Part 139

<h1>Actionless</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac"tion*less</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Void of action.</def>

<h1>Activate</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac"ti*vate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To make active.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Active</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac"tive</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>actif</ets>, L. <ets>activus</ets>, fr. <ets>agere</ets> to act.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; -- opposed to <ant>passive</ant>, that receives; <as>as, certain <ex>active</ex> principles</as>; the powers of the mind.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; <as>as, an <ex>active</ex> child or animal</as>.</def>

<blockquote><b>Active</b> and nervous was his gait. <i>Wordsworth.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; -- opposed to <contr>quiescent</contr>, <contr>dormant</contr>, or <contr>extinct</contr>; <as>as, <ex>active</ex> laws; <ex>active</ex> hostilities; an <ex>active</ex> volcano.</as></def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; -- opposed to <i>dull</i>, <i>sluggish</i>, <i>indolent</i>, or <i>inert</i>; <as>as, an <ex>active</ex> man of business; <ex>active</ex> mind; <ex>active</ex> zeal.</as></def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to <ant>sedentary</ant> or to <ant>tranquil</ant>; <as>as, <ex>active</ex> employment or service; <ex>active</ex> scenes.</as></def>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; -- opposed to <ant>speculative</ant> or <ant>theoretical</ant>; <as>as, an <ex>active</ex> rather than a speculative statesman</as>.</def>

<p><b>7.</b> <def>Brisk; lively; <as>as, an <ex>active</ex> demand for corn</as>.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>Implying or producing rapid action; <as>as, an <ex>active</ex> disease; an <ex>active</ex> remedy.</as></def>

<p><b>9.</b> <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to <ant>passive</ant>. See <cref>Active voice</cref>, under <er>Voice</er>. </def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive.</def> <sd>(c)</sd> <def>Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere <i>existence</i> or state.</def>

<cs><mcol><col>Active capital</col>, <col>Active wealth</col></mcol>, <cd>money, or property that may readily be converted into money.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick; sprightly; prompt; energetic.</syn>

<h1>Actively</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac"tive*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In an active manner; nimbly; briskly; energetically; also, by one's own action; voluntarily, not passively.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <def>In an active signification; <as>as, a word used <ex>actively</ex></as>.</def>

<h1>Activeness</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac"tive*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being active; nimbleness; quickness of motion; activity.</def>

<h1>Activity</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Ac*tiv"i*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Activities</plw> <tt>(#)</tt><plu>. <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>activit\'82</ets>, LL. <ets>activitas</ets>.]</ety> <def>The state or quality of being active; nimbleness; agility; vigorous action or operation; energy; active force; <as>as, an increasing variety of human <ex>activities</ex></as>.</def> "The <i>activity</i> of toil."

<i>Palfrey.</i>

<syn>Syn. -- Liveliness; briskness; quickness.</syn>

<h1>Actless</h1> <Xpage=18>

<hw>Act"less</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Without action or spirit.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>