Actinosome Ac·tin"o·some noun [ Greek ... ray + ... body.] (Zoology) The entire body of a cœlenterate.

Actinost Ac"tin·ost noun [ Greek ..., ..., ray + ... bone.] (Anat.) One of the bones at the base of a paired fin of a fish.

Actinostome Ac·tin"o·stome noun [ Greek ..., ..., a ray + ... mouth.] (Zoology) The mouth or anterior opening of a cœlenterate animal.

Actinotrocha Ac`ti·not"ro·cha noun plural [ New Latin ; Greek ..., ..., a ray + ... a ring.] (Zoology) A peculiar larval form of Phoronis , a genus of marine worms, having a circle of ciliated tentacles.

Actinozoa Ac"ti·no·zo"a noun plural [ Greek ..., ..., ray + zw^on animal.] (Zoology) A group of Cœlenterata, comprising the Anthozoa and Ctenophora. The sea anemone, or actinia, is a familiar example.

Actinozoal Ac`ti·no·zo"al adjective (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the Actinozoa.

Actinozoön Ac"ti·no·zo"ön noun (Zoology) One of the Actinozoa.

Actinula Ac·tin"u·la noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ..., ..., a ray.] (Zoology) A kind of embryo of certain hydroids ( Tubularia ), having a stellate form.

Action Ac"tion noun [ Old French action , Latin actio , from agere to do. See Act .] 1. A process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest; the doing of something; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; the effect of power exerted on one body by another; agency; activity; operation; as, the action of heat; a man of action .

One wise in council, one in action brave.
Pope.

2. An act; a thing done; a deed; an enterprise. (pl.): Habitual deeds; hence, conduct; behavior; demeanor.

The Lord is a Good of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
1 Sam. ii. 3.

3. The event or connected series of events, either real or imaginary, forming the subject of a play, poem, or other composition; the unfolding of the drama of events.

4. Movement; as, the horse has a spirited action .

5. (Mech.) Effective motion; also, mechanism; as, the breech action of a gun.

6. (Physiol.) Any one of the active processes going on in an organism; the performance of a function; as, the action of the heart, the muscles, or the gastric juice.

7. (Orat.) Gesticulation; the external deportment of the speaker, or the suiting of his attitude, voice, gestures, and countenance, to the subject, or to the feelings.

8. (Paint. & Sculp.) The attitude or position of the several parts of the body as expressive of the sentiment or passion depicted.

9. (Law) (a) A suit or process, by which a demand is made of a right in a court of justice; in a broad sense, a judicial proceeding for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense. (b) A right of action; as, the law gives an action for every claim.

10. (Com.) A share in the capital stock of a joint-stock company, or in the public funds; hence, in the plural, equivalent to stocks. [ A Gallicism] [ Obsolete]

The Euripus of funds and actions .
Burke.

11. An engagement between troops in war, whether on land or water; a battle; a fight; as, a general action , a partial action .

12. (Music) The mechanical contrivance by means of which the impulse of the player's finger is transmitted to the strings of a pianoforte or to the valve of an organ pipe. Grove.

Chose in action . (Law) See Chose . -- Quantity of action (Physics) , the product of the mass of a body by the space it runs through, and its velocity.

Syn. -- Action , Act . In many cases action and act are synonymous; but some distinction is observable. Action involves the mode or process of acting, and is usually viewed as occupying some time in doing. Act has more reference to the effect, or the operation as complete.

To poke the fire is an act , to reconcile friends who have quarreled is a praiseworthy action .

C. J. Smith.

Actionable Ac"tion·a·ble adjective [ Confer Late Latin actionabilis . See Action .] That may be the subject of an action or suit at law; as, to call a man a thief is actionable .

Actionably Ac"tion·a·bly adverb In an actionable manner.

Actionary, Actionist Ac"tion·a·ry, Ac"tion·ist noun [ Confer French actionnaire .] (Com.) A shareholder in joint-stock company. [ Obsolete]

Actionless Ac"tion·less adjective Void of action.

Activate Ac"ti·vate transitive verb To make active. [ Obsolete]

Active Ac"tive adjective [ French actif , Latin activus , from agere to act.] 1. Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; -- opposed to passive , that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.

2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; as, an active child or animal.

Active and nervous was his gait.
Wordsworth.

3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; -- opposed to quiescent , dormant , or extinct ; as, active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.

4. Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; -- opposed to dull , sluggish , indolent , or inert ; as, an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.

5. Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to sedentary or to tranquil ; as, active employment or service; active scenes.

6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; -- opposed to speculative or theoretical ; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.

7. Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.

8. Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease; an active remedy.

9. (Gram.) (a) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to passive . See Active voice , under Voice . (b) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive. (c) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.

Active capital , Active wealth , money, or property that may readily be converted into money.

Syn. -- Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick; sprightly; prompt; energetic.

Actively Ac"tive·ly adverb 1. In an active manner; nimbly; briskly; energetically; also, by one's own action; voluntarily, not passively.

2. (Gram.) In an active signification; as, a word used actively .

Activeness Ac"tive·ness noun The quality of being active; nimbleness; quickness of motion; activity.

Activity Ac·tiv"i·ty noun ; plural Activities [ Confer French activité , Late Latin activitas .] The state or quality of being active; nimbleness; agility; vigorous action or operation; energy; active force; as, an increasing variety of human activities . "The activity of toil." Palfrey.

Syn. -- Liveliness; briskness; quickness.

Actless Act"less adjective Without action or spirit. [ R.]

Acton Ac"ton noun [ Old French aketon , auqueton , French hoqueton , a quilted jacket, from Spanish alcoton , algodon , cotton. Confer Cotton .] A stuffed jacket worn under the mail, or (later) a jacket plated with mail. [ Spelled also hacqueton .] [ Obsolete] Halliwell. Sir W. Scott.

Actor Ac"tor noun [ Latin actor , from agere to act.] 1. One who acts, or takes part in any affair; a doer.

2. A theatrical performer; a stageplayer.

After a well graced actor leaves the stage.
Shak.

3. (Law) (a) An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes. Jacobs. (b) One who institutes a suit; plaintiff or complainant.

Actress Ac`tress noun [ Confer French actrice .] 1. A female actor or doer. [ Obsolete] Cockeram.

2. A female stageplayer; a woman who acts a part.

Actual Ac"tu·al (#; 135) adjective [ Middle English actuel , French actuel , Latin actualis , from agere to do, act.] 1. Involving or comprising action; active. [ Obsolete]

Her walking and other actual performances.
Shak.

Let your holy and pious intention be actual ; that is . . . by a special prayer or action, . . . given to God.
Jer. Taylor.

2. Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real; -- opposed to potential , possible , virtual , speculative , conceivable , theoretical , or nominal ; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual case under discussion.

3. In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual situation of the country.

Actual cautery . See under Cautery . -- Actual sin (Theol.) , that kind of sin which is done by ourselves in contradistinction to " original sin ."

Syn. -- Real; genuine; positive; certain. See Real .

Actual Ac"tu·al noun (Finance) Something actually received; real, as distinct from estimated, receipts. [ Cant]

The accounts of revenues supplied . . . were not real receipts: not, in financial language, " actuals ," but only Egyptian budget estimates.
Fortnightly Review.

Actualist Ac"tu·al·ist noun One who deals with or considers actually existing facts and conditions, rather than fancies or theories; -- opposed to idealist . J. Grote.

Actuality Ac`tu·al"i·ty noun ; plural Actualities The state of being actual; reality; as, the actuality of God's nature. South.

Actualization Ac`tu·al·i·za"tion noun A making actual or really existent. [ R.] Emerson.

Actualize Ac"tu·al·ize transitive verb To make actual; to realize in action. [ R.] Coleridge.

Actually Ac"tu·al·ly adverb 1. Actively. [ Obsolete] "Neither actually . . . nor passively." Fuller.

2. In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.

Actualness Ac"tu·al·ness noun Quality of being actual; actuality.

Actuarial Ac`tu·a"ri·al adjective Of or pertaining to actuaries; as, the actuarial value of an annuity.

Actuary Ac"tu·a·ry noun ; plural Actuaries [ Latin actuarius copyist, clerk, from actus , past participle of agere to do, act.] 1. (Law) A registrar or clerk; -- used originally in courts of civil law jurisdiction, but in Europe used for a clerk or registrar generally.

2. The computing official of an insurance company; one whose profession it is to calculate for insurance companies the risks and premiums for life, fire, and other insurances.

Actuate Ac"tu·ate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Actuated ; present participle & verbal noun Actuating ] [ Late Latin actuatus , past participle of actuare , from Latin actus act.] 1. To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action; to influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more commonly used of persons.

Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion.
Johnson.

Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it.
Addison.

2. To carry out in practice; to perform. [ Obsolete] "To actuate what you command." Jer. Taylor.

Syn. -- To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate.

Actuate Ac"tu·ate adjective [ Late Latin actuatus , past participle of actuare .] Put in action; actuated. [ Obsolete] South.

Actuation Ac`tu·a"tion noun [ Confer Late Latin actuatio .] A bringing into action; movement. Bp. Pearson.

Actuator Ac"tu·a`tor noun One who actuates, or puts into action. [ R.] Melville.

Actuose Ac"tu·ose` adjective [ Latin actuosus .] Very active. [ Obsolete]

Actuosity Ac`tu·os"i·ty noun Abundant activity. [ Obsolete] Dr. H. More.

Acture Ac"ture noun Action. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Acturience Ac·tu"ri·ence noun [ A desid. of Latin agere , actum , to act.] Tendency or impulse to act. [ R.]

Acturience , or desire of action, in one form or another, whether as restlessness, ennui, dissatisfaction, or the imagination of something desirable.
J. Grote.

Acuate Ac"u·ate transitive verb [ Latin acus needle.] To sharpen; to make pungent; to quicken. [ Obsolete] "[ To] acuate the blood." Harvey.

Acuate Ac"u·ate adjective Sharpened; sharp- pointed.

Acuation Ac`u·a"tion noun Act of sharpening. [ R.]

Acuition Ac`u·i"tion noun [ Latin acutus , as if acuitus , past participle of acuere to sharpen.] The act of sharpening. [ Obsolete]

Acuity A·cu"i·ty noun [ Late Latin acuitas : confer French acuité .] Sharpness or acuteness, as of a needle, wit, etc.

Aculeate A·cu"le·ate adjective [ Latin aculeatus , from aculeus , dim. of acus needle.] 1. (Zoology) Having a sting; covered with prickles; sharp like a prickle.

2. (Botany) Having prickles, or sharp points; beset with prickles.

3. Severe or stinging; incisive. [ R.] Bacon.

Aculeated A·cu"le·a`ted adjective Having a sharp point; armed with prickles; prickly; aculeate.

Aculeiform A·cu"le·i·form adjective Like a prickle.

Aculeolate A·cu"le·o·late adjective [ Latin aculeolus little needle.] (Botany) Having small prickles or sharp points. Gray.

Aculeous A·cu"le·ous adjective Aculeate. [ Obsolete] Sir T. Browne.

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