actor
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈak.tə(ɹ)/
ipa: /ˈæk.tɚ/
homophone: acter
rhymes: -æktə(ɹ)
Forms: form: actors
form: acter
form: actour
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English actour, from Anglo-Norman actor, Middle French actor, and their source, Latin āctor (“doer”), from agō (“to do”). Equivalent to act + -or. Cognate with Ancient Greek ἄκτωρ (áktōr, “leader”), from ἄγω (ágō, “lead, carry, convey, bring”).
Senses: topics: law
glosses: Someone who institutes a legal suit; a plaintiff or complainant.
glosses: Someone acting on behalf of someone else; a guardian.
examples: text: A man may be principal in an offence in two degrees. A principal, in the first degree, is he that is the actor, or absolute perpetrator of the crime; and, in the second degree, he who is present, aiding, and abetting the fact to be done.
ref: 1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the laws of England^(https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AWilliam_Blackstone%2C_Commentaries_on_the_Laws_of_England_(1st_ed%2C_1769%2C_vol_IV).pdf&page=48):
text: Never, my dear Bethel, did the most feverish dreams of fiction produce scenes more painful, or more terrific, than the real events to which I have been an actor, since the date of my last letter.
ref: 1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview, published 2001, page 373:
text: Mr. Clay had been too prominent an actor in public affairs to allow whig deception and misrepresentation a fair opportunity for successful action.
ref: 1852 February 8, “Reminiscences”, in The Daily Union (Washington), page 2:
glosses: Someone or something that takes part in some action; a doer, an agent.
examples: text: Seems like everyone's an actor / Or they're an actor's best friend / I wonder what was wrong to begin with / That they should all have to pretend
ref: 1991, Ani DiFranco, “Anticipate”, in Not So Soft:
text: Exactly. Marijuana is something we just all gradually decided is okay, like Mark Wahlberg as a serious actor. “You know what? Sure, I’ve decided I’m fine with that.”
ref: 2017 April 2, “Marijuana”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 4, episode 7, John Oliver (actor), via HBO:
text: "I'm an actress -- actor, as we have to say these days."
ref: 2010, Peter Corris, Torn Apart, Allen and Unwin, page 88:
glosses: A person who acts a part in a theatrical play or (later) in film or television; a dramatic performer.
glosses: An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes.
topics: grammar
human-sciences
linguistics
sciences
glosses: The subject performing the action of a verb.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
software
glosses: The entity that performs a role (in use case analysis).
Synonyms: sense: person who performs in a theatrical play or film
word: performer
sense: person who performs in a theatrical play or film
word: player
sense: one who acts
word: doer
sense: one who takes part
word: participant
sense: a plaintiff
word: complainant
sense: a plaintiff
word: plaintiff
sense: entity performing a role in use case analysis
word: role
Hyponyms: sense: person who performs in a theatrical play or film
word: actress
word: enactor
word: reenactor
Derived terms: actorfic
actorial
actorine
actorish
actorism
actorlike
actorly
actornaut
actorness
actor-proof
actorship
actory
actroid
back actor
bad actor
character actor
child actor
coactor
crisis actor
interactor
live actor
method actor
nonactor
non-state actor
nonstate actor
non state actor
overactor
play-actor
self-actor
spect-actor
straight actor
supporting actor
threat actor
underactor
voice actor
Related terms: act
acting
action
actress
actrix
actual
transaction