a. and sb. [a. F. effectif, -ive, ad. L. effectīvus: see EFFECT v. and -IVE.]
A. adj.
† 1. That is concerned in the production of (an event or condition; rarely, a material product).
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 379. Concerning powers, they come to vs by nature, and are effectiue principles of all actions both good and badde.
1607. Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr., I. ii. 91. The signe of the Crosse is in some sorte effectiue of grace.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. IV. 170. Politic Philosophie is defined … a Science effective of Justice in the Citie.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., VI. 193. In the Tertian [Ague] the part effective of the bloud is out of its natural temper.
† b. Having the power of acting upon objects.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. xii. 214. Time is not effective, nor are bodies destroyed by it, but from the action and passion of their Elements in it.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., V. 139. The more unbodied any thing is, the more unbounded also is it in its effective power.
† 2. Concerned with, or having the function of, carrying into effect, executing or accomplishing.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., IX. xxvii. 256. Ðis was þe Proces causative, Ðat eftyr folowit effective.
1597. T. Morley, Introd Mus., Annot., Musicke is diuided into two parts…. The second may be called syntactical, Poetical, or effectiue.
1607. Schol. Disc. agst. Antichr., I. i. 33. The former was significatiue onely, his effectiue.
3. That is attended with result or has an effect.
1760. Goldsm., Cit. W., l. (1837), 200. There is an effective power superior to the people.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. I. x. (1869), 149, note. The masters alone had an effective voice in the legislature.
1863. Burton, Bk.-Hunter, 90. The honour of the first effective shot.
b. In mechanical and economical science: Said of that portion of an agency or force which is actually brought to bear on a particular object.
1798. Malthus, Popul., III. x. (1806), II. 250. The quantity of effective capital employed in agriculture.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 67. This we call the virtual or effective head [of water].
1879. Thomson & Tait, Nat. Phil., I. I. § 228. The Component of a force in any direction, (sometimes called the Effective Component in that direction).
c. Theol. Effective faith, love, etc.: that bears fruit in conduct [med.L. effectivus].
1854. F. W. Faber, Growth in Holiness, v. (1872), 75. Effective love makes us the living images of Jesus.
d. Effective range: the range within which a missile, weapon or fire-arm is effective.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. i. 65. Two hundred and twenty yards … is to be taken as the effective range for fighting purposes of the old archery.
4. Powerful in effect; efficient, effectual.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. lxxxiv. (1495), 654. Oleum iuniperium is most effectyf ayenst the Quartayn.
1836. Random Recoll. Ho. Lords, xvi. 402. He does not speak often; nor can he be considered an effective speaker.
1837. Howitt, Rur. Life (1862), I. iv. 30. Contributed to make these pursuits effective, elegant, and attractive.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Land, Wks. (Bohn), II. 17. Its best admiral could not have … anchored it [England] in a more effective position.
1860. Hawthorne, Marb. Faun, II. xviii. 204. An Italian comedy … effective over everybody’s risibilities.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, iv. 39. Fewer men, better trained and disciplined, could be made more effective.
b. Of works of art, literary compositions, etc.: Producing a striking impression; picturesque.
1853. G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., I. 107. The high bank … is … rendered effective by a perpendicular wall of naked sandstone rock.
1872. Freeman, Hist. Ess., 21. It is not one suited to produce any very effective romantic narrative.
1882. Garden, 18 Feb., 119/1. Varieties of Amarantus are … effective in the … garden.
5. Fit for work or service: chiefly of soldiers or sailors. (Also absol.; see B. 2.)
1684. Scanderbeg Rediv., v. 105. Being not above 15 or 16000 Men Effective.
1701. Lond. Gaz., No. 3733/4. The Imperial Army is said to consist of 44000 Effective Men.
1791. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 295. The copper-smiths … were not likely very soon to be effective.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., VII. XVIII. i. 93. Army of 60,000 on paper; of effective more than 50,000.
b. Effective charge: the expenditure upon effective forces, as distinguished, e.g., from that upon military pensions, retired pay, etc.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 306. The whole effective charge of the army, navy, and ordnance, was about seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds.
6. Actual, de facto; existing in fact; that is … so far as the effect is concerned; opposed to potential, nominal.
1786. Burke, Art. W. Hastings, Wks. 1842, II. 113/2. Afterwards displacing two effective governours … appointed … by himself. Ibid. (1790), Fr. Rev., 9. The collection of an effective and well-distributed revenue.
17[?]. Bentham, Levelling Syst., Wks. 1843, I. 361. Those … whose present fortunes are above the mark … would be but a small part of the real and effective losers.
1878. Gurney, Crystallogr., 39. Potential and not effective planes of symmetry.
b. Effective money; also quasi-sb. (see quot.).
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Effective, a term used in many parts of the Continent to express coin in contradistinction to paper money. Thus bills on Vienna are generally directed to be paid in effective.
B. sb. † 1. An efficient cause. Obs. See A 5.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, XII. xxv. (1620), 442. Had the eye, the apple … their rotundity, not from any externall effectiue.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, I. i. 1. But no less are they the due Effective of the former.
2. Mil. An effective soldier. (See A. 5.) Usually pl.
1722. Lond. Gaz., No. 6060/1. The Garrisons … consist of 1000 Effectives.
1809. Wellington, Lett., in Gurw., Disp., IV. 478. An abstract … which shows the comparative numbers of effectives and total.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., VI. xxiv. 4. They counted nine thousand effectives.
b. collect. sing. The effective part of an army.
1885. Standard, 29 Oct., 5/5. The effective of the Turkish forces in the Balkan Peninsula now reaches 180,000 men.
