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-act- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "to do, move''. It is related to the root -ag-. This meaning is found in such words as: act, action, exact, inexact, transact.
anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance:a heroic act.
the process of doing:caught in the act.
Governmenta formal decision, law, or the like, by a legislature, ruler, court, or other authority; decree or edict; statute; judgment, resolve, or award:an act of Congress.
an instrument or document stating something done or transacted.
Show Businessone of the main divisions of a play or opera:the second act ofHamlet.
Show Businessa short performance by one or more entertainers, usually part of a variety show or radio or television program.
Show Businessthe personnel of such a group:The act broke up after 30 years.
false show; pretense; feint:The politician's pious remarks were all an act.
Philosophy(in scholasticism)
activity in process; operation.
the principle or power of operation.
form as determining essence.
a state of realization, as opposed to potentiality.
clean up one's act, [Informal.]to begin adhering to more acceptable practices, rules of behavior, etc.:The factory must clean up its act and treat its employees better.
get or have one's act together, [Informal.]to organize one's time, job, resources, etc., so as to function efficiently:The new administration is still getting its act together.
v.i.
to do something; exert energy or force; be employed or operative:He acted promptly in the emergency.
to reach, make, or issue a decision on some matter:I am required to act before noon tomorrow.
to operate or function in a particular way; perform specific duties or functions:to act as manager.
to produce an effect; perform a function:The medicine failed to act.
to behave or conduct oneself in a particular fashion:to act well under all conditions.
to pretend; feign:Act interested even if you're bored.
Show Businessto perform as an actor:He acted in three plays by Molière.
Show Businessto be capable of being performed:His plays don't act well.
to serve or substitute (usually fol. by for):In my absence the assistant manager will act for me.
v.t.
Show Businessto represent (a fictitious or historical character) with one's person:to act Macbeth.
to feign; counterfeit:to act outraged virtue.
to behave as:He acted the fool.
[Obs.]to actuate.
act funny, to display eccentric or suspicious behavior.
act on or upon:
to act in accordance with; follow:He acted on my advice.
to have an effect on; affect:The stirring music acted on the emotions of the audience.
act one's age, to behave in a manner appropriate to one's maturity:We children enjoyed our uncle because he didn't always act his age.
act out:
to demonstrate or illustrate by pantomime or by words and gestures:The party guests acted out stories for one another.
Psychologyto give overt expression to (repressed emotions or impulses) without insightful understanding:The patients acted out early traumas by getting angry with the analyst.
act up:
to fail to function properly; malfunction:The vacuum cleaner is acting up again.
to behave willfully:The children always act up in school the day before a holiday.
to become painful or troublesome, esp. after a period of improvement or remission:My arthritis is acting up again this morning.
Latin āctus a doing (āg- + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action)
Latin ācta, plural of āctum something done, noun, nominal use of past participle of agere to do (āg- past participle stem + -tum neuter past participle suffix); and directly
the performance of some physical or mental process; action
(capital when part of a name) the formally codified result of deliberation by a legislative body; a law, edict, decree, statute, etc
(often plural) a formal written record of transactions, proceedings, etc, as of a society, committee, or legislative body
a major division of a dramatic work
a short performance of skill, a comic sketch, dance, etc, esp one that is part of a programme of light entertainment
those giving such a performance
an assumed attitude or pose, esp one intended to impress
an occurrence effected by the volition of a human agent, usually opposed at least as regards its explanation to one which is causally determinedCompareevent
vb
(intransitive) to do something; carry out an action
(intransitive) to function in a specified way; operate; react: his mind acted quickly
to perform (a part or role) in a play, etc
(transitive) to present (a play, etc) on stage
(intransitive; usually followed by for or as) to be a substitute (for); function in place (of)
(intransitive) followed byas: to serve the function or purpose (of)
(intransitive) to conduct oneself or behave (as if one were): she acts like a teenager
(intransitive) to behave in an unnatural or affected way
(copula) to pose as; play the part of: to act the fool
(copula) to behave in a manner appropriate to (esp in the phrase act one's age)
get in on the act ⇒ informalto become involved in a profitable undertaking or advantageous situation in order to share in the benefits
get one's act together ⇒ informalto become organized or prepared
Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin actus a doing, performance, and actum a thing done, from the past participle of agere to doˈactableadjˌactaˈbilityn