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affect1 definition

af·fect (ə fekt′; for n. 2, af′ekt′)

transitive verb

  1. to have an effect on; influence; produce a change in bright light affects the eyes
  2. to move or stir the emotions of his death affected us deeply

Etymology: ME affecten < L affectare, to strive after < affectus, pp. of afficere, to influence, attack < ad-, to + facere, do

noun

  1. Obsolete a disposition or tendency

  2. Etymology: Ger affekt < L affectus, state of mind or body: see affectthe

    Psychol.
    1. an emotion or feeling attached to an idea, object, etc.
    2. in general, emotion or emotional response

Related Forms:

affect2 definition

af·fect (a fekt′, ə-)

transitive verb

  1. to like to have, use, wear, be in, etc. she affects plaid coats
  2. to make a pretense of being, having, feeling, liking, etc.; feign to affect indifference
  3. Archaic to aim at; seek

Etymology: ME affecten < OFr affecter < L affectare, affect

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical affect definition - medical

affect Synonyms

affect

v.

  1. To have an effect upon

    influence, sway, impress, alter, modify, change, transform, act on, work on, induce, move, be of importance to, concern, interest, be of interest to, impact on, hit, impair, harm, attack, afflict, strike, grip, seize; see also influence.

  2. To pretend

    assume, take on, feign, put on; see pretend 1.

  3. To move emotionally

    touch, stir, sway; see move 3.

affect implies the producing of an effect strong enough to evoke a reaction interest rates affect housing sales; her death affected us deeply; to influence is to affect in such a way as to produce a change in action, thought, nature, or behavior to influence legislation; impress is used of that which produces a deep or lasting effect on the mind; touch and the stronger move, as considered here, are both applied to the arousing of sympathy or other emotion, but move also denotes influencing so as to bring about a change or a show of feeling his story moved me to tears; sway emphasizes influence intended to turn a person from a given course threats will not sway us See also syn. study at pretend.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

affect Usage Examples

Object

  • validity: In the event that any provision herein is found to be invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.

Subject

  • tsunami: It has been an incredibly difficult year for people affected by the tsunami, particularly for those living in the worst hit areas.

Adjective modifier

  • detrimental: However, those that are invasive can have a very widespread and detrimental affect.

Modifying Another Word

  • adversely: There are hundreds of children around the country who will be adversely affected by this ruling " .

Preposition: by

  • tsunami: It has been an incredibly difficult year for people affected by the tsunami, particularly for those living in the worst hit areas.
affect usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

affect quotes

Dewey has no inner reserve of knowledge on which to draw for his thinking. A man couldn't wear a moustache like that without having it affect his mind.

-Hoover, Herbert Clark

affect quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"affect." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/affect>

APA Style

affect. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/affect

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