act
Cross references:
1. action
1. act \'akt\ n [ME, partly fr. L actus doing, act, fr. actus, pp. of agere
t]o drive, do; partly fr. L actum thing done, record, fr. neut. of actus,
pp. - more at AGENT 1a: a thing done : DEED 1b: something done by a person
pursuant to his volition 2: a state of real existence rather than
possibility often cap 3: the formal product of a legislative body :
STATUTE; also :: a decision or determination of a sovereign, a legislative
council, or a court of justice 4: the process of doing often cap 5: a
formal record of something done or transacted 6a: one of the principal
divisions of a play or opera 6b: one of the successive parts of a variety
show or circus 6c: a display of affected insincere behavior : PRETENSE
2. act \.ak-t*-'bil-*t-e-\ \'ak-t*-b*l\ vt obs 1: ACTUATE, ANIMATE 2a: to
represent or perform by action esp. on the stage 2b: FEIGN, SIMULATE 2c:
IMPERSONATE 3: to play the part of as if in a play {~ the man of the
world} 4: to behave in a manner suitable to {~ your age} 1a: to perform
on the stage 1b: to behave as if performing on the stage : PRETEND 2: to
take action : MOVE {think before ~ing} 3: to conduct oneself : BEHAVE {~
like a fool} 4: to perform a specified function : SERVE {trees ~ing)X as a
windbreak} 5: to produce an effect : WORK {wait for a medicine to ~> 6: of
a play : to be capable of being performed 7: to give a decision or award
- act.abil.i.ty n