Also 6 Sc. effeck. [a. OF. effect (F. effet), ad. L. effectus, n. of action f. efficĕre to work out, accomplish, f. ex- out + fācĕre to make.]
1. Something accomplished, caused or produced; a result, consequence. Correlative with CAUSE.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., I. § 21. The planetes … causen us by hir influence … effectes lik to the operaciouns of bestes.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V. (1868), 6. Thy enterpryse came to none effect.
1572. J. Jones, Bathes of Bathes Ayde, III. 22 a. Cause of sicknesse is that unto which any thing followeth, which is named effecte.
1657. J. Smith, Myst. Rhet. (1665), Eplic. Terms, The Effect, is that which is brought to passe by the Cause.
1715. Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 4. Contrivances … that are the Effect of a great deal of Study.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. i. Wks. 1874, I. 16. We know not at all what death is in itself; but only some of its effects.
1751. Harris, Hermes (1841), 119. Nature begins from causes, and thence descends to effects.
1831. Blakey, Free-will, 198. We … give the name of cause to that event which precedes, and the name of effect to that event which follows in the order of time.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 485. The beneficial effects of their interposition had given shelter and security to private trade.
b. collective and abstr. Results in general; the quality of producing a result, efficacy. Phrases, With effect, of no († none) effect.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 620. Thing that beryth more effect.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., ccxxv. 30. This ordynaunce … was of lytell effect.
1538. Starkey, England, 15. Thys law [i.e., civil law] takyth effecte of the opynyon of man.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., I. IX. (Arb.), 99. Whose perfume is of most excellent effect to heale the reumes.
1611. Bible, Mark vii. 13. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 865. This Tree is … of Divine effect To open Eyes.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. IV. 341. A law was made…, but it had little effect.
1809. Roland, Fencing, 115. You may probably throw his foil at a sufficient distance from the line of your body, to enable you to deliver a thrust with effect.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., III. X. viii. 288. Respectful message to his Majesty was of no effect.
c. Mechanics. The amount of work done in a given time. Useful effect: the net result, after making deductions for loss from friction, etc.
1812–6. Playfair, Nat. Phil. (1819), I. 111. The effect of animal force, then, or the quantity of work done in a given time will be proportional.
1871. B. Stewart, Heat, § 389. An agent for generating mechanical effect.
2. † a. A contemplated result, a purpose; chiefly in phrases, To this or that effect, to the effect that (obs.). b. In the same phrases: Purport; drift, tenor, essential significance.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 153. And for hise freendes on a day he sente To tellen hem theffect of his entente.
14[?]. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 50. Theffect of whych was thus in dede.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VI. ii. 131. Ane othir goldin grane to the ilk effect Thow sall nocht mis.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., I. ii. 283. Cask. He spoke Greeke. Cassi. To what effect?
1652. J. Wadsworth, trans. Sandoval’s Civ. Wars Spain, 287. Hee incharged the same Don Pedro … to go and surprise the said Souldiers, giving him two hundred hors and five hundred Foot to that effect.
1818. Cruise, Digest, II. 17. A subsequent proviso was added to that effect.
1872. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 157. The famous reviewer’s sentence … to the effect that [etc.].
† 3. An outward manifestation, sign, token, symptom; an appearance, phenomenon. Obs.
c. 1450. Why can’t be Nun, 67, in E. E. P. (1862), 140. In a gardyne I sportyd me … to see The swete effecte of aprelle flowres.
1593. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. ii. His wisdome hath stinted the effects of his power.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. iii. 112. What effects of passion shows she?
1656. Cowley, Pind. Odes (1669), 22, note. No natural effect gives such impressions of Divine fear, as Thunder.
b. A (pleasing or remarkable) combination of color or form in a picture, a landscape, etc. Cf. 6.
1884. Ruskin, Art of Eng., 222. The old water-colour men were wont to obtain their effects of atmosphere by [etc.].
Mod. The reflexion of the trees in the brook is a very pretty effect. Here’s a painter with his sketch-book hunting for ‘effects.’
† 4. Something that is attained or acquired by an action. Obs.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. iii. 54. I am still possest Of those effects for which I did the Murther.
b. pl. ‘Goods and chattels,’ movable property. Personal effects: personal luggage as distinguished from merchandise, etc. Also with wider meaning in phrase No effects: written by bankers on dishonoured cheques when the drawer has no funds in the bank; also, To leave no effects: to leave nothing for one’s heirs.
1704. J. Logan, Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., IX. 290. The effects of their plantations will scarce buy them clothes.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 499, ¶ 2 (J.). The Emperor, knowing they could not convey away many of their Effects.
1843. Thackeray, Ravenswing, v. (1887), 196. The bankers declined to cash the Captain’s draft … simply writing the words ‘No effects’ on the paper.
Mod. Sale of household effects. The contents of the trunks were insured as ‘personal effects.’ He died leaving no effects.
5. Operative influence; a mode or degree of operation on an object.
1668. Phil. Trans., I. 635. What Effects are thereby produced upon the body.
1831. Brewster, Nat. Magic, vi. (1833), 149. It will act like a concave lens when the cooling effect has reached the axis.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 194. Speeches which will have an effect upon the courts.
1883. M. Schuyler, in Harper’s Mag., Sept., 562/1. The effects which the demand for aboriginality actually had upon the race of builders.
b. The state or fact of being operative. To give effect to: to render operative. To take effect to become operative; to prove successful; (of a law, an agreement, etc.) to come into force (from a certain date).
1771. Goldsmith, Hist. Eng., ii. 62. The stratagem took effect; the English … began to fly on all sides.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, I. 529. The Administration was willing to give effect to the arrangements.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. App. 545. Eadward’s grant was not to take effect till after the death of Ælfwine.
6. The impression produced on a beholder, hearer, or reader, esp. by a work of art or literature; sometimes = general effect, the impression produced by a picture, building, etc., viewed as a whole. For effect: for the sake of creating a telling impression on the minds of spectators or hearers.
1736. Butler, Anal., II. vii. 236. What they call, the Effect in Architecture.
1868. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, i. (1870), 16. With a view … to poetical effect.
1869. Swinburne, Ess. & Stud. (1875), 219. His [Shelley’s] aim is rather to render the effect of a thing than the thing itself.
Mod. His whole behaviour and conversation are calculated for effect.
7. Accomplishment, fulfilment. Obs. exc. in phrases, To bring to effect, carry into effect: to accomplish, bring to a successful issue.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 389/1. Who someuer shal … calle me that he may haue … theffecte of his requeste & prayer.
1538. Starkey, England, 195. I thynke hyt schold be veray hard to bryng thys to effect.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., I. i. 50. Losing … the faire effects of future hopes.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1621), 177. What he tooke in hand, he commonly brought to good effect.
1638. Brathwait, Hist. Surv. (1651), 403. Never bringing their designes to effect.
1705. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., II. 208. The only means to bring all happily to effect.
1709. Swift, Advancem. Relig., Wks. 1755, II. I. 111. The proposals are … such as a pious active prince … might soon bring to effect.
† b. Practical reality, fact, as opposed to name or appearance: see 8. Obs.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. iii. 109. Meere words … Th’ effect doth operate another way.
a. 1674. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1849), III. 545. He should depart only with a title, the effect whereof he should not be possessed of, before he had very well deserved it.
8. In effect: formerly = in fact, in reality, opposed to in show, in words. In mod. use, virtually, substantially, so far as the result is concerned (see senses 1, 2).
1588. R. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 243. With pretence to depart from thence vnto China, as in effect they did.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., Pref. (1604), 6 (J.). In shewe a … Senate … was to gouerne, but in effect one onley man should … doe all in all.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 236 (J.). No man (in effect) doth accompany with others, but he learneth, (ere he is aware), some Gesture, or Voice, or Fashion of the other.
1653. Denham, Cooper’s Hill, 2 (J.). State and wealth … is to him … No other in effect then what it seems.
1713. Addison, Guardian, No. 110, ¶ 1 (J.). To say of a celebrated Piece that there are Faults in it, is in effect to say no more, than that the Author of it is a Man.
1804. H. T. Colebrooke, Husbandry Bengal (1806), 37. The duties are paid … by the purchaser; but the charge in effect falls upon the importer.
Mod. The two methods are in effect identical. He was, in effect, accused of falsehood. I cannot tell you what he said, but in effect it was that he, etc.
9. [After Fr. effet.] (See quot.)
1738. Chambers, Cycl., Effect in the manage, is applied to the movements of the hand which direct the horse. They distinguish four effects,… viz. in using the bridle to put a horse forwards, draw him backwards, and shifting it out of the right hand into the left, and vice versa.
