I. ˈa-ˌfekt noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin affectus, from afficere
Date: 14th century
1. obsolete : feeling , affection
2. : the conscious subjective aspect of an emotion considered apart from bodily changes ; also : a set of observable manifestations of a subjectively experienced emotion
patients…showed perfectly normal reactions and affect s — Oliver Sacks
Usage: see effect
II. ə-ˈfekt, a- verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French affecter, from Latin affectare, frequentative of afficere to influence, from ad- + facere to do — more at do
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. archaic : to aim at
2.
a. archaic : to have affection for
b. : to be given to : fancy
affect flashy clothes
3. : to make a display of liking or using : cultivate
affect a worldly manner
4. : to put on a pretense of : feign
affect indifference, though deeply hurt
5. : to tend toward
drops of water affect roundness
6. : frequent
intransitive verb
obsolete : incline 2
Synonyms: see assume
Usage: see effect
III. transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from affectus, past participle of afficere
Date: 15th century
: to produce an effect upon: as
a. : to produce a material influence upon or alteration in
paralysis affect ed his limbs
b. : to act upon (as a person or a person's mind or feelings) so as to effect a response : influence
Usage: see effect
• af·fect·abil·i·ty -ˌfek-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• af·fect·able -ˈfek-tə-bəl adjective
Synonyms:
affect , influence , touch , impress , strike , sway mean to produce or have an effect upon. affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction
the sight affected her to tears
influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior)
our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing
touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming
plants touched by frost
his emotions were touched by her distress
impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect
only one of the plans impressed him
strike , similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation
struck by the solemnity of the occasion
sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action
politicians who are swayed by popular opinion