act 
ii/,-ii, drive, = Skt. V <>j, drive. Hence (from L. 
agere), exact, rnl/ict, transact, cogent, exigent, 
agile, agitate, cogitate, etc. ; see also ake = '</', 
acre, acorn, agrarian, agriculture, etc.] 1. An 
exertion of energy or force, physical or mental ; 
anything that is done or performed ; a doing or 
deed ; an operation or performance. 
Illustrious acts high raptures ilo infuse. Waller. 
Nor deera that acts heroic wait on chance. 
Lou-ell, Three Mem. Poems. 
2. A state of real existence, as opposed to a 
possibility, power, or being in germ merely; 
actuality; actualization; entelechy. [Transla- 
tion of the Greek evtpyeta and cvre/U %e m .] The soul, 
according to the Aristotelians, is the act, that is, is the 
entelechy or perfect development of the body. So God is 
said to be pure act, for Aristotle says, "There must be a 
principle whose essence it is to be actual (>j *? ouuia iyep- 
ycia)," and this is by many writers understood to mean 
"whose essence is to be active." In the phrase in iu-l, 
therefore, act, though properly meaning actuality, is often 
used to mean activity. 
The seeds of plants are not at first in net, but in possi- 
bility, what they afterwards grow to be. Hooker. 
3. A part or division of a play performed con- 
secutively or without a fall of the curtain, in 
which a definite and coherent portion of the 
plot is represented : generally subdivided into 
smaller portions, called scenes. 4. The result 
of public deliberation, or the decision of a 
prince, legislative body, council, court of jus- 
tice, or magistrate ; a decree, edict, law, stat- 
ute, judgment, resolve, or award : as, an act of 
Parliament or of Congress ; also, in plural, 
proceedings ; the formal record of legislative 
resolves or of the doings of individuals. Acts 
are of two kinds: (1) general or public, which are of gen- 
eral application ; and (-2) private, which relate to particular 
persons or concerns. A law or statute proposed in a legis- 
lative body, then called a bill, becomes an act after having 
been passed by both branches and signed by the chief ex- 
ecutive officer; but in a few of the United States the 
governor's signature is not necessary. British acts are 
usually referred to by mentioning them simply by the 
regnal year and number of chapter : as, act of 7 and 8 Viet. 
c. 32. American acts, particularly acts of Congress, are 
often referred to simply by date : as, act of May , 1882. 
6. In universities, a public disputation or lecture 
required of a candidate for a degree of master. 
The performer is said to "keep the act. ' Hence, at Cam- 
bridge, the thesis and examination for the degree of doc- 
tor ; at Oxford, the ocqasion of the completion of degrees. 
So, act holiday, act feast. The candidate who keeps the 
act is also himself called the act. In medieval, and some- 
times in modern scholastic use, any public defense of a 
thesis by way of disputation is called an act. 
Such that expect to proceed Masters of Arts to exhibit 
their synopsis of acts required by the laws of the College. 
Orders of Overseers of Harvard College, 1660. 
[Such a synopsis (ceilula), stating the time of studies, the 
acts made, and the degrees taken by the candidate, and 
duly sworn to had usually been required in universities 
since the middle ages.] 
I pass therefore to the statute which ordains a public 
act to be kept each year. This is now in a manner quite 
worn out, for of late there has not been a public act above 
once in ten or twelve years ; . . . the last one we had was 
upon the glorious peace of 1712. 
Ainlnirst, Terra; Films (1721), No. xlvii. 
6. In law, an instrument or deed in writing, 
serving to prove the truth of some bargain or 
transaction : as, I deliver this as my act and 
deed. The term is used to show the connection between 
the instrument and the party who has given it validity by 
his signature or by his legal assent ; when thus perfected, 
the instrument becomes the act of the parties who have 
signed it or assented to it in a form required by law. Edw. 
Livingston. 
Acts having a legal validity are everywhere reduced to 
certain forms ; a certain number of witnesses is required 
to prove them, a certain magistrate to authenticate them. 
Woolney, Introd. to Inter. Law, g 75. 
7. In theol., something done at once and once 
for all, as distinguished from a work. Thus, justi- 
fication is said to be an act of God's free grace, but sancti- 
fication is a irork carried on through life. In the act, in 
the actual performance or commission : said especially of 
persons who are caught when engaged in some misdeed. 
This woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 
John viii. 4. 
In act to, prepared or ready to ; on the very point : 
implying a certain bodily disposition or posture: as, in 
act to strike. 
Gathering his flowing robe, he seemed to stand 
In act to speak, and graceful stretched his hand. Pope. 
Shot sidelong glances at us, a tiger-cat 
In act to spring. Tennyson, Princess, ii. 
Act Of bankruptcy. See bankruptcy. Act Of faith 
auto de fe (which see). Act of God, in law, a direct, vio- 
lent, sudden, and overwhelming action of natural forces, 
such as could not by human ability have teen foreseen, or, if 
foreseen, could not by human care and skill have been re- 
sisted. It is a good defense to an action for non-performance 
of a contract 1 and, in general, no man is held legally respon- 
sible for injuries of which such act of God was directly the 
cause, except by special agreement. Act of grace, a term 
sometimes applied to a general pardon, or the granting or 
extension of some privilege, at the beginning of a new reign, 
the coming of age or the marriage of the sovereign, etc. 
Act of honor, an instrument drawn by a notary public 
after protest of a bill of exchange, whereby a third party 
58 
agrees to pay or accept the bill for the honor of any party 
tli. n to. -Act of Indemnity, see imti-,,,,iitii. Act in 
pals, a judicial act performed out of court and not re- 
corded. See jwriV. Act's breakfast, an entertainment 
which from early times has been given by a candidate for 
a university degree on the day of his making his act. The 
jict for master or doctor of theology frequently impover- 
ished the candidate for life. Acts Of the Apostles, the 
title of the fifth book of the N'ew Testament. See acta. 
Acts of faith, hope, charity, and contrition, forms of 
prayer in common use in the Roman Catholic Church, ex- 
pressive of the internal exercise of the virtues named. 
Acts of the Martyrs. See acta. Acts of Uniformity, 
three acts for the regulation of public worship passed in 
England in 1549, 1559, and 1662, obliging all clergy, in the 
conduct of public services, to use only the Book of Com- 
mon Prayer. Act term, the last term of the university 
year. Balnea's Act. () An English statute of 1848, treat- 
ing accessories before the fact in felonies like principals, 
and permitting separate prosecution of accessories after 
the fact (b) An English statute of 1849, relating to ap- 
peals to the quarter sessions. -Bank Charter Act. See 
Bank Act, under bank. Berkeley's Act, an English stat- 
ute of 1855 prohibiting the sale of beer, wine, and liquor 
on Sundays and holidays between 3 and 5 o'clock in tue 
afternoon, and from 11 o'clock at night to 4 o'clock the 
next morning. Black Act, an English statute of 17-22 
(9 Oeo. I. c. 22), so called because designed originally to 
suppress associations of the lawless persons calling them- 
selves " blacks." It made felonies certain crimes against 
the game laws, sending anonymous letters, demanding 
money, and similar offenses. Black acts, the acts of 
the Scottish Parliament during the reigns of the first five 
Jameses, Mary, and James VI., down to 1586 or 1587. 
They were so called from the circumstance of their being 
written in the Old English character, called Mack letter. 
BovUl'S Act. (a) An English statute of 1860 simplify- 
ing proceedings in petitions of right. Also known as 
Sir William BovilCg Act, and as the Petitions of Right* 
Act, 1860. (<>) An English statute of 1865, also known as 
Chief Justice BoviU's Act, abolishing the rule by which 
creditors could hold liable as a partner any one who had 
participated in the profits of a business as profits, irre- 
spective of the intent of the parties. Burke's Act. (a) 
An English statute of 1782 abolishing certain offices and 
otherwise affecting the civil establishment, (b) An Eng- 
lish statute of 1773, known also as one of the com laws : it 
was one of the first steps toward free trade. Burr Act, 
a statute of Ohio, of 1806, directed against the treasonable 
acts of Aaron Burr on the Ohio river. It was in force for 
one year only, and authorized the arrest and punishmentof 
all persons fitting out or arming vessels, or enlisting sol- 
diers, etc., within the State of Ohio to disturb the peace of 
the United States. Chinese Act, or Chinese Restric- 
tion Act, an act of the I'nited States Congress of 188-2, 
amended in 1884, suspending for ten years the immigration 
of Chinese into the I'nited States. Complete act, in 
inetftph. , that act of a thing to which nothing of the nature 
of the thing is wanting, as the act of a substance in re- 
spect to possessing its attributes. Aquinas. Coventry 
Act, ail English statute of 1671 against maiming : so called 
because passed on the occasion of an assault on Sir John 
Coventry, M. P. Wngley Act, an act of Congress of 1884, 
to foster the shipping trade of the I'nited States. Ed- 
munds Act, an act of Congress of March 22, 1882, punish- 
ing polygamy. Elicit act. an act of the will iUelf, as dis- 
tinguished from an hnperatf act, which is some movement 
of the body or the soul consequent upon the act of the will. 
Aquinas.- Essential act, in tiutaph.. that act which is 
at the same time essence. Scotiut. First act. See en- 
ergy. Hinde Palmer's Act, an English statute of 1869 
abolishing the preference which the common law gave to 
the payment of specialty debts over simple contract debts, 
in settling the estates of deceased persons. Hogarth's 
Act, an English statute of 1766 which secured the prop- 
erty in engravings, prints, etc., to their designers or in- 
ventors, and to the widow of William Hogarth the property 
in his works. Immanent act, one which remains within 
the agent, and does not consist in an effect produced on 
something else. Imperate act. See elicit Oct. In- 
formant act, in metaph. , the perfection of passive or sub- 
jective power ; that act by which matter receives a qual- 
ity or form in the Aristotelian sense. Jekyll's Act, an 
English statute of 1736 directed against the sale of spiritu- 
ous liquors. Lands' Clauses Act, an English statute of 
1845 (8 and 9 Viet. c. 18) regulating the taking of private 
property for public use by corporations, etc. Last act, 
second energy (which see, under eneryu). Leeman's Act, 
an English statute of 1867 (30 Viet. c. 29) declaring con- 
tracts for sale of stocks void, unless the numbering of the 
shares or certificates, or the name of a registered owner, be 
specified in writing. Lord Aberdeen's Act, an English 
statute of 1845 carrying into effect a treaty with Brazil 
for the regulation and final abolition of the slave-trade. 
Lord Campbell's Act. () An English statute of 1846 
allowing the relatives of a person whose death has been 
caused by negligence or wrongful act to recover damages 
therefor. The principle of this act has been generally 
adopted in the United States by statutes allowing the 
executor or administrator to sue and recover damages in 
such a case for the benefit of the wife, husband, or next 
of kin. (b) An English statute of 1843 as to defama- 
tion, (c) An English statute of 1838 as to obscene publi- 
cations. Lord Cranworth's Act. (a) An English stat- 
ute of 1800 giving to mortgagees and trustees certain 
general powers, such as are commonly provided in settle- 
ments, mortgages, and wills, in aid of their rights or duties. 
(b) An English statute of 1860 as to endowed schools. 
Lord Denman's Act, an English statute of 1843 (6 and 7 
Viet. c. 85) abolishing common-law rules that excluded 
witnesses from testifying by reason of interest or crime. 
Lord Ellenborough'a Act, an English statute (48Geo. 
III. c. 58) punishing offenses against the person. Lord 
Lyndhurst's Act. (a) An English statute of 1835 inval- 
idating marriages within the prohibited degrees, (b) An 
English statute of 1844 for conserving the property of 
dissenting congregations to the uses of the faith originally 
intended, by making 25 years' usage evidence thereof in 
the absence of a controlling declaration in the deed or 
instrument of trust. This act is known also as the Dis- 
senters' Chapels Act. iOTA St. Leonard's Acts, English 
statutes (22 and 23 Viet. c. 35, and 23 and -24 Viet. c. 38) 
amending the law of property, relieving trustees, etc. 
act 
Lord Tenterden's Act. (a) An English statute of 1828 
by which new promises relied on to revive a debt which 
is statute-barred, or to ratify one contracted in infancy 
were required to be in writing an. I signed. (6) An Eng- 
lish statute of 183S shortening the time prescribe.! by 
the statute of limitations in certain cases.- McCulloch 
Act, a statute of Virginia, -March is, lt-7!>, designed to re- 
duce the amount of interest payable by the State of Vir- 
ginia upon its public debt, by obtaining the consent of 
the bondholders to such reduction. Pure act, in im't'ifl/.. 
an act joined with in 'objective nor subjective power ; that 
act whose very essence or possibility involves its existence 
in all its attributes; God. Riddleberger Act, a Virginia 
statute of 1882 attempting to reduce the bonded debt and 
interest thereon of that State, on the ground that the 
State of West Virginia, which had been carved out of Vir- 
ginia, ought to pay a certain proportion of the debt. Sec- 
ond act. see riirrun. Sir Robert Peel's Act. See 
Hank Act, under hank.- Sir William BovtU's Act. See 
Hiii-HC* Act, above. Stll well Act, a New York statute of 
1831 abolishing imprisonment for debt, except in cases of 
fraud or tort, and giving proceedings for punishment of 
fraudulent debtors. The Lords' Act, an English statute 
of 1759 (32 Oeo. II. c. 28) to relieve insolvent debtors from 
imprisonment. The Six Acts, English statutes of 1819 
restricting the rights of public assembly and military 
organization, and the freedom of the press. Tilden 
Act, a New York statute of 1875, otherwise known as the 
Peculation Act, giving a civil remedy to the State for mal- 
versation by municipal or county officers as well as state 
officers. Transient act, one which consists in the pro- 
duction of an effect upon an object different from the sub- 
ject. Yazoo Frauds Act, the name given to a statute 
of Georgia, of 1795, for the sale of a vast tract of public 
lands, comprising the present State of Mississippi and one 
half of Alabama, to private persons. It was declared by 
a statute of the next year to be null and void, as having 
Iwen fraudulently enacted. (For noted acts on particular 
subjects, such as the Army Act, Bankruptcy Act, etc., see 
the qualifying word or words. See also article, bill, bit- 
law, charter, ctnle, </<<;, ,'di<-t. Inir, i,n/i'////<v. ["'lition, 
lirovirian, 8<a(itfc.)=8yn. 1. Action, Act, Deed. See action. 
act (akt), !-. [< L. actus, pp. of agere, lead, 
drive, impel, cause, make, perform, do : see act, 
.] I. trans. 1. To do, perform, or transact. 
Thou wast a spirit too delicate 
To act her earthy and abhorr'd commands. 
Shak., Tempest, i. 2. 
Few love to hear the sins they love to act. 
Shak., Pericles, i. 1. 
2. To represent by action ; perform on or as on 
the stage; play, or play the part of: hence, 
feign or counterfeit : as, to act Macbeth ; to act 
the lover, or the part of a lover. 
With acted fear the villain thus pursued. Drudrn. 
3. To perform the office of ; assume the char- 
acter of : as, to act the hero. 4f. To put in 
action ; actuate. 
Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul. 
Pope, Essay on Man, ii. 69. 
The Ancient Criticks . . . were acted by a Spirit of 
Candour, rather than that of Cavilling. 
Addition, Spectator, No. 285. 
What spirit acted the party that raised this persecution, 
one may guess. C. Mather, Mag. Chris., Int., iii. 
II. intrans; To do something; exert energy 
or force in any way : used of anything capable 
of movement, either original or communicated, 
or of producing effects. Specifically 1. To 
put forth effort or energy; exercise movement 
or agency; be employed or operative : as, to act 
vigorously or languidly; he is acting against 
his own interest ; his mind acts sluggishly. 
He hangs between ; in doubt to act, or rest. 
Pope, Essay on Man, ii. 7. 
Act, act in the living Present ! 
Loiiyfellow, Psalm of Life. 
You can distinguish between individual people to such 
an extent that you have a general idea of how a given 
person will act when placed in given circumstances. 
W. K. Cliford, Lectures, I. 76. 
2. To exert influence or produce effects ; per- 
form a function or functions ; operate : as, 
praise acts as a stimulant; mind acts upon 
mind; the medicine failed to act; the brake 
refused to act, or to act upon the wheels. 
How body acts upon the impassive mind. 
Garth, Dispensary. 
Man acting on man by weight of opinion. 
Emerson, Civilization. 
3. To be employed or operate in a particular 
way ; perform specific duties or functions : as, 
a deputy acts for or in place of his principal ; 
he refused to act on or as a member of the com- 
mittee. Often used with reference to the performance 
of duties by a temporary substitute for the regular inciini 
bent of an office : as, the lieutenant-governor will act in the 
absence of the governor. See acting. 
4. To perform as an actor ; represent a char- 
acter; hence, to feign or assume a part: as, he 
octewell; he is only acting. To act on, to act in 
accordance with ; regulate one's action by : as, to act on 
the principle of the golden rule ; to act on a false assump- 
tion. To act up to, to equal in action; perform an 
action or a series of actions correspondent to ; fulfil : as, 
he has acted up to his engagement. 
He is a man of sentiment, and acts up to the senti- 
ments he professes. Sheridan, School for Scandal, i. 2. 
= Syn. Act, Work, Operate. These words agree in ex- 
pressing the successful exertion of power. In their in- 
transitive use they are sometimes interchangeable : as, 
