in effect
noun
1.
something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.
2.
power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence: His protest had no effect.
3.
the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment: to bring a plan into effect.
4.
a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.
5.
meaning or sense; purpose or intention: She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.
verb (used with object)
10.
to produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen: The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.
00:10
In effect
is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
11.
in effect,
a.
for practical purposes; virtually: His silence was in effect a confirmation of the rumor.
b.
essentially; basically.
c.
operating or functioning; in force: The plan is now in effect.
12.
take effect,
a.
to go into operation; begin to function.
b.
to produce a result: The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin effectus the carrying out (of a task, etc.), hence, that which is achieved, outcome, equivalent to effec- (variant stem of efficere to make, carry out; ef- ef- + -ficere, combining form of facere to do1) + -tus suffix of v. action
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin effectus the carrying out (of a task, etc.), hence, that which is achieved, outcome, equivalent to effec- (variant stem of efficere to make, carry out; ef- ef- + -ficere, combining form of facere to do1) + -tus suffix of v. action
Related forms
ef·fect·i·ble, adjective
pre·ef·fect, noun, verb (used with object)
un·ef·fect·ed, adjective
un·ef·fect·i·ble, adjective
well-ef·fect·ed, adjective
Synonyms
1. outcome, issue. Effect, consequence (s ), result refer to something produced by an action or a cause. An effect is that which is produced, usually more or less immediately and directly: The effect of morphine is to produce sleep. A consequence something that follows naturally or logically, as in a train of events or sequence of time, is less intimately connected with its cause than is an effect: Punishment is the consequence of disobedience. A result may be near or remote, and often is the sum of effects or consequences as making an end or final outcome: The English language is the result of the fusion of many different elements. 10. achieve, realize, fulfill, perform, consummate.
1. outcome, issue. Effect, consequence (s ), result refer to something produced by an action or a cause. An effect is that which is produced, usually more or less immediately and directly: The effect of morphine is to produce sleep. A consequence something that follows naturally or logically, as in a train of events or sequence of time, is less intimately connected with its cause than is an effect: Punishment is the consequence of disobedience. A result may be near or remote, and often is the sum of effects or consequences as making an end or final outcome: The English language is the result of the fusion of many different elements. 10. achieve, realize, fulfill, perform, consummate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To in effect
Collins
World English Dictionary
effect (ɪˈfɛkt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | something that is produced by a cause or agent; result |
| 2. | power or ability to influence or produce a result; efficacy: with no effect |
| 3. | the condition of being operative (esp in the phrases in or into effect): the law comes into effect at midnight |
| 4. | take effect to become operative or begin to produce results |
| 5. | basic meaning or purpose (esp in the phrase to that effect) |
| 6. | an impression, usually one that is artificial or contrived (esp in the phrase for effect) |
| 7. | a scientific phenomenon: the Doppler effect |
| 8. | in effect |
| a. in fact; actually | |
| b. for all practical purposes | |
| 9. | the overall impression or result: the effect of a painting |
| —vb | |
| 10. | (tr) to cause to occur; bring about; accomplish |
| [C14: from Latin effectus a performing, tendency, from efficere to accomplish, from facere to do] | |
| ef'fecter | |
| —n | |
| ef'fectible | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
effect
late 14c., "result," from O.Fr. effect, from L. effectus "accomplishment, performance," from stem of efficere "work out, accomplish," from ex- "out" + facere "to do" (see factitious). The verb is from 1580s. Sense in stage effect, sound effect, etc. first recorded 1881.
Related: Effecting; effection.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
effect ef·fect (ĭ-fěkt')
n.
Something brought about by a cause or an agent; a result.
The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result; influence.
A scientific law, hypothesis, or phenomenon.
The condition of being in full force or execution.
Something that produces a specific impression or supports a general design or intention.
To bring into existence.
To produce as a result.
To bring about.
ef·fect'er n.
ef·fect'i·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
in effect
-
For all practical purposes, as in This testimony in effect contradicted her earlier statement. [Late 1500s]
-
In or into operation, as in This law will be in effect in January. Related phrases include and take effect, which mean "become operative," as in This law goes into effect January 1, or It takes effect January 1. Similarly, put into effect means "make operative," as in When will the judge's ruling be put into effect? [Late 1700s] Also see in force, def. 2.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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