affect

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To influence or alter.

   • The experience affected me deeply.
   • The heat of the sunlight affected the speed of the chemical reaction.
   • The climate affected their health and spirits.
2. 2

   To move to emotion.

   • He was deeply affected by the tragic ending of the play.
   • A consideration of the rationale of our passions seems to me very necessary for all who would affect them upon solid and pure principles.
3. 3

   Of an illness or condition, to infect or harm (a part of the body).

   • Hepatitis affects the liver.
4. ›+ 12 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To dispose or incline.

      • men whom they thought best affected to religion and their country's liberty
   2. 5

      To tend to by affinity or disposition.

      • The drops of every fluid affect a round figure.
   3. 6

      To assign

      To assign; to appoint.

      • One of the domestics was affected to his special service.
   4. 7

      To burden (property) with a fixed charge or payment, or other condition or restriction.

   5. 8

      To feign or pretend.

      • The light above the door made it unconvincing to affect that no one was at home.
   6. 9

      To make a show of

      To make a show of; to put on a pretense of; to feign; to assume. To make a false display of.

      • to affect ignorance
      • to affect a British accent
      • He managed to affect a smile despite feeling quite miserable.
   7. 10

      To aim for, to try to obtain.

      • Duke.[...] I loue the people, But doe not like to stage me to their eyes: Though it doe well, I doe not rellish well Their lowd applause, and Aues vehement: Nor doe I thinke the man of safe discretion That do's affect it.
      • For it is believed, that he never was married, affecting and embracing Chastity through the whole course of his Life.
      • Wiſe are thy words, and glad I would obey, / But this proud man affects imperial ſway.
   8. 11

      To feel affection for (someone)

      To feel affection for (someone); to like, be fond of.

      • There is a Lady in Verona heere Whom I affect: but she is nice, and coy, And naught esteemes my aged eloquence.
      • From that day forth she gan to him affect, / And daily more her favour to augment […]
      • 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 […]
   9. 12

      To show a fondness for (something)

      To show a fondness for (something); to choose.

      • 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.
      • 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, Do not affect the society of your inferiors in rank, nor court that of the great.
   10. 13

       A subjective feeling experienced in response to a thought or other stimulus

       A subjective feeling experienced in response to a thought or other stimulus; mood, emotion, especially as demonstrated in external physical signs.

       • A third study demonstrated that the effects of self-affirmation on self-regulated performance were not due to positive affect.
   11. 14

       One's mood or inclination

       One's mood or inclination; mental state.

   12. 15

       A desire, an appetite.

The neighborhood

• neighboraffection
• neighboraffectionate
• neighboraffective