharply definable relationship to its cause: “Servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt” (John P. Curran). A result is viewed as the end product of the operation of the cause: “Judging from the results I have seen... I cannot say... that I agree with you” (William H. Mallock). An outcome more strongly implies finality and may suggest the operation of a cause over a relatively long period: The trial's outcome might have changed if the defendant had testified. An upshot is a decisive result, often of the nature of a climax: “The upshot of the matter... was that she showed both of them the door” (Robert Louis Stevenson). A sequel is a consequence that ensues after a lapse of time: “Our dreams are the sequel of our waking knowledge” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). See also synonyms at perform
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