act English · revision 3638

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380 (Chaucer's House of Fame)|origins=ine-pro *ag-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ækt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|acte]], [[bor|fro|acte]] and directly [[bor|la|āctus|t=a doing; a driving; a part in a play]] and [[m|la|āctum|t=a thing done; a public transaction, record]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) both from the past participle of [[m|la|agere|t=to drive, set in motion; to do, perform]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*ag-|t=to drive, draw out, move]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The Latin verb is related to [[grc|ἄγω|alt=ἄγειν|tr=ágein|t=to lead]] and [[non|aka|t=to drive]].^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[agent]], [[action]], [[active]] and [[acre]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A thing done: about 1380, in Chaucer's ''House of Fame'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) perhaps first in a legal sense.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline notes that Latin ''agere'' already had a wide range, including acting on stage and pleading a case at law, and that both the legislative and the theatrical senses of the noun were Latin.^(Etymonline) A record of proceedings is an ''act'' from 1398,^(HTOED) and a law passed by a legislature from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(HTOED) A division of a play is from the 1510s.^(Etymonline) ''In the act'' is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and an ''act of God'' from 1726.^(Etymonline) The verb first meant “to decide a legal case” in the mid-15th century;^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) “to do, perform” is from about 1600, and “to perform on stage” from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) In the 17th and 18th centuries ''act'' could mean “to move to action”, the sense now taken by ''actuate'', as in South's “most people ... are acted by levity and humour”.^(Trench 1859) An act in a variety show is from 1890, and a show of affected behaviour, as in ''put on an act'', from 1928.^(Etymonline) ''Act up'' is from 1900, at first of a horse, ''get into the act'' from 1947, and ''get one's act together'' by 1976.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – a thing done (Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1398 – a formal record.^(HTOED)

+ * early 15th century – a law.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1460 – verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1510s – a division of a play.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – to perform on stage, and ''in the act''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1726 – ''act of God''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1890 – an act in a variety show.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1928 – a pretence.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1976 – ''get one's act together''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something done; a [[deed]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The process of doing something: ''caught in the act''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A law or decree passed by a [[legislature]] or court; a [[statute]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A formal written record of proceedings.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # One of the main divisions of a play or opera.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A short performance in a show, or the performers.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A pretence: ''it's all an act''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To do something; to take action.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To behave in a given way.^(AHD)

+ # To perform a role in a play or film.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To pretend.^(AHD)

+ # To serve or function: ''act as chairman''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(with on or upon)'' To have an effect on.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[actability]]

+ * [[actable]]

+ * [[coact]]

+ * [[postact]]

+ * [[unacted]]

+ * [[play-act]]

+ * [[actor]]

+ * [[actress]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[action]]

+ * [[active]]

+ * [[agency]]

+ * [[agent]]

+ * [[activate]]

+ * [[deactivate]]

+ * [[actual]]

+ * [[acre]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that ''act'' and ''action'' overlap, but that ''act'' tends to mean a deed, and ''action'' the process of doing.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}