a. and sb. [a. F. efficient, ad. L. efficient-em, pr. pple. of efficĕre, f. ex out + facĕre to make.] A. adj.

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  1.  Making, causing to be; that makes (a thing) to be what it is; chiefly in connection with cause.

2

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. xvii. (1495), 61. The cause efficient.

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1477.  Norton, Ord. Alch., i. in Ashm. (1652), 19.

        For cause efficient of Mettalls finde ye shall
Only to be the vertue Minerall.

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a. 1560.  Rolland, Crt. Venus, III. 505. Of this slauchter he was caus efficient.

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1577.  trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 614. By members are shewed the efficient powers of God.

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1635.  Swan, Spec. M., V. ii. (1643), 149. The efficient cause [of dew] is the temperate cold of the night.

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1656.  Stanley, Hist. Philos., II. I. 54. Præexistent … in the Intellect of the efficient God.

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1756.  Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. 1842, I. 58. The common efficient cause of beauty.

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1829.  I. Taylor, Enthus., ii. (1867), 55. The efficient will of the First Cause.

10

1866.  Argyll, Reign Law, vi. (1871), 321. This change in mind is the efficient cause of a whole cycle of other changes.

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  2.  Productive of effects; effective; adequately operative. Of persons: Adequately skilled.

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1787.  J. Barlow, Oration, 4 July, 8. Without an efficient government our Independence will cease to be a blessing.

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1801.  Southey, Thalaba, XI. xxxii. Soon his hand Shall strike the efficient blow.

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1833.  I. Taylor, Fanat., v. 114. The belief of their efficient intercession in the court of heaven.

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1852.  Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., II. xxxiii. 188. He was an expert and efficient workman in whatever he undertook.

16

  B.  sb.

17

  † 1.  ‘The cause which makes effects to be what they are’ (J.). Obs., but in 17th c. very common.

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[1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 37. There are more … causes in nature than efficientes.]

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1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. (1632), 76. To take away the first efficient of our being, were to annihilate vtterly our persons.

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1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xx. 68. The abuse of Sanctuaries had beene an efficient of many troubles.

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1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VII. iv. 345. For, beside the solary Iris which God shewed unto Noah there is another Lunary, whose efficient is the Moone.

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1649.  Roberts, Clavis Bibl., 511. The Efficient or Author of it, is … God himselfe.

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1722.  Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. (1738), 67. An infinite succession of effects will require an infinite efficient, or a cause infinitely effective.

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1754.  Edwards, Freed. Will, IV. ix. 259. The Motion of the Sun … is not the proper cause, Efficient or Producer of them.

25

1774.  Mitford, Ess. Harmony Lang., 3. Ignorance concerning the efficients of the harmony of language. Ibid. (1804), Inq. Principles Harm. Lang., 11.

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  2.  Mil. An efficient soldier; esp. a volunteer adequately qualified for service.

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1864.  Mrq. Hartington, Sp. Ho. Commons, 4 May. The number of ‘efficients’ under the new system was 112,165.

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1884.  Manch. Exam., 17 March, 5/1. The number of efficients … present at inspection … [was] higher than ever before.

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