Thomas Edison is usually credited with the invention of the light bulb, but the famous American inventor wasn't the only one who contributed to the development of this revolutionary technology.
As a verb affect1 means âto act onâ or âto moveâ (His words affected the crowd so deeply that many wept); affect2 means âto pretendâ or âto assumeâ (new students affecting a nonchalance they didn't feel). The verb effect means âto bring about, accomplishâ: Her administration effected radical changes. The noun effect means âresult, consequenceâ: the serious effects of the oil spill. The noun affect1 pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, is a technical term in psychology and psychiatry. Affect2 is not used as a noun.
Word Origin & History. affect 14c., mental state, from L. affectus, pp. of afficere act on, have influence on, to do something to, a verb of broad meaning, from ad- to + facere (pp. factus) do (see factitious). The verb meaning to make an impression on is attested from 1630s.