efficient, a. and n.
(ɛˈfɪʃənt)
[a. F. efficient, ad. L. efficient-em, pr. pple. of efficĕre, f. ex out + facĕre to make.]
A. adj.
1. Making, causing to be; that makes (a thing) to be what it is; chiefly in connexion with cause.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. iii. xvii. (1495) 61 The cause efficient. 1477 Norton Ord. Alch. i. in Ashm. (1652) 19 For cause efficient of Mettalls finde ye shall Only to be the vertue Minerall. a 1560 Rolland Crt. Venus iii. 505 Of this slauchter he was caus efficient. 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades (1592) 614 By members are shewed the efficient powers of God. 1635 Swan Spec. M. v. ii. (1643) 149 The efficient cause [of dew] is the temperate cold of the night. 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. ii. i. 54 Præexistent..in the Intellect of the efficient God. 1756 Burke Subl. & B. Wks. 1842 I. 58 The common efficient cause of beauty. 1829 I. Taylor Enthus. ii. (1867) 55 The efficient will of the First Cause. 1866 Argyll Reign Law vi. (1871) 321 This change in mind is the efficient cause of a whole cycle of other changes. |
2. Productive of effects; effective; adequately operative. Of persons: Adequately skilled.
| 1787 J. Barlow Oration 4 July 8 Without an efficient government our Independence will cease to be a blessing. 1801 Southey Thalaba xi. xxxii, Soon his hand Shall strike the efficient blow. 1833 I. Taylor Fanat. v. 114 The belief of their efficient intercession in the court of heaven. 1850 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxxiii. 297 He was an expert and efficient workman. |
B. n.
† 1. ‘The cause which makes effects to be what they are’ (J.). Obs., but in 17th c. very common.
| [1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 37 There are more..causes in nature than efficientes.] 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. (1632) 76 To take away the first efficient of our being, were to annihilate vtterly our persons. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xx. 68 The abuse of Sanctuaries had beene an efficient of many troubles. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. vii. iv. 345 Beside the solary Iris..there is another Lunary, whose efficient is the Moone. 1649 Roberts Clavis Bibl. 511 The Efficient or Author of it, is..God himselfe. 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. v. 67 An infinite succession of effects will require an infinite efficient, or a cause infinitely effective. 1754 Edwards Freed. Will iv. ix. 259 The Motion of the Sun..is not the proper cause, Efficient or Producer of them. 1774 Mitford Harmony of Lang., Ignorance concerning the efficients of the harmony of language. 1804 ― Inq. Principles Harm. Lang. |
2. Mil. An efficient soldier; esp. a volunteer adequately qualified for service.
| 1864 Mrq. Hartington Sp. Ho. Commons 4 May, The number of ‘efficients’ under the new system was 112,165. 1884 Manch. Exam. 17 Mar. 5/1 The number of efficients..present at inspection..[was] higher than ever before. |