\Af*fect"\ ([a^]f*f[e^]kt"), 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.
         As might affect the earth with cold heat. --Milton.
         The climate affected their health and spirits.
                                               --Macaulay.
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.
3. To love; to regard with affection. [Obs.]
         As for Queen Katharine, he rather respected than
         affected, rather honored than loved, her. --Fuller.
4. To show a fondness for; to like to use or practice; to
   choose; hence, to frequent habitually.
         For he does neither affect company, nor is he fit
         for it, indeed.                       --Shak.
         Do not affect the society of your inferiors in rank,
         nor court that of the great.          --Hazlitt.
5. To dispose or incline.
         Men whom they thought best affected to religion and
         their country's liberty.              --Milton.
6. To aim at; to aspire; to covet. [Obs.]
         This proud man affects imperial ?way. --Dryden.
7. To tend to by affinity or disposition.
         The drops of every fluid affect a round figure.
                                               --Newton.
8. To make a show of; to put on a pretense of; to feign; to
   assume; as, to affect ignorance.
         Careless she is with artful care, Affecting to seem
         unaffected.                           --Congreve.
         Thou dost affect my manners.          --Shak.
9. To assign; to appoint. [R.]
         One of the domestics was affected to his special
         service.                              --Thackeray.
Syn: To influence; operate; act on; concern; move; melt;
     soften; subdue; overcome; pretend; assume.

\Af*fect"\, n. [L. affectus.]
Affection; inclination; passion; feeling; disposition. [Obs.]
--Shak.

\Af*fect"\, n. (Psychotherapy)
The emotional complex associated with an idea or mental
state. In hysteria, the affect is sometimes entirely
dissociated, sometimes transferred to another than the
original idea.