Chapter Acquisitively to Act of A by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

be looked for in advance, and against which ordinary prudence could not guard. —

Act of grace, an expression often used to designate an act declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at the beginning of a new reign. — Act of indemnity, a statute passed for the protection of those who have committed some illegal act subjecting them to penalties. Abbott. — Act in pais, a thing done out of court and not a matter of record.

Syn. — See Action.

Act
(Act), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acting.] [L. actus, p. p. of agere to drive, lead, do; but influenced by E. act, n.]

1. To move to action; to actuate; to animate. [Obs.]

Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul.
Pope.

2. To perform; to execute; to do. [Archaic]

That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity.
Jer. Taylor.

Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting things expedient for us to do.
Barrow.

Uplifted hands that at convenient times
Could act extortion and the worst of crimes.
Cowper.

3. To perform, as an actor; to represent dramatically on the stage.

4. To assume the office or character of; to play; to personate; as, to act the hero.

5. To feign or counterfeit; to simulate.

With acted fear the villain thus pursued.
Dryden.

To act a part, to sustain the part of one of the characters in a play; hence, to simulate; to dissemble. — To act the part of, to take the character of; to fulfill the duties of.

Act
(Act), v. i.

1. To exert power; to produce an effect; as, the stomach acts upon food.

2. To perform actions; to fulfill functions; to put forth energy; to move, as opposed to remaining at rest; to carry into effect a determination of the will.

He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest.
Pope.

3. To behave or conduct, as in morals, private duties, or public offices; to bear or deport one's self; as, we know not why he has acted so.

4. To perform on the stage; to represent a character.

To show the world how Garrick did not act.
Cowper.

To act asor for, to do the work of; to serve as. — To act on, to regulate one's conduct according to. — To act up to, to equal in action; to fulfill in practice; as, he has acted up to his engagement or his advantages.