affect

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Affected; p. pr. & vb. n. Affecting. ] [ L. affectus, p. p. of afficere to affect by active agency; ad + facere to make: cf. F. affectere, L. affectare, freq. of afficere. See Fact. ] 1. To act upon; to produce an effect or change upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

As might affect the earth with cold heat. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The climate affected their health and spirits. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To influence or move, as the feelings or passions; to touch. [ 1913 Webster ]

A consideration of the rationale of our passions seems to me very necessary for all who would affect them upon solid and pure principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To love; to regard with affection. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

As for Queen Katharine, he rather respected than affected, rather honored than loved, her. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To show a fondness for; to like to use or practice; to choose; hence, to frequent habitually. [ 1913 Webster ]

For he does neither affect company, nor is he fit for it, indeed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Do not affect the society of your inferiors in rank, nor court that of the great. Hazlitt. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To dispose or incline. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men whom they thought best affected to religion and their country's liberty. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To aim at; to aspire; to covet. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This proud man affects imperial &unr_;way. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To tend to by affinity or disposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

The drops of every fluid affect a round figure. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. To make a show of; to put on a pretense of; to feign; to assume; as, to affect ignorance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Careless she is with artful care,
Affecting to seem unaffected. Congreve. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou dost affect my manners. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To assign; to appoint. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

One of the domestics was affected to his special service. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To influence; operate; act on; concern; move; melt; soften; subdue; overcome; pretend; assume. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. affectatio: cf. F. affectation. ] 1. An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false display; artificial show. “An affectation of contempt.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Affectation is an awkward and forced imitation of what should be genuine and easy, wanting the beauty that accompanies what is natural what is natural. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A striving after. [ Obs. ] Bp. Pearson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fondness; affection. [ Obs. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who exhibits affectation. [ R. ] Fitzed. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. 1. Regarded with affection; beloved. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His affected Hercules. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Inclined; disposed; attached. [ 1913 Webster ]

How stand you affected to his wish? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Given to false show; assuming or pretending to possess what is not natural or real. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is . . . too spruce, too affected, too odd. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Assumed artificially; not natural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Affected coldness and indifference. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Alg.) Made up of terms involving different powers of the unknown quantity; adfected; as, an affected equation. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In an affected manner; hypocritically; with more show than reality. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lovingly; with tender care. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Affectation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who affects, assumes, pretends, or strives after. “Affecters of wit.” Abp. Secker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being affectible. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]