actual English · revision 2730

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1315|origins=la agō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæk.tʃu.əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|actuel]], actual,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|actuel|t=now existing, up to date]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) and directly [[bor|la-lat|āctuālis|t=active, practical]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|āctus|t=a doing]], the source of [[act]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|agere|t=to do, drive]], from [[ine-pro|*h₂eǵ-|alt=*ag-|t=to drive, move]].^(Etymonline) The spelling with -al is an assimilation to the Latin.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or relating to acts, shown in deeds, practical: about 1315 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the early 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) before 1333 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) In theology ''actual sin'', committed in deeds, was opposed to original sin.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The broader sense “real, existing”, opposed to potential or ideal, is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) 1541 in the OED.^(OED 1989) “Present, current” is from 1642,^(OED 1989) like French actuel, but this sense is now rare in English.^(SOED 2002) Placed before a noun to stress its identity, ''the actual thing'', it is from 1869,^(OED 1989) and the British colloquial ''your actual'', stressing authenticity, from 1966.^(OED 1989) ''In actual fact'' is from 1900,^(OED 1989) and ''actual bodily harm'' in British law from 1851.^(OED 1989) ''Actuality'' is from before 1398 and ''actually'' from the 15th century.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1315 – shown in deeds, practical.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – real, existing.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1398 – ''actuality''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1642 – present, current.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1851 – ''actual bodily harm''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1869 – emphasizing identity.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1900 – ''in actual fact''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Existing in fact; [[real]], not merely possible or imagined.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Existing or acting at the present time; [[current]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Based on fact: ''the actual cost''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Used to stress that something is genuine: ''the actual house where he was born''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[actually]]

+ * [[actualness]]

+ * [[nonactual]]

+ * [[actualism]]

+ * [[actuality]]

+ * [[actualize]]

+ * [[actualization]]

+ * [[actual cash value]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[activity]]

+ * [[actor]]

+ * [[actuary]]

+ * [[act]]

+ * [[actuate]]

+ * [[active]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}