affect
//əˈfɛkt//
Forms
- present (v1)
- affect
- past (v2)
- affected
- past participle (v3)
- affected
- present participle
- affecting
- 3rd person singular
- affects
- Plural
- affects
Definitions
1.To influence or alter.
- The climate affected their health and spirits.
- The heat of the sunlight affected the speed of the chemical reaction.
- The experience affected me deeply.
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.Of an illness or condition, to infect or harm (a part of the body).
4.To burden (property) with a fixed charge or payment, or other condition or restriction.
1.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.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #984
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Etymology
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”).
By surface analysis, af- + Latin -fect.