Af-fēct′1, v. t.
[imp. & p. p. AFFECTED; p. pr. & vb. n. AFFECTING.] [Fr. affecter, Lat. affectare, to strive after, freq. of afficere, affectum, to affect one by active agency; from ad and facere, to make.]
Sense 1. To act upon; to produce an effect or change upon.
As might affect the earth with cold and heat. Milton.
Sense 2. To influence or move, as the feelings or passions; to touch.
A consideration of the rationale of our passions seems to me very necessary for all who would affect them upon solid and pure principles. Burke.
Sense 3. To love or regard with affection.
As for Queen Katharine, he rather respected than affected, rather honored than loved, her. Fuller.
Sense 4. To dispose or incline. “Men whom they thought best affected to religion and their country's liberty.” Milton.
Sense 5. To aim at; to aspire to; to seek; to desire; to covet. “But this proud man affects imperial sway.” Dryden.
Do not affect the society of your inferiors in rank, nor court that of the great. Hazlitt.
Sense 6. To tend to by affinity or disposition.
The drops of every fluid affect a round figure. Newton.
Sense 7. To make a show of; to attempt to imitate in a manner not natural; to put on a pretense of; as, to affect ignorance.
Careless she is with artful care, Affecting to seem unaffected. Congreve.
Synonyms—To influence; operate; act on; concern; move; melt; soften; subdue; overcome; pretend; assume; put on.