action
- action
action 1 Action, act, deed agree in designating something done or effected.
Action refers primarily to the process of acting; act and deed to the result, the thing done. An action is usually regarded as occupying some time and involving more than one step; an act is more frequently thought of as momentary or instantaneous and as individual
{
the rescue of a shipwrecked crew is a heroic action; the launching of the lifeboat, a brave act
}
In the plural action has frequently an ethical connotation and is loosely synonymous with conduct
{
by him [the Lord] actions are weighed—/ Sam 2:3
}
{
only the actions of the just smell sweet and blossom in their dust— Shirley
}
Deed refers to a thing as done; it invariably presupposes intelligence and responsibility in the agent and therefore often connotes, as act does not, illustriousness or achievement
{
the deed is worthy doing— Shak.
}
{
what, are my deeds forgot?— Shak.
}
{
little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love— Wordsworth
}
Deed is frequently opposed to word, as act to thought
{
take the word for the deed
}
{
I ’ll endeavour deeds to match these words— Shak.
}
{
be great in act, as you have been in thought— ShaL
}
Analogous words: *
process, proceeding, procedure: performance, execution, fulfillment (see corresponding verbs at
PERFORM): activity, operation, work, behavior, reaction (see corresponding verbs at
ACT)
2 cause, case, *
suit, lawsuit
Analogous words: combat, conflict, fight, fray, affray, *
contest: *
encounter, skirmish, brush
New Dictionary of Synonyms.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
action — ac·tion n [Latin actio legal proceeding, from agere to do, carry out, initiate legal proceedings] 1 a: 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 … Law dictionary
action — ACTION. sub. f. L opération d un agent. L action du feu sur le bois. L action du Soleil sur les plantes. L action de l esprit. Le feu, par la violence de son action, vitrifie les métaux. Une action vive, soudaine, momentanée.Action, se dit aussi… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798
Action — may refer to:Music and culture* Action (philosophy), something a person can do * Action (music), a characteristic of a stringed instrument * Action (album), a 2004 album by Punchline * Action (B z album), a 2007 album by B z * Action (piano), the … Wikipedia
Action 52 — North American NES cover art. Developer(s) … Wikipedia
action — Action. s. f. Maniere dont une cause agit, & par laquelle elle produit son effet. L action du feu reduit le bois en cendres. Action, signifie aussi, Acte, fait, oeuvre. Bonne action. belle action. mauvaise action. vilaine action. action bien… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Action! — was a programming language and integrated editor, debugger, and 6502 code generating compiler, editor for the Atari 8 bit family of microcomputers. Action! was created by Clinton Parker and released on cartridge by Optimized Systems Software in… … Wikipedia
Action — Ac tion, n. [OF. action, L. actio, fr. 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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
action — et besongne, Pragma, Actio. Action et droit de poursuyvre en justice ce qui nous est deu, Actio. Action de grace, Gratulatio, Gratiarum actio. Action personnelle, Condictio, Actio in personam. Action réelle, Actio in rem. Action petitoire,… … Thresor de la langue françoyse
Action 52-in-1 — Action 52 Action 52 Éditeur Active Enterprises Développeur FarSight Studios (MD) Active Enterprises … Wikipédia en Français
action — [ak′shən] n. [ME accion < OFr action < L actio < pp. of agere: see ACT1] 1. the doing of something; state of being in motion or of working 2. an act or thing done 3. [pl.] behavior; habitual conduct 4. habitual activity characterized by… … English World dictionary
