Part 138

<h1>Actinula</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac*tin"u*la</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n. pl.</tt> <ety>[NL., fr. Gr. <?/, <?/, a ray.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A kind of embryo of certain hydroids (<spn>Tubularia</spn>), having a stellate form.</def>

<h1>Action</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>action</ets>, L. <ets>actio</ets>, fr. <ets>agere</ets> to do. See <er>Act</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>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>as, the <ex>action</ex> of heat; a man of <ex>action</ex>.</as></def>

<blockquote>One wise in council, one in <b>action</b> brave. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An act; a thing done; a deed; an enterprise. <plu>(pl.)</plu>: Habitual deeds; hence, conduct; behavior; demeanor.</def>

<blockquote>The Lord is a Good of knowledge, and by him <b>actions</b> are weighed. <i>1 Sam. ii. 3.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>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.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Movement; <as>as, the horse has a spirited <ex>action</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Mech.)</fld> <def>Effective motion; also, mechanism; <as>as, the breech <ex>action</ex> of a gun</as>.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Physiol.)</fld> <def>Any one of the active processes going on in an organism; the performance of a function; <as>as, the <ex>action</ex> of the heart, the muscles, or the gastric juice</as>.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <fld>(Orat.)</fld> <def>Gesticulation; the external deportment of the speaker, or the suiting of his attitude, voice, gestures, and countenance, to the subject, or to the feelings.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <fld>(Paint. & Sculp.)</fld> <def>The attitude or position of the several parts of the body as expressive of the sentiment or passion depicted.</def>

<p><b>9.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>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.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A right of action; <as>as, the law gives an <ex>action</ex> for every claim</as>.</def>

<p><b>10.</b> <fld>(Com.)</fld><def>A share in the capital stock of a joint-stock company, or in the public funds; hence, in the plural, equivalent to stocks.</def> <mark>[A Gallicism]</mark> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>The Euripus of funds and <b>actions</b>. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>11.</b> <def>An engagement between troops in war, whether on land or water; a battle; a fight; <as>as, a general <ex>action</ex>, a partial <ex>action</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>12.</b> <fld>(Music)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<i>Grove.</i>

<cs><col>Chose in action</col>. <fld>(Law)</fld> <cd>See <er>Chose</er>.</cd> -- <col>Quantity of action</col> <fld>(Physics)</fld>, <cd>the product of the mass of a body by the space it runs through, and its velocity.</cd></cs>

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

<blockquote>To poke the fire is an <b>act</b>, to reconcile friends who have quarreled is a praiseworthy <b>action</b>. <i>C. J. Smith.</i></blockquote> </usage>

<h1>Actionable</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac"tion*a*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. LL. <ets>actionabilis</ets>. See <er>Action</er>.]</ety> <def>That may be the subject of an action or suit at law; <as>as, to call a man a thief is <ex>actionable</ex></as>.</def>

<h1>Actionably</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac"tion*a*bly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an actionable manner.</def>

<h1>Actionary, Actionist</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw><hw>Ac"tion*a*ry</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <hw>Ac"tion*ist</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>,<hw> <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>actionnaire</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Com.)</fld> <def>A shareholder in joint-stock company.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>