What does "effective" mean?

Effective: That which produces a given effect; a cause. Jer. Taylor.

Additional senses

  1. 2.One who is capable of active service. He assembled his army -- 20,000 effectives -- at Corinth. W. P. Johnston.
  2. 3.Etym: [F. effectif real, effective, real amount.] (Com.) Specie or coin, as distinguished from paper currency; -- a term used in many parts of Europe. Simmonds.

Sources