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:
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