The word "efficacious" is spelled with a double "c" and "i" before "a" because it comes from the Latin word "efficax." In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced /ɪˈfɪkəʃəs/. The stress is on the second syllable, and the "c" sounds like "k" followed by "sh" which makes the "c" doubled. The "i" in the second syllable is pronounced like "ih," while the "a" in the third syllable has the short "uh" sound. Efficacious means effective or capable of producing desired results.
The term "efficacious" is an adjective that describes something or someone as having the ability to produce the desired or intended outcomes or results. It refers to the effectiveness, potency, or power of a particular action, process, or treatment to yield the desired effect.
When applied to a person, "efficacious" denotes someone who is capable of achieving their goals or getting things done effectively and efficiently. These individuals possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and competence to accomplish tasks or solve problems successfully.
In the context of medicine or healthcare, "efficacious" indicates the ability of a treatment, drug, or remedy to produce the desired therapeutic results. It implies that the intervention has been scientifically proven to be effective and reliable in healing, alleviating symptoms, or improving the condition of patients.
Furthermore, "efficacious" can also be used in a broader sense to describe policies, strategies, or methodologies that have been established to achieve specific objectives with notable success. It suggests that these approaches are efficient, practical, and capable of delivering the desired outcomes or solutions.
In summary, "efficacious" refers to the quality of being successful, effective, or productive in accomplishing a specific aim, whether it pertains to individuals, actions, treatments, or strategies. It embodies the idea of achieving desired outcomes and fulfilling intended purposes.
Producing the effect intended; effectual.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "efficacious" originated from the Latin word "efficax", which is the nominative form of "efficacis". The Latin term is derived from the verb "efficere", which means "to effect" or "to accomplish". It is a combination of "ex", meaning "out", and "facere", meaning "to make" or "to do". Therefore, "efficacious" entered English in the 16th century, signifying something that is effective, powerful, or capable of producing the desired effect.