different between effect vs occasion

English

Etymology

For noun: from Middle English effect, from Old French effect (modern French effet), from Latin effectus (“an effect, tendency, purpose”), from effici? (“accomplish, complete, effect”); see effect as a verb. Replaced Old English fremming, fremednes from fremman.

For verb: from Middle English effecten, partly from Latin effectus, perfect passive participle of effici? (“accomplish, complete, do, effect”), from ex (“out”) + faci? (“do, make”) (see fact and compare affect, infect) and partly from the noun effect.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??f?kt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??f?kt/
• (Malaysia, Singapore) IPA^(key): /i?f?kt/
• Rhymes: -?kt
• Hyphenation: ef?fect

Noun

effect (countable and uncountable, plural effects)

1. The result or outcome of a cause.

2. Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.
   • October 1832, unknown author, The Tears of Parents (in The Christian Observer Volume 32

     patchwork […] introduced for oratorical effect

   • 1832, Washington Irving, Tales of the Alhambra

     The effect was heightened by the wild and lonely nature of the place.

3. Execution; performance; realization; operation.
   1. (uncountable) The state of being binding and enforceable, as in a rule, policy, or law.

4. (cinematography) An illusion produced by technical means (as in "special effect")

5. (sound engineering) An alteration, or device for producing an alteration, in sound after it has been produced by an instrument.

6. (physics, psychology, etc.) A scientific phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer.

7. (usually in the plural) Belongings, usually as personal effects.
8. Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; with to.

   • They spake to her to that effect.

9. (obsolete) Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance.
   • 1642, John Denham, Cooper's Hill

     no other in effect than what it seems

10. (obsolete) Manifestation; expression; sign.

Usage notes

Do not confuse with affect.

Adjectives often applied to "effect":

• biological, chemical, cultural, economic, legal, mental, moral, nutritional, personal, physical, physiological, political and social
• actual, bad, beneficial, catastrophic, deleterious, disastrous, devastating, fatal, good, harmful, important, intended, likely, natural, negative, positive, potential, primary, real, secondary, significant, special, strong, undesirable and weak

Hyponyms

Derived terms

• after-effect

Related terms

• in effect
• take effect
• personal effects

Translations

References

Verb

effect (third-person singular simple present effects, present participle effecting, simple past and past participle effected)

1. (transitive) To make or bring about; to implement.

2. Misspelling of affect.

Usage notes

Effect is often confused with affect. The latter suggests influence over existing ideas, emotions and entities; the former indicates the manifestation of new or original ideas or entities:

• “New governing coalitions have effected major changes” indicates that major changes were made as a result of new governing coalitions.
• “New governing coalitions have affected major changes” indicates that before new governing coalitions, major changes were in place, and that the new governing coalitions had some influence over those existing changes.

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• effect in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• effect in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch effect, from Latin effectus. The sense ‘(equitable) security’ borrowed from German Effekt or French effet.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??f?kt/
• Hyphenation: ef?fect
• Rhymes: -?kt

Noun

effect n (plural effecten, diminutive effectje n)

1. effect
2. (finance, usually in the plural) security

   Hypernym: waardepapier

3. (ball games) spin (rotation of a ball)
4. (obsolete) personal effect, belonging

Compounds

• broeikaseffect
• domino-effect
• effectbal
• effectenbeurs
• sneeuwbaleffect

Derived terms

• effectief

Descendants

• Afrikaans: effek
• ? Indonesian: efek

References

Middle French

Alternative forms

• effaict

Etymology

From Old French effect

Noun

effect m (plural effects)

1. effect

Descendants

• French: effet

Old French

Etymology

From Latin effectus

Noun

effect m (oblique plural effecz or effectz, nominative singular effecz or effectz, nominative plural effect)

1. effect
2. (law) judgment; decree
   • punir les contrevenantz solonc l’effect des estatut

     Punish the offender according to the decree of the statute

Descendants

• ? English: effect
• French: effet

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French occasion, from Old French occasiun, from Latin occasionem (accusative of occasio), noun of action from perfect passive participle occasus, from verb occido, from prefix ob- (“down", "away”) + verb cado (“fall”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??ke???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n
• Hyphenation: oc?ca?sion

Noun

occasion (countable and uncountable, plural occasions)

1. A favorable opportunity; a convenient or timely chance. [from 14th c.]
   • 1690, Edmund Waller, The Maids Tragedy Alter'd

     I'll take the occasion which he gives to bring / Him to his death.
2. The time when something happens.

3. An occurrence or state of affairs which causes some event or reaction; a motive or reason. [from 14th c.]

4. Something which causes something else; a cause. [from 14th c.]
   • 1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, in Kupperman 1988, p. 130:

     it were too vile to say, and scarce to be beleeved, what we endured: but the occasion was our owne, for want of providence, industrie and government [...].

5. (obsolete) An occurrence or incident. [14th-18th c.]
6. A particular happening; an instance or time when something occurred. [from 15th c.]
7. Need; requirement, necessity. [from 16th c.]
   • 1650, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living

     after we have served ourselves and our own occasions

   • 1790, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France

     when my occasions took me into France

8. A special event or function. [from 19th c.]

9. A reason or excuse; a motive; a persuasion.

Derived terms

• occasional
• on occasion
• rise to the occasion

Translations

Verb

occasion (third-person singular simple present occasions, present participle occasioning, simple past and past participle occasioned)

1. (transitive) To cause; to produce; to induce

   it is seen that the mental changes are occasioned by a change of polarity

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin occ?si?nem (accusative of occ?si?). Compare the inherited Old French ochoison, achaison (the latter being influenced by Latin acc?s?ti?).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?.ka.zj??/

Noun

occasion f (plural occasions)

1. occasion, opportunity
2. cause
3. bargain, good deal
4. secondhand or used item

Derived terms

Further reading

• “occasion” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).