affect2

 
Pronunciation: /əˈfɛkt/

verb

[with object]
  • pretend to have or feel (something): as usual I affected a supreme unconcern [with infinitive]: a book that affects to loathe the modern world
  • use, wear, or assume (something) pretentiously or so as to make an impression on others: an Anglophile who had affected a British accent

Origin:

late Middle English: from French affecter or Latin affectare 'aim at', frequentative of afficere 'work on, influence', from ad- 'at, to' + facere 'do'. The original sense was 'like, love', hence '(like to) use, assume, etc.'

Do not confuse affect with effect. Affect means 'make a difference to; change' ( the changes will affect everyone), whereas effect means either 'a result' ( the drug has a painkilling effect) or 'bring about a result' ( he effected a cost-cutting exercise).