effectual

[ ih-fek-choo-uhl ]
See synonyms for: effectualeffectualityeffectuallyeffectualness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. producing or capable of producing an intended effect; adequate.

  2. valid or binding, as an agreement or document.

Origin of effectual

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English effectuel (from Middle French ); late Middle English effectual, from Medieval Latin effectuālis, equivalent to Latin effectu-, stem of effectus effect + -ālis -al1

Other words from effectual

  • ef·fec·tu·al·ly, adverb
  • ef·fec·tu·al·ness, ef·fec·tu·al·i·ty, noun
  • pre·ef·fec·tu·al, adjective
  • pre·ef·fec·tu·al·ly, adverb

Words Nearby effectual

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use effectual in a sentence

  • The prayer, though short, was effectual; for both went back to their play with happy faces, and they had no more trouble that day.

British Dictionary definitions for effectual

effectual

/ (ɪˈfɛktjʊəl) /


adjective
  1. capable of or successful in producing an intended result; effective

  2. (of documents, agreements, etc) having legal force

Derived forms of effectual

  • effectuality or effectualness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012