Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EF'FA-BLE, a. [L. effabilis, from effor; ex and for, to speak.]

Utterable; that may be uttered or spoken. [This word is not used; but ineffable is in common use.]

EF-FACE, v.t. [Fr. effacer, from the L. ex and facio or facies.]

1. To destroy a figure on the surface of any thing, whether painted or carved, so as to render it invisible or not distinguishable; as, to efface the letters on a monument.
2. To blot out; to erase, strike or scratch out, so as to destroy or render illegible; as, to efface a writing; to efface a name.
3. To destroy any impression on the mind; to wear away; as, to efface the image of a person in the mind; to efface ideas or thoughts; to efface gratitude. Dryden. To deface is to injure or impair a figure; to efface is to rub out or destroy, so as to render invisible.

EF-FAC-ED, pp.

Rubbed or worn out; destroyed, as a figure or impression.

EF-FACE'MENT, n.

Act of effacing.

EF-FAC-ING, ppr.

Destroying a figure, character or impression, on any thing.

EF-FAS'CIN-ATE, v.t.

To charm; to bewitch. [Obs. See Fascinate.]

EF-FECT', n. [L. effectus, from efficio; ex and facio, to make; It. effetto; Fr. effet.]

1. That which is produced by an agent or cause; as, the effect of luxury; the effect of intemperance. Poverty, disease and disgrace are the natural effects of dissipation.
2. Consequence; event. To say that a composition is imperfect, is in effect to say the author is a man. Anon.
3. Purpose; general intent. They spoke to her to that effect. 2 Chron. xxxiv.
4. Consequence intended; utility; profit; advantage. Christ is become of no effect to you. Gal. v.
5. Force; validity. The obligation is void and of no effect.
6. Completion; perfection. Not so worthily to be brought to heroical effect by fortune or necessity. Sidney.
7. Reality; not mere appearance; fact. No other In effect than what It seems. Denham.
8. In the plural, effects are goods; movables; personal estate. The people escaped from the town with their effects.

EF-FECT', v.t. [from the Noun.]

1. To produce, as a cause or agent; to cause to be. The revolution in France effected a great change of property.
2. To bring to pass; to achieve; to accomplish; as, to effect an object or purpose.

EF-FECT'ED, pp.

Done; perforned; accomplished.

EF-FECT'I-BLE, a.

That may be done or achieved; practicable; feasible. Brown.

EF-FECT'ING, ppr.

Producing; performing; accomplishing.

EF-FECT'IVE, a.

1. Having the power to cause or produce; efficacious. They are not effective of any thing. Bacon.
2. Operative; active; having the quality of producing effects. Time is not effective, nor are bodies destroyed by it. Brown.
3. Efficient; causing to be; as, an effective cause. Taylor.
4. Having the power of active operation; able; as, effective men in an army; an effective force.

EF-FECT'IVE-LY, adv.

With effect; powerfully; with real operation. This effectively resists the devil. Taylor. [In this sense, effectually is generally used.]

EF-FECT'LESS, a.

Without effect; without advantage; useless. Shak.

EF-FECT'OR, n.

One who effects; one who produces or causes; a maker or creator. Derham.

EF-FECT'U-AL, a.

1. Producing an effect, or the effect desired or intended; or having adequate power or force to produce the effect. The means employed were effectual. According to the gift of the grace of God given me by the effectual working of his power. Eph. iii.
2. Veracious; expressive of facts. [Not used.] Shak.
3. Effectual assassin, in Mitford, is unusual and not well authorized.

EF-FECT'U-AL-LY, adv.

With effect; efficaciously; in a manner to produce the intended effect; thoroughly. The weeds on land for grain must be effectually subdued. The city is effectually guarded.

EF-FECT'U-ATE, v.t. [Fr. effectuer. See Effect.]

To bring to pass; to achieve; to accomplish; to fulfill; as, to effectuate a purpose or desire. Sidney.

EF-FECT'U-A-TED, pp.

Accomplished.

EF-FECT'U-A-TING, ppr.

Achieving; performing to effect.

EF-FECT-U-A'TION, n.

Act of effecting. Dwight.

EF-FEM'IN-A-CY, n. [from effeminate.]

1. The softness, delicacy and weakness in men, which are characteristic of the female sex, but which in males are deemed a reproach; unmanly delicacy; womanish softness or weakness. Milton.
2. Voluptuousness; indulgence in unmanly pleasures; lasciviousness. Taylor.

EF-FEM'IN-ATE, a. [L. effœminatus, from effœminor, to grow or make womanish, from fœmina, a woman. See Woman.]

1. Having the qualities of the female sex; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; tender; womanish; voluptuous. The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became effeminate, and less sensible of honor. Bacon.
2. Womanish; weak; resembling the practice or qualities of the sex; as, an effeminate peace; an effeminate life.
3. Womanlike, tender, in a sense not reproachful. Shak.

EF-FEM'IN-ATE, v.i.

To grow womanish or weak; to melt into weakness. In a slothful peace courage will effeminate. Pope.

EF-FEM'IN-ATE, v.t.

To make womanish; to unman; to weaken; as, to effeminate children. Locke.