Act \Act\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acted; p. pr. & vb. n.
  
         Acting.] [L. actus, p. p.
         of agere to drive, lead, do;
         but
   influenced by E. act, n.]
   1. To move to action;
         to actuate; to animate. [Obs.]
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            Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul.
                                                  --Pope.
     
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   2. To perform; to execute; to do.
         [Archaic]
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            That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no
            greater than our necessity.           --Jer. Taylor.
   
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            Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and
            facility of acting things expedient for us to do.
                                                  --Barrow.
     
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            Uplifted hands that at convenient times
            Could act extortion and the worst of crimes.
                                                  --Cowper.
     
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   3. To perform, as an actor; to
         represent dramatically on the
      stage.
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         Webster]

   4. To assume the office or character of; to
         play; to
      personate; as, to act the hero.
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         Webster]

   5. To feign or counterfeit; to simulate.
   
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            With acted fear the villain thus pursued. --Dryden.
    
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   To act a part, to sustain the part
         of one of the characters
      in a play; hence, to
         simulate; to dissemble.

   To act the part of, to take
         the character of; to fulfill
      the duties of.
     
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