actor English · revision 4142

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1382|origins=la agere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈæk.tə/, US /ˈæk.tɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|actour|t=doer, pleader]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|la|āctor|t=agent, doer; driver of animals; in law, plaintiff; player, orator]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) partly through Anglo-French,^(MWU 2024) from āctus, the past participle of [[m|la|agere|t=to drive, set in motion; to do, perform; to act on stage]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[ine-pro|*h₂eǵ-|alt=*ag-|t=to drive, draw out, move]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) with the agent suffix [[-or]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) It is related to [[act]], [[agent]] and [[agenda]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An overseer, guardian or steward: 1382 in the OED, translating Latin actor in the Wycliffe Bible,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) about 1384 in Barnhart^(Barnhart 1988) and the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the mid-15th century it was a doer or maker, and a plaintiff at law;^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a pleader or public prosecutor is from 1413, later only of Roman law.^(OED 1989) The theatrical sense, one who performs in plays, is first used in 1581, in Sidney's Defence of Poesie,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and was applied to both men and women.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ''Actress'' is from 1589, first a female doer, and was not used of a woman on the stage until 1666, in Pepys's diary.^(Barnhart 1988) A participant in any affair, someone who takes part, is from 1603,^(OED 1989) and the ''actor-manager'' of a theatre is from the 19th century.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – an overseer, steward.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1413 – a pleader, prosecutor.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – a doer, plaintiff.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1581 – a stage player.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1589 – ''actress''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1603 – a participant.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A theatrical performer; a person who acts in plays, films or broadcasts.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A person who takes part in something; a [[participant]]: ''a key actor in the talks''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A person who acts for another, such as the manager of a business.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[actorish]]

+ * [[actorly]]

+ * [[actor-proof]]

+ * [[nonactor]]

+ * [[bad actor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[act]]

+ * [[acting]]

+ * [[action]]

+ * [[actress]]

+ * [[actual]]

+ * [[transaction]]

+ * [[agent]]

+ * [[agenda]]

+ * [[agile]]

+ * [[agitate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}