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act(2) (iou)



act verb. [akt] LME.
[Latin act- pa. ppl stem of agere: see AGENT. Prob. infl. by ACT noun.]
verb trans. Decide judicially (a case at law). LME-L15.
verb trans. Enact, decree; record. Chiefly Scot. L15-M18.
verb trans. Perform, bring about (a thing or process). L16-L18.
Defoe Had Satan been able to have acted anything by force.
verb trans. Carry out or represent in mimic action; perform (a play etc.); fig. simulate, counterfeit. L16.
act a lie: see LIE noun1. act a part, act the part of play the part of (a character in a play); simulate; fulfil the character or duties of.
Day Lewis He would act the biblical stories on which he was commenting. J. Squire To ask trite questions and act indifference.
verb intrans. Perform a play or part; be an actor or actress. L16.
T. Coryat I saw women acte, a thing that I neuer saw before.
b. verb intrans. Of a play: be able to be performed (well, or in a specified manner). M17.
Byron My plays won't act..my poesy won't sell.
verb trans. Carry out in action. arch. E17.
Shakespeare Tempest To act her..abhorr'd commands.
verb trans. Put in motion; actuate, animate. E17-M18.
Pope Self-love..acts the soul.
verb trans. Perform the part of (a character in a play); behave like (a specified kind of person). M17.
act the fool: see FOOL noun1. act the goat: see GOAT.
verb intrans. Perform actions; behave. L17.
act on, act upon regulate one's conduct according to. act up to come up to (an assumed standard), carry out in practice.
T. S. Eliot What it is to act or suffer. J. D. Salinger I act quite young for my age.
b. verb intrans. Do the duties of a particular employment temporarily. E19.
act as do the work of (a particular employment etc.), serve as. act for: on someone's behalf or in his or her absence.
verb intrans. Of a thing: exert influence (on), produce an effect. M18.
T. H. Huxley A fall of snow..acts like a mantle.
With adverbs in specialized senses: act out (a) verb phr. trans. translate (ideas etc.) into action, represent in action; (b) verb phr. trans. & intrans. express (repressed or unconscious feelings) in overt behaviour. act up colloq. misbehave, give trouble or pain.