| 释义 |
efficacy|ˈɛfɪkəsɪ|
Also 6 effecacy.
[ad. L. efficācia, f. efficax; see efficace a. and -acy.]
1. Power or capacity to produce effects; power to effect the object intended. (Not used as an attribute of personal agents: cf. efficacious.)
1527Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters Prol., Charmes of eficacye unnaturall by the devyll envented. 1532More Confut. Barnes viii. Wks. (1557) 740/2 Theffect and effecacy of al these thynges, commeth of God. 1563T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 165 The seedes may well be kept for three yeares in good efficacie. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. x. 40 An act, not..beyond the efficacy of the Sun. 1744Berkeley Siris §4 A medicine of such efficacy in a distemper. 1750Johnson Rambl. No. 47 ⁋11 The efficacy of mirth it is not always easy to try. 1792in Chipman Amer. Law Rep. (1871) 55 The division was not taken to have any legal efficacy. 1844H. H. Wilson Brit. India II. 553 To maintain the village institutions of the country in entireness and efficacy. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 103 No measures would be of efficacy which spared the religious houses.
†2. A process or mode of effecting a result. Obs.
1690Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxiii. (1695) 156 The Efficacy whereby the new Substance or Idea is produced, is called, in the subject exerting that Power, Action; but in the subject, wherein any simple Idea is changed or produced, it is called Passion. Ibid. iv. iii. §24 We are ignorant of the several Powers, Efficacies, and Ways of Operation, whereby the Effects..are produc'd.
†3.
a. Effect.
b. ? Actual event. Obs.
1549Latimer Serm. bef. Edw. VI, v. O iiij, You by youre prayer can worcke greate efficacye. a1613Overbury Characters (1638) A Puritane, His arguing is but the efficacy of his eating. 1633Bp. Hall Hard Texts 350 In the efficacy of his appearance, he shall be so glorious. |