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tr.v. af·fect·ed, af·fect·ing, af·fects 1. To put on a false show of; simulate: affected a British accent. 2. a. To have or show a liking for: affects dramatic clothes. b. Archaic To fancy; love. 3. To tend to by nature; tend to assume: a substance that affects crystalline form. 4. To imitate; copy: "Spenser, in affecting the ancients, writ no language" (Ben Jonson). [Middle English affecten, from Latin affectāre, to strive after, frequentative of afficere, affect-, to affect, influence; see AFFECT1.] af·fecter n. |
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