This assumption does not affect the qualitative conclusions derived in the paper.
This is surprising, given that questions of revenue generation affect ordinary people in basic and sometimes very serious ways.
Considered here is the simplest case, where government spending is purely dissipative and does not affect private utility.
Another is that competition, even if successful in reducing tariffs, will marginally affect the households bills.
The degree to which the bias or variance is reduced will in turn affect the rate by which the model’s error will decrease.
The government, however, has a strong steering role with complex regulations affecting virtually every aspect of the health system.
Such reports highlight consequences that affect development prospects in general.
However, there is also an interesting example where alteration of the secondary-structure connectivity is reported not to affect the folding nucleus.
It represents administration, health-care professionals, patients, and representatives of the clinical disciplines affected by each issue.
The papers represented the views of different parties affected by breathlessness or those involved in their care.
Furthermore, the way in which this threshold is applied also affects the number and nature of political parties gaining representation.
However, as correlations elucidate relative differences or ranks and not absolute amounts, this should not affect the conclusions.
The second model considers only deviations which affects the orientation of the endeffector but not its position assuming that the mechanism remains spherical («model 9»).
Although the force control performance is affected by the noise generated by the rotating drill, the overall robotic drilling performance remains satisfactory.
Hatching rates and cell numbers of surviving blastocysts were not affected.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
The words “affect” and “effect” are both verbs as well as nouns — and their meanings overlap. This can be pretty confusing for those trying to learn the difference between these two English terms. Not to worry, though; The Word Counter is here to help.
In this post, we’re exploring the word “affect” to uncover its meaning and how it differs from “effect.” So if you’ve ever wondered about the definition and proper usage of “affect,” keep reading.
What Is the Definition of Affect?
/əˈfekt/ /ˈæfekt/ /ə.fĕkt’/ /ə-fĕkt/
Our word of the day — affect — can be used as either a verb or noun with a few slightly varying meanings. Below you will find a list of the different usages of affect as both a verb as well as a noun:
- As a verb, affect means — to produce a change in or to produce an effect; to act on
- As a noun, affect refers to (primarily used in relation to psychiatry and psychology) — an observed emotional response or expressed emotional response; most commonly manifested through body language or facial expression.
- As a verb, affect can additionally mean: to make a pretense of; to make a show of, or to put on an appearance (as in to affect ignorance).
What Is the Etymology of Affect?
The late Middle English word affect was first recorded in 1400-1450. Affect is a derivative of Latin affectus (which is the past participle of afficere), as well as Latin affectāre, Middle French affecter, and Middle English affecten.
What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of Affect?
To further your understanding of the word “affect,” you may find it helpful to review its synonyms and antonyms. In short, a synonym is a word that has the same (or nearly the same) meaning as another word, whereas antonyms are words with opposite meanings.
Synonyms of Affect
- Influence
- Touch
- Upset
- Impinge upon
- Shake up
- Take hold of
- Guide
- Impact on
- Exert influence on
- Damage
- Devastate
- Trouble
- Stir
- Strike
- Modify
- Tug at your heartstrings
- Bowl over
- Work on
- Prevail
- Mark
- Regard
- Relate
- Go to your head
- Turn someone’s head
- Counterfeit
- Fake
- Feign
- Sham
- Give the appearance of
- Make a show of
- Aspire to
- Profess
- Contrive
- Imitate
- Fabricate
- Go against the grain
- Be disturbing
- Playact
- Bluff
- Assume
- Adopt
- Embrace
- Be of interest to
- Be relevant to
- Be the business of
- Espouse
- Put on
- Make one’s own
- Pick up on
- Go down the line
- Engage in
- Tap into
- Go in for
- Have an adverse effect on
- Strike down
- Cause
- Induce
- Trigger
- Be distasteful
- Be injurious to
- Provoke
- Compel
- Elicit
- Cause illness to
- Cause problems
- Enact
- Evoke
- Enkindle
- Break the ice
- Break-in
- Be at the bottom of
- Do
- Effectuate
- Work up
- Bring to pass
- Make unwell
- Frequentative
- Be sickening
- Cause discomfort to
- Be unsuitable
- Agonize
- Martyr
- Smite
- Cause suffering to
- Grieve
- Burden
- Persecute
- Irk
- Irritate
- Apply to
- Impact on
- Pertain to
- Bear on
- Psych out
- Stun
Antonyms of Affect
- Desensitise
- Numb
- Stupefy
- Blunt
- Deaden
- Be indifferent to
- Paralyze
- Represent
- Embody
- Epitomize
- Exemplify
- Typify
- Stand for
- Portray
- Show
- Emblematize
- Admit
- Allow
- Guard
- Safeguard
- Keep safe
- Keep from harm
- Stop
- Save
- Refrain from
- Throw out
- Toss out
- Give up
- Dispense with
- Get rid of
- Limit
- Fend
- Render null and void
- Declare null and void
- Shield
- Screen
- Shelter
- Tell the truth about
- Give away
- Unfold
- Release
- Be unaffected
- Be indifferent
- Not touch
- Spill
- Bare
- Be real
- Be honest
- Tell the truth
- Unveil
- Betray
- Discourage
- Deter
- Obstruct
- Counteract
- Aid
- Soothe
- Have no consequence on
- Support
- Take care of
- Calm
- Compose
- Yield
- Enlighten
- Surrender
- Have no bearing on
- Have no relevance on
- Organize
- Be happy
- Make happy
- Stay away from
- Please
- Be irrelevant to
- Have no effect on
- Delight
- Assist
- Cancel out
- Clamp down on
- Crackdown on
- Comfort
- Solace
How Can You Use Affect in a Sentence?
Now that you understand what “affect” means, it’s time to practice using it in a sentence.
Take the next few minutes testing your newfound knowledge by conjuring up as many sentences as you can using our word of the day. To get you started, we went ahead and compiled a short list of example sentences for you to study below:
“Various victims of schizophrenia most commonly lapse into flat affect — which is this zombie-like state of ostensible apathy.”
“I know the definition behind affect, but I am not quite sure what effect means… could you please explain?”
“Her hugs affect me in such a positive way; I just can’t explain it.”
“Bella’s speech was full of strong emotions and affected me greatly.”
“My childhood teacher may not be aware of it, but she affected my self-image in a way that I can never repay her. I would not be the man I am today without her guidance and how she believed in me.”
“Come on now, don’t let a little bad weather affect your mood for the entire day. There is still plenty we can do indoors; why don’t we finally get some art projects started!”
What Are the Translations of Affect?
The word “affect” is used all around the globe. With this in mind, let’s review some of the most common translations, shall we?
Translations of affect:
- Afrikaans — Beïnvloed
- Arabic — تؤثر
- Bulgarian — засягам
- Chinese (simplified) — 影响
- Croatian — utjecati
- Czech — ovlivnit
- Danish — påvirke
- Dutch — beïnvloeden
- Finnish — vaikuttaa
- French — affecter
- German — beeinflussen, Affek
- Greek — επηρεάζω
- Italian — influenzare
- Japanese — 障る
- Korean — 영향
- Norwegian — påvirke
- Polish — wpływać
- Portuguese — afetar
- Russian — влиять (affékt)
- Spanish — afectar
- Swedish — påverka
- Thai — กระทบ
- Turkish — etkilemek
- Ukrainian — вплинути
- Vietnamese — Ảnh hưởng đến
Recap
Our word of the day — affect — is most often used as a verb, meaning “to have an impact on,” as in “the rainy weather will affect our camping plans.” Not to be confused with the noun effect, affect is the outward expression of emotion and feelings.
Sources:
Affect Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
AFFECT: Definition | Cambridge English Dictionary
55 Synonyms & Antonyms for AFFECT | Thesaurus.com
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do’s and don’ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
transitive verb
: to produce an effect upon (someone or something):
a
: to act on and cause a change in (someone or something)
Rainfall affects plant growth.
areas to be affected by highway construction
The protein plays a central role in metabolism … which in turn affects the rate of aging.—Stephen S. Hall
The 1883 eruption of Krakatau in what is now Indonesia affected global sunsets for years …—Evelyn Browning Garriss
Before the 1980s it was not at all clear how nicotine affected the brain.—Cynthia Kuhn et al.
b
: to cause illness, symptoms, etc., in (someone or something)
a disease that affects millions of patients each year
… the syndrome can affect the pancreas, which produces insulin …—H. Lee Kagan
c
: to produce an emotional response in (someone)
an experience that affected him powerfully
… she traveled to Cuba and was deeply affected by what she saw.—Elsa Dixler
d
: to influence (someone or something)
trying not to let emotions affect their decision
transitive verb
1
: to put on a false appearance of (something) : to pretend to feel, have, or do (something) : feign
He affected a French accent.
… Fermi often affected an aversion to abstract mathematics.—Ed Barbeau
But he affected not to hear …—Edith Wharton
2
a
: to often or usually wear or have (something)
affect brightly colored clothing
Chang affected the beard and long robe of an ancient scholar …—Constance A. Bond
: to be given to (a preferred style of dress, speech, etc.)
affect a precise way of speaking
b
: to make a display of liking or using (something) : to ostentatiously cultivate or claim (a quality, attitude, etc.)
It was the habit of the moment at Oxford to affect irreverence.—T. B. Costain
3
archaic
: to have affection for : to feel love or tender attachment for (someone or something)
As for Queen Katharine, he rather respected than affected, rather honored than loved her.—Thomas Fuller
I affected Georgette; she was a sensitive and a loving child: to hold her in my lap, or carry her in my arms, was to me a treat.—Charlotte Bronte
4
archaic
: to tend to have (a specified characteristic or quality)
… the drops of every fluid affect a round figure by the mutual attraction of their parts …—Sir Isaac Newton
5
archaic
: to often or usually spend time at (a place) or with (a person or group) : frequent
… what birds affect that particular brake …—Thomas Hardy
Do not affect the society of your inferiors in rank, nor court that of the great.—William Hazlitt
6
archaic
: to aspire to : to try to attain (something, such as power)
… this proud man affects imperial sway.—John Dryden
1
[German Affekt, borrowed from Latin affectus] psychology
a
: a set of observable manifestations of an experienced emotion : the facial expressions, gestures, postures, vocal intonations, etc., that typically accompany an emotion
Evidence from several clinical groups indicates that reduced accuracy in decoding facial affect is associated with impaired social competence.—Suzane Vassallo et al.
… patients … showed perfectly normal reactions and affects …—Oliver Sacks
Other victims of schizophrenia sometimes lapse into flat affect, a zombielike state of apparent apathy.—David G. Myers
b
: the conscious emotion that occurs in reaction to a thought or experience
Positive affect encompasses all good emotions, such as joy, bliss, love, and contentment.—Roy F. Baumeister and Brad J. Bushman
Killing and meaningless mass murder without affect, as the psychologists say, … have become too frequent occurrences in contemporary life.—Barbara W. Tuchman
2
obsolete
: feeling, affection
For every man with his affects is born, / Not by might mast’red, but by special grace.—William Shakespeare
Effect vs. Affect: Usage Guide
Effect and affect are often confused because of their similar spelling and pronunciation. The verb affect entry 2 usually has to do with pretense.
she affected a cheery disposition despite feeling down
The more common verb affect entry 1 denotes having an effect or influence.
the weather affected everyone’s mood
The verb effect goes beyond mere influence; it refers to actual achievement of a final result.
the new administration hopes to effect a peace settlement
The uncommon noun affect, which has a meaning relating to psychology, is also sometimes mistakenly used for the very common effect. In ordinary use, the noun you will want is effect.
waiting for the new law to take effect
the weather had an effect on everyone’s mood
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between affect and effect?
Both affect and effect can function as a noun or a verb. However, affect is most often found as a verb (“to produce an influence upon or alteration in”), and effect as a noun («a change that results when something is done or happens”). For example, we can say that something that affects a person has an effect on them.
What is the difference between affection and affectation?
The more familiar word, affection, in modern use most often means «a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something.» Affectation may be defined as «speech or conduct not natural to oneself,» as in «He was born and raised in Baltimore, so his British accent seemed like an affectation.»
Is affect a noun or a verb?
Affect is both a noun and a verb, but the verb is far more common; it means «to act on or change someone or something,» as in «The change will affect everyone.» The noun affect is used primarily in psychology contexts to refer to the facial expressions, gestures, postures, vocal intonations, etc., that typically accompany an emotion, as in «The patient had a flat affect.»
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for affect
Verb (1)
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.
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
Verb (2)
assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients
affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.
affected an interest in art
pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.
pretended that nothing had happened
simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something.
cosmetics that simulate a suntan
feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.
counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.
an actor counterfeiting drunkenness
sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.
shammed a most unconvincing limp
Example Sentences
Verb (1)
As strange as this sounds, the negative karma probably affected the actual games, the way a gambler who constantly dwells on his bad luck can derail an entire blackjack table.
—Bill Simmons, ESPN, 24 June 2002
The Paris adventures of various Russians, including a romance for Dontsov, affect both the newly democratized ones and hard-line party members.
—Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic, 27 Feb. 1995
These programs, known as secret warranties or silent recalls, often involve a problem that affects a vehicle’s safety or performance but that isn’t the cause of a formal Federal recall.
—Consumer Reports, December 1993
Verb (2)
She pauses and affects the more dramatic tone of a veteran actress.
—Chris Mundy, Rolling Stone, 15 June 1995
She doesn’t put herself down, but she does affect a languid Valley Girl drawl to offset the sharpness of her observations …
—Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 1994
That is all I have, I said, affecting a pathos in my voice.
—Flann O’Brian, At Swim-Two-Birds, 1939
Noun
There’s a good plot and good writing here, but Mallory’s gender neutrality, conspicuous in her lack of affect, makes her seem like a comic-book character.
—Cynthia Crossen, Wall Street Journal, 5 Oct. 1994
Many of these young killers display an absence of what psychiatrists call affect. They show no discernible emotional reaction to what they have done.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 16 Sept. 1985
The way people respond to this is sometimes called «depressed affect«—a sort of mental shifting into neutral that psychologists say also happens to prisoners of war, submarine crews, and other people in confined situations with little stimulus.
—Susan West, Science 84, January/February 1984
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
The Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery that affects interstate commerce and that involves the taking of property from another person by means of actual or threatened force or violence.
—Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 7 Apr. 2023
Julia Orzol did a little of everything for the Badgers There aren’t many players on the team that affect the game in as many ways as Julia Orzol.
—Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2023
Thousands of lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson claimed the talc powder had caused customers to develop either ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, which is an aggressive cancer that can affect the linings of the lungs, abdomen or heart.
—Brandon Livesay, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2023
Some lawsuits claim the powders contained asbestos and caused mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer that affects the lungs and other organs.
—Amanda Pérez Pintado, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2023
Mitzi Escalante, a second-year sociology and psychology major, said students never expected to become part of a fierce political debate that would directly affect them.
—Curt Anderson, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2023
Several bills are advancing in the Legislature that would negatively affect LGBTQ rights.
—Lauren Mcgaughy, Dallas News, 4 Apr. 2023
The theory of natural capital suggests that ecosystem services provided by nature – such as water filtration, flood control and raw materials – have economic value that should be taken into account when making decisions that affect these systems.
—Stefan Lovgren, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2023
Note that the beach is currently closed due to the recent flooding that has affected the area.
—Steven Casale, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘affect.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English affecten, borrowed from Latin affectus, past participle of afficere «to produce an effect on, exert an influence on,» from ad- ad- + facere «to do, make, bring about» — more at fact
Verb (2)
Middle English affecten «to desire,» borrowed from Anglo-French affeter, affecter «to change, seek after,» borrowed from Latin affectāre «to try to accomplish, strive after, pretend to have,» frequentative derivative of afficere «to produce an effect on, exert an influence on» — more at affect entry 1
Noun
Middle English, «capacity for emotion, emotion, desire, will,» borrowed from Latin affectus «mental state, mood, feeling, affection,» from afficere «to produce an effect on, exert an influence on» + -tus, suffix of verbal action — more at affect entry 1
First Known Use
Verb (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of affect was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near affect
Cite this Entry
“Affect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affect. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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9 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
English[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Middle English affecten, from Latin affectāre, from Latin affectus, the participle stem of Latin afficere (“to act upon, influence, affect, attack with disease”), from ad- + facere (“to make, do”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- enPR: ə.fĕkt’, IPA(key): /əˈfɛkt/
- Rhymes: -ɛkt
- Homophone: effect (weak vowel merger)
Verb[edit]
affect (third-person singular simple present affects, present participle affecting, simple past and past participle affected)
- (transitive) To influence or alter.
- Synonyms: alter, change, have an effect on, have an impact on, influence
-
The experience affected me deeply.
-
The heat of the sunlight affected the speed of the chemical reaction.
-
2012 January 1, Steven Sloman, “The Battle Between Intuition and Deliberation”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, page 74:
-
Libertarian paternalism is the view that, because the way options are presented to citizens affects what they choose, society should present options in a way that “nudges” our intuitive selves to make choices that are more consistent with what our more deliberative selves would have chosen if they were in control.
-
- (transitive) To move to emotion.
- Synonyms: move, touch
-
He was deeply affected by the tragic ending of the play.
- 1757, Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful
- A consideration of the rationale of our passions seems to me very necessary for all who would affect them upon solid and pure principles.
- (transitive, pathology) Of an illness or condition, to infect or harm (a part of the body).
- Synonyms: attack, harm, infect
-
Hepatitis affects the liver.
- (transitive, archaic) To dispose or incline.
- (transitive, archaic) To tend to by affinity or disposition.
-
1704, I[saac] N[ewton], “(please specify |book=1 to 3)”, in Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. […], London: […] Sam[uel] Smith, and Benj[amin] Walford, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC:
- The drops of every fluid affect a round figure.
-
- (transitive, archaic) To assign; to appoint.
-
- One of the domestics was affected to his special service.
-
- (transitive, Scotland, law) To burden (property) with a fixed charge or payment, or other condition or restriction.
Usage notes[edit]
Affect and effect are sometimes confused. Affect conveys influence over something that already exists, but effect indicates the manifestation of new or original ideas or entities:
- «…new policies have effected major changes in government.»
- «…new policies have affected major changes in government.»
The former indicates that major changes were made as a result of new policies, while the latter indicates that before new policies, major changes were in place, and that the new policies had some influence over these existing changes.
The verbal noun uses of affect are distinguished from the verbal noun uses of effect more clearly than the regular verb forms. An affect is something that acts or acted upon something else. However, an effect is the result of an action (by something else).
Conjugation[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
- affectingly
Translations[edit]
to influence or alter
- Arabic: أَثَّرَ (ar) (ʔaṯṯara)
- Asturian: afeutar
- Belarusian: уплываць (uplyvacʹ)
- Bulgarian: действам (bg) (dejstvam), въздействам (bg) (vǎzdejstvam)
- Catalan: afectar (ca)
- Chinese:
- Cantonese: 影響/影响 (jing2 hoeng2)
- Mandarin: 影響/影响 (zh) (yǐngxiǎng)
- Cornish: nasya
- Croatian: utjecati
- Czech: ovlivnit (cs)
- Danish: påvirke
- Dutch: beïnvloeden (nl)
- Faroese: ávirka
- Finnish: vaikuttaa (fi)
- French: affecter (fr), toucher (fr)
- Galician: afectar
- German: beeinflussen (de)
- Greek: επηρεάζω (el) (epireázo), επιδρώ (el) (epidró)
- Hungarian: hat (hu), kihat (hu), érint (hu), befolyásol (hu), hatással van
- Italian: influenzare (it), condizionare (it), alterare (it)
- Malayalam: ബാധിക്കുക (ml) (bādhikkuka)
- Maori: kawekawe
- Norwegian: influere, gå utover
- Bokmål: påvirke
- Portuguese: afetar (pt)
- Russian: влия́ть (ru) (vlijátʹ) (influence), возде́йствовать (ru) (vozdéjstvovatʹ) (influence), меня́ть (ru) (menjátʹ) (alter)
- Scots: affek
- Spanish: afectar (es)
- Swedish: påverka (sv), influera (sv)
- Tocharian B: yām-
- Ukrainian: впливати (vplyvaty), вплинути (vplynuty)
to move to emotion
- Bulgarian: засягам (bg) (zasjagam), вълнувам (bg) (vǎlnuvam)
- Danish: berøre, røre (da)
- Dutch: ontroeren (nl), emotioneren (nl), emotioneren (nl)
- Finnish: liikuttaa (fi)
- French: affecter (fr), émouvoir (fr)
- German: rühren (de), bewegen (de)
- Greek: συγκινώ (el) (sygkinó)
- Hungarian: megindít (hu), megérint (hu), elszomorít (hu), hatással van
- Italian: commuovere (it)
- Norwegian: affektere (no)
- Polish: afektować (pl) impf
- Portuguese: comover (pt)
- Russian: волнова́ть (ru) (volnovátʹ), тро́гать (ru) (trógatʹ)
- Scots: affek
- Spanish: afectar (es), conmover (es)
- Swedish: beröra (sv), röra (sv)
to infect or harm
- Bulgarian: поразявам (bg) (porazjavam)
- Czech: postihnout (cs)
- Danish: påvirke, skade (da)
- Dutch: aantasten (nl)
- Finnish: vahingoittaa (fi)
- French: affecter (fr)
- Greek: προσβάλλω (el) (prosvállo), βλάπτω (el) (vlápto)
- Hungarian: károsít (hu), árt (hu)
- Italian: colpire (it)
- Malayalam: ബാധിക്കുക (ml) (bādhikkuka)
- Norwegian: affektere (no)
- Polish: zaafektować pf (dated)
- Portuguese: afetar (pt)
- Russian: поража́ть (ru) (poražátʹ)
- Spanish: afectar (es)
- Swedish: påverka (sv), skada (sv), drabba (sv)
Translations to be checked
Etymology 2[edit]
From Middle English affecten, from Anglo-Norman affecter (“strive after”), Middle French affecter (“feign”), and their source, Latin affectāre (“to strive after, aim to do, pursue, imitate with dissimulation, feign”), frequentative of afficere (“to act upon, influence”) (see Etymology 1, above).
Pronunciation[edit]
- enPR: əfĕkt’, IPA(key): /əˈfɛkt/
- Rhymes: -ɛkt
Verb[edit]
affect (third-person singular simple present affects, present participle affecting, simple past and past participle affected)
- (transitive) To make a show of; to put on a pretense of; to feign; to assume. To make a false display of. [from 16th c.]
- Synonyms: fake, simulate, feign
-
to affect ignorance
-
to affect a British accent
-
He managed to affect a smile despite feeling quite miserable.
-
c. 1605–1608, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
-
Thou dost affect my manners.
-
-
a. 1729, William Congreve, A Hue and Cry After Fair Amoret:
-
Careless she is with artful care, / Affecting to seem unaffected.
-
-
1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 12:
-
He affected prescription lenses, framed in spidery gold, ground from thin slabs of pink synthetic quartz and beveled like the mirrors in a Victorian dollhouse.
-
- (obsolete, transitive) To aim for, to try to obtain. [15th–19th c.]
-
1662, Jacques Olivier, Richard Banke, transl., A Discourse of Women, Shewing Their Imperfections Alphabetically, →OCLC, page 15:
-
For it is believed, that he never was married, affecting and embracing Chastity through the whole course of his Life.
-
-
a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The First Book of Homer’s Ilias”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 430:
-
Wiſe are thy words, and glad I would obey, / But this proud man affects imperial ſway.
-
-
1841, Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance”, in Essays: First Series:
-
I seek the Vatican, and the palaces. I affect to be intoxicated with sights and suggestions, but I am not intoxicated.
-
-
- (transitive, rare) To feel affection for (someone); to like, be fond of. [from 16th c.]
-
c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
-
There is a Lady in Verona heere
Whom I affect: but she is nice, and coy,
And naught esteemes my aged eloquence.
-
-
1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition I, section 2, member 4, subsection vii:
-
A young gentlewoman in Basil was married […] to an ancient man against her will, whom she could not affect; she was continually melancholy, and pined away for grief […]
-
-
1655, Thomas Fuller, James Nichols, editor, The Church History of Britain, […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), new edition, London: […] [James Nichols] for Thomas Tegg and Son, […], published 1837, →OCLC, book, page 173:
-
As for Queen Katharine, he rather respected, then affected; rather honoured, then loved her.
-
-
1662, [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, canto 1:
-
But when he pleased to show ‘t, his speech / In loftiness of sound was rich; / A Babylonish dialect, / Which learned pedants much affect.
-
-
- (transitive, obsolete) To show a fondness for (something); to choose. [from 16th c.]
-
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 9, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book III, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
-
Amongst humane conditions this one is very common, that we are rather pleased with strange things then with our owne; we love changes, affect alterations, and like innovations.
-
-
c. 1605–1608, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
-
Go, let him have a table by himself, for he does neither affect company, nor is he fit for’t, indeed.
-
- 1825, William Hazlitt, “On the Conduct of life: or Advice to a schoolboy” in Table-Talk Volume II, Paris: A. & W. Galignani, p. 284,[1]
- Do not affect the society of your inferiors in rank, nor court that of the great.
-
Derived terms[edit]
- affected
- affectedly
- affectedness
- affectation
- affecter
Translations[edit]
to feel affection for; to like, be fond of
to make a false display of
- Bulgarian: преструвам се (prestruvam se), имитирам (bg) (imitiram)
- Dutch: veinzen (nl)
- Finnish: esittää (fi), teeskennellä (fi)
- French: feindre (fr)
- German: vortäuschen (de), fingieren (de), vorgaukeln (de)
- Greek: προσποιούμαι (el) (prospoioúmai), κάνω (el) (káno)
- Italian: fingere (it)
- Portuguese: fingir (pt)
- Russian: притворя́ться (ru) (pritvorjátʹsja), де́лать вид (ru) (délatʹ vid), прики́дываться (ru) (prikídyvatʹsja) (colloquial)
- Spanish: fingir (es)
- Swedish: åstadkomma (sv), fingera (sv)
Etymology 3[edit]
From Middle English affect, from Latin affectus, adfectus (“a state of mind or body produced by some (external) influence, especially sympathy or love”), from afficere (“to act upon, influence”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- enPR: ă’fĕkt, IPA(key): /ˈæ.fɛkt/
Noun[edit]
affect (plural affects)
- (psychology) A subjective feeling experienced in response to a thought or other stimulus; mood, emotion, especially as demonstrated in external physical signs. [from 19th c.]
- 1999, Joyce Crick, translating Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams, Oxford 2008, p. 62:
- if we are afraid of robbers in a dream, the robbers are certainly imaginary, but the fear is real. This draws our attention to the fact that the development of affects [translating Affectentwicklung] in dreams is not amenable to the judgement we make of the rest of the dream-content […].
- 2004, Jeffrey Greenberg & Thomas A Pyszczynski, Handbook of Experimental Existential Psychology, p. 407:
- A third study demonstrated that the effects of self-affirmation on self-regulated performance were not due to positive affect.
- 1999, Joyce Crick, translating Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams, Oxford 2008, p. 62:
- (obsolete) One’s mood or inclination; mental state. [14th–17th c.]
- (obsolete) A desire, an appetite. [16th–17th c.]
Usage notes[edit]
Affect and effect can both be used as nouns or verbs, but when used as a noun the word affect is limited to the above psychology uses and the definitions for effect are much more common. See also the usage notes as a verb above.
Derived terms[edit]
- affect display
- affect perseverance
- flat affect
- labile affect
- pseudobulbar affect
[edit]
- affection
- affectionate
- affective
Translations[edit]
References[edit]
- affect in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “affect”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- “affect, v.” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.
French[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Borrowed from Latin affectus.
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /a.fɛkt/
Noun[edit]
affect m (plural affects)
- (psychology, philosophy) affect; emotion
[edit]
- affectif
See also[edit]
- intellect
Further reading[edit]
- “affect”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Scots[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /əˈfɛk(t)/
Etymology 1[edit]
Verb[edit]
affect (third-person singular simple present affects, present participle affectin, simple past affectit, past participle affectit)
- to affect
- (law) to burden property with a fixed charge or payment, or other condition or restriction
Etymology 2[edit]
Noun[edit]
affect (plural affects)
- affect, mood
References[edit]
- Eagle, Andy, ed. (2016) The Online Scots Dictionary, Scots Online.
affect
to pretend; influence: It will affect the outcome.
Not to be confused with:
effect – a result; an influence: His protest had no effect. [The words affect and effect are among the most frequently confused words. Affect means to bring about a change, to move emotionally, or to infect, as a disease. Its core meaning is to evoke a usually strong mental or emotional response from. Effect means consequence, outcome, upshot. Its core meaning is something brought about by a cause.]
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
af·fect 1
(ə-fĕkt′)
tr.v. af·fect·ed, af·fect·ing, af·fects
1. To have an influence on or effect a change in: Inflation affects the buying power of the dollar.
2. To act on the emotions of; touch or move. See Synonyms at move.
3. To attack or infect, as a disease: Rheumatic fever can affect the heart.
n. (ăf′ĕkt′)
1. Feeling or emotion, especially as manifested by facial expression or body language: «The soldiers seen on television had been carefully chosen for blandness of affect» (Norman Mailer).
2. Obsolete A disposition, feeling, or tendency.
[Middle English affecten, from Latin afficere, affect-, to do to, act on : ad-, ad- + facere, to do; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: Affect and effect are often confused because they sound alike and have related meanings. First, bear in mind that there are two words spelled affect. One means «to put on a false show of,» as in She affected a British accent. The other affect, the one that is confused with effect, is both a noun and a verb. As a noun it is uncommon and means roughly «emotion.» It is pronounced with stress on the first syllable rather than the second. Note that affect does not have a noun sense meaning «an influence that brings about a change.» As a verb, affect is most commonly used in the sense of «to cause a change in:» the ways in which smoking affects health. The verb effect means «to bring about or execute»: medical treatment designed to effect a cure. Its corresponding noun means «a result.» Thus if someone affects something, there is likely to be an effect of some kind, and from this may arise some of the confusion. People who stop smoking will see beneficial health effects, but not beneficial health affects. The verbs produce important differences in meaning. The sentence These measures have been designed to effect savings implies that the measures will cause new savings to come about. Using affect in the very similar sentence These measures will affect savings implies that the measures will cause a change in savings that have already been realized.
af·fect 2
(ə-fĕkt′)
tr.v. af·fect·ed, af·fect·ing, af·fects
1. To put on a false show of; simulate: affected a British accent.
2.
a. To have or show a liking for: affects dramatic clothes.
b. Archaic To fancy; love.
3. To tend to by nature; tend to assume: a substance that affects crystalline form.
4. To imitate; copy: «Spenser, in affecting the ancients, writ no language» (Ben Jonson).
[Middle English affecten, from Latin affectāre, to strive after, frequentative of afficere, affect-, to affect, influence; see affect1.]
af·fect′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
affect
vb (tr)
1. to act upon or influence, esp in an adverse way: damp affected the sparking plugs.
2. to move or disturb emotionally or mentally: her death affected him greatly.
3. (Medicine) (of pain, disease, etc) to attack
n
(Psychology) psychol the emotion associated with an idea or set of ideas. See also affection
[C17: from Latin affectus, past participle of afficere to act upon, from ad- to + facere to do]
affect
(əˈfɛkt)
vb (mainly tr)
1. to put on an appearance or show of; make a pretence of: to affect ignorance.
2. to imitate or assume, esp pretentiously: to affect an accent.
3. to have or use by preference: she always affects funereal clothing.
4. to adopt the character, manner, etc, of: he was always affecting the politician.
5. (Biology) (of plants or animals) to live or grow in: penguins affect an arctic climate.
6. to incline naturally or habitually towards: falling drops of liquid affect roundness.
[C15: from Latin affectāre to strive after, pretend to have; related to afficere to affect1]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
af•fect1
(v. əˈfɛkt; n. ˈæf ɛkt)
v.t.
1. to produce an effect or change in: Cold weather affected the crops.
2. to impress the mind or move the feelings of: The music affected him deeply.
3. (of pain, disease, etc.) to attack or lay hold of.
n.
4. feeling or emotion.
5. Psychiatry. an expressed or observed emotional response.
6. Obs. inward disposition or feeling.
[1350–1400; Middle English, < Latin affectus]
af•fect′a•ble, adj.
af•fect`a•bil′i•ty, n.
usage: Because of similarity in pronunciation, affect and effect are sometimes confused in writing. The spelling affect is used of two different words. The verb affect1 means “to act on” or “to move” (His words affected the crowd so deeply that many wept); the noun affect1, pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, refers to emotion or, in psychiatry, emotional response. affect2 is not used as a noun; as a verb it means “to pretend” or “to assume” (new students affecting a nonchalance they didn’t feel). The verb effect means “to bring about, accomplish”: Her administration effected radical changes. The noun effect means “result, consequence”: the serious effects of the oil spill.
af•fect2
(əˈfɛkt)
v.t.
1. to pretend or feign: to affect knowledge of history.
2. to assume artificially, pretentiously, or for effect: to affect a British accent.
3. to use, wear, or adopt by preference: to affect an outrageous costume.
4. to assume the character or attitude of: to affect the freethinker.
5. (of substances) to tend toward habitually or naturally: to affect colloidal form.
6. Archaic.
a. to have affection for.
b. to aspire to.
v.i.
7. Obs. to incline: She affects to the old ways.
[1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French affecter < Latin affectāre]
af•fect′•er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
affect
– effect
1. ‘affect’
Affect /ə’fekt/ is a verb. To affect someone or something means to cause them to change, often in a negative way.
There are many ways in which computers can affect our lives.
The disease affected Jane’s lungs.
2. ‘effect’
Effect /ɪ’fekt/ is usually a noun. An effect is something that happens or exists because something else has happened.
The report shows the effect of noise on people in the factories.
This has the effect of separating students from teachers.
You can say that something has a particular effect on something else.
Improvement in water supply can have a dramatic effect on health.
These changes will have a significant effect on our business.
Effect is sometimes a verb. If you effect something that you are trying to achieve, you succeed in achieving it. This is a formal use.
The new law will give us the power to effect change.
touch
– affect
1. ‘touch’
If you touch something, you gently put your fingers or hand on it.
The metal is so hot I can’t touch it.
Madeleine stretched out her hand to touch his.
If you are touched by something, it makes you feel sad, sympathetic, or grateful.
I was touched that he should remember the party where he had kissed me for the first time.
I was touched by his thoughtfulness.
2. ‘affect’
You do not use ‘touch’ to say that something changes or influences a person or thing. You do not say, for example, ‘We wanted to know how these proposals would touch our town‘. The word you use is affect.
…the ways in which computers can affect our lives.
The disease affected Jane’s lungs.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
affect
Past participle: affected
Gerund: affecting
Imperative |
---|
affect |
affect |
Present |
---|
I affect |
you affect |
he/she/it affects |
we affect |
you affect |
they affect |
Preterite |
---|
I affected |
you affected |
he/she/it affected |
we affected |
you affected |
they affected |
Present Continuous |
---|
I am affecting |
you are affecting |
he/she/it is affecting |
we are affecting |
you are affecting |
they are affecting |
Present Perfect |
---|
I have affected |
you have affected |
he/she/it has affected |
we have affected |
you have affected |
they have affected |
Past Continuous |
---|
I was affecting |
you were affecting |
he/she/it was affecting |
we were affecting |
you were affecting |
they were affecting |
Past Perfect |
---|
I had affected |
you had affected |
he/she/it had affected |
we had affected |
you had affected |
they had affected |
Future |
---|
I will affect |
you will affect |
he/she/it will affect |
we will affect |
you will affect |
they will affect |
Future Perfect |
---|
I will have affected |
you will have affected |
he/she/it will have affected |
we will have affected |
you will have affected |
they will have affected |
Future Continuous |
---|
I will be affecting |
you will be affecting |
he/she/it will be affecting |
we will be affecting |
you will be affecting |
they will be affecting |
Present Perfect Continuous |
---|
I have been affecting |
you have been affecting |
he/she/it has been affecting |
we have been affecting |
you have been affecting |
they have been affecting |
Future Perfect Continuous |
---|
I will have been affecting |
you will have been affecting |
he/she/it will have been affecting |
we will have been affecting |
you will have been affecting |
they will have been affecting |
Past Perfect Continuous |
---|
I had been affecting |
you had been affecting |
he/she/it had been affecting |
we had been affecting |
you had been affecting |
they had been affecting |
Conditional |
---|
I would affect |
you would affect |
he/she/it would affect |
we would affect |
you would affect |
they would affect |
Past Conditional |
---|
I would have affected |
you would have affected |
he/she/it would have affected |
we would have affected |
you would have affected |
they would have affected |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun | 1. | feeling — the experiencing of affective and emotional states; «she had a feeling of euphoria»; «he had terrible feelings of guilt»; «I disliked him and the feeling was mutual» |
Verb | 1. | affect — have an effect upon; «Will the new rules affect me?»
bear upon, impact, bear on, touch on, touch alter, change, modify — cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; «The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city»; «The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue» strike a blow — affect adversely; «The court ruling struck a blow at the old segregation laws» repercuss — cause repercussions; have an unwanted effect tell on — produce an effect or strain on somebody; «Each step told on his tired legs» redound — have an effect for good or ill; «Her efforts will redound to the general good» stimulate, excite — act as a stimulant; «The book stimulated her imagination»; «This play stimulates» process, treat — subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition; «process cheese»; «process hair»; «treat the water so it can be drunk»; «treat the lawn with chemicals» ; «treat an oil spill» hydrolise, hydrolize — make a compound react with water and undergo hydrolysis tinge, color, colour, distort — affect as in thought or feeling; «My personal feelings color my judgment in this case»; «The sadness tinged his life» endanger, peril, scupper, expose — put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position hit, strike — affect or afflict suddenly, usually adversely; «We were hit by really bad weather»; «He was stricken with cancer when he was still a teenager»; «The earthquake struck at midnight» subject — cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to; «He subjected me to his awful poetry»; «The sergeant subjected the new recruits to many drills»; «People in Chernobyl were subjected to radiation» discommode, disoblige, incommode, inconvenience, put out, trouble, bother — to cause inconvenience or discomfort to; «Sorry to trouble you, but…» act upon, influence, work — have and exert influence or effect; «The artist’s work influenced the young painter»; «She worked on her friends to support the political candidate» slam-dunk — make a forceful move against; «the electronic travel market is slam-dunking traditional travel agencies» |
2. | affect — act physically on; have an effect upon; «the medicine affects my heart rate»
attack — begin to injure; «The cancer cells are attacking his liver»; «Rust is attacking the metal» ulcerate — affect with an ulcer; «Her stomach was ulcerated» sedate, tranquilize, tranquillise, tranquillize, calm — cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to; «The patient must be sedated before the operation» energize, perk up, energise, stimulate, arouse, brace — cause to be alert and energetic; «Coffee and tea stimulate me»; «This herbal infusion doesn’t stimulate» tense up, tense, strain — cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; «he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up» make relaxed, unlax, unstrain, unwind, relax, loosen up — cause to feel relaxed; «A hot bath always relaxes me» cramp — affect with or as if with a cramp jaundice — affect with, or as if with, jaundice alter, change, modify — cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; «The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city»; «The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue» register — enter into someone’s consciousness; «Did this event register in your parents’ minds?» inebriate, intoxicate, soak — make drunk (with alcoholic drinks) |
|
3. | affect — connect closely and often incriminatingly; «This new ruling affects your business»
involve, regard concern, have to do with, pertain, bear on, come to, touch on, refer, relate, touch — be relevant to; «There were lots of questions referring to her talk»; «My remark pertained to your earlier comments» implicate — bring into intimate and incriminating connection; «He is implicated in the scheme to defraud the government» |
|
4. | affect — make believe with the intent to deceive; «He feigned that he was ill»; «He shammed a headache»
dissemble, feign, pretend, sham misrepresent, belie — represent falsely; «This statement misrepresents my intentions» make believe, pretend, make — represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like; «She makes like an actress» play possum — to pretend to be dead take a dive — pretend to be knocked out, as of a boxer talk through one’s hat, bull, fake — speak insincerely or without regard for facts or truths; «The politician was not well prepared for the debate and faked it» mouth — articulate silently; form words with the lips only; «She mouthed a swear word» |
|
5. | impress, strike, move infect — affect in a contagious way; «His laughter infects everyone who is in the same room» surprise — cause to be surprised; «The news really surprised me» ingrain, instill, impress — produce or try to produce a vivid impression of; «Mother tried to ingrain respect for our elders in us» awaken — make aware; «They were awakened to the sad facts» incite, motivate, prompt, propel, actuate, move — give an incentive for action; «This moved me to sacrifice my career» engrave — impress or affect deeply; «The event engraved itself into her memory» strike dumb — render speechless, as by surprising or shocking; «we were struck dumb by the candidate’s announcement» zap — strike suddenly and with force; «This show zaps the viewers with some shocking scenes» jar — affect in a disagreeable way; «This play jarred the audience» hit home, strike a note, strike home, strike a chord — refer to or be relevant or familiar to; «I hope this message hits home!» smite — affect suddenly with deep feeling; «He was smitten with love for this young girl» cloud — make gloomy or depressed; «Their faces were clouded with sadness» pierce — move or affect (a person’s emotions or bodily feelings) deeply or sharply; «The cold pierced her bones»; «Her words pierced the students» impress — impress positively; «The young chess player impressed her audience» sweep off, sweep away — overwhelm emotionally; «Her swept her away» disturb, trouble, upset — move deeply; «This book upset me»; «A troubling thought» touch, stir — affect emotionally; «A stirring movie»; «I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy» move — arouse sympathy or compassion in; «Her fate moved us all» sadden — make unhappy; «The news of her death saddened me» alienate — make withdrawn or isolated or emotionally dissociated; «the boring work alienated his employees» come to, hit, strike — cause to experience suddenly; «Panic struck me»; «An interesting idea hit her»; «A thought came to me»; «The thought struck terror in our minds»; «They were struck with fear» |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
affect
1
verb
1. influence, involve, concern, impact, transform, alter, modify, change, manipulate, act on, sway, prevail over, bear upon, impinge upon Millions of people have been affected by the drought.
affect
2
verb put on, assume, adopt, pretend, imitate, simulate, contrive, aspire to, sham, counterfeit, feign He listened to them, affecting an amused interest.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
affect 1
verb
To evoke a usually strong mental or emotional response from:
affect 2
verb
To take on or give a false appearance of:
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُؤَثِّر عَلَىيُؤَثِّر فِي المَشَاعِريُؤثِر
působitdojmoutovlivnitpostihnout
påvirkebevæge
vaikuttaaesittääliikuttaavahingoittaa
utjecati
hafa áhrif á, orka ásnerta
影響を与える
영향을 미치다
jaudintipaveiktisujaudinti
iespaidotietekmētsaviļņot
afektčustvoprizadeti
påverka
กระทบ
tác động
affect
[əˈfekt]
A. VT
7. (archaic or frm) (= like) she affects bright colours → a ella le gustan los colores claros
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
affect
[əˈfɛkt] vt
(= influence, have an effect on) [+ person, life] → affecter, toucher; [+ outcome, result] → influencer, avoir des répercussions sur; [+ ability, performance] → affecter, avoir des répercussions sur; [disease] [+ heart, lungs, liver] → affecter, toucher
(= feign) [+ interest, concern] → feindre
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
affect
1
affect
2
vt
(liter, = like to use etc) clothes, colours → eine Vorliebe or Schwäche haben für
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
affect
(əˈfekt) verb
1. to act or have an effect on. Rain affects the grass; His kidneys have been affected by the disease.
2. to move the feelings of. She was deeply affected by the news of his death.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
affect
→ يُؤثِر působit påvirke betreffen επηρεάζω afectar vaikuttaa affecter utjecati influire 影響を与える 영향을 미치다 beïnvloeden påvirke wpłynąć afetar воздействовать påverka กระทบ etkilemek tác động 影响
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
af·fect
v. afectar, causar un cambio en la salud; conmover, excitar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
affect
n (psych) afecto; blunted — afecto embotado; flat — afecto aplanado; vt afectar; affected by..afectado por
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
влиять, затрагивать, затронуть, аффект
глагол ↓
- (воз)действовать (на что-л.); влиять
the climate has affected his health — этот климат (вредно) повлиял на его здоровье
to affect public opinion [smb.’s resolution, smb.’s choice] — оказать влияние на общественное мнение [на чьё-л. решение, на чей-л. выбор]
it affects me personally — это имеет ко мне прямое отношение, это касается меня лично
- волновать, трогать
the news [smb.’s words] affected him greatly — это известие [чьи-л. слова] на него сильно подействовало [подействовали]
to affect smb. to tears — растрогать кого-л. до слёз
he was not affected by the play — пьеса его не тронула, пьеса оставила его равнодушным
- вредить, наносить ущерб; плохо отражаться, задевать
to affect smb.’s interests — задевать чьи-л. интересы
smoking affects health — курить вредно для здоровья
- мед. поражать
to affect smb.’s heart [eye, lungs] — подействовать кому-л. на сердце [глаза, лёгкие]; отразиться на чьём-л. сердце [чьих-л. глазах, лёгких]
smb.’s lungs [heart, liver] are [is] affected — затронуты лёгкие [-о сердце, -а печень]
- притворяться, прикидываться; делать вид, принимать вид
to affect ignorance [indifference] — притворяться незнающим [безразличным]
he affected illness not to go to work — он симулировал болезнь, чтобы не идти на работу
to affect composure — напускать на себя показное спокойствие
to affect the freethinker — изображать из себя вольнодумца
he affected not to hear me — он сделал вид, что не слышал меня
- имитировать, копировать, подражать
to affect a Southern accent — говорить с нарочитым южным акцентом
- часто употреблять; любить (пользоваться чем-л.)
to affect loud neckties — любить /носить/ яркие /броские/ галстуки
she affects old furniture — она увлекается старинной мебелью
he affects carelessness in dress — он одевается нарочито небрежно
he affects long words that few people can understand — он щеголяет длинными словами, которые мало кто понимает
- принимать форму, вид
drops of every fluid affect a round figure — капли любой жидкости принимают округлую форму
- редк. нуждаться в определённых условиях (о животных и растениях)
rice affects moist land — рису нужна влажная почва
- населять, обитать (о животных и растениях)
lions affect Africa — львы обитают в Африке
moss affects the northern slopes — мох предпочитает северные склоны /чаще растёт на северных склонах/
существительное
- психол. аффект
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
a study of health problems that can affect young infants — исследование проблем со здоровьем, которые могут затрагивать детей раннего возраста
to affect smb. deeply — сильно повлиять на кого-л.
to affect / feign indifference — притворяться равнодушным
to increase / affect potency — повышать, влиять на потенцию
ability to affect — способность воздействовать
affect function — функция аффекта
to affect public opinion — оказать влияние на общественное мнение
to affect the price — влиять на цену
to affect the market — влиять на рынок
to affect guilt — влиять на определение вины
to affect punishment — влиять на определение наказания
Примеры с переводом
The medicine affects my heart rate.
Это лекарство влияет на мой пульс.
Will the new rules affect me?
Коснутся ли меня новые правила? / Будут ли новые правила распространяться на меня?
Global warming will affect all of us.
Глобальное потепление затронет всех нас.
We were all deeply affected by her death.
Мы все были глубоко тронуты ее смертью.
He used to affect a foreign accent.
Он имитировал иностранный акцент.
He has never affected to be surprised.
Он никогда не разыгрывал удивление.
Any body affects some regular shape.
Любое физическое тело стремится принять какую-то определённую форму.
ещё 23 примера свернуть
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
No one is better than Didion at using flatness of affect and formality of diction to convey seething anger and disdain.
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Возможные однокоренные слова
affected — пораженный, тронутый, напускной, жеманный, задетый, растроганный, неестественный
affection — привязанность, любовь, влияние, воздействие, влечение, склонность, болезнь
affective — эмоциональный
affecting — затрагивающий, трогательный, волнующий, впечатляющий
affectless — безрезультатный, бесплодный, напрасный, неэффективный, недейственный, недействительный
Формы слова
verb
I/you/we/they: affect
he/she/it: affects
ing ф. (present participle): affecting
2-я ф. (past tense): affected
3-я ф. (past participle): affected
noun
ед. ч.(singular): affect
мн. ч.(plural): affects
- Top Definitions
- Synonyms
- Quiz
- Related Content
- Affect Vs. Effect
- Examples
- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ verb uh—fekt; noun af-ekt ]
/ verb əˈfɛkt; noun ˈæf ɛkt /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
verb (used with object)
to act on; produce an effect or change in: Cold weather affected the crops.
to impress the mind or move the feelings of: The music affected him deeply.
(of pain, disease, etc.) to attack or lay hold of.
noun
Psychology. feeling or emotion.
Psychiatry. an expressed or observed emotional response: Restricted, flat, or blunted affect may be a symptom of mental illness, especially schizophrenia.
Obsolete. affection; passion; sensation; inclination; inward disposition or feeling.
VIDEO FOR AFFECT
How To Use «Affect» vs. «Effect»
Effect and affect: can you keep these two words straight? We can’t either which is why we are giving you some examples to learn the difference between the two!
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Origin of affect
1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin affectus “acted upon, subjected to; mental or emotional state” (past participle and action noun of afficere ), equivalent to af- “toward” + fec- (combining form of facere “to make, do”) + -tus action noun suffix or -tus past participle suffix; see af-
words often confused with affect
Affect1 and effect, each both noun and verb, share the sense of “influence,” and because of their similarity in pronunciation are sometimes confused in writing. As a verb affect1 means “to act on” or “to move” ( His words affected the crowd so deeply that many wept ); affect2 means “to pretend” or “to assume” ( new students affecting a nonchalance they didn’t feel ). The verb effect means “to bring about, accomplish”: Her administration effected radical changes. The noun effect means “result, consequence”: the serious effects of the oil spill. The noun affect1 pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, is a technical term in psychology and psychiatry. Affect2 is not used as a noun.
OTHER WORDS FROM affect
af·fect·a·ble, adjectiveaf·fect·a·bil·i·ty, noun
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH affect
affect , effect (see confusables note at the current entry)
Words nearby affect
affaire, affaire d’amour, affaire de coeur, affaire d’honneur, affairs, affect, affectation, affected, affecting, affection, affectional
Other definitions for affect (2 of 2)
verb (used with object)
to give the appearance of; pretend or feign: to affect knowledge of the situation.
to assume artificially, pretentiously, or for effect: to affect a Southern accent.
to use, wear, or adopt by preference; choose; prefer: the peculiar costume he affected.
to assume the character or attitude of: to affect the freethinker.
(of things) to tend toward habitually or naturally: a substance that affects colloidal form.
(of animals and plants) to occupy or inhabit; live in or on: Lions affect Africa. Moss affects the northern slopes.
Archaic.
- to have affection for; fancy.
- to aim at; aspire to.
verb (used without object)
Obsolete. to incline, tend, or favor (usually followed by to): He affects to the old ways.
Origin of affect
2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French affecter, from Latin affectāre “to strive after, feign” (frequentative of afficere “to do to”), equivalent to af-af- + fec- (see affect1) + -tāre frequentative suffix
synonym study for affect
words often confused with affect
OTHER WORDS FROM affect
af·fect·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
AFFECT VS. EFFECT
What’s the difference between affect and effect?
Affect is most commonly used as a verb meaning to act on or produce a change in someone or something. Effect is most commonly used as a noun meaning a result or consequence.
Remembering the difference between the words can be especially hard because these senses of the words have just about the same pronunciation. Complicating things further is the fact that affect can also be used as a noun (referring to a state of emotion, as in He had a sad affect) and effect can also be used as a verb (meaning to make happen, as in We can only effect change by taking action). However, these senses of the words are much less commonly used.
You can remember that affect is most commonly used as a verb because it begins with a, for action.
You can also remember how affect and effect are most commonly used by using the acronym RAVEN:
R = Remember
A = Affect is a
V = Verb
E = Effect is a
N = Noun
Here’s an example of affect and effect used correctly in the same sentence.
Example: It’s unclear what immediate effects the new law will have or how it will affect future generations.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between affect and effect.
Quiz yourself on affect vs. effect!
Should affect or effect be used in the following sentence?
The campaign is hoping that the ads have a big _____ on voter turnout.
Words related to affect
alter, change, disturb, influence, interest, involve, touch, upset, impinge, impress, induce, inspire, modify, move, overcome, perturb, prevail, regard, relate, stir
How to use affect in a sentence
-
Defects on this chromosome are more likely to affect men, who have only one copy, while women have two.
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With this information we can continue to develop powerful new models with better accuracy for determining how different habitat factors, such as the number of milkweed stems or nectaring flowers on a landscape scale, affect the monarch population.
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We are part of an international study to understand how women who are expecting to or have given birth are affected by stress related to the pandemic.
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For example, it recently implemented a clothing closet, where people could donate items to assist families affected by the pandemic.
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If it’s not affecting me physically or emotionally, I can’t get angry and I won’t be scared.
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The vaccine is delivered through a “carrier virus” that causes a common cold in chimpanzees but does not affect humans.
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At this point in his life, Denton has enough filthy lucre in his bank account to affect a certain lack of interest in the stuff.
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If they are treating black people differently, then how can that not affect the president?
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We tried to become involved with committees that affect us and policing before Ferguson.
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Her personal feelings about religion do not affect how she behaves legally, politically, or socially.
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It did not in any way affect prices or wages, which were rendered neither greater nor less thereby.
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He did not affect to conceal his anger; and yet, strange to say, it was not visible to Mr Bellamy.
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All the parts are made of metal, so that no change in the weather can affect their relative positions.
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As all parts of this apparatus are of metal changes in humidity or temperature do not affect its regulation.
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At such a moment neither party would affect to forget the Bruce’s royal pretensions.
British Dictionary definitions for affect (1 of 2)
verb (əˈfɛkt) (tr)
to act upon or influence, esp in an adverse waydamp affected the sparking plugs
to move or disturb emotionally or mentallyher death affected him greatly
(of pain, disease, etc) to attack
noun (ˈæfɛkt, əˈfɛkt)
psychol the emotion associated with an idea or set of ideasSee also affection
Word Origin for affect
C17: from Latin affectus, past participle of afficere to act upon, from ad- to + facere to do
British Dictionary definitions for affect (2 of 2)
verb (mainly tr)
to put on an appearance or show of; make a pretence ofto affect ignorance
to imitate or assume, esp pretentiouslyto affect an accent
to have or use by preferenceshe always affects funereal clothing
to adopt the character, manner, etc, ofhe was always affecting the politician
(of plants or animals) to live or grow inpenguins affect an arctic climate
to incline naturally or habitually towardsfalling drops of liquid affect roundness
Word Origin for affect
C15: from Latin affectāre to strive after, pretend to have; related to afficere to affect 1
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
affect adversely
cause repercussions; have an unwanted effect
produce an effect or strain on somebody
have an effect for good or ill
act as a stimulant
subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition
make a compound react with water and undergo hydrolysis
affect as in thought or feeling
put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position
affect or afflict suddenly, usually adversely
cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to
cause inconvenience or discomfort to
have and exert influence or effect
make a forceful move against
cause to propagate, as by grafting or layering
subject to the action of bacteria
treat with iodine
treat with nitric acid, so as to change an organic compound into a nitrate
treat in a tank
impregnate, combine, or supply with oxygen
treat to strengthen and improve the luster
treat with malt or malt extract
subject to fluoridation; treat with fluoride
treat with creosote
treat or combine with chlorine
treat with carbon dioxide
treat with camphor
treat with bromine
treat with ammonia
expose to radiation
treat with boiling water
give life or energy to
treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition
stimulate to action
excite to some characteristic action or condition, such as motion, contraction, or nervous impulse, by the application of a stimulus
treat with nitrogen or a nitrogen compound
treat, process, heat, melt, or refine in a reverberatory furnace
treat by incorporating fat
sprinkle with silver iodide particles to disperse and cause rain
treat with an agent; add (an agent) to
treat with sulphur in order to preserve
subject to vulcanization
treat with a chromium compound
treat with bitumen
age or bleach flour with Agene (nitrogen trichloride)
cause to perform
treat (a chemical compound) with carboxyl or carboxylic acid
convert into a simple soluble fermentable sugar by hydrolyzing a sugar derivative or complex carbohydrate
process (ores or other raw materials), as by reduction
influence (somebody’s) opinion in advance
expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute
convert food into absorbable substances
expose to the effects of vitriol or injure with vitriol
cause (someone) to undergo something
cause to experience shipwreck
subject to refraction
expose or make accessible to some action or influence
expose to light, of photographic film
treat with fumes, expose to fumes, especially with the aim of disinfecting or eradicating pests
control the humidity and temperature of
establish or impress firmly in the mind
have force or influence; bring about an effect or change
influence or control shrewdly or deviously
modify or bias
influence decisively
exert pressure on someone through threats
win approval or support for
influence by corruption
influence an event or its outcome by illegal means
bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship
be in control
make oneself subject to; bring upon oneself; become liable to
Britannica Dictionary definition of AFFECT
[+ object]
1
:
to produce an effect on (someone or something): such as
a
:
to act on (someone or something) and cause a change
-
His decisions could affect [=influence] the lives of millions of people.
-
The accident will affect [=influence] the value of the car.
-
We learned about the way the oceans are affected by the moon.
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This medication may affect your ability to drive a car. [=this medicine may make it dangerous for you to drive a car]
-
This new evidence will affect the outcome of the trial.
-
The news could adversely affect [=could hurt] her chances of becoming the next president.
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We kept the change from affecting [=harming] our friendship.
-
The incident really affected my opinion of him.
b
:
to cause strong emotions in (someone)
-
The criticism affected [=bothered, upset] her deeply/greatly.
-
The entire town was affected by their deaths. [=everyone in the town felt sad about their deaths]
-
We were all greatly affected by the terrible news. [=we were all very upset by the terrible news]
c
:
to cause a change in (a part of the body)
-
Paralysis affected his limbs. = His limbs were affected by/with paralysis. [=his limbs were paralyzed]
-
The disease can affect your muscles.
-
drugs that affect the nervous/immune system
d
:
to cause illness in (someone)
-
The condition affects about five million adults each year.
-
a serious disease primarily/mainly affecting women over the age of 40
-
Only men appear to be affected by the disease.
Usage
Do not confuse the verbs affect and effect. Affect means to act on or change someone or something.
-
Rain affected [=influenced] their performance.
Effect means to cause something to happen.
-
The new president effected [=made, caused] many changes to/in the company’s policies.
Note that the verb affect and the noun effect are used in contexts that are similar.
-
The weather affected our plans. = The weather had an effect on our plans. [=the weather caused us to change our plans]
2
formal
:
to pretend that a false behavior or feeling is natural or genuine
-
She affected indifference [=she pretended that she did not care], though she was deeply hurt.
-
He affected (a look of) surprise. [=he pretended to be surprised]
-
She affects [=feigns] a warm friendly manner.
-
He affected [=faked] a French accent.