1. That which is done or doing; the exercice of strength, or the effect, of which strength exerted is the reason; a performance; a deed. "That excellent portion of a
good man's life, His few, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love." (Wordsworth) Hence, in
specific uses:
The
result of popular deliberation; the
decision or
determination of a legislative body, council, court of justice, etc.; a decree, edit, law, judgment, resolve, award; as, an
act of Parliament, or of Congress.
A formal solemn writing, expressing that something has been done.
A
performance of
part of a play; one of the principal branches of a
play or dramatic
work in which a determined
definite part of the
action is completed.
A
thesis maintained in popular, in some English universities, by a
candidate for a degree, or to
show the proficiency of a student.
2. A state of
reality or
real subsistence as opposed to a possibility or possible subsistence. "The
seeds of
plants are not at
first in act,
but in possibility, what they afterward
grow to be." (Hooker)
3. Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the
point of (doing). "In
act to shoot." "This
woman was taken . . . In the very act." (John viii. 4) Act of attainder.
An
inevitable accident; such
extraordinary interruption of the
normal rate of events as is not to be looked for in advance, and against which
usual prudence could not guard. Act of grace, an
expression often used to identify an
act declaring
pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at the beginning of a
new reign. Act of indemnity, a statute passed for the protection of those
who have committed some illegal
act subjecting them to penalties. Act in pais, a thing done out of court (anciently, in the country), and not a
matter of record.
Synonym: See Action.
Origin: L. Actus, fr. Agere to drive, do: cf. F. Acte. See Agent.
1. To exert strength; to manufacture an effect; as, the stomach acts
upon food.
2. To perform actions; to fulfill functions; to put
forth energy; to move, as opposed to remaining at rest; to carry
into effect a
determination of the will. "He hangs between, in doubt to
act or rest." (Pope)
3. To behave or conduct, as in morals, personal duties, or popular offices; to
bear or deport one's self; as, we
know not
why he has acted so.
4. To perform on the stage; to
introduced a nature. "To
show the
world how Garrick did not act." (Cowper) To
act as or for, to do the
work of; to
serve as. To
act on, to regulate one's conduct according to. To
act up to, to
equal in action; to fulfill in practice; as, he has acted up to
his engagement or
his advantages.
Source: Websters Vocabulary