- L. actus, p. p. of agere to drive, lead, do; but influenced by E. act, n
- To move to action; to actuate; to animate.ObsSelf-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul.
- To perform; to execute; to do.ArchaicThat we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity.Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting things expedient for us to do.Uplifted hands that at convenient times Could act extortion and the worst of crimes.
- To perform, as an actor; to represent dramatically on the stage.
- To assume the office or character of; to play; to personate; as, to act the hero.
- To feign or counterfeit; to simulate.With acted fear the villain thus pursued.
