effect

Pronunciation: /ɪˈfɛkt/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
  2. noun an outward appearance
  3. noun an impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived)

Etymology

Of the noun: from Middle English effect, from Old French effect (modern French effet), from Latin effectus (“an effect, tendency, purpose”), from efficiō (“accomplish, complete, effect”); see effect as a verb. Displaced Old English fremming, fremednes from fremman. Of the verb: from Middle English effecten, partly from Medieval Latin effectuō, from Latin effectus, perfect passive participle of efficiō (“accomplish, complete, do, effect”), from ex (“out”) + faciō (“do, make”) (see fact and compare affect, infect) and partly from the noun effect.

In classic literature

Synonyms

consequence, outcome, result, event, issue, upshot

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
phenomenon
Narrower (hyponyms)
aftereffect, dent, product, change, impact, bandwagon effect

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