Middle English Dictionary Entry
effect n.
Entry Info
| Forms | effect n. Also effet(te. |
| Etymology | L effectus, OF effe(c)t. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) Execution or completion (of an act); attainment or consummation (of a desire, an aim); fulfillment or realization (of a wish, a prayer, a dream); (b) comen to ~, achieve or attain to; produce (fruit); taken ~, to be achieved or realized; of a dispute: to be settled or concluded; (c) bringen to ~, carry out or realize (a purpose), consummate (an ideal); put into operation, make (something) operate; fulfillen the ~, achieve an end, to consummate.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.2.25 : Two thinges ther ben in whiche the effect of alle the dedes of mankynde standeth..wil and power.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.10.262 : Yf that a wyght wolde ryden for cause of hele, he ne desireth not so mochel the moevyng to ryden, as the effect of his hele.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.60/9 : She deseruyd of the most mekest crystys Apostle the effecte of her peticioun.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)960 : At the last he welcummyd hym goodely, Grauntyng the effecte off hys dysyre fully.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)5 : Why th'effect folweth of somme [dreams], And of somme hit shal never come.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.782 : Albeit that his desir ne take noon effect, yet is it to hym a deedly synne.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1261 : Faste [he] blew the fir For to come to theffect of his desir.
- (1447-8) Shillingford43/19 : The which mater..ys like to take effecte and gode ende.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)13/6 : Lyke as all flowres, þough þei come oute of on rote of oo tre, yett þei come not all to effecte of fruyte.
c
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)33/502 : Þe bigynnyng of þis martirdom Furst of þat mayden com, But þe kniht þe effecte folfuld, For þat he was furst iculd.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4025 : But to effecte our purpos for to bryng, My counseil is..Þat we vs arme in al haste.
- a1425 *Trev.Barth.(Mrg M 875)22b/a : The vtter wit conteyneþ þe syȝte, herynge, seyinge.. & þese wit in his lymis is brouȝte to effecte in þis maner [etc.].
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)69/10 : His holy doctrine expressid his clene lyf and his holy lyf brout his doctrine on-to effecte, þat is to se, a parfith ende.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)10 : Sir Robert Grame was half the better consentid to bryng thaire purpos to effecte.
1b.
Law taken effect, become operative, come into force; standen in ~, be in force; of non ~, not in force, not valid.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.4.102 : The coempcioun ne was nat axid ne took effect.
- (1442) Rec.Norwich 2151 : Þat þis ordennaunce be gyune to take effect at Michelmas next nowe coming.
- (1444) RParl.5.103a : That the seid Article so autorised be voyd..and of non forse ne effect.
- (1448) Indent.Cmb.in PCmb.AS 939 : That then the forseid obligacion of an C li stand in none strenketh nor effect.
- (1450) RParl.5.197b : Yat oure Letters Patentz..stande in there strengh and pleyne effecte.
- (1450) RParl.5.202b : That all such Letters Patentes..be voide and of none effecte.
- (1472) RParl.6.27a : That the said Acte..be voide, and of noo force nor effecte ayenst the said Rauf.
1c.
In phrases: in effect, by doing, in deed; in fact, actually, really; frend of ~, a friend in deed, a true friend.
Associated quotations
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.319 : Al was fee symple to hym in effect.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2395 : Oure dedes ben of o colour And in effect of o decerte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)11a/b : Ofte he [God] scheweþ, in effect, suche workes as men doþ wiþ feet oþir wiþ goinge.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.359 : Ther was an auctour..That..cast hym nat transmwe In al the story a worde as in sentence..That in effecte the substaunce is the same.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3285 : For in effecte, ageyn þe foule fvme..Þe ymage was a preseruatif, Hym to defende and to saue his life.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.750 : Lettris tweyne..Whiche concluded tresoun in effect.
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)308/31 : iij Milions of Scutes..iij Ml floreyns..al is on in effecte.
- ?c1425(c1390) Chaucer Fort.(Benson-Robinson)34 : I have thee taught divisioun bitwene Frend of effect, and frend of countenaunce.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)510 : Worschipe thou (in affect and effect bi reuerencing) thi fadir and modir.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)24 : Nether he, ne none of all the other..wold never have done that murdure yn effecte.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)355/32 : If þou wilte..trewly fulfille hit [this doctrine] in effecte, þou schalt be blessid.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)118 : Euerlasting lyf in Ioye, þe whiche many desirithe, but few laborithe in Effecte to have it.
2.
The power or capacity to produce an intended result; efficacy, effectiveness; withouten ~, without efficacy or effect, ineffectual; to ~, to the point, effectively; taken ~, comen to ~, to produce an intended result, to have an effect.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.607 : Charmes for woundes..if they taken any effect, it may be parauenture that god suffreth it.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)238a/b : Þe effect [L efficacia] and might of medicyne of þis herbe is most in þe crop.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)137/18 : That he be not of many wordys, but that he be well avyside..and to effecte, his Purpos to Say and Shewe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.6.337 : Preyeris that ne mowen nat ben unspedful, ne withouten effect [L inefficaces] whan they been ryghtful.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)47a/b : If þer were medled with hem his owne vrine, it shuld haue more effecte [L efficaciam].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)121a/b : Þis vnguent In þe which I haue founden most effecte [L efficaciam].
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)83/2 : Þe preste cam a-geyn to hir to preuyn þe effect of her preyerys.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)229/33 : Þe pepil hath many tyme bannyd me, cursyd me..desiryng þat I schulde deyin in myschef.. & now, Lord, it is lyke þat her bannyng comyth to effect.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1814 : I se, wel smal effecte, Or elles non, my wordes in the take.
3.
(a) That which follows from something else; a consequence, sequel, result; outcome, issue, upshot; (b) of a chain of events: sequel or upshot; gret effect, culminating event or action.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2989 : The firste moeuere of the cause aboue, Whan he first made the faire cheyne of loue, Greet was theffect and heigh was his entente.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1759 : Whan theffect [of besinesse] is ydelnesse, I not what thing is besinesse.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.212 : O blynde world, O blynde entencioun! How often falleth al the effect contraire Of surquidrie and foul presumpcioun.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)3b/a : The maner & þe foorme of worchynge profitably with the forseide Instrumentes is chosen..by consideracioun of þe effectes of þe werk.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.71 : And in þe fuyre he caste hym for to brenne. Lo how þe effecte was turned to reuerse! A litel reyne defended hym fro þenne.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)377/42 : For hee hath both [the sacrament bodily and goostly] to-gedir, þe ȝiver with þe ȝifte, & þe cause with þe effecte.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)100/67 : Of two contraries, contrarye ben the effectes.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1189 : Greet was the stryf..If that I hadde leyser for to seye. But to theffect, it happed on a day [etc.].
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.505 : But to the grete effect.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1580 : But of this thing right to the effect to go, Whan tyme was [etc.].
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)929 : I shal..Folwe thy [Virgil's] lanterne..In Naso and Eneydos wol I take The tenor and the grete effectes make.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1160 : Now to th' effect, now to the fruyt of al, Whi I have told this story.
4a.
Phil. (a) The embodiment or manifestation of 'being' or 'substance' in individual acts or things; the action of embodying 'forms' in 'real things'; also, an act, individual, or thing so manifested, or its 'nature'; (b) the observable manifestation or effect of a 'quality'; (c) a property or attribute (of something) regarded as the observable manifestation of its essential nature.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)8a/b : Me treteth of god..touchinge beynge and persone, oþir effect, doynge, and propirte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)9a/b : Þeiȝ þe essencia of god may not be knowe..ȝit he is I knowe in þe effect of his workes & dedes [L in suo effectu]; in so moche as he is principium and cause of alle þinges..Positif, he [God] may nouȝt be knowe but by þeffect of his werkes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)11a/b : Seint Denys descryueþ many maner effectis of god and seiþ he is cause & principium of alle þinges.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)11b/b : Þe fadir & sone for diuers effectis in creatures haueþ diuers names.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.52 : Of thinges of whiche that the effect nys nat naturely divers, nedes the substaunce moot be oo same thing.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)203 : Þou wrouȝtist and disposist and araiedist al þi werkis and þyn effectis sufficient to make an hool world in vj daies.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)28b/b : Of hem [þe principal qualitees] comeþ al þe secundarye effectis..Hete is qualite of elementis most actif as it is sene be þe effect þerof.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)30b/a : Þe effecte of drouȝte is to make drye..and haþ many secundaries effectis as to make þicke & rowh.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)9b/b : Somme [nounes adiectiue] tokeneth..effect in creatures, and somme respect..Of hem þat tokeneth effect, somme tokeneth it in good habilite [L in habitu] as..riȝtful, merciable, And somme in dede doinge [L in actu] as..makinge riȝtful.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)152a/a : Þe propretees beeþ discryuede of fyre and of ayre. Now it is to doyng of somwhat of effectes and doynge of watres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)153b/a : Touchinge effecte and doynge [L effectum], a ryuer haþ many profitables þat ben couenable to þe vse of men.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)268b/a : Priue and vnknowe effectes of kynde of foure footede bestes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)269b/a : Aspides..haueþ dyuerse effectes and doynges [L dispares effectus] to noye and to grieue.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)312a/a : Aboute effecte and doynge of odours [L circa effectum odorum] ben many opynyouns.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)7/14 : [He þat wyl knowe] soþfastnes of a þing, bisie him nouȝt to knowe þe name of a þing, but þe worchinge & þe effete [vr. effecte] of þe same þing.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.6.111 : The nature of every thyng maketh his proprete, ne it is nat entremedlyd with the effect of contrarious thynges.
4b.
Med. A symptom of disease, regarded both as an external manifestation of the presence of disease and as a result of the causes of disease.
Associated quotations
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)256 : Monkynde þat was mad Parfyt, he fonde infecte. Causes of sikenes þen he forbad And eke þerof þe efecte.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)101b/b : To knowe by effect and doynge whanne venyme is Itake in mete.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)81b/a : Drie and moiste [ulcers] ar knowen bi her effectez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)155a/b : Þe knowing of effectez is more certayne to vs lechez þan knowing of causez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)44a/a : Sich bubonez beþ burgeonyngez or springyngez & effectez of inward apostemez.
4c.
Astrol. The operation or action (of a heavenly body) on human affairs; influence.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.768 : Theffect and disposicion Of this Planete [Mercury]..Is most in Burgoigne and in France.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.682 : The which in juggementz acompteth Theffect, what every sterre amonteth, And hou thei causen many a wonder To tho climatz that stonde hem under.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)162a/b : [Earth] fongeþ in euery syde influence and effect of heuen.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.277 : She knewe the effectes, as þei shul falle, Of alle þe bodyes wiche we planetes calle.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20291 : To knowe the maner and the guyse Off grete effectys off the hevene, And off planetys alle sevene.
5.
Essential content, gist, essence, purport (of an utterance, a letter, a line of action); meaning, significance; sum and substance (of income); essential manner of working (of a contrivance).
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4325 : His bakere and his butiller..they ne felte noon effect in dremes.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.322 : The kyng axeth this knyght The vertu of this courser and the myght..'Bid hym..trille another pyn, For ther inne lith theffect of al the gyn.'
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1451 : My dwellyng is in helle, And here I ryde aboute my purchasyng..My purchas is theffect of al my rente.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1398 : And for his freendes on a day he sente To tellen hem theffect of his entente.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1306 : He þe effect ful pleynly vndirstode; For euery þing he prented in his þouȝt.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1903 : My purpoos is breefly to expresse Theffecte only, as in sentement, Of the massage why that I am sent.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1629 : Ek gret effect men write in place lite; Th' entente is al, and nat the lettres space.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)620 : Lest that I shulde slake Of thyng that bereth more effect and charge.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)153/32 : Her is but a lityl of þe effect þerof, for he had not ryth cler mende of þe sayd mater whan he wrot þis tretys.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer Pity (Benson-Robinson)56 : For to my foes my bille I dar not shewe, Th'effect of which seith thus in wordes fewe.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)325/40 : Hit may be comprehendet, as in effecte, in to VII poyntes þat longene to þe trewe loue of owre lorde Jhesu.
- a1500 Now ȝee that will (Cmb Ff.1.6)87 : A litle bill for too compile Vn-too thys lady..Theffect of whych was thus in dede.
6a.
(a) Intended result, purpose, object, intent; (b) to the effect that, in order that, so that.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)827 : But þis theffecte of my mater finalle: Wiþ deþ or merci reles forto finde.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)407 : Oþere psalmes..ben ful good into þe office of preising whanne þei ben..rad to gider of a man which can..referre hem into þe effect into which þei were made and into which þei accordingly seruen.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)508 : In by comyng boond to this leche for the seid effect and purpos.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.223 : Ȝit atteyne may þey noght þerto, And þat effecte [vr. affecte] þe wrecches faileth fro.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)273 : The..duke of Lancastir..gave it to the Prince Edward, to this effect, that aftir his faderes deces he schuld be anoynted with the same.
- (?1474) Stonor1.148 : I have spokyn with my cosyn Cottismore and aftyre the effect that ye and I comynyd.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.3058 : Lat mercy be in youre herte, to theffect and entente that god almyghty haue mercy on yow.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.3073 : I..foryeue yow..to this effect and to this ende that god..wole..foryeuen vs oure giltes.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)46/29 : Ȝeuing of grace into þis effect þat þerbi wijt of synne bifore doon schal be forȝouun.
6b.
Law Intent (of a legal document, a law, a custom, etc.); also, a stipulation or provision contained in such a document; after the fourme and effect, according to the letter and the spirit (of a law).
Associated quotations
- (1415) Will in Bdf.HRS 232 : After þe effecte and þe fourme of my Fadir will.
- (1431) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.99 : That after the fourme, teneur, contenue, and effette of the deedes, lettres, and endentures..ye make ful and plain estat vnto oure said brother.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.516 : An annuytee..aftir the forme and effectes of ye same my dede.
- (1441) Proc.Privy C.5.156 : After the fourme, contenue and effecte of a cedule to this bille annexid.
- (1449) Pet.Pell in Antiq.24101 : Lettres Patentes of Licence to be made unto him after th'efect that ensueth, in due forme.
- (1450) Let.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12164 : The indenturs therofe made, with all the condicionez, appoyntments and effectez expresside in thayme.
- (1456) Deed Yks.in YASRS 3925 : Aftir the dewe fourme and effect of the lawe.
- (1473) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.788 : It is Aggreit..betuix the Lordis Commissioners of botht the Realms forsade, in Maner, Forme, and Effect, as after folowis.
- -?-(1451) Mackerell's MS Hist.Norwich (1737) in Nrf.Archaeol.3328 : That..Seynt George be worscherped..in the seid place after the fourme and effecte of the old use had afore this tyme.
7.
Associated quotations
- :
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)20 : The same kyng..seyd that he wolde perfourme with effecte that he hadde byfore byhiht on that partye.
Note: New phrase to be added to sense 2.
Note: Gloss: with ~, efficaciously, effectively.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)27286 : To se of cadwaladre schewing To qwat effek þai might it bring.
Note: New form: Also..effek.
Note: Belongs to sense 1a.(c).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)170 : Nodde not with thyn heuy bekke! Telle vs some thyng that draweþ to effecte [vr. effekke] Only of Ioye!
Note: New form: Also..effekke.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 3.(a).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Revised form section: Also efect, ef(f)ecte, effet(t)e, effek(ke.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)40ab : Alle that tyme men ete no flesshe, for therbes and fruytes were thenne of grete strengthe and effecte; they were pure and norisshyng.
Note: Additional quote, sense 2.