Efficacious vs Effective
1) Is there any difference in meaning and/or usage of the adjectives "efficacious" and "effective'? For example, does the expression "effective medicine" mean completely the same as "efficacious medicine"?

2) Why was "efficacious" used in the sentence below? Just for the sake of somewhat of a bookish style or for other reasons?
The Protestant Eucharist was supposed to be no less real and no less efficacious for being spiritual, and Protestant oaths were supposed to be no less capable of making God a witness and thus guaranteeing the truth of a person's statements.

Question

Efficacious vs Effective
1) Is there any difference in meaning and/or usage of the adjectives "efficacious" and "effective'? For example, does the expression "effective medicine" mean completely the same as "efficacious medicine"?

2) Why was "efficacious" used in the sentence below? Just for the sake of somewhat of a bookish style or for other reasons?
The Protestant Eucharist was supposed to be no less real and no less efficacious for being spiritual, and Protestant oaths were supposed to be no less capable of making God a witness and thus guaranteeing the truth of a person's statements.

Answer

In answer to your second question, "efficacious" is indeed being using for a bookish, academic style. "Effective" would have exactly the same meaning.

Answer

I suggest you ignore very formal words when you're learning a new language. I've been reading English news and books everyday for the past 20 years or so and I've never seen the word efficacious.

Answer

I would say they are synonymous, however efficacious is a more formal usage (bookish if you like!), Not so in an old song called 'Lily the Pink' by Scaffold (you tube it!)

Answers · 6

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