Measures of how effectively resources are used to achieve desired outcomes, or small apartments designed for maximum space utilization.
From Latin 'efficientia' meaning accomplishment, from 'efficiens' (accomplishing). The apartment sense emerged in 1930s America, reflecting economic pressures for compact living spaces during the Depression era.
The dual meaning reveals society's obsession with optimization - we apply the same word to mechanical performance and living spaces, suggesting we view homes as machines for efficient living. This linguistic overlap reflects how industrial thinking permeated domestic life.
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