|
Efficacious
ef·fi·ca·cious adj. Producing or capable of producing a desired effect. See Synonyms at effective. [From Latin efficx, efficc-, from efficere, to effect. See effect.] effi·cacious·ly adv. effi·cacious·ness n. Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. efficacious adj 1: marked by qualities giving the power to produce an intended effect; "written propaganda is less efficacious than the habits and prejudices...of the readers"-Aldous Huxley; "the medicine is efficacious in stopping a cough" [ant: inefficacious] 2: producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect; "an air-cooled motor was more effective than a witch's broomstick for rapid long-distance transportation"-LewisMumford; "effective teaching methods"; "effective steps toward peace"; "made an effective entrance"; "his complaint proved to be effectual in bringing action"; "an efficacious law" [syn: effective, effectual] [ant: ineffective] Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University |