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affecter

 - 5 dictionary results

af⋅fect

2[uh-fekt]
–verb (used with object)
1. to give the appearance of; pretend or feign: to affect knowledge of the situation.
2. to assume artificially, pretentiously, or for effect: to affect a Southern accent.
3. to use, wear, or adopt by preference; choose; prefer: the peculiar costume he affected.
4. to assume the character or attitude of: to affect the freethinker.
5. (of things) to tend toward habitually or naturally: a substance that affects colloidal form.
6. (of animals and plants) to occupy or inhabit; live in or on: Lions affect Africa. Moss affects the northern slopes.
7. Archaic.
a. to have affection for; fancy.
b. to aim at; aspire to.
–verb (used without object)
8. Obsolete. to incline, tend, or favor (usually fol. by to): He affects to the old ways.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME < MF affecter < L affectāre to strive after, feign (freq. of afficere to do to), equiv. to af- af- + fec- (see affect 1 ) + -tāre freq. suffix


af⋅fect⋅⋅er, noun


1. See pretend.


See affect 1 .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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af·fect 2   (ə-fěkt')   
tr.v.   af·fect·ed, af·fect·ing, af·fects
  1. To put on a false show of; simulate: affected a British accent.

    1. To have or show a liking for: affects dramatic clothes.

    2. Archaic To fancy; love.

  2. To tend to by nature; tend to assume: a substance that affects crystalline form.

  3. To imitate; copy: "Spenser, in affecting the ancients, writ no language" (Ben Jonson).


[Middle English affecten, from Latin affectāre, to strive after, frequentative of afficere, affect-, to affect, influence; see affect1.]
af·fect'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

affect  (n.)
c.1374, "mental state," from L. affectus, pp. of afficere "act on, have influence on," a verb of broad meaning, from ad- "to" + facere (pp. factus) "do" (see factitious). The verb meaning "to make an impression on" is attested from 1631.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2af·fect
Pronunciation: &-'fekt, a-
Function: transitive verb
: to produce an effect upon; especially : toproduce a material influence upon or alteration in affected his limbs>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

affect af·fect (ə-fěkt')
v. af·fect·ed, af·fect·ing, af·fects

  1. To have an influence on or affect a change in.

  2. To attack or infect, as a disease.

n. (āf'ěkt')
  1. A feeling or emotion as distinguished from thought, or action.

  2. A strong feeling with active consequences.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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