effectual, a.
(ɛˈfɛktjʊəl)
Also 4–5 effectuell.
[a. OF. effectuel:—late L. effectuālis, f. effect-us effect n.: see -al1.]
1. That produces its intended effect, or adequately answers its purpose. Of legal documents or convenants: Valid, binding.
| c 1386 Chaucer Sompn. T. 162 Our orisouns ben more effectuel. 1485 Act 1 Hen. VII, Annex. Ducat. Lanc. Ruffhead IX. App. 106 Every such Lese..be as good effectual and available in the Law. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon vi. 151 To bryng the matere to a conclusion effectuell. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 232 One single Pipe of competent bore, would be as effectual as three our four. a 1687 Petty Pol. Arith. (1690) 73 The Charge of the Government..would be more..effectual. 1794 Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 205 We must endeavour to make our complaints rather effectual than loud. 1884 Earl Selborne in Law Times Rep. 1 Mar., Registration does not make effectual a document which was..inoperative and of no effect. |
b. Theol. effectual calling (see quot.). So also effectual grace: the special grace given to those elected to salvation.
| 1609 Bible (Douay) Index, Grace sufficient is geven to every one, effectual of Gods especial mercie to some. 1648 Shorter Catech., Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby..he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. iii. iii. §7 If God withdrew not any effectuall grace from man. |
c. effectual demand: in Political Economy.
| 1776 Adam Smith W.N. I. i. vii. 58 Such people may be called effectual demanders, and their demand the effectual demand; since it may be sufficient to effectuate the bringing of the commodity to market. 1798 Malthus Popul. iii. x. (1806) II. 250 The sole cause which would determine the quantity of effective capital employed in agriculture would be the extent of the effectual demand for corn. 1868 Rogers Pol. Econ. iii. (ed. 3) 21 And this demand must be effectual, that is, must be accompanied with the power of proffering some other object in exchange. |
† 2. = effective in various senses. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xiii. xxvi. (1495) 462 The more whyte..a perle is, the more effectuell and vertuous it is holde. 1586 Bright Melanch. x. 44, I take it..to be an effectuall & pregnant substance. 1662 Marvell Corr. xxxv. Wks. 1872–5 II. 79 My Lord of Bath, who is..as effectuall an hand as can be chosen in the whole Court. 1674 Playford Skill Mus. i. 60 With his Harp he expressed such effectual melody and Harmony. 1689 Bp. G. Walker Siege Derry 37 We also got into our Garrison some Effectual Men out of their number. |
† 3. effectual cause: = efficient cause. Obs.
| 1581 W. Stafford Exam. Compl. iii. (1876) 83, I must..try out the effectuall cause of these inclosures. |
4. Of prayers, entreaties: earnest, urgent (see also 1).
Cf. Anglo-Lat. effectuose supplicantes ‘earnestly entreating’, a.d. 1229 in Rymer I. 308. Perhaps this use was originally due to confusion with affectual; but the translators of the A.V. ingeniously availed themselves of it in James v. 16 to render Gr. ἐνεργουµένη (R.V. ‘in its working’).
| [cf. 1386 in 1.] 1440 [see effectually 2]. 1547 Bidding Prayer, Ye shall also make your harty and effectual prayer to Almighty God for the peace of all Christian regions. 1611 Bible James v. 16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 1616 N. Brent tr. Sarpi's Hist. Counc. Trent (1676) 505 Letters came..with most effectual exhortations, in the Popes name, to accommodate the differences. |
† 5. ? Actual, now existing. Obs.
| 1598 J. Heywood (title), Workes, namelie a Dialogue, where⁓in are pleasantlie contrived the number of all the effectual Proverbs in our English tongue. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ii. 116 The Danes had London..and Alfred onely three effectuall Shires. |
† 6. ‘To the point’, pertinent, conclusive. Obs.
| 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. i. 41 Reprove my allegation..Or else conclude my words effectuall. 1608 Yorksh. Trag. i. iv. 207 'Tis..my fashion..to be plain and effectual. 1625 Meade in Ellis Orig. Lett. i. 315 III. 203 He would give a speedy and effectual answer. 1677 Marvell Corr. cccviii. Wks. 1872–5 II. 552 There will be no mony given this sitting, but upon very visible and effectuall termes. |