literature lexicon
Literature Lexicon
Act noun something done or performed; a deed the performance of some physical or mental process; action capital when part of a name the formally codified result of deliberation by a legislative body; a law, edict, decree, statute, etc often plural a formal written record of transactions, proceedings, etc, as of a society, committee, or legislative body a major division of a dramatic work a short performance of skill, a comic sketch, dance, etc, esp one that is part of a programme of light entertainment those giving such a performance an assumed attitude or pose, esp one intended to impress
(philosophy) an occurrence effected by the volition of a human agent, usually opposed at least as regards its explanation to one which is causally determined Compare event (sense 4) verb intr to do something; carry out an action intr to function in a specified way; operate; react ⇒ his mind acted quickly to perform (a part or role) in a play, etc tr to present (a play, etc) on stage intr; usually foll by for or as to be a substitute (for); function in place (of) intr foll by as to serve the function or purpose (of) ⇒ the glass acted as protection intr to conduct oneself or behave (as if one were) ⇒ she usually acts like a lady intr to behave in an unnatural or affected way copula to pose as; play the part of ⇒ to act the fool copula to behave in a manner appropriate to (esp in the phrase act one's age) copula (not standard) to seem or pretend to be ⇒ to act tired
Actor noun a person who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc
(informal) a person who puts on a false manner in order to deceive others (often in the phrase bad actor)
Antagonist noun an opponent or adversary, as in a contest, drama, sporting event, etc any muscle that opposes the action of another Compare agonist (sense 1) a drug that counteracts the effects of another drug Compare synergist (sense 1)
Synonym
= opponent, rival, opposer, enemy, competitor,
Act noun something done or performed; a deed the performance of some physical or mental process; action capital when part of a name the formally codified result of deliberation by a legislative body; a law, edict, decree, statute, etc often plural a formal written record of transactions, proceedings, etc, as of a society, committee, or legislative body a major division of a dramatic work a short performance of skill, a comic sketch, dance, etc, esp one that is part of a programme of light entertainment those giving such a performance an assumed attitude or pose, esp one intended to impress
(philosophy) an occurrence effected by the volition of a human agent, usually opposed at least as regards its explanation to one which is causally determined Compare event (sense 4) verb intr to do something; carry out an action intr to function in a specified way; operate; react ⇒ his mind acted quickly to perform (a part or role) in a play, etc tr to present (a play, etc) on stage intr; usually foll by for or as to be a substitute (for); function in place (of) intr foll by as to serve the function or purpose (of) ⇒ the glass acted as protection intr to conduct oneself or behave (as if one were) ⇒ she usually acts like a lady intr to behave in an unnatural or affected way copula to pose as; play the part of ⇒ to act the fool copula to behave in a manner appropriate to (esp in the phrase act one's age) copula (not standard) to seem or pretend to be ⇒ to act tired
Actor noun a person who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc
(informal) a person who puts on a false manner in order to deceive others (often in the phrase bad actor)
Antagonist noun an opponent or adversary, as in a contest, drama, sporting event, etc any muscle that opposes the action of another Compare agonist (sense 1) a drug that counteracts the effects of another drug Compare synergist (sense 1)
Synonym
= opponent, rival, opposer, enemy, competitor,