effect (uh FEKT) n.1. something resulting from a cause; a result; 2. the ability
to bring about results; 3. an influence or action on something —vt.to bring about;
to produce as a result; to cause; to accomplish
- When someone tickles you, the effectis that you laugh.
- Drinking too much can have the effectof making you light-headed.
- The Kid has the talent and quickness to effecta knockout in three rounds.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. consequence, outcome; Ant. cause]
effective*(uh FEK tiv) adj.1. creating a result; 2. creating a definite or desired
result; efficient; 3. in effect; operative; active; 4. actual, rather than potential or the-
oretical; 5. equipped and ready for combat - Winston Churchill was a very effectivespeaker.
- Certain bug sprays are more effectivethan others.
- The order to report is effectivewithin 24 hours.
- We will have an effectivesolution within the week.
- The marines will have an effectiveforce on the ground by the first of next
month.
[-ly adv.]
efficacious*(EF I KAY shis) adj.capable of creating the desired result; actually
creating that result; effective - Aspirin is an efficaciousmedication with many uses.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. effective]
efficient(ef FISH int) adj.using a minimum of effort, expense, or waste to
cause a desired result with - A diesel engine is much more efficientthan a steam engine, even though
diesel fuel is not clean burning. - When your desk is organized in an efficientmanner, those things you use
most often are the most accessible.
egregious (e GREE juhs) adj.terrible; filled with undesirable qualities; amazingly
bad; flagrant - When the American people elected [you fill in the name], they made an
egregiouserror. - The dinner served on our flight from St. Louis was absolutely egregious.
[-ly adv.]
elated*(ee LAY tid) adj.very happy; joyful; filled with elation; high spirited - Terry was elatedwhen he saw that his family had come to watch him play
baseball. - Ian was elatedat the sight of his grandma’s chocolate cream pies.
[-ly adv.]
element(EL i mint) n.1. the most basic (as-small-as-it-gets) part or principle of
anything, whether concrete or abstract; 2. a component; a constituent; an ingredi-
ent; a factor; a building block - There are 106 known chemical elements,of which 96 occur in nature.
- Your argument seems to contain an elementof truth.
- Elementsof the Eighth Army neared Baghdad.
92 Essential Vocabulary