Dictionary![]() ![]() af•fectPronunciation: ( —v.u-fekt'; —n.af'ekt), [key] —v.t. 1. to act on; produce an effect or change in: Cold weather affected the crops. 2. to impress the mind or move the feelings of: The music affected him deeply. 3. (of pain, disease, etc.) to attack or lay hold of. —n. 1. Psychol.feeling or emotion. 2. Psychiatry.an expressed or observed emotional response: Restricted, flat, or blunted affect may be a symptom of mental illness, especially schizophrenia. 3. Obs.affection; passion; sensation; inclination; inward disposition or feeling. af•fectPronunciation: (u-fekt'), [key] —v.t. 1. to give the appearance of; pretend or feign: to affect knowledge of the situation. 2. to assume artificially, pretentiously, or for effect: to affect a Southern accent. 3. to use, wear, or adopt by preference; choose; prefer: the peculiar costume he affected. 4. to assume the character or attitude of: to affect the freethinker. 5. (of things) to tend toward habitually or naturally: a substance that affects colloidal form. 6. (of animals and plants) to occupy or inhabit; live in or on: Lions affect Africa. Moss affects the northern slopes. 7. Archaic. a. to have affection for; fancy. b. to aim at; aspire to. —v.i. Obs.to incline, tend, or favor (usually fol. by to): He affects to the old ways. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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